Curious how Realtors around the country are marketing their businesses? We hope you'll be inspired by our new interview series, Real World Marketing. The questions asked—most of them, anyway—are directly from our audience. Enjoy!
Name and Location
Amanda Searle, Jacksonville FL
What’s your market like?
The market in Jacksonville is a seller’s market right now with around 13 percent of homes going over asking price.
How do you differentiate yourself from your competition?
While I do work all over Jacksonville, I specialize in the historic districts and have specialized knowledge on local zoning restrictions, insurance, repair, and potential mortgage issues that come with purchasing historic homes.
What marketing method is most effective for you and why?
Social media and keeping in touch with past customers. Ninety percent of my business comes from referrals. Social media helps keep me in front of my past customers and is an effective complement to the time I get to spend with some of the great people I have worked with. I always say that I have the best customers because I do and many of them become great friends after closing.
What marketing method is least effective for you and why?
Postcards. Because who wants junk mail?? Plus I hate wasting the paper. 😊
How do you measure your marketing methods?
I am very “data” oriented lol. I keep track of each closing and how that customer found me and cross check that quarterly to make sure my outgoing marketing expenses are successful. If not, I get rid of them.
What are your 3 favorite ways to start a conversation?
I am not a super outgoing person so my first way would be to allow someone else to start it. Haha. I like learning about other people a lot so most anything else would be asking them something about themselves and seeing where my curiosity takes me with that.
How are you elevating the look and feel of your business in 2018?
I am always trying to improve the details and services that I offer, so I am constantly working on fresh ideas and systems to give the customers that I work with the best experience possible. I am also a casual person (esp. with the Florida heat) so I like my marketing to look and feel comfortable and approachable.
Connect with Amanda on Facebook and Instagram; Learn more about her business on her website and blog.
Have more questions for Amanda, or have a question you'd like asked in future Q&As? Fire away in the comment section!