 After last week's post on marketing my commercial unit myself, I received many emails with tips and encouragement. Thanks for that!
Readers commented that they prefer dealing with owners of property directly as they know the property best. I know this is not everyone's thing and a lot of real estate agents do a great job, but in my case I think this is working as I can spend time with interested parties and provide good service! Someone said it's useful to have an open home as people like the structured approach. Great idea! I will plan some in the next couple of weeks! Here are a few other marketing activities I've carried out in the last week: - Registered www.unitforsale.co.nz. This website address links to the page on this website with information on the unit. I have added more photos and information to it. Having a specific website address for a marketing campaing enables me to track (through Google Analytics) how many people view this page. - New photos photos on Trademe listing so it stays 'fresh'. - I'm having 250 flyers printed that will be distributed to my target market next week. - I have shown a handful of interested parties the unit (and there are a few more in the pipeline, and hopefully one of them will be a buyer!). The majority of these people are exactly the type of people that would love living and working here. Some are overseas for part of the year and want a 'pied a terre' in Queenstown that requires no maintenance. So, it's been an exciting journey in just the first week and a half! I'll keep you posted. And if you know of anyone that is looking for a unit like this one (in near-new condition), please email them the link www.unitforsale.co.nz . Registrations now open for the 2014/15 Marketing for Success Programme. Click here for info! Till next week, Marijke
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 FOR SALE: Unit F, Shotover Ridge Business Park! Click on image Wow, I've done it! I've put my unit on the market! Following on from my marketing tip last week about service, the following has happened. For personal reasons, I am selling my wonderful unit at Shotover Ridge Business Park. (to my clients: I am still running workshops, developing marketing strategies and operate the Smartourism Marketing Group! And I will still be living in Queenstown!) It would have been better to wait another year as pricing are going up fast, but alas! I've been dealing with several real estate agents. They are all very busy people (see last week's post), so I thought: "hey, I'm a marketer, I can do this!" and decided to market my unit myself. I know the unit best, and I know who my potential market is. I always say: NOT everyone is your customer. So if you advertise everywhere, you also pay to reach every man and his dog. There has to be smarter way... Marketing is about identifying who your customer is and find ways to target them directly. So, true to my own word, I've embarked on the exciting journey of marketing my office myself! Here are my reasons: - I think I can do a better job myself :) - I can pass on the saving on huge real estate fees to my buyer - In only a few days I already have two high quality parties interested! - I love a challenge! What I have done so far is: - Put a FOR SALE sign on the building. People that are actively looking for property will see it (and they have!) - Put an ad on Trademe: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=796692681 - I've provided really good service to the potential buyers, providing them with all the info they need, talked to them, met with them. I showed them around and have been honest about everything about the unit. - Put a page on this website with detailed information: http://www.marketingwhizz.com/commercial-property-for-sale.html - And last and not least, I've spoken with key contacts that are spreading the word for me. I have set a realistic price too. Next week, I have few more marketing activities up my sleeve. I'll tell you about them next week! Oh, and if you're interested yourself in this property or if you can give me any tips, please contact me! (or pass it on to a friend!) Till next week, Marijke Registrations now open for the 2014/15 Marketing for Success Programme. Click here for info!
Registrations now open for the 2014/15 Marketing for Success Programme. Click here for info! We all complain about bad service, and I am amazed about how many businesses can’t get this right. Recently, I have made some big purchasing decisions and have bought from businesses that provide exceptional service. I have also not chosen to go with the ones that haven’t called me back or have not done what they said they would do. So, based on my recent (often frustrating and some exceptionally good) experiences, here are some basic ‘rules’ that will help you grow your business by making great service a priority! I live by those rules too! 1. Be passionate about what you do, and employ staff that are as passionate as you about their work and dealing with customers! Delivering good service comes easy if you love your job! 2. Under promise and over deliver. Do a little more than your customers are paying for, they'll love you for it! In other words, go the extra mile! 3. Do what you say you do. I’ve had a number of businesses whom I have been dealing with in selling property that said they would call me back, or said they would send me an appraisal and they haven’t. And I am the customer in this case, willing to spend money with them! They’re making it very difficult for me to want to do business with them! 4. Keep in touch with your customers: if you’re in the process of doing a job or proposal for them, let them know you’re working on it and haven’t forgotten them. 5. Reputation. We all know the importance of positive word of mouth and recommendations. Now, with social media, the good and the bad word spreads even faster. Keep an eye on your reputation and what is being said about you. Bad experiences spread a lot faster than good ones! 6. Get testimonials: always ask your customers for testimonials that you can use to get other clients on board. Whether they be on your website or through sites as Tripadvisor, they’re so important in adding credibility and getting people to buy your product or service. 7. Make the customer feel important, no matter how busy you are! In my recent dealings with real estate agents, I was told by one that he hadn’t called me back because he was so busy. How do you think that made me feel? Is that my problem? How is he going to do a good job for me if he has no time? It certainly didn’t make me feel good. The customer is ALWAYS king. Make them feel important! 8. Follow up. Once a customer has made an enquiry with you, they are obviously interested in your product or service. Do follow up with them in order to get the sale, even if it takes several times… 9. Return calls and emails promptly. If you do, the customer feels like you care. If you don’t, they are likely to contact your competitor. 10. Train your staff. Discuss these things with your staff and set up service standards in your business. How do you want to treat your customers? And last but not least, SMILE! Till next week, Marijke Registrations now open for the 2014/15 Marketing for Success Programme. Click here for info! Whether you sell a tourism activity, a dining experience, gardening services or accommodation packages, you can package these up to be the perfect gift for specific types of people!
What you need to do is the following: - Identify your different target markets (customer groups), so your customer can identify with these, for example : o Gift ideas for mum o Gift ideas for dad o Gift ideas for the family o Gift ideas for girlfriend o Gift ideas for teenager o Gift ideas for grandparents o Gift ideas for couple o Gift ideas for adrenalin-seeker o Gift ideas for staff o Gift ideas for ??? - Then, for each customer group that you can cater for, list the options you offer and a buy now or book now link to the gift voucher. It’s about making it simple for people to book/buy gift vouchers for mum, dad, or someone with a particular interest! Make the expiration date 1 year from the date of purchase. You can always offer a special deal if they buy the voucher before a certain date, or buy multiple vouchers. Another fact about gift vouchers is that a percentage (they say up to 25%!!) never get redeemed! Till next week, Marijke  I have clients who are given dozens of calendars each Christmas by their suppliers. I’ve asked them what they do with them. They keep one nice one, give a few away to staff or whoever wants them, and the rest goes in the bin!
The only ones they keep have images or other content that appeals to them. Have you ever received corporate gifts? These could be bottles of wine, mugs, pocket knives, clocks, business card holders, pens, bags, umbrellas, t-shirts, caps with….the company logo plastered all over it! To be honest, I don’t really want to walk around town with my bank’s logo on my umbrella, or have a business card holder with someone else’s logo on it. And what about all those nice satchels you get at conferences and events? Do you EVER reuse them? I want something that I like myself, with no logo on it or just a very subtle one that is not obvious… Last year, I received a Rosemary plant in a pot from one of my clients. It sits on my balcony at work, and when I see it or water it, I remember who gave it to me. And it doesn’t have a logo on it Another client gave me nice hand cream and soap for the bathroom. Same as the above: I do remember who gave it every time I use it. A corporate gift, especially a Christmas gift should be given with the recipient in mind. They will remember you more if you give them something they want. It is supposed to be something nice for them, not you! It doesn’t need a huge logo on it! So, it’s only 82 days till Christmas. Brainstorm with your staff and surprise your clients with an original gift this year! Have a great weekend! Marijke |
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AuthorMarijke Dunselman. Click here to read more about us! 
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