It’s Marketing and Branding Month here at Inman. As we enter a competitive spring selling season, let’s examine which tried-and-true tactics and cutting-edge innovations are getting deals done in today’s market. We’ll also be recognizing the industry’s marketing and branding leaders with Inman’s Marketing All-Star Awards.
Pulse is a recurring column where we ask for readers’ takes on varying topics in a weekly survey and report back with our findings.
We talk a lot at Inman about great real estate marketing: What it looks like, how to define it, how to make sure it’s what you’re providing. March is Marketing and Branding Month, so we’ll continue to talk about marketing best practices. But let’s start by asking the question: What does bad marketing look like?
Last week, we asked you to tell us about the worst real estate marketing you’ve ever seen. Here’s what you had to say:
- This one has to be the most cringe-worthy, grammatically INCORRECT and FAIR HOUSING violating ads these eyes have ever seen: “Surrounding the building, and a very short stroll away, are some very good restaurants opened by up and coming chefs, clothing boutiques featuring fashion from ng, gourmet supermarkets and wine stores, and is littered with friendly neighborhood pubs where local demographic – long-time patrons, hipsters, students and older people, artists and accountants, blacks, whites, gays and straights, mix and interact as if they all enjoy the same lifestyle and income level.”
- An agent in my market had been taking some flack for dressing a bit provocatively, so in answer to her critics, she ran an ad on Facebook stating that she “puts the hoe in home,” alongside a photo of herself in another revealing outfit. This was 2-3 years ago, and I still use it as a “what NOT to do” when training my team. It was also a bit awkward when, months ago, this agent reached out to me [about] moving to my brokerage.
What did we miss? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Editor’s note: These responses were given anonymously and, therefore, are not attributed to anyone specifically. Responses were also edited for grammar and clarity. Inman doesn’t endorse any specific method and regulations may vary from state to state.