Perhaps you're reading this right now because you've just been hired at a home building company and you want to show them how much of a marketing rockstar you really are.
Excellent - you've come to the right place.
We're going to show you the seven habits of highly effective new home marketers and how to develop them so you can really shine in your new position.
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A great way to becoming a linchpin in your company is by becoming more effective in your job. After all, you do spend a lot of time here! Sometimes all that takes is a little change in perspective and you can enjoy better pay, more flexible work hours, a great relationship with the company, and a sense of self-achievement.
Beginning your journey towards being a new home marketing badass starts now. Some of these habits you already have, some need a bit of work - and that's okay. What matters is that you identify what they are and get a little bit better at them every day.
Do this, and who knows the great heights you'll achieve in your new career.
1. They Embrace the Digital
Effective new home marketers aren't afraid to embrace digital strategies.
It's 2018 and nearly everyone is on social media (and has an email address). Plus, most consumers will research products using the internet (yes, this includes homes) before actually making a purchase decision. If you think being active online will help your company sell more homes , you're absolutely right! Reaching your target audience has become easier than ever before, as long as it's done properly.
Master your digital marketing strategy and you'll get a far better return on every advertising dollar you spend. The laser-focused targeting capabilities of tools like Facebook will help ensure you're sending the right message to the right person at the right time.
As a new home marketer, consider improving your digital marketing knowledge by signing up for a course through a trusted program and staying up-to-date on industry news.
Keep in mind that your digital marketing skills and experience can become obsolete quickly. New technology, software, and strategies are constantly replacing the old ones, so you've got to be adaptable and ready to learn!
2. They Look Towards the Future
Successful new home marketers are always looking toward the future to see what's up-and-coming.
One of the biggest hallmarks of the digital marketing industry is that it’s constantly changing, and that’s especially true in the era we live in. Technology is evolving faster than ever before and it's getting increasingly harder for society, in general, to keep up. For new home marketers, this is especially true!
We're talking about some pretty big things here: artificial intelligence, messenger bots, marketing automation, machine learning, and more. Big changes are coming and you cannot afford to fall behind.
Stay up-to-date on the latest and greatest trends in digital marketing - one way to do this is by following some of the top influencers on social media. Whether you want your website to show up on the first page of Google, get more engagement on your social media platforms, or improve your conversion rates, the experts know how the latest new tool or strategy can help your home building business thrive!
Digital marketing aside, the housing industry itself can be quite volatile. If you really want to impress your boss, discuss news in your local market and how you can calibrate your marketing strategy as necessary. Remember, when the company wins - you win!
Marketing Ninjas is constantly sharing relevant news new home marketers like you can benefit from. For instance, check out our article on how to survive the Facebook newsfeed changes of 2018!
3. They Think Outside the Box
Do you remember when Dove launched their Campaign for Real Beauty in 2006? How does a company that sells health and beauty products launch an award-winning marketing campaign and the famous phenomenon that made society rethink female beauty standards?
They sell soap!
Great marketers are notorious for thinking outside the box - that's part of the answer.
In the home building industry, crushing your competition also means coming up with insanely creative ideas so this is a habit you'll definitely want to hone in on. If your creativity could use a boost, a couple ways to open up your mind include:
- Brainstorming in a group
- Jotting down ideas that intrigue you
- Keeping an eye on your competitors
- Looking outside your market for ideas
- Looking outside your industry for ideas
- Considering your "tasks" as a games
- Not taking yourself too seriously
It's also helpful to think of creativity as a skill you can develop, rather than something you either have or don't.
This might seem like a lot of work for your job as a new home marketer, but you can be assured that working on your creativity will benefit your personal life too. Turn this habit into a skill and enjoy connecting with other creative people, reduced stress and anxiety, improved problem-solving, and more.
Oh, and your boss will love you for it! Who doesn't want another creative person on their team?
If you fashion yourself more of a "numbers person", we've got good news for you: great new home marketers aren't only creative - they’re also extraordinarily good with numbers.
4. They Focus on the Numbers
Marketing isn’t just about coming up with catchy names for your company’s promotions or having a creative vision for the next big show home opening.
Effective new home marketers are constantly trying to improve their company’s numbers. We're talking about:
- Marketing ROI
- Cost per customer acquisition
- Website visits
- CTA clicks
- Lifecycle conversions
- Show home traffic
- Home sales
And the list goes on.
Regardless of the metric, successful new home marketers always make sure to measure, find out what's working and what isn't, optimize, and repeat.
Channel your inner marketing nerd - we'll think you're super cool and your boss will too!
If you happen to be creative but aren't so great with numbers, that's alright. There's always room to grow and learn, and when in doubt, give it to someone who does know numbers. In fact, doing this just so happens to be another habit of effective new home marketers!
5. They Delegate Tasks to Others
New home marketers are comfortable delegating tasks to others.
But doing so can be scary...
Consider this scenario: You’re in university and are working on a group project - the deadline is looming. Bill is responsible for the introduction, Sarah is writing up the body paragraphs, and you’re taking care of piecing it all together with your edits and a conclusion.
A day before your deadline, you receive everyone’s work for final review... and your stomach drops.
How could your classmates be so incompetent? There are citations missing, the grammar sucks and the ideas just don't flow! You feel like you might as well have just done the whole project yourself.
Does this ring a bell?
Most of us have experienced something similar and it’s an absolutely terrible feeling.
If you really take pride in your work, your solution to the problem might end up being the classic "I'll just do everything myself".
You, my friend, are fighting a losing battle.
That's because a great home builder marketing strategy is made up of tons of sub-strategies that require skills you probably haven't mastered yourself! Are you a graphic designer, a creative genius, data analyst, SEO expert, master-of-websites, social media renegade, AND seasoned salesperson?
If you are, you deserve the biggest gold star ever because a lot of skill goes into creating the perfect home marketer dream team.
But good luck finding the time to deal with all these moving parts. If you can... give us a call; you're hired!
Kidding - kind of. But seriously: don't let your fear of delegating tasks to others compromise your position as a new home marketer. You might want to even consider hiring a homebuilder marketing agency. There's something to be said about people who are able to identify others' strengths and encourage them to shine.
6. They Welcome Criticism
It’s not enough to merely consider your own perspective. You must also think of what it feels like to be on the receiving end of your marketing efforts. What does a phone call, email, advertisement, showhome opening, etc. from your company look and feel like? How do your prospects perceive your website and social media presence?
This one can be tricky. It's hard giving and receiving criticism. When it comes to getting it, a winning approach is to invite it from both your team and your clients.
If your co-workers sense you can accept criticism without being resentful, they'll be way more likely to give you their honest opinions - that's valuable. Encourage this dynamic by asking them questions like: "What do you think of this campaign idea?" or "Do you like this brochure design, or is this other one better?". You get to make the final decision, but use their feedback to your advantage!
When you give feedback to your employees, a good rule is to do it in private and make sure it's always constructive.
In terms of your clients, their opinions matter too. There's nothing better than having great reviews on your website and social media profiles, so make sure to encourage those. If you get negative reviews, make sure to take note of them, respond, and consider how you can turn them around.
7. They Build up Their Team
Your ability to manage a team is one of your biggest assets as a new home marketer.
Get in the habit of praising your teammates for a job well done. Don't forget that you're working with a group of people who have real emotional needs - if your team is happy, you will be too. Everyone will be more prosperous and the company will make more money.
Bring in doughnuts from time-to-time, ask your co-workers how their weekend was, and encourage a fun work environment. As a manager, you are responsible for promoting a healthy workplace!
If you're struggling with this one, try taking a bit of time to reflect on how you can become a more effective leader. This could mean reading up on improving your leadership or maybe even reaching out to some of your connections on LinkedIn for support.
Final Thoughts
Master these seven habits of highly effective home marketers and you'll be well on your way to a more prosperous career with a fabulous professional reputation! Remember that personal transformation doesn't happen overnight and anything that's worthwhile also takes time.
Feel free to browse our library of complimentary marketing resources for home builders and make sure to check out our blog.
Finally, we are marketing experts in the home building industry who love what we do. Click the button below to download our free ebook on the home builder's guide to effective digital marketing and reach out to us if you have any questions!
