"I’ve found the best marketing hacks which will give you the most bang for your buck," says Top Broker's Joshua Vecchio.
Director of Discovery Finance Group, Joshua Vecchio has written over $250m, using techniques and tips being shared on his website Top Broker.
Marketing as a mortgage broker can be an extremely costly and unpredictable affair. There are hundreds of options ranging from buying leads to paying per click on Google, and it can be hard to measure your success.
In the past few years there has been a shift to the way businesses market themselves. Whereas you used to be limited to methods like print advertising which are expensive and hard to track ROI, these days there are many alternative marketing methods that are effective and low cost!
After spending thousands of dollars marketing both online and offline, I’ve found the best marketing hacks which will give you the most bang for your buck:
Blog
Exceptionally simple, yet amazingly effective! A blog is a brilliant online strategy to get your brand out there. Posting regular content not only makes you an authority in the customer’s eyes, it also keeps you front of mind. Keep your blog interesting, informative and educational. Mix it up every now and then, trial and error; you’ll be gaining momentum in no time.
Otto Dargan from Home Loan Experts regularly posts interesting blogs on his website. His content is a mix of three main categories:
•Interesting – topics like facts on banks and money and liveable suburbs in Australia
•Informative – including why to use a mortgage broker or why certain professionals get better discounts
•Educational – such as tips for first home owners or questions to ask when purchasing a property
It’s important to mention that what works for one niche doesn’t necessarily work for others, so play around with your topics until you find what really clicks with your audience.
Network in Person
The focus for most brokers marketing these days is online. Fair enough – online marketing is a great source of new leads. But in the race to get online, make sure you don’t throw out the bed with the bathwater.
Marketing in person, belly to belly, will give you an opportunity to meet people whom you might not come across online. This personal approach can be a breath of fresh air to the right prospect. These days with everyone on social media every other minute and bombarded with emails, making the extra effort to meet in person really stands out.
Run a Contest
Every Aussie loves the chance to win something, after all who doesn’t have a crack at an instant scratchy or a punt on the Gold Lotto’s mega draw. Running an online contest is a brilliant way to get low-cost marketing. Think of ways to gain some quick and easy viral attention, for example a chance to win an iPad, cash prize or other luring prizes might be a good starting point. You’re only limited by your imagination here. If you’ve an idea, give it a go, trial it out and measure results. Just make sure you’ve got the right permits for your target market.
Improve your Google+ Presence
Most people aren’t aware that Google uses Google+ profile information to form web presence knowledge. The better your profile, the better your organic presence will feature across the web. Update your Google+ profile with pictures, information and importantly get customers writing reviews on your profile. You can also post content through your Google+ just like Facebook or LinkedIn which is another avenue to build your presence online.
Cross-promote
Cross-promotion is one of the most effective methods in marketing that can create a win-win for all parties involved. Not only does cross-promoting allow you to partner with a business that can compliment yours, it allows you to exchange marketing services. For example partnering up with a financial planner might allow you to market your services to their existing customers; in turn the financial plan might be able to market their services to your existing customers. Both services are aligned and are a real value add.
Host a Webinar
No-cost webinars are a great way to introduce your services to a wider audience. A webinar allows you to position yourself as the customer’s broker before they need a broker and once again positions you as the authority in your field. Be sure to keep the topic appealing and interesting, know the audience you’re targeting and be sure to provide relevant information. A webinar is a time intensive strategy however if done right can produce tremendous results both short and long term.
LinkedIn Group
Creating a LinkedIn group costs nothing and can provide incredible opportunities. As a platform for many professionals, it gives you the platform and opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals that might require your services or have clients that would benefit from your services. Connect with business leaders, publish contents and build a group – it costs you nothing besides your time and can bring you many opportunities.
Marketing is never a sure thing. What works for one business might not work for another. Even the world’s best advertising companies make marketing mistakes. Some of them fail spectacularly and cost millions.
That’s the great thing about these low-cost marketing hacks: even if they don’t work for you, they don’t cost you much. There’s minimal downside and great potential upside. Try implementing a few of these strategies and see how you go.
This article originally appeared on Top Broker, a growing online space where tips and strategies are shared by Australia's top mortgage brokers.
Marketing as a mortgage broker can be an extremely costly and unpredictable affair. There are hundreds of options ranging from buying leads to paying per click on Google, and it can be hard to measure your success.
In the past few years there has been a shift to the way businesses market themselves. Whereas you used to be limited to methods like print advertising which are expensive and hard to track ROI, these days there are many alternative marketing methods that are effective and low cost!
After spending thousands of dollars marketing both online and offline, I’ve found the best marketing hacks which will give you the most bang for your buck:
Blog
Exceptionally simple, yet amazingly effective! A blog is a brilliant online strategy to get your brand out there. Posting regular content not only makes you an authority in the customer’s eyes, it also keeps you front of mind. Keep your blog interesting, informative and educational. Mix it up every now and then, trial and error; you’ll be gaining momentum in no time.
Otto Dargan from Home Loan Experts regularly posts interesting blogs on his website. His content is a mix of three main categories:
•Interesting – topics like facts on banks and money and liveable suburbs in Australia
•Informative – including why to use a mortgage broker or why certain professionals get better discounts
•Educational – such as tips for first home owners or questions to ask when purchasing a property
It’s important to mention that what works for one niche doesn’t necessarily work for others, so play around with your topics until you find what really clicks with your audience.
Network in Person
The focus for most brokers marketing these days is online. Fair enough – online marketing is a great source of new leads. But in the race to get online, make sure you don’t throw out the bed with the bathwater.
Marketing in person, belly to belly, will give you an opportunity to meet people whom you might not come across online. This personal approach can be a breath of fresh air to the right prospect. These days with everyone on social media every other minute and bombarded with emails, making the extra effort to meet in person really stands out.
Run a Contest
Every Aussie loves the chance to win something, after all who doesn’t have a crack at an instant scratchy or a punt on the Gold Lotto’s mega draw. Running an online contest is a brilliant way to get low-cost marketing. Think of ways to gain some quick and easy viral attention, for example a chance to win an iPad, cash prize or other luring prizes might be a good starting point. You’re only limited by your imagination here. If you’ve an idea, give it a go, trial it out and measure results. Just make sure you’ve got the right permits for your target market.
Improve your Google+ Presence
Most people aren’t aware that Google uses Google+ profile information to form web presence knowledge. The better your profile, the better your organic presence will feature across the web. Update your Google+ profile with pictures, information and importantly get customers writing reviews on your profile. You can also post content through your Google+ just like Facebook or LinkedIn which is another avenue to build your presence online.
Cross-promote
Cross-promotion is one of the most effective methods in marketing that can create a win-win for all parties involved. Not only does cross-promoting allow you to partner with a business that can compliment yours, it allows you to exchange marketing services. For example partnering up with a financial planner might allow you to market your services to their existing customers; in turn the financial plan might be able to market their services to your existing customers. Both services are aligned and are a real value add.
Host a Webinar
No-cost webinars are a great way to introduce your services to a wider audience. A webinar allows you to position yourself as the customer’s broker before they need a broker and once again positions you as the authority in your field. Be sure to keep the topic appealing and interesting, know the audience you’re targeting and be sure to provide relevant information. A webinar is a time intensive strategy however if done right can produce tremendous results both short and long term.
LinkedIn Group
Creating a LinkedIn group costs nothing and can provide incredible opportunities. As a platform for many professionals, it gives you the platform and opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals that might require your services or have clients that would benefit from your services. Connect with business leaders, publish contents and build a group – it costs you nothing besides your time and can bring you many opportunities.
Marketing is never a sure thing. What works for one business might not work for another. Even the world’s best advertising companies make marketing mistakes. Some of them fail spectacularly and cost millions.
That’s the great thing about these low-cost marketing hacks: even if they don’t work for you, they don’t cost you much. There’s minimal downside and great potential upside. Try implementing a few of these strategies and see how you go.
This article originally appeared on Top Broker, a growing online space where tips and strategies are shared by Australia's top mortgage brokers.
