For Douglas Newby of Douglas Newby & Associates in Dallas, a new approach in presenting architecturally significant homes and architect designed homes to his niche market, and a few simple changes to his website doubled his business in one short year. Here’s how he did it.

Hi Michael,

After attending your recent 3-Day Advanced Internet Marketing class in Dallas, I just wanted to tell you that implementing your ideas has made a dramatic difference in my business.

When I first heard you speak 5 or 6 years ago, by the first break I was so excited, I was calling back to my office on my cell phone, sharing your ideas, and giving direction on securing additional domain names for my website. That one day seminar opened my eyes, and your ePOWER! PRO™ Book became the foundation I used for many years to improve the effectiveness of my website. The 3-day advanced class later allowed me to refine the website and capture additional business.

I’ve worked with highly experienced and very successful web designers and graphic designers – and have been able to help educate them on the components of a successful website because I have your book. My own interest in technology is really only in how it connects people with their specific needs, interests and services. I consider myself a “non-tech” person. In spite of this, I’m able to give guidance to professionals working on my website, ask the right questions, and even provide the answers to questions because of the way you’ve presented essential information in the book. You showed me how to create a website that is visually appealing to draw interest, conveys the value I provide, is compelling to the audience, and easily read by search engines.

I’ve had my website since 1999 and it was well-received. However, by incorporating just a few pieces you suggested a year ago, the number of people viewing my site has increased, but the number of people that visit the site, then call me and buy a home has tripled! I’ve probably sold homes to around 80% of the people who called me after visiting my website. Www.SignificantHomes.com is a very successful site that appeals to a specific group of people.

Mine is a niche market for niche buyers - I match up extraordinarily talented and aesthetically sophisticated people with significant homes. Clients might range from the executive who created the Internet marketing for JetBlue to a CEO and international philanthropist. Some websites are successful by bringing in thousands of buyers. My website is successful because when people call me they share my interest and are committed to what I do. The website is about them, not me. The site reflects that I understand these clients and instills in them the confidence that I can help them find the best home with the most value.

Your 3-day class provided the tools for a powerful exploration of my business. Your class format is special in that you create an atmosphere where each member of the class is eager to come up with the perfect idea for someone else in the class. When I was selected for the “hot seat” during the seminar, there were three major ideas for my website that came from other people in the class – these have made a major difference.

1. My website has been renamed “SignificantHomes.com from “Douglas Newby.com” so people know precisely the emphasis of my work and experience.

2. The title “American Dream by Design” used for Featured Listings inspires and goes back to the primal instinct that a home is a great privilege – but it also raises shelter to aesthetics.

3. Each section of the website is introduced by a compelling collage of architectural details or homes signifying my interest and expertise.

SignificantHomes.com became a greater tool to sell properties, and a better vehicle to attract the buyers for the properties that I offer. As a result, my business doubled in 2005 over the previous year. As an example, there were four houses in the $2 million range that had been listed with other brokers in MLS for over a year. Since they were so stale, I did not put the properties in the MLS, but relied primarily on my website to sell them. They were sold over the previous listing price because buyers were able to get a fresh look at the properties on my site and recognize their value.

I’ve most admired your great passion for providing real value in your training, and that you love helping people succeed. As a result, you inspire generosity and the sharing of ideas among your students. In that spirit, if other agents you work with have architecturally significant properties, I’ll add their property on my website under their city or region in the Architecture America section of SignificantHomes.com, and include a link back to the agent’s own website to help the agent sell the property.

Thank you again for sharing the ideas that have made real estate more invigorating and rewarding to both me and my clients.

Douglas

Douglas Newby
Douglas Newby & Associates
Dallas, TX
www.SignificantHomes.com

Thank you Doug. I want to take a moment to acknowledge you for several things. First, your willingness to try new ideas and commit to their full implementation and thereby reap the benefits is one of the most rewarding aspects of what I do as a speaker and author.

Lots of people give lip service about what they are "going to do," you on the other hand, just do it. Secondly, your active participation during the last two 3-Day Advanced Workshops is a perfect example of "as you give, so shall you receive." I have always found that those that give, get far more in return and your sharing during the workshops is proof of this. 

And finally, your generous offer of listing architecturally significant homes of other agents on your Website is a great opportunity for anyone who is marketing those kinds of properties. Those who don't take you up on it are missing out big time! Thanks again for being who you are —I am very much looking forward to seeing you again in the near future!

EDITOR'S NOTE: Doug's letter above gives you just a hint of the profit-generating breakthroughs that attendees of our 3-Day Advance Online Marketing Boot Camp experience all the time.  Unfortunately you will have only one more chance to ever attend this one-of-a-kind event. My very last one will happen in Chicago on July 7 - 9, 2006. After that, I'm done with the 3-Day events —they are simply too exhausting to do (it's like running 3 marathons in a row!).

If you are committed to your career long-term, and are a "Just do it!" type of person (instead of giving lip service of "someday I'll get to it"), then you have one last chance to attend the most intensive, real world online marketing event in the real estate industry. Just go to www.RUSSER3day.com and register. Do it now because our last event sold out completely in just 7 weeks.