Interview: What if Seth Godin was a Realtor?
Marketing guru Seth Godin responded to some questions that I emailed him about the real estate business. I was curious to know what he would do if he were a Realtor. I asked him 3 questions and you will see his responses below. Seth is the marketing mind behind The Purple Cow, All Marketers are Liars, The Dip plus much more.
Ubertor: If you were a Realtor what one way would you market yourself differently?
Seth Godin: It wouldn’t be marketing, it would be what I DO. I would specialize obsessively. On a neighborhood or a market segment. I’d only sell restaurants, or condos, or to the gay community. I wouldn’t start doing ANYTHING where I didn’t have a good chance to be the best in the world at it.
Ubertor: What mistake do most Realtors make when marketing a home?
Seth Godin: They act like invisible middlemen. Here’s the question: if you had to charge a 7% commission instead, how would you justify it?
do that.
Ubertor: How would you pick a Realtor to sell your home?
Seth Godin:
Someone I trusted
Someone respected
Someone who was the clear and obvious best choice!
If you looking for an always entertaining, good read, then check out Seth’s blog. He always has something to say that is interesting and entertaining. Be sure to subscribe to his blog email feed.
November 14th, 2007 at 1:33 am
I cornered Seth before his talk today at NAR. He’s a really interesting guy and I am a follower and a sneezer of purple cow. I think Seth is right on the money that advertising the old way doesn’t work anymore. You gotta get people talking about you.
If I was going to be a real estate agent this is what I would do:
1. I would get hyper local. I would choose a condo complex, a neighborhood, an area and become the world’s foremost expert on it.
2. I would farm that area. However, I would print something useful and remarkable on there. Something that sparks curiosity.
3. I would build a community around myself.
4. I would work in a team. I’m a geek, selling homes isn’t my forté, the web is. I would work with the best sales agents I could find. The best geeks I can find. The best marketing people I can find.
5. I would make it a pleasure to buy from me. Seth made a good point, realtors don’t sell to homeless people. Most buyers buy out of want not need.
Yea that’s what I’d do…
November 15th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
[...] Ubertor scores a big interview from none other than Seth Godin. Interview: What if Seth Godin was a Realtor? [...]
November 16th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
I’ve just discovered Seth and the purple cow thing. Boy am I glad I started “specializing” a year ago. Now I’m refining it.
November 19th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
[...] Ubertor Real Estate Blog scored an interview with Uber-marketer (and NAR Convention Keynoter) Seth Godin: Ubertor: If you were a Realtor what one way would you market yourself differently? [...]
November 20th, 2007 at 5:08 am
Yawn…Poor Seth, He is a one idea pony. Niching, now micro niching….Niche agents are generally the WORST agents! No cross polinated experience and very minimal world view. Generally populated by the Ego driven low producers. The reality of Niching is once successful there is usually a flight to “generalization” in order to increase market share and reach.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:43 pm
[...] Ubertor real estate blog did a quick interview with Seth Godin, the marketing guru and writer, and asked [...]
December 3rd, 2007 at 5:30 pm
[...] fact, the guys over at Ubertor blog posed this question in a recent interview with Seth Godin -internet marketing expert and frequent speaker at real estate conferences. Ubertor: If you were a [...]
January 30th, 2008 at 10:31 am
I have to agree with Mark above. Specializing will only take you so far. However, providing exceptional service, appreciation for your client base and constant contact while providing them with real ongoing value is the key to long term success. Your clients need to think you’re the best thing since sliced bread even after they bought or sold their home.