Must Know Investing» Marketing

Are You Using This Killer REI Marketing Tool?

Patrick Riddle — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 15:11:05 +0000

If you’re not using this killer real estate investing marketing tool, I don’t know what’s wrong with you.

Ok, maybe you just haven’t heard about it yet. If that’s the case, we’re cool. Otherwise, c’mon!

Here are just a few things I LOVE about this …

Killer Real Estate Investing Marketing Tool

- It’s super easy to use (a HUGE plus for all us non-techies) … and when I say super easy, I mean it. There are only like 4 buttons on it. Whoohoo!

- It’s an inexpensive investment (you can buy one at Wal-Mart)

- It’s fits in your pocket

- It can be used to AUTOMATICALLY generate buyer, seller, tenant leads on the Internet

- It’s my new best friend

- And MUCH MORE

Watch the video below to learn more …

(if reading in email subscription, click here to watch video)

There’s no good excuse for not making online video a part of your marketing plan. It used to be incredibly time consuming, cumbersome, and costly.

But, not anymore.

Here’s a quick action plan for you to implement video marketing into your REI biz …

3 Steps to Online Video Marketing in Your Real Estate Investing Business

1) Buy a Flip Video Camera

You can check ‘em out on the Flip video website (not an affiliate link … in other words, I don’t get paid if you click that link and buy one … I’m just a raving fan :-)

If you want to get your hands on one today, I know Wal-Mart and Best Buy carry them.

2) Sign Up for a YouTube Account

This will only take you a few minutes so head on over to YouTube now and set up your account.

3) Publish Videos Online

Do a “We Buy Houses” video and “localize” it like I mentioned in the video. Shoot a video at every property that you’re currently marketing … whether you’re marketing it for rent, lease option, owner financing, for sale, whatever.

And then, you’ll be able to enjoy a new source of leads flowing into your REI biz.

Alrighty gals and guys … it’s a beautiful day and the beach is calling.

Catch you later,

~ Patrick

… aka P-Rid

P.S. This video was so popular, I decided to do a sequel, “Flip Video Tips for Real Estate Investors.” Make sure you check it out because these tips could double or even triple your leads. Enjoy :-)

How to Get FREE Motivated Seller Leads : We Buy Houses Craigslist Ad

Patrick Riddle — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:07:03 +0000

I have a free professional “We Buy Houses” Craigslist ad that I give away here on my blog …

For any of you living in the dark ages still, Craigslist is a free online classified ad website. You can post an ad, just like the ads you post in a traditional newspaper classified section, except on Craigslist, it’s free.

I get a lot of technical questions about how to post the ad … sooooo instead of continuing to answer them one by one … I shot a video that walks you through the process step by step.

In less than 10 minutes, you can have a professional “We Buy Houses” ad posted on Craigslist to start driving motivated seller leads your way …

Check out the video below …

(if reading in your email subscription, click here to watch the video)

Click below to download your FREE Craigslist ad …

FREE We Buy Houses Craigslist Ad

… and leave your questions in the comment area.

What Comes First … Finding a Deal or Funding for a Deal?

Patrick Riddle — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:17:12 +0000

I get this question from students all the time …

“What should I focus on first Patrick … finding a deal or funding for a deal?

Sooooo many beginners focus on the wrong thing when getting started. Don’t make that same mistake!

Watch the video below …

With that said, I’d like to give you some great resources so you can map out your marketing plan AND help you learn the nuts and bolts to funding your deals with private money.

BUT, before I get to that, wanted to say, “Congrats Butch!!”

You see, Butch adhered to the advice from the video and just made over $35,000. Did he have funds to close that deal when he contracted the property?

… Nope!

But, he chose to go ahead and contract the property and then find the money. That’s when Butch first contacted me. I walked him through the steps to getting private money and the rest is history.

It’s pretty cool …

Butch sent me an email about 30 minutes after he had the $35K profit in hand and said, “Now this changes everything. Time to buy more houses. All I can say is WOW!”

You got that right Butch … Time to Buy More Houses!

Find a Deal/Fund a Deal Resources

Resource Numero Uno

A free marketing secrets teleconference call for you to download.

It’s about an hour long and covers tons of different strategies that I’ve used to get my phone ringing off the hook with motivated sellers.

Click here for the Marketing Secrets Teleclass

Resource Numero Two

“How to Easily Get Private Money” VIP training area.

All you have to do is click the link below and put your email address in the box. There are several training videos, case studies, and some other cool stuff over there for ya …

Click here to access the private money VIP training area

Let me know what’s on your mind …

Did the video help? How about the resources?

Your thoughts, questions, and tips are appreciated … Happy Investing!

Are You Using Bandit Signs to Generate Motivated Seller Leads?

Patrick Riddle — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:32:58 +0000

Bandit signs could be a great way to get your phone ringing off the hook with motivated sellers. It was for me when I got started investing in real estate.

My mentor taught me early on that one of the most important parts of being a real estate investor was to get sellers contacting you to sell you their property.

So, I knew the next step was to put together a marketing plan.

Here’s what it looked like:

1) Get business cards made

2) Join local real estate investment association

3) Place “We Buy Houses” ad in local newspaper

4) Buy “We Buy Houses” bandit signs

5) Knock on doors of people facing foreclosure

We thought bandit signs were a good choice because they were relatively inexpensive and there didn’t seem to be too many other investors using them.

With my students, I typically recommend at least testing bandit signs when getting started. The barrier to entry is pretty low, like I just mentioned, and with any form of marketing, it’s all about testing. Even if there are tons of investors using them in your area, you may still want to test them.

I thought I would share some examples of bandit signs and tell you my thoughts on them . . .

Bandit Signs for Real Estate Investing

This is a pretty standard “We Buy Houses” bandit sign. Notice that they used a local phone number. We tested both a local and toll free number and found that the local number pulled a better response rate.

Here’s an example of one that’s geared towards buying the property subject to and uses a toll free number. As you will see in a moment, we have used the same yellow background with black text on our signs.

This bandit sign is interesting because it uses a vanity phone number, (888) ISoldKwik, and it has the same name as the domain . . . which is good for branding.

This makes their contact information much easier to remember thus increasing the likelihood that someone will call it. Remember though, with every marketing method, you must test your results to find out pulls the best response rate.

Instead of going with the “We Buy Houses” slogan, this bandit sign is targeted directly to people facing foreclosure. Some people that are in foreclosure may be more likely to call a “Stop Foreclosure” sign than a “We Buy Houses” sign. This could be a good way to differentiate yourself in your market if there are a lot of other investors using “We Buy Houses” Signs.

And here’s a picture of one of our bandit signs. (sorry the picture is a little blurry)

Ours is the one on top. You can see we used the standard “We Buy Houses” slogan, yellow background with black text, and employed our own local vanity # (345-SELL) and domain (http://www.345SELL.com).

Ron Mead 31 Days to Profits in Probate Real Estate Course Review

Patrick Riddle — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:28:50 +0000

After checking out Ron Mead’s “31 Days to Profits in Probate Real Estate” Course . . . I HAD to let you in on it ASAP! (I even shot a quick little video below to show it to you)

It’s not often that a real estate investing course impresses me and I would go so far to say that it’s extremely rare when the “man behind the course” impresses me too. And that’s the case with Ron and his probate real estate course.

You see, I’ve been a full time real estate investor since 2002 and have bought countless courses and books and attended countless seminars and boot camps (you could say that I’m a big proponent to investing in your education . . . being that I’ve spent tens of thousands of dollars to get mine).

Anyway, back to the subject at hand . . . which is Ron’s probate real estate course.

Probate has always been shrouded with mystery to me. I’ve never known a probate real estate investor and haven’t had a good source of reliable information . . . BUT it’s always been on my mind as a potentially killer way to find great deals.

“Do You Know Any Probate Real Estate Investors?”

Hmmmm . . . I don’t either . . . until now. That makes a big whopping one!

Do you smell the opportunity here . . . I sure do!

Click here to learn more about Ron Mead’s probate real estate course

When I was talking to Ron the other day, I was literally AMAZED when he told me there were just as many probate deals out there right now as foreclosures. Everyone and their mother is going after foreclosure deals.

I think I figured out why NO ONE is talking about probate real estate as an incredible easy way to find great deals . . . the few investors that have it all figured out are keeping it a secret! They don’t want the crazy competition that exists in other lead sources . . . REOs, short sales, preforeclosures . . . you name it!

So, here’s what I’ve done. I shot a quick video to “pull back the curtain” on probate real estate and show you what’s included in Ron’s course and the incredible steal you can get on it for the time being . . .

Watch the video NOW !

Personally, I don’t know why Ron priced his course soooo ridiculously low. For the value that he’s providing, the professional touch, the personal service . . . it’s beyond me.

If you’re interested in learning the secrets to investing in probate real estate (from a man that bought his first property before I was born! . . . that’s right . . . Ron bought his first property a year before I was born in 1979), his course is an absolute steal.

I wouldn’t be telling you about it otherwise.

And to top it all off . . . Ron is a rock solid good to the core human being. That did it for me!

Click here to join me in probate real estate profits!

When you head over to his site to check it out, he gives you a couple options, but the BEST DEAL is his “31 Days to Profits DVD Seminar in a Box”. That’s what I showed you in the video.

If you have any further questions about Ron or his course, shoot me an email at patrick [at] mustknowinvesting [dot] com.

How to Close Your First Real Estate Investing Deal

Patrick Riddle — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 05:10:03 +0000

What if I told you there was an easy path to getting your first deal done but that most investors ignore it and choose to do things their way. If I explained in plain English what that path was and it made sense to you, wouldn’t you take it?

I know I would . . . I’m just glad that my mentor “enlightened” me before I wasted tons of time, energy, resources.

Well, lean in because I’d like to share what I consider to be extremely important information. BECAUSE if you focus on the wrong techniques and strategies when getting started, you may end up frustrating yourself right out of the game . . . which is not what you want or deserve.

The idea for the video below came together because I see soooo many beginning real estate investors taking what I consider to be the longer riskier more difficult path to closing their first deal . . . and you know what, it’s doesn’t have to be that way.

Check out the video now to learn how to grab your investing career by the horns and get that first deal in the bag.

Soooooo now it’s time to take some action. To help you implement what you learned, I sifted through the blog for you and found some of the best resources to help you close your first deal. Check ‘em out . . .

Beginning Real Estate Investing Resources

Articles

4 Steps for the Newbie Real Estate Investor to Get Started

We hit on education, relationships, action, and teaching. And how it all relates to helping you get your feet off the ground.

The Secret to Getting Started in Real Estate Investing

What do you think is the most important thing to focus on as a beginner?

Hopefully you have at least some clue after watching the video above. This article is a good add on after checking it out.

59 Must Know Tips in Creative Real Estate Investing to Minimize Risk and Maximize Return

This is a killer post! Pros and beginners alike can benefit from reading this one. This is the most popular article on Must Know Investing . . . if you haven’t checked it out, dive in. It’s good stuff.

Videos

Why Most Beginners Will NEVER Make Money in Real Estate Investing

This is a newer addition to the blog. It’s a free 60 minute video that details the 3 most common real estate investing myths, why most beginners fail (and what to do about it), the problem with real estate investing courses, and my P.A.N.T.S. success formula for getting started the “right way”.

Creative Real Estate Solutions in Today’s Market

This 5 part real estate investing video series is stuffed with what creative real estate is all about. And once again . . . it’s free.

Audio

Secrets to Being a Great Marketer Teleconference Call

Last but certainly not least, a hour plus audio download to give you the skinny on marketing secrets.

. . . I know what you’re thinking . . . don’t get overwhelmed. This is a TON of content so just take it down in bite size chunks. Bookmark this page and make progress everyday. Read another article, watch another video, study the marketing call, take action immediately.

This is all very doable, and you’ll be able to close your first deal no matter what your situation is, if you don’t let your fears get the best of you.

How to Effectively Network to Build Your Net Worth

Patrick Riddle — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:00:27 +0000

Networking has been a VITAL component over the years in both team building and private money getting.

But it has become apparent to me that most real estate investors greatly discount the value of networking. Just by being active in my local real estate investors club in my town, I’ve forged lasting relationships with wholesalers, bird dogs, private lenders, attorneys, mortgage brokers, agents, contractors . . . you name it! Which has translated into countless deals and profits! I would say that 80% of my team was built through people I met just at REIA meetings.

Sooooo I think that many people just flat out undervalue networking and another reason people don’t profit from building a solid network is because they’ve never been taught an effective way to build relationships and get to know people . . . and then there are people who are introverted and don’t come out of there shell to introduce themselves to anyone . . . you know, the person that gets to the meeting, sits down right when they get there, doesn’t talk to anyone, and leaves as soon as it’s over . . .

If this is you, I’m here to tell you that you’re MISSING OUT BIG TIME!! . . . If you’ve been unable to turn your networking efforts (or lack of them) into big time profits, no worries … I’m about to give you a simple formula you can put to use immediately so that your network builds your net worth! How about that!!

Use the structure below to guide your conversations as you meet new people . . .

The Network Magic Formula

1) Introduce Yourself

“Hi, I’m . I’m new here. How are you doing?”

2) Ask Questions About the Meeting

“Have you been coming to this meeting for awhile? What are the meetings usually like? What’s your primary goal when coming to these meetings . . . to learn, network, find deals? Who runs the meeting?”

3) Ask Questions About Their Occupation

“So what do you do exactly? Oh, you’re an investor . . . how long have you been investing in real estate? Do you have a particular niche that you focus on?”

4) Ask Questions To See How You Can Help Them

“I’m a little newer to real estate investing but am ready to hit the ground running . . . in what ways could I add value to your business? How could I help you out? . . . would you be interested in wholesale deals?”

5) The Close – Appreciation, Reaffirm How You Can Help, Let’s Stay in Touch

“It was great to meet you . . . I appreciate your time. I’d like to meet as many people as I can tonight soooooo here’s my card. Whenever I come across a situation like , I’ll let you know. Let’s stay in touch . . .”

The Network Magic Formula is only one small lesson from the “Why Most Beginners Will NEVER Make Money in Real Estate Investing” in depth video tutorial. Click Here to get access to the full 60 minutes of action packed content!

This should give you an easy formula to follow when networking so that you don’t even have to think about what to say. And if you haven’t noticed yet, all that you’ve done so far is ask questions . . . no where in the Network Magic Formula do you even talk about yourself . . . do you know why??

Because “you” are not what’s important when cultivating profitable relationships! Don’t worry, you’ll get your turn. But, by showing a genuine desire to get to know the other person first and help them in their business en devours . . . they will invariably feel the need to reciprocate right back at you.

While we’re on the subject . . .

Let’s Do Some Networking!

Click the links below to connect with me . . .

Follow Me on Twitter

Friend Me on Facebook

Subscribe to My Youtube Channel

Don’t Just Come and See . . . Go and Be!

Patrick Riddle — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:37:13 +0000

There are tons of real estate investing gurus constantly marketing to “Come and See” their products and services . . . whether it’s a new course, seminar, book, webinar, or mentor program. While it’s very important to “Come and See,” invest in a good training course, go to the seminar, participate in the mentor program, it’s far more important to “Go and Be!”

When I say “Go and Be,” I’m talking about getting out in the field and taking action on what you’ve learned. In other words, go “be” an investor. Even if you have yet to close on your first deal, as soon as you take action, you’re a real estate investor. Because you’re on your way to getting that first deal done.

Too many beginning investors doubt their knowledge and abilities and feel the need to read one more book or course, go to one more seminar, and wait until they feel like they’re “ready” to make the first phone call, start marketing, or even get a business card.

From experience, I can tell you that this is a recipe for wasting a ton of time and money, and having endless frustrations. And the worst thing about it for those of us that teach real estate investing is that the beginner that never took action goes out and bad mouths us because our material “didn’t work.”

. . . No, you didn’t work because you never did anything. You never took action. And even if you did, you “gave it a try.” After your first rejection, you cast blame so that you could just quit and still feel good about yourself.

Sorry for that little rant, but I’m tired of hearing about people who have invested countless hours/months/years studying to be an investor or spent tens of thousands of dollars buying courses and taking seminars . . . never having even made a phone call to a seller or an offer on a house!

OK, this is no time to feel bad if you can relate to this. The past is the past. Take 100% responsibility for your results (or lack thereof) and realize that you’re ready to take action right now!

3 Steps to Force Yourself to “Go and Be” a Real Estate Investor

1) Set Goals . . . AKA Deadlines

A goal is really just a dream with a deadline. And we all know that deadlines get things done. In your formal education, when did you hand in your research paper? When did you study for your midterms? . . . right before the deadline, didn’t you? At work, when do you finish projects . . . typically at the last minute before it’s due.

A couple things to keep in mind when goal setting: write your goals in the present tense, make them personal (not what someone else wants for you), and positive (what you want, not what you don’t want).

Write down when you’re going to call your first seller, when you’ll have a “We Buy Houses” ad in your local newspaper, when you’ll close your first deal, and that you’re going to join your local investor association by x-date. By writing it down and putting a time frame on it, you make it real.

2) Write Action Plan

Once you have your goals written, it’s time to chunk down the dream into steps. The bigger the dream, the more steps you’ll have within your action plan.

For example, let’s say the goal is to place “We Buy Houses” ad in your local newspaper. At the top of a blank page of paper, write, “It is April 4th, 2009 and I have a “We Buy Houses” ad in the Post and Courier newspaper.”

Your action plan would look something like this . . .

= > Call Post and Courier to find out when ads must be submitted to be in the newspaper by April 4th.

= > Determine the target market for my ad (anyone who needs to sell fast, people in foreclosure, expired listings, burnt out landlords, etc.)

= > Research sample ads in books, courses, and websites

= > Determine contact information to include in ad

= > Write ad copy

= > Call Post and Courier to place ad

When doing this, don’t get tripped up in the details. It’s better just to start your marketing rather than waiting on getting your website up and running or a toll free number set up or voice mail system or whatever else you’re planning on implementing in your business.

3) Ready or Not . . . Just Do It

Nike had it right when they came up with the slogan, “Just Do It!” Recite this as an inner mantra.

When you feel fear start to creep in, say to yourself, “Just do it!” and then take the action. Another good strategy is to consider, “What’s the worst that could happen?” Usually, the worst thing that could happen is infinitesimal compared to the HUGE benefit you could reap by just doing it.

When you find yourself worrying about what others may think of you . . . say “I am independant of the good opinion of others and am committed to achieving my goals . . . whatever it takes!”

If you’re doubting your knowledge or abilities, fall back on me as one of your mentors. You now have an expert investor on your team who has been in the business for years and has done well over 100 deals. When you take action and you’re asked a question you don’t know how to answer or your experience is questioned, say, “Great question. I’m glad you asked that. I’m a newer investor but my mentor has helped hundreds of people in similar situations as yourself. Let me get back to you on that if you don’t mind . . .”

Then, run over here to the blog and Click Here. Let me know how I can help.

Who Else Wants a Seller Financed Deal For Only $1,800 Down?

Patrick Riddle — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:06:06 +0000

Are you one of those non believers that think that you have to have a bunch of cash or credit to get into real estate investing?

Well, if that’s the case, here’s a real world real estate investing case study of one of Wil Christenson’s latest and greatest deals. He specializes in creative deal structuring . . . buying property subject to and creating seller financing to pay sellers for their equity. Wil structured this deal so that the seller took back 100% of the financing so all he had to pay was his closing costs (some attorney fees, title search, deed stamps, etc) which amounted to a whopping $1,800 bucks! That’s it!

And the property was in good shape! Can’t get much better than that . . . all it needs is a little cosmetic work. I decided to shoot a video to highlight exactly how the deal went down.

Here’s a few things you’ll learn in the video:

= > How in the heck he found the deal

= > 2 BIG hints when the lead came in that screamed “This Could Be A Great Deal!”

= > Key questions Wil asked to unlock the seller financing potential

= > How he used “The Truth About Taxes” to compel her to finance the deal (and how you can too)

= > The magic question that explodes your wealth when you know how to hold your mouth right

= > How every payment is in essence going in his back pocket

= > and MUCH MORE!

Watch the video now!

Want us to publish an article about one of your creative real estate deals? Shoot us the details through our Contact Us Page. Write “Deal Case Study” in the subject line and we’ll get back to you soon . . .

Real Estate Investing Tips from an Expert Investor

Patrick Riddle — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:25:54 +0000

How about some real estate investing tips from a seasoned expert investor???

I was at a property the other day with Wil Christenson, a local creative real estate investor in the Charleston SC area, and happended to have the video camera with me. We decided to shoot a quick video highlighting Wil’s top tips in various areas of real estate investing. Areas such as marketing,negotiating, deal structuring, financing, flipping, renovations, property management, and exit strategies.

You guys are in for some HEAT! Check out the real estate investing tips video below . . .

Click here to view the embedded video.

(go to the blog to watch the video if you’re reading

this through your email subscription)

Put your top real estate investing tips in the comment area. We would love to hear from you!