There is one sure way to get attention in the marketplace. Do something that no one else is doing and you have a story to relate. The media will pick up your story and you can further the reach of the story through online blogging.
This idea is open to all Realtors and Home Staging companies in North America. I will provide the template to you so you can organize your own version of the event in your area.
Last year I was able to be featured on CBC Radio One ( a major radio station in our area), get TV coverage and several newspapers and the Habitat newsletter to cover the story.
It drew attention to all the participants and with the advantage of repeating the event yearly, you gain good public exposure in your area for a very worthwhile cause.
So what is the idea? How can you participate and be noticed in your marketplace?
Last year I organized an Art for Humanity Open House Tour for a Saturday in Barrie with 3 Realty companies providing the homes that were listed for sale and Staged by my company.
I also had the local Georgian College Fine Arts Program provide me with graduating students that would place their artwork in the homes. Each student was given a house in which to place their artwork as their own gallery. The students each donated one piece of artwork to be auctioned off to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.
The day of the tour the Realtor was there to show the house. The artist was there for the public to meet and greet. A representative from Habitat for Humanity was there to take donations, let people know how to volunteer with Habitat and to supervise the bids on the artwork.
I have branded the event so that you don't have to think of anything- all the work has been done for you.
Just send your info to me to be inserted into the flyer and it will be sent back to you ready for print ads, online etc. There is a very small fee for this service as the idea is to raise money and awareness for Habitat. I did co-op advertising with the Realtors in the pull out Real Estate section to keep the cost of print advertising low.
What is your next step?
Realtors - Organize an open house tour with 4 -5 houses on the tour. You need permission from your client for the possiblilty that a TV crew or print media may be there to promote the event.
Home Stagers - Approach Realty offices to participate in the open house tour. I worked with 3 Realty firms to have enough houses to participate in the tour. Everything went very smoothly with all the participants.
Approach your local Habitat for Humanity to arrange reps for the tour day.
Approach your local college or any other organization that you think will be a good fit for this event.
The end result - one house sold from the tour, the Realtors were happy as they were featured in a new and attention getting way, Habitat was very pleased with all the exposure, the College Fine Arts Director and students were ecstatic with the opportunity to showcase their work and get experience in the real world and I gained the exposure in the marketplace I was looking for to grow my business.
If you would like to find out more, send an email to michelle@advantagestaging.ca with your questions and I will be glad to help you get your event organized.
