How much time do you spend marketing?

[Chris B]

Hi All,

How much of your overall time are you spending marketing? I'm talking everything....from creating lists for postcards, to sending them out. Or everything from optimizing online ads, to managing them?

I'm spending a heck of a lot of time doing these...at least 50% of my time is simply in lead generation.

I wanted to see if I'm spending too much, or too little.

Thanks

Chris

[Bill Gulley]

Chris, I'm sure that many here could give you a better idea than I, but when I started, I mean really seriously, I spent almost all of my time "marketing" either finding buyers or tenant/buyers.

I never mailed a post card, posted a "I buy houses" sign, never used or bought a list, never used Craig's List, and never used birddogs!

I did it the old fashion way, the real proven method, walk and talk! Dig at the courthouse and became familiar with others in the real estate business. Talked to banks, lenders and appraisers. Every where I went people knew what I did. I'd talk to closing agents and attorneys and I was active in community affairs. When I had rentals I had a sign in the yard and I would make flyers and post them at about six different places, within a couple weeks, generally they were rented. Leads I got at the courthouse were cold calls, I was very good at it because I used it in the insurance business years before. After a couple months, people knew what I did. People called me and when I did a deal I got referrals! The old insurance agent trick, who do you know that.had a baby, got a raise, graduated from college, etc...,
I was busy for 25 years, all I had was a yellow pages listing, not an ad, just a listing that came with my commercial lines. No TV, no radio, no sign, just business cards and for awhile some brochures I handed out myself, but I didn't do that too long, I had too many calls. I promoted my business differently than most everyone else, it worked for me. I can't say it was the best way, but if you don't need to advertise...well?
The very best advertising you can get is word of mouth!
What ever you do, getting started, it will take time. I see C'sL as a good source in a community to get the word out, if it had been there when I started I would have used it.