Online Advertising and Content

so much of what you ask is based in personal belief, geographic location and individual drive. From my perspective, I find that most general advertising sites are worthless as they are overrun by investor and investor wannabee ads. Ghost ads are also a big problem. It doesn't mean you can't find true gems there, it just means you have to go through a lot of crap to find one. I lean toward using a paid site as that is a place for most true owners selling homes. As far as assignments go, I do not employ that strategy as my homes are either L/O, fix and flips, or buy and holds. Traditionally, I form LLCs with other investors and spearhead a strategy listed above. However, there are investors on this website that really focus on assignments and do rather well. It just isn't me.

Hope this info helps.

congratulations on taking steps to becoming a rei; you should fill out information about yourself on your profile page, so that other members on this site will know who they are corresponding with.

I don't understand why you state that you are 'confined' to Assignments... as a rei you can do anything you would like to do, but if you choose to do assignments, I recommend that you read Carol Stinson's journal among many others.

Just type in the word 'assignments' in the small box on the top left of this page where it says search, and hit enter. Many threads about assignment of contracts will be available for you to read and learn.

wishing you great success,

Valerie

Your information definitely helps me, and I appreciate it very much. I had a feeling I'd be wasting time trying to ply general classified sites with advertising. This makes me feel better about straying from the Academies curriculum. What do you mean, however, that Ghost Ads are problematic? This was conceivably going to my next strategy, as I was inspired by one of Deans Top investors (I forget his name) who took to them very favorably...

PS I added a personal statement on my page at the suggestion of User 'Valuni', in case it'd be easier for you to respond knowing where I'm at on those terms...

Thanks a million, again!

Ryan Hart

Valerie,

Thanks for your response. I went ahead and filled out my profiles information. Perhaps, by looking at that you'll understand why I'm keen on starting with assignments. Also, thank you for pointing me in the right direction with regards to that journal.

Wishing You Also Success

Ryan Hart

Ryan,

your statement on your profile is beautiful!

Here's a thread that can keep you motivated while you learn how to do assignments.

http://www.deangraziosi.com/node/8911

I believe what Bill is trying to say about ghost ads is that they have been over-used by new investors; therefore many experienced investors don't 'fall' for them. I did post a couple of ghost ads on CL and I did have a good response, but you need to try different things and find out what works for you and what does not.

Also, look out for posts by Michael Mangham-he's in Colorado too and one of DG's more experienced investors.
Here's one of his posts:

http://www.deangraziosi.com/real-estate-forums/financing-and-credit/8262...

Valerie

I simply mean that when any strategy is taught to new investors, they all flood Craigslist with those ads thinking they are the only one that is doing it. In reality, each city has 25-100 investors doing the same thing and it dilutes the value of the concept. If you do come up with novel ideas for marketing, the best thing you can do is keep it to yourself. Why? Because there are tons of well meaning new investors that don't pull it off correctly and ruin it for the ones that can execute the program correctly. Just my two cents.

I, too, feel confined to assignments, because I have no cash of my own to work with. I would prefer to buy and flip, and ultimately buy and hold. Without cash, no lines of credit, and bad credit to boot, I think my options are limited to Assignments.

But my first call with the Academy is on Tuesday, maybe I will discover I have more options! I am so excited about my new life. I fell like am reborn!

Hey Thanks Valerie,

I think I'll give Craigslist a shot, shouldn't take to long any way...as well as Bandit Signs...I like that idea especially for some reason . Thanks for the leads and directions. Your profile is beautiful as well, and you seem like just a delightful person

Ryan

Thanks for the heads up on this, I'll definitely strive to be original as I become more accustomed to advertisement, and to avoid those certain pitfalls. You've been very helpful, I might just have hit you up with some more questions as I get further along

Ryan

StacyKae

I hope everything goes well for you. I may not be able to give you the information you need about Real Estate considering we're in the nascent stage together, but I'm never short of inspiration if that's what you need.

Best of Luck,

Ryan Hart

I just started Dean's Course a couple days ago. I am sitting at a Starbucks right now doing the course, doing the action items and I have hit a road block. I am having a hard time writing good, effective, and content loaded online ads.

Does anybody have any suggestions or found something that worked best for them?

Thanks!
Awaterloo

Deans' course has some sample adds; think of the adds that you would feel compelled to reply to... go to CL and look at some that catch your attention, and copy the ideas...
don't put too much information on the add; just enough to get someone's attention.

Wishing you success,

Valerie

Thank you so much Valerie!

You state that you're in the Success Academy. I suggest you sign up and attend the teleconferences for building buyers lists, 2 different calls, the proactive and reactive ones. You'll get tons of info there!
My coach also said that it's not absolutely critical to complete every single action step, just do what you can with what you have at the moment and keep learning. What's important is to remember that you have the information available when you need it.
One more thing, call the Advisory line! That's what they're there for. They know the latest tips & techniques and it's all included in your tuition so use it.

Good luck!

Thanks Mark. I'll heed your words this evening.

Ryan

I will also echo everything already said on here about how to seek help on this site and more.

The academy coaches and material should have given you a number of methods for finding buyers. I'm assuming this is what you are asking about and not sites for posting deals or something. Anyway there's lots of ways to meet good solid players in your area. A few that I have used are: Local REI club meetings and message boards, foreclosure auctions (watch who's bidding or qualifying to bid, those are cash buyers) also you can see what they like to buy based on what they are bidding on, ghost ads (that still works no matter how many do it). I will be using other methods but I have a good base to work with. Once you get around insiders at the club meetings and classes you will be adding contacts continuously. Just don't be shy. Take the effort to strike up conversation and see where it takes you. It's like they say, "You never know where your next deal will come from".

Best of luck to you
Steve

AGREEEEED! To wholesale or be the finder requires having actually found a deal that everyone else is looking for and you found first, which is the roux (that's cajun for 'ya!) of what DG education materials are teaching, all stemming from his advertising or finding techniques. I recently had a "finder" send me an MLS listing from his agent. That's not what buyers are biting on.

Anyway, for the marketing aspect, also remember that DG's techniques are combing or applying several different skill sets and applying them to REI. Mainly direct marketing which was always known to be cheap, targeted, effective, and a marketing powerhouse! Think infomercial, or long landing pages. A lot of these skills are long standing, tried and true techniques that often get forgotten because they're not as "glamorous."

I recommend that on top of you DG education, you supplement it with some old classics. Just immerse yourself in older, cheap, highly rated marketing books. I took a marketing class a while ago, the text book was a simple looking paperback published in 2007 (not that '07 is old, but the principles in the book were) by Alexander Hiam, called Marketing, and I got it used for less than $10. I reference this book still today, among many others!

For immediate action though, I'd say the most weight is on the headline. When I was taking a course on Google AdWords the author's biggest point was to "answer the question in the reader's head," or join the conversation that in the reader's head, going back to an old adage that if you want to sell drills, you don't sell the drill, you sell them a hole, and how to make it. And in all things, KISS it (Keep It Simple, Sir)

So a headline that might catch a sellers attention is,
"Why won't my home sell?!
Listen to free 24/7 recorded advice line
XXX-XXX-XXXX"
You just joined in on the conversation in his head, and provided some action oriented, no-pressure help. The fourth line would be a relevant website if you're using ppc ads online.

A headline that might catch a buyer's attention is:
19% equity, $200 cash-flow
3/2 SFH. Take this off me now!
XXX-XXX-XXXX

If the buyer is like me, he is constantly toying with numbers, and/or has clear defined criteria for investments he wants. This one is about a point off the equity I want, but I'm calling that number to see why the heck he wants to let it go! ...and then I find out it's a wholesaler with good ads, but I already called, and I'm interested It was a simple ad, direct, and joined the conversation in my head.

Hope this helps!

Take care,
Chad.

I have several marketing courses and materials.
The best way to summarize the situation is:
a - Reinforce their pain (ie: a foreclosure can stay on your credit history for 7 years!)
b - provide the solution (we can help prevent that foreclosure!)

People want to know what YOU can do for THEM, how they can benefit from your services and products.

Answer that question and you're in business.

good advice in his post. You have to learn continuously in this business if you want to have a chance. The cheapest way is to go to the library and read some of the other books (usually older books) about real estate. While they may not apply to your situation today, you never know when the information could make your $5,000.