Winning the Cup Starts at Home

Guest blogger: Chris Haran, Director of Strategic Planning and Initiatives (& Blackhawks fan)

Tonight, the Chicago Blackhawks take the final steps towards hockey’s ultimate goal:  the Stanley Cup. The Blackhawks are back after a victorious 2010 campaign, and they match up against the Boston Bruins, who won it the year after Chicago. As true fans of the Hawks know, times weren’t always this great. It has been only a few short years since the miraculous turnaround in not only the success on the ice, but the success off as well.

There is a lot that went into turning around the fortunes of this great team, but at its core was knowing how to treat the customers of the brand. It was an understanding and appreciation for the history of the franchise, as well as recognizing the expectations for greatness that Chicago has as a hockey town. Every action, strategy and decision always came back to “One Goal”. There’s a lot to be admired in such a shared sense of purpose by any organization, but especially when it is best represented by our hometown heroes.

2010 was also the first year that Coldwell Banker partnered with the Chicago Blackhawks as a sponsor. It was the second time we partnered with a sports team that won it all that year, as our partnership with the White Sox began in 2005 (Bears and Bulls…take note and call us). I’d like to say that we knew all along…and I think I will. Good luck to the Hawks, and hope we are listening to this song tonight…a lot.

You Mean There’s a Plan?

- Chris Haran, Director of Strategic Planning and Initiatives

One of my last posts, Are you running a business? talked about business planning for 2013, and how you should start getting your strategy set for the upcoming year. Well, it is always better to be a “Do as I Do” and not just a “Do as I Say” kind of person. So, I’d like to share just a few of the initiatives our team is looking at for helping our company (meaning your business) grow.

Every Picture Tells a Story…

- Chris Haran, Director of Strategic Planning and Initiatives

…but online, it takes more than one. As agents, there is a natural inclination when you get a new listing to get it on the MLS as quickly as possible. So, maybe you run over, snap a quick exterior thinking, “I’ll get my professional shots done later.” Since you have your single photo, you upload that and the listing is now live for viewing on the MLS. Here is why that is a huge disservice to your seller.

Apple vs Android: the Follow Up

- Chris Haran, Director of Strategic Planning and Initiatives

So, awhile back I had to make a tough decision…Apple or Android? It was time to give up the Blackberry, and the choice I faced was agonizing. I even put together a whole presentation about my choice! And after hours of research and polling, I picked…

Single Property Websites from Homefinder

- Chris Haran, Director of Strategic Planning and Initiatives

We’ve talked about Single Property Websites from Homefinder before, but as we go into the fall season and then business planning after that, it’s always good to get a refresher. A Single Property Website is dedicated to one listing, and it includes property information from ColdwellBankerOnline.com that is updated on a daily basis. For Coldwell Banker agents, they are only $10 for a year (and that will also enhance your properties on ChicagoTribune and Homefinder.com for a year from purchase as well)! Let’s take a look at some numbers around these websites.

Story Telling for Your Brand

- Chris Haran, Director of Strategic Planning and Initiatives

The most crucial component of marketing and ultimately selling your brand is being able to tell (and sell) your story. What makes you essential to your clients? Why are you so much better than the competition that for a prospective consumer to choose anyone else would be ludicrous? An easy way to tell your story succinctly and simply is to have quotables. These are strong, emotional statements about your brand, your story. They are meant to be remembered, to be repeated.

Expo 2012 – A year for success

Chris Haran

Another year…another CBExpo.

Our company is large. We have 53 offices, over 3300 agents, hundreds more of staff and managers over four states. It’s a lot of ground to cover, and finding a way to get everyone together always presents some unique challenges. But, that size is what makes events like #CBExpo2012 so important. When you get all those different styles and ways of thinking in one place, some very cool things start to happen.

#CBExpo2012: The Place to Be or the Only Place to Be on July 24?

Raise your hand if you have already gone to CBExpo2012.com and registered for our latest company event, scheduled for July 24. Now, if you really raised your hand reading this, then you get the look. However, thanks for doing that.

For those of you that haven’t already registered, check out this short video talking about why you should immediately! We have a great lineup this year, as well as the always popular networking reception where you can connect with your friends and peers from across the company.

Deep Thoughts: Customer Service

“The purpose of a business is to create a customer…who creates customers.” –Shiv Singh, Global Head of Digital for PepsiCo, adding on to the famous Peter Drucker definition of business

Shiv Singh was using this to define social media and influence, but I can’t think of a better use of that quote then when trying to define how you build a successful real estate business. Whether it is the hand-written testimonial or the review and ranking on Zillow or Trulia, this industry always will come back to the referral.

Deep Thoughts: Time Or Money

“Why, it’s elementary, really.”

The age-old question…what is more important to you? Your time, or your money? Let’s talk about how this applies to real estate. Examples, Watson!