Paris Opera House, Grand Staircase Photo by Nicole Brown. Dreamstime
Perhaps one of the most important principles that luxury real estate marketing professionals need to understand about personal branding for real estate agents is this: Out-think, not out-spend your competition. If you want to out-smart your competition find something, some niche that you can do better than anyone else in your marketplace.
Choose an arena in which you can become the brand that matches your personality, and where you can express your passion. Finding that niche/brand may take time, however in the long run it will pay dividends, and make work fun. Don’t waste your time or your money becoming a “me-too” in a niche that your competitor dominates.
Here is an example. One of the agents we spent time with had graduated from a prestigious university with a Master in Fine Arts in Opera. Opera was her passion although she knew that her voice was not of the caliber that would catapult her on stage as a star. In our conversations with her, we suggested that she investigate the opera community in her marketplace. This metropolitan city is known for its passion for opera.
She started volunteering both back stage and in fund raising. The majority of the donors lived in the exact market place she wanted to dominate. By volunteering she became known as the go to real estate agent for that opera loving community and their sphere of influence. She also was given chorus parts in some of the productions.
As a luxury real estate marketing professional, the size of your advertising budget does not guarantee your success if you fail to form a strong emotional connection with your target market, whether it be consumers or referring real estate agents from outside of your marketplace. Win the hearts and minds of your target market by having them identify with who you are. Remember, people like doing business with people like themselves!
And in the immortal words of Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart,
Sing for your supper, and you'll get breakfast;
Songbirds always eat
If their song is sweet to hear.
Sing for your luncheon, and you'll get dinner -
Dine with wine of choice
If romance is in your voice
Now is time to sing for your supper, and you'll get breakfast.
Songbirds are not dumb;
They never buy a crumb of bread,
It is said...
So sing, and you'll be fed, oh yeah -
Just sing and you'll be fed.