Press Release for real estate agent- what's the angle???

I am not sure exactly what you are asking here but let me give a few quick title ideas.

Is your property still unsold? There are reasons why!

Looking for that special home or property and can not find it?

Do you own or want a special property and need real results?

Tried of not finding the property you want?

Tired of your property still being on the market?

Do you need a realtor that understands your needs, instead of excuses?

Tell him to put out those ugly yellow bandit signs.
They get HUGE conversions for pocket listings.
If what he is looking for are buyers.

Then sell him sms service with a short code for him to put on the sign.
So it would say
For Sale
3/2
98,000
More info TEXT "HOUSE" to 96321

This is killing for me and my agents that im working with right now.

There are a couple different ways to go about utilizing Press Releases. First, there is the "cheap-o" way using PRWeb or similar internet PR submission services. Essentially this will get a bunch of articles splashed about the internet, but it really won't do anything to help them out.

It used to be that Press Releases were used to actually get on or in the news. This is really what you want to go for, especially for a Realtor who is in a local market.

With that said, it seems that the big things related to Real Estate that are making the news have to do with declining home prices, foreclosures, and short sales. If I was in your shoes I would make a press release around a study done on short sales. Maybe something along the lines of how long it takes the banks to approve a short sale or something like that. Make it something newsworthy though. Then throw in a sentence or two on how the Realtor is a great person to use to find short sales and other offers that aren't advertised.

Just a thought...

-Ben

I have a few questions

Why and how are the listings private? Part of the reason you get a realtor vs. doing FSBO is to get in the MLS database. This seems like a strange way to market and I think getting a feeling for why could help us all make some suggestions.

Also what is he trying to do with the press releases? Does he want local news to pick them up? SEO? Just what is his or your plan for these press releases?

I would be careful with this agent, or broker. In NY State, a Realtor must place a listing in the MLS unless the client explicitly requests you don't put it in there (and this MUST be documented). If the client doesn't request it, it is then called a "pocket listing". This would be a clear violation of the Realtor and state governing bodies.

Now, of course, if they are simply a Real estate Agent licensed to practice Real Estate and they have not joined the national, state, and local Boards of Realtor's, then they are not a Realtor and have no obligation (or means) to put a property into the MLS.

Either way, I cannot imagine a Real Estate Agent or a Realtor wanting to be "known as guy who has private listings not available on MLS". DUMB, in my opinion! Realtor's control 93% of the buyers in the market and the buyers want to have 24/7/365 access to MLS listings.

The best way to get a Realtor, or Real Estate Agent, properly branded is to out perform the marketing of the competing agents. This can be done, I have done it several times for Realtor's. I am a Realtor. But I have turned my focus to marketing Agents rather than competing in this dismal housing market. I was doing well, but I am doing 4 fold in marketing from what I was producing as an agent.

My recommendation, don't do anything that can be considered "half assed" for Realtors, or Agents. Real Estate is a small community (but lucrative) and word gets around quick in their circles. Also, if you really want to crack the Realtor market, then go after the top producers. The rest of the Agents simply don't have the money, or are unwilling to spend it, to get the job done right.

T J