As a real estate investor, you use classified advertising on a regular basis. Have you ever seen a classified ad that reads something like this?
“Three bedroom two bath rambler for rent in nice neighborhood. $850 per month with $1,000 deposit. Call John at 555-846-6798.”
That advertisement absolutely screams BORING.
The one thing you do need to be careful of is not violating antidiscrimination laws. You shouldn’t use the term “family friendly” because it discriminates against marital status.
What you want are descriptive words about the property. Here are some examples:
o Well maintained historic home with large yard and wrap-around porch.
o Beachfront home is like living in a year-round resort.
o Forget the yard work when you live in this well-appointed condo with pool, exercise facilities, and other amenities to pamper you.
o Fully remodeled with granite counter tops and newly tiled bathroom.
Another tip about electronic advertising is paying attention to the time of day it’s posted. Sites like craigslist automatically place the newest posting at the top of the list and move older postings down. By knowing what time of the day your target audience reads the ads, you can place your ad near the top to increase the chances it’s read.
Another critical element to your marketing message is having a clear call to action. You want the reader to take immediate action. You get them to take action by telling them what is in it for them. Here are a few ideas:
o Learn if this is your ideal home by following the link to the full story.
o Don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to buy your dream home for a price you can afford. Visit this website to learn how.
o See the great features that you can be enjoying as the new owner of this amazing property.
Here are a few more classified marketing tips:
o Place links to more information in multiple locations throughout the ad.
o Change the color of the text and increase its size to draw attention to it.
o Place links in graphics such as your logo or a photo of the property.
Integrating these marketing tips will bring you more customers and ultimately more income or profit.

All the Best,
Peter Vekselman

PS: Private Real Estate Investment Coaching Available:
http://coachingbypeter.com/mki/

 

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