Loan Officer Marketing - The Power of Positioning


How do you build a marketing strategy that can have real estate agents hunting for your services? Realtors® are bombarded everyday with a continuous stream of marketing messages from loan officers. They cope with this information-overload by ignoring most of them. So how do you stand out in an over-communicated environment? You'll change the dynamics of your marketing when you understand the importance of positioning. Positioning is a communication tool to reach agents in a crowded marketplace.

Positioning means, you position your services in the prospect's mind

A position is a place, a place in the mind of the prospect - a perceptual location. When you market your services, you're competing for this space. If your position is similar in nature to your competitor's, you're competing in an overcrowded place in the prospect's mind.

Take a moment and consider your current position. Look at your communication pieces, which is commonly how agents position your services in their mind, if it's their primary exposure to your business. Your website, flyers, postcards, newsletters, brochures, advertisements, and business card are often the first communication an agent comes across regarding your services. What position are you communicating?

Not sure? Visit your competitor's website, if you switched your company logo with their company logo, how much difference would there actually be in the content or message? For most mortgage companies the answer is simple?very little.

Positioning means, a simple and singular message

To improve your position, you need to narrow your focus. A position that seeks to be everything to everyone will end up being nothing to everyone. For example, does your messages appeal with the promises' of loans closing on time, rendering superior service, high approval rates, etc.? This position doesn't work. First, it's competing with too many others; secondly, it isn't simple and doesn't focus on a single thing.

Look at examples in other service industries to understand the power of a narrow focus. When Federal Express began, they focused on a single position, a position that hadn't been dominated by other shippers yet. They communicated a single position through every medium - "When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight." This intense focus helped them build a brand identity that associated them with being the best at overnight shipping. And when people had packages that had to be delivered overnight and they weren't going to risk their decision - they chose Federal Express.

Southwest Airlines is another example. Their position of the "low-fare, no frills airline," helped them dominate and achieve prosperity in one of the toughest and most competitive service industries. They went as far as linking the image of peanuts to their brand identity to associate with the position of low cost. This connected successfully with budget conscious travelers.

Positioning means, setting yourself apart from competitors

Since most loan officers have positioned themselves identical, realtors see them as all the same. Mortgage services are indistinguishable. So how do you separate yourself?

The more similar the mortgage services, the more important the details. When realtors have to select a loan officer, they look for differences upon which to base their decision. This means the more identical mortgage services are, the more important each difference becomes. For you to separate yourself, accentuate the trivial.

For years, Domino's never stressed quality, price or value. Instead they relentlessly promoted, "Delivered in 30 minutes, or it's on us." Over the time of this campaign, they owned the position of speed. Consumers' perceived Domino's as fast and reliable.

Find a niche that is unoccupied in the realtor's mind and fill it first. There are numerous opportunities to specialize your services and occupy niches.

You can position around unique products:

Jumbo Loan expert
HUD expert
Interest Only Specialist

You can position around trivial details of processes:

Loans closed 5 days ahead of COE
Loan approvals within an hour or less
Daily file update alerts for realtors

You can position around gender, ethnicity, or geography:

Specialized in exclusively serving single professionals
Specialized in exclusively serving the Hispanic community
Specialized in exclusively serving Town & Country Ranch

Positioning is your competitive strategy for getting noticed. It is an outward expression of how you want to be perceived. It allows you to create a place for your services in an Agent's mind, where the competition isn't.

Jeff Nelson helps mortgage companies and individual loan officers increase loan originations by developing customized relationship-building strategies that secure quality relationships with real estate agents. Click here to get a free copy of the Marketing Planning Guide, a 20-page workbook designed to help you outline a strategy to becoming an Agent Magnet.

Visit us at http://www.loan-officer-marketing.com



RELATED LINKS

Accept Credit Card Payment Online

Accept credit card payment online and increase sales by 400% or more.... Find out how ...

 

Advanta Credit Cards

Apply for an Advanta credit card with 0% APR, rewards and cash back.

 

American Express Credit Card Application

Apply online for a new AMEX rewards credit card. See special offers.

 

Best Airline Miles Credit Card

Earn Frequent Airline Miles for Every Dollar Spent with No Annual Fee.

 

Best Cash Back Credit Card

Earn Up to 5% Cash Back on Every Day Purchases. Apply for Yours Today.

 

Best Reward Credit Card

Compare & Apply for the Best Reward Credit Cards with Up to 5% Cash Back Rewards and more.

 

Business Credit Card Online Application

Compare Business Credit Cards from All Major Banks. Apply Online Now

 

Chase Credit Card Application

Find Credit Card Applications from Chase & Apply Online in Seconds.

 

Citi Credit Card Application

Citibank offers credit cards that have 0% APR balance transfer options, Rewards, Cash Back, and much more

 

Credit Card Application For Bad Credit

Great card for bad credit just got better. 8.9% APR, instant decision.

 

Credit Card Balance Transfer Deal

Great Rates: Balance Transfers and Purchases. Capital One Credit Card

 

Debit Cards

Control Your Spending with a debit card. Guaranteed Approval.

 

Discover Credit Card Offer

Discover Credit Card Offers with 0% for 12 months, no fees & cash back.

 

Gas Credit Card Application

Save money at the gas pump with a new gas credit card. Apply now.

Fast Easy Payday Loan

Get the fast cash you need with an easy payday loan. Compare and apply

 

Hotel Rewards Credit Card

Earn Free Stays with a Hotel Rewards Credit Card. Apply Online Now.

 

HSBC Credit Card Application

Get 0% Intro APR, No Annual Fee, Great Service, Benefits. Apply Now.

 

Low Interest Credit Card List

Compare & Apply for Credit Cards w/ 0% Intro APR for Up to 15 Months

 

Master Card Application

Apply for MasterCard Credit Cards with 0% APR, Cash Back & No Fees.

 

No Annual Fee Credit Card

0% APR with No Annual Fee. Compare No Fee Credit Cards & Apply Online.

 

Online Car Loan Application

Loans and Refinancing for New and Used Cars. Online Approval.

 

Online Debt Consolidation Services

Consolidate your debts today - ease the strain of monthly bills.

 

Online Foreign Currency Trading

FOREX is a serious game. Play it with the pros. Start with just $50. The best trading platform available today. Start Trading and see why.

 

Online Mortgage Application

Apply online for a mortgage for your home. It's fast and easy. Great Rates!

 

Online Visa Credit Card Application

Compare & Apply for Visa Credit Cards with 0% APR and No Annual Fee.

 

Prepaid Credit Card

Get a Prepaid Credit Card with Free Direct Deposit. No Credit Check.

 

Shopping Reward Credit Card

Shopping Reward Credit Card. Fast Online Credit Card Application ... You have found the best shopping reward credit card site on the Internet!

 

Student Credit Card Application

Pay 0 Interest for 6 Months & Earn Rewards with a Student Credit Card.

 

Travel Rewards Credit Card

Compare Frequent Flyer Credit Cards Apply Now and Start Earning Miles.


MORE RESOURCES:


Macau News

Advanta Bank, Six Other US Lenders Collapse Amid Bad Loans
BusinessWeek
“Banks made loans they shouldn't have,” said Alan Hess, a professor at the University of Washington's Foster School of Business. ...
Directors, management, examiners share blame for First State failureTampa Bay Business Journal
Regulators shut 7 banks in 5 states; 37 in 2010BusinessWeek

all 501 news articles »


Spencer Web Design gets $25000 loan
Bizjournals.com
Spencer Web Design will use its low-interest, small business loan for working capital and equipment. Gov. Jay Nixon's Small Business Loan Program encourages ...
Loans and Resources for Disabled EntrepreneursBusinessWeek
Disaster loans available in Russell CountyTrading Markets (press release)
SBA's Deadline for Physical Damage Disaster Loans for Private Non-Profit ...Earthtimes (press release)

all 20 news articles »


BBC News (blog)

EU's Barroso: euro zone should make loans to Greece
Reuters
In a short statement, Barroso said the 16 countries that share the euro single currency should make coordinated, bilateral loans to heavily indebted Greece, ...
EU Commission Calls for European Loans for GreeceABC News
EU ready to aid Greece with bilateral loansXinhua
Greek PM Seeks Deal On Stand-By Loans Plan Next WeekWall Street Journal
BBC News -New York Times -Minneapolis Star Tribune
all 2,461 news articles »



DSNews.com

Fannie sets March 220000 deliquent loan buyout
Reuters
N), the largest provider of funding for US home mortgages, late on Thursday laid out the pace of its program to buy delinquent loans, starting with a ...
Fannie Mae Boosts Estimate for March Buyouts of LoansBusinessWeek
GSEs Green Light $200bn Buyout of Seriously Delinquent MortgagesHousing Wire
How Many Homes Do Banks Have Up Their Sleeves?Wall Street Journal (blog)

all 54 news articles »


Sky News

Irish Police Release Former Anglo Irish Chairman
Wall Street Journal
When he resigned from Anglo in December 2008, FitzPatrick said it was because he had loans totaling EUR87 million. He said he temporarily transferred ...
Sean Fitzpatrick released, but more arrests expected in Irish banking scandalIrish Central
Police Said to Arrest Ex-Chairman of Irish BankNew York Times
Dan White: The arrest of Seanie -- why it happened and what it means for the ...Herald.ie
The Associated Press -Irish Times
all 332 news articles »


BigNews.biz (press release)

Debt Consolidation Loans – A Life Sentence for Students?
Loans and Credit
Are the college students of today the future borrowers of debt consolidation loans in the future? Some shocking statistics regarding college students, ...
How Does An Interest Free Debt Consolidation Loan Work?US Money Talk News
A Credit Card Debt Consolidation Loans Enables Quicker Debt Relief ...TMCnet
How Debt Consolidation Loans Can Work For YouBigNews.biz (press release)
PR-inside.com (press release) -QCK -LoanSafe
all 77 news articles »


Intesa SanPaolo posts 4Q profit as bad loans ease
BusinessWeek
The Italian bank Intesa SanPaolo says it posted a fourth quarter profit as bad loans eased and trading performance improved. Intesa SanPaolo said in a ...
Intesa SanPaolo posts 4Q profit as bad loans easeNewsday (subscription)

all 22 news articles »


Plumas Bancorp Reports 2009 Results
MarketWatch (press release)
During 2009 the Company significantly reduced its exposure to these loans as demonstrated by a decline in this portfolio to $38.1 million at December 31, ...

and more »

Google News

home page | article index | site map
Credit  |  Currency Trading  |  Debt Consolidation  |  Debt Relief  |  Insurance  |  Investment  |  Leasing  |  Loans  |  Mortgage and Refinance  |  Personal Finance  |  Real Estate  |  Stocks and Mutual Funds  |  Taxes

 

© Copyright 2006 - SmarteCredit.Com. All rights reserved