Be marketing FIT

Be marketing FIT

We often love our marketing ideas, and sometimes the more complex they are, the better we love them.

But the best marketing ideas are usually the simplest. I’m not talking fancy logos, clever straplines, or beautiful adverts; I’m talking about real, clear, goal-orientated marketing activities that are easy to create and implement.

 

Less is more, when it comes to marketing.

Agents tell me all the time they don’t have enough MAs. When I ask what marketing they are currently doing, I usually get a list like this:

  • Free conveyancing with this month’s instructions
  • Sponsor the local football team
  • Give 10% of fees to charity
  • Four page spread in the local paper
  • 10,000 newsletters sent out each month

I worked with an agent last year who was spending £30,000 on marketing, (excluding portal spend) £27,000 of which was completely unnecessary, and with a list like this one, you can see how it happened.

 

Only do what you KNOW works

Yes, sponsoring the local football team is a very admirable gesture, but can you tell me exactly how many market appraisals it has generated? If you can’t quantify the return on investment on your marketing spend, then don’t do it.

The right marketing can be tested and measured, then ramped up or changed as necessary. I know your biggest source of leads is ‘word of mouth’, but how exactly are you going to ramp that up when you have an empty diary?

 

Why you need a simple system

The reasons I hear from agents who need to ramp up their marketing are all about not having enough: not enough time, money, staff, space, tech skills, equipment, the list goes on.

But less is good! Less forces you to focus on what’s really important. You’ll never have enough _________ [enter your own favourite excuse here], so you may as well just get on with it, using what you already have at your disposal. You may be surprised at the creativity that is produced as a result.

 

Been there, got the t-shirt

My marketing system is very simple. But it wasn’t always so. Over the last 12 years, I’ve tried complex, expensive and elaborate marketing systems and they have all failed. I’ve spent many thousands of pounds on trying out new software and complicated funnels, not to mention wasting enough money on advertising to pay a marketing assistant for a year.

Now I have easy-to-use (almost idiot-proof) software that costs less than £40 a month. It has allowed me to build my highly effective marketing system – a system that generates around 20-30 new leads every single week, without me doing anything. I set it and forget it. For the last couple of years, I’ve been sharing the secret workings of my marketing system with my closest clients, one of whom is generating more leads than she can currently handle, and has had to pause her system while she catches up!

What to read next: How to get your phone ringing off the hook with new MAs

What to do next: Do you get my Supertips? They’re jam-packed full of great tips and marketing strategies, and best still – they’re free! Get yours here -> www.samashdown.co.uk/supertips

Speak to Sam: If you’d like to know how I think you could improve your marketing, just answer a few short questions here  and I’ll tell you if and how you could be more effective.

Sam Ashdown

Sam is an industry-renowned marketing strategist to estate agents. She helps agents grow and flourish, using her unique smart marketing techniques and strategies. Sam works with agents throughout the UK to help them gain more valuations, win more instructions and sell more properties.

You May Also Enjoy

small house bird box
Breaking News

UK First Time Buyers better off than many other global nations

Is it really that bad being a first-time buyer? UK better off than many other global nations when it comes to affordability The latest market analysis from Yopa, the full-service estate agents, reveals that first-time buyers (FTBs) in the UK may be paying 63% more to get a foot on the property ladder than they…
Read More
new build homes colchester essex
Breaking News

Building Safety Regulator Reform

The Government has announced reforms to the Building Safety Regulator, including leadership, process and investment. The changes are hoped to deliver 1.5 million homes. The reforms pave the way for creation of a single construction safety regulator, as recommended by the Grenfell Tower enquiry. David Smith, property litigation partner at London law firm Spector Constant…
Read More
Breaking News

New anti-money laundering rules now in effect: what landlords need to know

New anti-money laundering (AML) rules came into effect this month, marking a significant change for landlords and the lettings industry as a whole. The new rules mean financial sanctions checks are now required for all lettings, regardless of how much rent is charged. Here, Steve Bond, managing director of residential lettings for Beresfords, explains what…
Read More
Breaking News

What landlords need to know about the upcoming Renters Rights Bill

The government’s long-awaited Renters Rights Bill is one of the most significant overhauls of the private rental sector in decades. While it has not yet received royal assent, the legislation is expected to come into effect late this year, or early in 2026. With the bill moving closer to becoming law, Steven Bond, managing director…
Read More
Breaking News

Mortgage approvals bounce back in May

The latest figures show that: – Mortgage approvals on house purchases for May sat at 63,032 up 3.9% from 60,656 in April. The monthly increase seen in May marks the end of four months of previous decline, with approval levels having fallen each month since January of this year. Approvals are also 2.5% higher than…
Read More
Breaking News

Money and Credit – May 2025

Key points: Net borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals increased by £2.8 billion to £2.1 billion in May, following a large decrease in net borrowing of £13.8 billion to -£0.8 billion in April. Net mortgage approvals for house purchases increased by 2,400 to 63,000 in May. Approvals for remortgaging also increased by 6,200 to 41,500…
Read More