31 Aug 2012 1 Comment
in Activities
Our online marketing department was particularly busy this week.
I find it’s quite a coincidence that this is the Labour Day long weekend. That’s what we’ve been doing at BAM for the past week — working like dogs. I can’t imagine how much our team must be looking forward to the long weekend, having put in such a crazy amount of hours. I know I am.
The results are worth it, though, and I’ll be happy to share more with you on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, here’s hoping you have a great weekend!
23 Aug 2012 Leave a Comment
in Activities
Work hard, play hard. I’ve always been a believer in this philosophy. And because our team at BAM has been working so hard lately (with much more to come), we’re having ourselves a BAM day tomorrow.
I wasn’t part of the committee that organized it all, so I’m not really sure about what’s happening in the morning, other than it’s a scavenger hunt and that everyone’s excited about it. (Those who organized the scavenger hunt aren’t just excited — they have too amused a gleam in their eyes.) Here’s hoping they won’t make me jump out of a plane again.
As for the afternoon, it promises to be more relaxing — we’re going on a boat cruise on the lake with some of our clients. That should be a fun, well-deserved break for all concerned, one that will only reinvigorate us for the coming week.
Do you organize events with your team? What did you do last time?
11 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Activities Tags: bowling, client relationship
BAM went bowling last night.
What does this have to do with real estate marketing?
Everything, as it turns out. Because last night we went bowling with Empire Communities, a longstanding client of ours. This was actually their idea, but it resonates with me because I’m a big believer in having close ties with our clients.
On a superficial level, having close ties with a client makes work so much easier. You just can’t help caring even more than usual when you’ve had fun together and when you’ve talked about topics unrelated to work. It’s just human nature.
On a deeper level, close ties are automatically established when you and your client stand on the same side of the fence. It sounds basic, yet many agencies only look out for themselves. Likewise, many clients don’t help their agencies excel at the work they’re paid to do.
I for one would rather butt my ahead against a client’s if I knew their direction was against their best interest. I could just take the money and do as I was told. But that’d be the easy way out. And no one who cares should take the easy way out.
What are your thoughts about client relationships?
27 Apr 2012 2 Comments
in Activities, Awards
It’s almost time: in only a few hours, at 6 pm tonight, almost everyone in the industry will arrive, spiffed up and ready to have a good time, to the Paramount Event Venue on Weston and Highway 407.
The occasion? 2012’s BILD Awards.
Having already blogged about BAM’s list of nominations, (and having also campaigned for you to vote for Pathways as the winner of the new People’s Choice Award), all I can I say at this point is that we’re really excited about our nominations, and hope we’ll take a bunch of prizes home!
Oh, and I should probably warn you — we’re bringing noise makers.
Will we see you at the Awards tonight?
29 Mar 2012 1 Comment
in Activities, Strategies
If you follow me on Twitter, you probably know already that I was a guest speaker yesterday at BILD’s Low Rise Forum, which saw us discuss diversity in the GTA.
I love these events. They give me a chance to chat with old acquaintances and industry people. I also get to learn from my fellow guest speakers.
Yesterday, for example, Andrew Brethour of the PMA Brethour Realty Group provided interesting insights into why so many people from all over the world move to Canada.
He also did a pretty good job of reminding us all of the many reasons why we’re so lucky to live in this country and specifically in Toronto. Andy is quite the inspiring speaker and it was a pleasure to listen to him.
I had a blast with my presentation. I believe in keeping it short and sweet and fun. What’s your approach like?
Later, Susan Wong of Markham Centre Realty. Inc. provided us with a most detailed analysis of immigration from mainland China, and the reasons why so many Chinese buy real estate here.
Susan also said there’s still a lot of room for condo prices to rise in Toronto — she even produced a chart showing that despite our increased prices we’re not among the ten most expensive cities in the world. I found it interesting that Vancouver, London and Singapore join Toronto as the preferred overseas investment locations for Chinese millionaires.
Lastly, Jenny Park of The Epoch Times provided listeners with a great summary on how to market to Chinese buyers. Jenny said 74% of all Chinese Canadians consume media in Chinese.
As for my own presentation, I am attaching it as a PowerPoint file (click this link: BAM Ethnic Marketing). Or you can read the following summary of key points:
- Castlegate, in East Brampton (targeted to Indians),
- Woodside Village, in Scarborough (targeted to Sri Lankans),
- Vellore Park, in Woodbridge (targeted to Italians), and
- Greenbrook Village in Shelburne, targeted to “white flight” (I explain in my presentation how I was wrong about the target market here!).
What’s your experience targeting diverse communities in the GTA?
