Time to bring in the pros
You got into real estate because you were good at buying and selling homes – right? So why are you also trying to design a website, choose your business cards, and photoshop the company holiday card?
Just like you tell your clients, it might be time to hire a professional. A marketing/design pro can take the strain off your branding decisions, and deliver materials way better than you can create in MS Paint – and in far less time. And – it doesn’t have to cost an entire paycheque.
But where to start? What should you ask them? And, how much should you spend? (First piece of advice – check out my entry on the importance of a great marketing plan here.)
How to find them
Well, word of mouth is often a great start. Is there a colleague that has a great website you love, or a local business that always has awesome poster displays? Ask around and see if anyone has great recommendations, and can give you an idea of their pricing.
The right questions to ask
This depends on your project, as well as their expertise, but there’s always a few good rules of thumb. You’ll want to know what their timelines and fees are like, to check out their portfolio or past projects, and probably their working style to ensure you’re compatible.
How much is too much?
How much you’re willing to – or should – spend, depends on the scope of your project, as well as the experience of your team. If they’re designing your entire website from scratch, including writing your content and taking your headshot, it ain’t gonna come cheap. Working with someone with a serious reputation as the best of the best? You’ll get great work – but you’ll definitely be paying for it. Some easier ways to save costs are to look for newer, freelance contractors, who are building their portfolio, and to work with a longer time frame in mind – which also means being prepared and organized on your end.
For more info on when to know you need help, and where to start, you could ask around – or, just book a call with me.