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Tips on how to get people to listen more when you speak to them.

Published July 27, 2015 by Real Estate Leads

young woman carefully listening  with her hands behind the earsHave you ever sensed that the person you are speaking to isn’t registering hardly a word you are speaking of?

Why aren’t they listening? Somebody might ask this question in the back of their mind often during conversations, while giving a presentation, or even at home with the family.

The whole truth might be that: it’s most probably not just because of them, it could be because of you too.

Sometimes the truth is difficult to hear. We all have important things to say once in a while and we want to share these ideas with those who we think might benefit from hearing them. But sometimes it feels like just speaking to an empty room. Some people just look like they are nearly bursting with trying to remember what they want to say, not listening to what you are really saying, until you stop talking.

Well, if you do experience this, you are not the only one this happens to. The good news is that there is a simple solution that can help.

Your voice is an instrument – so learn to play it well.

The following tips will help you be engaging, have people be interested in you, and not into what they are going to say next. One way is by enhancing your speech vocal quality and patterns.

1. Your vocal “register”, or the expansive quality of your voice, coming from the chest or diaphragm always carries more power and authority. Unfortunately when people get stressed, or get emotional, their voices slip up into their throat and this somehow pushes people away. So the best solution is to take deep breaths and try to inflect your voice from your lungs, even when feeling uptight or stressed. Ask yourself – How does your voice feel or sound? If possible, add a bit of musical inflection to your vocal pattern, gliding a bit up and down, melodically so as to not sound monotone. Listen to voices, conversations, and presentations that you are drawn into.

2. Proper “volume control”: If you want to be heard, speak more quietly. Speaking quietly (and also less often) actually makes people lean into you and be more interested and engaged into what you are saying. Being loud, especially consistently loud, most likely is offensive to the listener; it pushes people away, mentally & physically. You know – how do you respond to TV or radio ads that seem to be yelling or commanding? You grab the remote and press (mute!). That’s what consistent high voice volume does to conversations. People are pressing their mind’s mute button.

3. “Pace”. Yes, your mind is going 100 miles per hour, but that shouldn’t mean that your mouth has to. Pacing can be to your advantage or to your detriment. Basically, don’t slow to the pace where the others in the conversation start filling in words for you. Better instead, use a combination of a rapid pace, then a slowing down for emphasis, interjecting some pauses occasionally along the way.

4.Gear towards reflecting these attributes in your expressions and conversations: Honesty – be true and clear with what you mean. Authenticity – be yourself; stand in your own truth. Integrity – do what you say, be trustworthy. Love – wish people well. Try to stay away from engaging in: Gossiping, Judging, Complaining, Excuses, Lying.

Also keep in mind it is always important to “listen to” the other person when they speak too. Maintain eye contact. Don’t think so much about how they look, or perhaps some other thoughts going on in the back of your mind. When you sincerely listen to another person they can feel it, and they can feel it when you are spacing out about something else other than what they are expressing to you.

With the above tips and with continuous practice, you’ll gradually become more of a conversational magnet.

Tips on how to Place Real Estate Ads

Published July 15, 2015 by Real Estate Leads

Classifieds advertisement concept of real estate sales

 

Classified ads can help you reach a target audience (readers of a local paper or a church bulletin.)

Advertising is a balancing act. Without it, the result is little or no new business – but on the other hand it is an expense of time and budgeting. Identifying just the right kind of advertising that works best in your area is essential, which requires trial and error. One particular advertising medium brokerages and agents have often utilized is traditional classified newspaper advertising.

Not everyone reads the classifieds daily of course, but those who are inclined to are usually in need of something specific, and that happens to us all at one time or another; especially when people are looking for homes or plots of land for sale.

If you choose to dabble in classified print, below are some tips to help you create effective real estate ads.

1. Write down a list of Headlines (within the space allowed)

If you want your ad-text to be read, this step is quite important. The fine print of your ad will just remain fine print without a headline that grabs people’s attention!

This is to make sure your advertisement targets the right buyers (or sellers) and stands out as much as possible from all the other surrounding ads.

It may be helpful to pass your headline ideas by your family or friends, through a text message perhaps, to get their opinions.

If you are selling an expensive house or condo, here are some examples:

  • * Luxury Downtown House – Viewing Today!
  • * Move right in: New 2/2 Condo w/Mountain Views
  • * Remodeled 4/2 Home, Burnaby School District
  • * New Market Gem: 3/2 within Gated Community

2. Putting the best Photo Forward

If you choose to attract eyes to your ad with a photo, which is quite effective, but perhaps cost-prohibitive depending on the newspaper, make sure it is one that will create the best effect. Almost always a shot of the exterior front of the property works best; unless it has a gorgeous kitchen or dining room. Keep in mind studies show that prospective homebuyers gaze at the photo of a front of a house longer than any inside view. Your newspaper probably only prints in black and white, yet including a photo will draw a greater response.

3. Master the Use of Abbreviations

Abbreviations save a lot of precious ad-space, but perhaps not everyone can properly translate “real estate-eze”, so some real whole words are definitely necessary too – especially words that drive an emotional response such, such as “luxury” and “views”.

Bsmt – basement ; bkporch – backporch ; Det – Detached ; Ref- Refrigerator ; wbfp; Wood Burning Fire Place. etc. There is no need to type them all here, after all, you are a real estate agent, and you already speak the language!

4. Always Include Your Link

Your phone number is of course mandatory for a classified ad but in today’s digital world a link should always be included. Google “URL shortener” for a way to shorten an otherwise longer link. This will help people view the listing online through your website and increase the chance they will call you. They will also be much better informed when they do call you. If you have a domain for the designated single property website, like 220BirchwoodSt.com, certainly use that one, or a link to your real estate agent website.

The above are the basics, but don’t be limited by the suggestions above. Your own creativity and personal flair will add additional attractiveness to your classified ad.