There are essentially 5 steps to being successful in real estate marketing. Before we go into the 5 steps of real estate marketing, I want to encourage you to become a student of marketing. The moment that you are able to find your own deals - on demand - the more money you will make! It's a direct correlation.

When I started out in real estate, I didn't understand how to "really" market for deals. I was depending upon real estate agents, local real estate investing groups, etc. I did a lot of deals, but I realized I wasn't making the kind of money I knew I could in estate. Follow these five steps to successful real estate marketing and you'll be on your way to filling your own funnel full of five-figure deals.

1. Define Your Target Market:

You must be focused; If you run in too many directions, focusing on too many real estate markets, you'll always be skipping around, never getting ahead. You need to learn overcome objections; you need to know how to handle the different situations that arise. Once you master one market, then you can duplicate your system across market after market. For instance, you may choose to start working with foreclosures or out of state owners. Once you get the real estate marketing system in place for one, add the other. Then, you can simply duplicate it over and over again! The single most important thing to remember is that you MUST target motivated sellers... PERIOD.

2. Execute your plan:

It has been said that successful real estate investors have three things: specialized knowledge, ability to take action, and consistency. It's not enough to have the knowledge. You have to act on that knowledge.

Let's say your real estate marketing strategy involves bandit signs. You need to have a system for distributing signs on a consistent basis, a consistent method for filtering leads, and a bullet-proof follow up system. If you're going to execute a direct mail campaign, make sure you have a system for sending out the whole series. For instance, our foreclosure direct mail system consists of 6 sequential postcards. It doesn't do you any good to come off the starting block at 100mph if you don't have the ability to sustain that pace or the have tools to fulfill the plan. If you only have the resources to send the first postcard, don't bother wasting your money. Find another real estate marketing strategy.

3. Pre-screen your leads:

Scribbling notes on the back of an envelope while you're driving is not a system! We actually send our leads to a separate voicemail line or a call center depending on the marketing campaign. Our students and staff have been trained to do this because it takes emotion out of the system. If I'm having a bad day or sitting in traffic, I can't focus on that call from the motivated seller, so all of the calls are fed through the system. We request that the seller leave certain information on the line or with the operator. We then take that information and do our basic due diligence before we even have our first conversation with the seller to find out if, in fact, he/she is a motivated seller.

4. Make your offer:

By following a specific real estate marketing system, you'll be prepared to make an initial offer during the first phone call. By asking the right questions and having a pre-screening sheet in front of you, you'll quickly learn if they are a motivated seller or simply just wasting time! If your real estate marketing system has this component in place, you'll know what the property is worth, have a ballpark idea of what the repair costs are, and will know if the seller is motivated. Consequently, you will know at what price you should make your first offer.

5. Contract/Exit Strategy:

Once the seller has accepted our verbal offer, or is close thereto, it's time to put the purchase offer in writing. We include 3 contingencies - or escape clauses - into the contract.

- Inspection

- In the event of buyer's default, the deposit is the sole remedy

- Subject to property appraisal

Based on this due diligence, we are then able to decide which exit strategy is most appropriate. All of this follows a basic flow chart process. There's no thinking! It's like when you call in for technical support on your computer. They ask you a question, and based on your answer... they go to the next step. This is how you want to run the marketing division of your real estate business.

Keep in mind that your real estate marketing efforts should be in concert with the types of deals you're looking to do. For instance, if you want to flip properties, your marketing system might target motivated sellers facing foreclosure. On another note, if you're looking to build a rental portfolio, then you might consider building a real estate marketing plan to target landlords filing evictions.

Imagine a life where you don’t need to worry about money, and you can have everything your family needs. A life of financial freedom is attainable. The secret is to follow a set of proven principles and techniques and apply them to your own life and then you will be on your way to achieving financial freedom and the life you have always desired.

You need to understand that my principles and techniques are more than just theory; they are based on real life experiences and successes and are proven to work over and over again in all types of markets. No matter what the circumstance, these success principles will work to move you toward financial independence, as long as you apply them.

Before you can be wealthy, it is essential to understand what wealth really is. The dictionary definition is: An abundance of those things people desire. A sound or healthy state. Well being. Notice that the definition of wealth does not mention money, not even once. In fact, in Napoleon Hill’s famous book “Think and Grow Rich,” he compiled a list of the twelve things that constitute true wealth as reported by some of the richest people in the world. On that list, money ranked twelfth. The first eleven items had nothing to do with money.

There are so many other things on that list, because the acquisition of money is such a small part of true wealth. There are nine key components to achieving the wealth you crave.

The first component is faith in God. There is a strong correlation between wealthy individuals and spirituality. It has been found that people who have a strong spiritual connection are more likely to take financial risk which is an essential key to achieving wealth.

The second very important component for wealth is a positive mental attitude. You must think about the future a lot, setting very specific and measurable goals. Commit yourself to excellence. Believe that you will achieve, and get the results that you desire. There are always problems that come up in life, become a problem solver and take action. Go after what you want. Don’t forget to always grow and learn. You will never know it all, but take advantage of every opportunity to learn more.

The third component for achieving wealth is living a life of sound physical health. No matter what else is going on in your life, you can not enjoy it if you are not physically healthy. Control your nutrition, put quality food into your body, after all you are what you eat. Listen to your body when it comes to getting the sleep you need. Exercise, because your body craves physical activity; allow it the release that it needs. Meditate to rejuvenate your mind and spirit.

Integrity is the fourth essential component to wealth. You must develop a sense of integrity in everything that you do both in business and in your social life. Do what you say you will do, finish everything that you start and always show up on time.

Living in harmony with human relations is the fifth component. It is important to learn how to satisfy other’s needs. Listen to people, ask questions and respond accordingly. Discover what matters to them and spend time with them doing those things.

The sixth component for achieving wealth is the concept of self mastery. You must commit yourself to a plan for your life and have the discipline to apply the daily habits that you need to succeed. It can be scary at times, you must have the courage to overcome the fear and the persistence to never give up no matter what is thrown in your way. Be ruthless with your time, and overcome the lure of laziness when things become too comfortable. Avoid arrogance and develop a thankful heart, always being thankful for what you have. Above all else, have fun with yourself and your life.

One of the most important concepts of wealth is number seven; financial independence. Set a budget for yourself and live within your means. It is so easy to spend money you don’t have, but you must create a financial plan and live within it. Follow your passion, because doing work you enjoy will ultimately make you more successful and productive. Start investing your money and make it work smarter for you. You will know that you have reached financial independence when your passive and portfolio income exceed your expenses.

The eighth component of wealth is the desire and willingness to give of yourself and your money. The wealthiest people in the world know that giving to others creates a sense of security and peace because what you give to others will return to you ten fold.

The ninth and last component of achieving true wealth is also one of the most important. You must discover and live your true and unique purpose in life. Everyone has a unique reason that they are on this earth, and when you discover it and begin living it, you will truly discover your passion. When you live your passion and develop your talents and gifts to the fullest, you will then be able to experience real wealth.