We finally settled on the WordPress theme and look-and-feel for TheBrickRanch.com. There’s more work to come, particularly the sidebar, but the site is ready for Monday’s official start of the Project Blogger competition.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but this is a reasonable example of what I’ve been talking about. We’re selling real estate, yes. But we’re selling to people, and I think it is important to connect with people immediately on an emotional — even visceral — level. Not: I am a good Realtor. Rather: I am like you. I share your values. I want for you what you want. Yes, I want for your family to be safe, protected from the weather, financially secure. But much more than that, I want for all of you to live the life of quiet, undoubted serenity you see in that child’s face. I want your children to feel that safe in our chaotic and sometimes hostile world. And I want to communicate every bit of that in a glance, without saying a word. I’m not selling houses. I’m selling the idea of a better life — because that is what you’re buying.
Can we do all that with warm colors and one photograph? Probably not. But the first close is to keep them from clicking away, and I think our theme can do that job. If we can keep them for ten seconds, we can keep them for ten minutes. If we can get them to come back once, we can get them to come back twenty times. If we can get them to agree that Teri Lussier is the Realtor to help them find that better life, we’re done. The playing field is cleared of competitors.
Can we do all that? Sufficient unto the day. For now we have a visual theme. Take a look at what we’ve done so far. The weblog is as warm and inviting as a dozen pastel Easter eggs — without all the indigestible hard-boiled chicken embryos inside…
< ?php include ("REWL101.php"); ?>
Technorati Tags: blogging, real estate, real estate marketing
Louisville Real Estate says:
I like the look of the new site, and I agree that we’re selling to people first and foremost. Building rapport (read commonality) is key in any endeavor.
Keep up the good work!
April 7, 2007 — 3:46 pm
Albuquerque Realtor says:
Well done Greg, and I couldn’t agree more about putting a human touch on things.
It’s important NOT to be selling every time you’re in front of a potential client–convey a point versus trying to convince. People prefer to buy versus being sold to. My two cents for what they’re worth.
April 7, 2007 — 3:49 pm
Brian Brady says:
Brilliant, Teri! A NASCAR driver keeping his word.
April 7, 2007 — 6:57 pm