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Frustrated

by caseym
12 replies
I've worked hard on my web site for the past 3 months, trying to get every detail just right.

I finally finished my landing page and emailed five real estate agents to hopefully start posting ads, but so far I've not received one email or response back.

My landing page is here: How to Advertise Real Estate to Military - An Insider's Perspective | Military Tips

Now I'm looking at three options:

1. Keep emailing realtors until someone bites
2. Add more neighborhoods to prove that I can pull in traffic
3. Give up

I really don't want to give up on this idea but I'm already starting to question my whole concept.

What do you guys think? Am I getting myself down too quick? Should I pick myself up get back to work?

Thanks,
Casey
#frustrated
  • Profile picture of the author Shaun OReilly
    Hi Casey,

    Your site looks clean and I can see that you've put a lot of
    effort into it.

    However...

    Are you aware of any competitors who are doing something
    similar to you, i.e. focusing on Real Estate for people in the
    military?

    Are there any competitors locally or elsewhere?

    If so, reverse engineer what they're doing.

    If not, you've got a decision to make...

    Either persist and try to find a way to make it work if there
    is one. Remember that pioneers are often the people who
    end up with arrows in their back. Only a minority of pioneers
    make the big time and blaze a trail for others to follow.

    Or, learn from the process, and apply your learning into a
    different project.

    (Usually, the presence of competition is an indication that
    money is being made. All you then need to do is to through
    your hat into the ring and use superior marketing and a
    good product to get your slice of the pie).

    Dedicated to your success,

    Shaun
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  • Profile picture of the author thebitbotdotcom
    I would try some article marketing for a couple of months.

    Also, since military personnel move frequently, could you refocus on renting perhaps if outright purchasing doesn't play out?
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    • Profile picture of the author caseym
      Originally Posted by thebitbotdotcom View Post

      I would try some article marketing for a couple of months.

      Also, since military personnel move frequently, could you refocus on renting perhaps if outright purchasing doesn't play out?
      Hmm I may try some article marketing. The concept should apply to renting as well as military would want to know about the neighborhood before they rent. However, my main pitch right now is towards realtors who can get leads directed to their site based off the site.
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  • Profile picture of the author caseym
    Shaun,

    Yes there are definitely companies in the military real estate field, but they are all focused on "by owner" classifieds. No web site focuses on describing neighborhoods like my site.

    I've thought about broadening into the classified business if my site gets successful. But I'm trying to start with something unique that's not out there.

    Maybe part of the problem is it's too much work for somebody to write an article about something they know... even if it makes them money?

    Thanks,
    Casey
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  • Profile picture of the author oneplusone
    While I'm sure this kind of business model works for some people, I've seen far too many people try this model and have similar experiences to yours.

    However I think you're biggest issue is you are trying to sell people a suggestion rather than a solution.

    I would recommend you go through Eben Pagan's free training on the mistake of trying to sell suggestions v solutions:

    GURU BluePrint Blog

    How many real estate folks are thinking about or are actively looking to sell in the military market?

    My feeling is, you are having to try and talk them into it.

    And when you have to talk people into something, it is hard to sell anything even for the best of marketers.
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    'If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.' Vincent Van Gogh.
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    • Profile picture of the author caseym
      Originally Posted by oneplusone View Post

      While I'm sure this kind of business model works for some people, I've seen far too many people try this model and have similar experiences to yours.

      However I think you're biggest issue is you are trying to sell people a suggestion rather than a solution.
      The real estate agents near military bases are definitely interested in selling to military. However, I do feel I have to convince them to try this new model of advertising. They are very focused on selling a single house rather than pulling in leads based on broad categories.

      I'm tempted to keep pushing through on my own and create the content myself. I think a site with this kind of content would be very popular.

      Do you think it's wise to get a site popular and then think of a way to monetize it?
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  • Profile picture of the author sameguide
    Remember you web site is only 3 months old, it is not right expect success in short time.i want to ask you,did you optimized for search engines?otherwise it is hard to get sales or visitors to your site.how writing 3 emails to real estate firm can give you their ads?if you want to sell ad space then you have show them your daily traffic statistics then only they will buy ads.dont get frustrated?it is only 3 months work.its like foundation for your business.
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  • Profile picture of the author T.J.
    1. Header image

    Your header image is confusing if target market is "real estate agents", as it says "Miltary Tips, Improve your life in the Military". And that’s the first thing I see.



    2. Headline

    "Do What No Other Real Estate Agent is Doing to Capture the Military Market"

    Your headline is small and doesn't grab my attention. Try making it in red and in a bigger font.

    Also it's not compelling/ emotional/ appealing and it doesn't grab my attention/ curiosity...

    And as a former Real Estate agent it doesn't grab my interest right off the bat.

    3. Think Benefits vs Features

    Feature: Capture the Military Market
    Benefit: Make More Money

    Agents don't want to learn how Capture a Military Market. Most agents get 80-90 % (maybe more) percent of there leads through referrals. This is called their "sphere of influence" (friends/family/mortgage brokers etc.). Their primary interest/benefit in your service (if any) would be how to make more money. Now you have to convey how they can do that in your headline.

    Also consider a pre-head something like:

    Attention: Real Estate Agents Who Want to Increase Their Income

    "Learn How to Make More Money, and get MORE SALES, by Tapping into a HUGE Military Housing Market"

    Then you could also consider a different lead in... Something like this:

    -757 Military Bases In the US (or if your targeting SC: 13 Military Bases In South Carolina)
    -100's Join the military DAILY
    -Military Personal are Only Given 10 DAYS to find a home
    -And they are relocating ALL the time.

    Dear Struggling Agent,

    Military personal are DESPARATE to find homes in your area. And they are continuing to move into and out of your area every month. This means can reach MORE buyers and sellers...

    Which ultimately leads to ONE thing for you...

    MORE COMMISSIONS.

    When you learn how to tap into this market, you'll be dealing with buyers and Sellers that only have 10 days to find a home.

    This means Faster and Easier sales for you. No more dealing with picky buyers. And no dealing with unmotivated sellers.

    ...or something like that

    Try spending some time in the copywriting forum...

    P.S. It seems like the REAL key to establishing a presence in a Military market is to get in touch with the potential buyers "sponsor". You even say this on your web page. You might also want to show how or what the best way to do this is as well. Heck.. You may even want to write an ebook on it.

    Hope this helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author draede
    Just keep at it.
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  • Profile picture of the author jikanv
    Face to face my brother, is the most effective sale. You have to sell your site to them just as they have to sell the houses. Can you sell your site to them? Would you buy it if someone aproached you with it? Ther lies the answer of why aren't they buyin' it
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  • Profile picture of the author JennSpencerIM
    Originally Posted by caseym View Post

    I've worked hard on my web site for the past 3 months, trying to get every detail just right.

    I finally finished my landing page and emailed five real estate agents to hopefully start posting ads, but so far I've not received one email or response back.

    My landing page is here: How to Advertise Real Estate to Military - An Insider's Perspective | Military Tips

    Now I'm looking at three options:

    1. Keep emailing realtors until someone bites
    2. Add more neighborhoods to prove that I can pull in traffic
    3. Give up

    I really don't want to give up on this idea but I'm already starting to question my whole concept.

    What do you guys think? Am I getting myself down too quick? Should I pick myself up get back to work?

    Thanks,
    Casey
    Just one word of caution that concerns me...#1 you say you are emailing Realtors...do you have their permission to email them? This type of spam (if you don't have their permission) will get you in trouble really fast and is a really bad way to build any business...be careful!!
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