When we last left our hero, he had just returned from his first trip to Las Vegas to pay a visit to the International Builder’s Show.
Before we continue, though, an interesting tidbit. The first half of this article seems to have generated a decent number of comments on our blog. Were people impressed by what I had to say? Appreciative of the useful tips I shared? Enjoying my writing style, wit and wisdom?
Um…no.
They wrote in to let me know that, contrary to what I wrote last time, prostitution is, in fact, NOT legal in Vegas itself.
Gee, thanks. Well, here’s part two, with the hope that it will spur more, uh…respectable dialogue.
8 more lessons learned on my trip to Las Vegas
- Many builders have seen great success in employing commissioned Internet Sales Consultants to manage and work with their web prospects. These salespeople refer prospects to the sales center only after they have qualified them and learned about their needs. One speaker I heard mentioned that, of those who visit a sales center after consulting with an Internet Sales Consultant, 35% will purchase a new home. Pretty impressive.
- The “Fountains of Bellagio” are simply breathtaking. You can get a feel for them here, but the video does not do it justice. Truly one of the highlights of my trip.
- Here’s a great idea for an email campaign to realtors: Compile a list of realtors who have referred purchasers to your neighborhoods. List their first names and locations in an email with the overall message: “Each of these local realtors has sold an ‘XYZ Builders’ Home…and has earned generous commissions! Isn’t it time we rewarded YOU for your efforts?”
- At a session on networking with homebuilders…next time you’re at a dinner party, or one of those awards banquets we all attend from time to time, stop sitting with people you know! You never know who you’ll meet if you leave your comfort zone for a little while.
- ALL of the slot machines in Vegas – including the ones at the airport – ate my money faster than any other slot machines I’ve ever played. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
- Want a good model for customer follow-up? Buy something from amazon.com and see what happens. Amazon has taught consumers what good follow up looks like – and Amazon does it so well that recipients are happy to be “sold” to. How do they do it? Amazon makes customers feel like the company really “gets” them by tailoring emails to customer preferences. If you’ve never paid attention, now’s a good time to start.
- Social networking (blogs, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) is really starting to catch on with builders. The good news: these services offer the potential for a great deal of free exposure, help with search engine rankings, provide visitors with frequently-updated content, and keep your potential customers engaged with your brand. The bad news: the backbone of social networking is the online community, who will tell on you if they sense even a hint of disrespect in the way they’re treated. Beware… And finally…
- If I hear the phrase “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” one more time, I’m gonna hurt someone.
Were you at IBS? Learned a great new strategy? Share it with us in the “comments” section.
Tags: customer service, e-mail marketing, email marketing, Facebook, home building, homebuilding, International Builders Show, internet marketing, Las Vegas, NAHB, real estate, sales leads, sales tips, social marketing
