Yes, this is a bus, sitting in a field, with a real estate sign attached to it! I drive by this "ad" every time I attend a school board meeting but I am more amazed by the comments I get when I ask people about the "bus" on Highway 35. As a student of sales and marketing techniques, I wanted to know what people thought about this unique marketing strategy. The comments range from "very clever" to "trying to get around the zoning laws" to "tacky" to "it's been there for years". The point is-- who cares what people think?

The true guerrilla marketer's main goal is to GET PEOPLE TO REMEMBER YOU! True guerrilla sales and marketing has more to do with being creative—and less to do with marketing dollars! Getting people to REMEMBER you—is a career-long challenge. But, by doing things differently (and sometimes outrageously as well) when it comes to mortgages—you want people to think about YOU.

While we all can't own a bus, we CAN get people to remember us by being unique.

Have you ever thought about "duplicating" yourself to get the most marketing mileage out what you do day in and day out—meeting with clients? In the article, "Sex, Lies and Videotapes", we discuss how you can be everywhere and at anytime by creating videos, CD's or audiotapes of yourself? You don't have to physically be THERE! Here's your chance to be hundreds of places all at once! How do you think singers and actors get so famous so quickly—it's because of all the videos and CD's they sell. Your long-term goal (just like a rock group) is to get thousands of these things distributed to people in your community. The shelf life is enormous and just like videos and tapes they get passed around to family and friends.

Remember the article in the last issue on giving your clients a "Financial Physical"? (CLICK HERE to purchase marketing letter and forms) One of the recommendations that we made to was provide your clients with an annual (like in physical), free copy of their credit report. Mari Gottdiener, an attorney and credit counselor, has written one of the best articles we have ever read on a few simple ways to help your clients increase their credit scores. No, helping your clients increase their credit scores is NOT a strategy that you should only use when it's time for them to purchase or refinance their homes! It's a long term strategy that you can use to help them CONTINUALLY work to increase their credit scores because, not only will it help them with their mortgage, it will help them get better financing terms (and lower payments) on anything they purchase using credit. THIS ARTICLE IS A MUST READ FOR ANYONE WHO IS SERIOUS ABOUT BECOMING THEIR CLIENTS' FINANCIAL ADVISOR.

Sue Woodard, a superstar loan originator, says that we can increase our business by over 20% virtually overnight! However, we FORGET (or take for granted) one of our most important sources of referrals—OUR INTERNAL NETWORK. Sue shares with you how to identify who these people are and how to market to them as well. We spend a lot of money generating NEW leads—when we can spend a little money to generate leads from people who already KNOW you and LIKE you.

Quick Tips: There is a unique writing instrument on the market—a "STAMP-PEN" is one of the best, personalized "thank you" gifts you can give to your clients and friends. Check it out!

We hope that by reading LoanOfficerMagazine.com, you will find a way to be "remembered" in your marketplace. And that you will remember we helped you. We are different than other mortgage magazines—because we provide guerilla sales and marketing exclusively for loan officers! We ask that you refer this e-zine to your friends too. (SEND THIS TO A FRIEND)

Let us all give thanks for this wonderful business of ours-Happy Thanksgiving!

Karen Deis, Guerrilla Publisher