There’s no question the mortgage industry has faced marketing challenges amidst an uncertain economy and continued talk of recession. And while housing rates are expected to drop in 2023, it may continue to be a slightly uphill battle as builders put on the brakes in response to buyers doing the same, while sellers sit on their wallets and coast along on the great mortgage rates of years gone by.
But that doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel. In fact, many experts believe the worst is behind us and that new opportunities abound as inflation begins to cool.
Here are just three marketing tips for loan officers to tackle this new year in style:
- Ramp-up efforts: Just like we said back when COVID hit – the best marketing decision loan officers can make when times are tough is to maintain or – better yet – increase their direct mail efforts. Connecting with prospects and dampening hysteria by demonstrating the process your office takes to assist homebuyers is, in a word, invaluable. Your role in this economy is a clear and critical one. Easing economic fears is a great way to preserve customer loyalty. The financial climate will eventually regulate, and you will want to have fostered healthy and helpful communication with your borrowers when it does.
- Don’t make millennials work too hard for your attention: Because, well, they won’t. Which isn’t in any way commentary on their ethic. The truth is, this age group’s initiative is through the roof. They’re going places, and you want to be along for the ride. Millennials get a bad rap for being Instagram-addicted, Starbucks-fueled hipsters, but it’s a broad Believe it or not, many individuals in this age bracket prefer an analog marketing bid for their attention – i.e. direct mail. According to the United States Postal Service, a whopping 84% of these prospects make a habit of sifting through their mail, and many more are convinced that direct mail marketing is more reliable. Target your mortgage campaigns to these 20 and 30-somethings directly, and start enjoying new, profitable leads.
- Make sure you’re delivering the right message: Relevance, brevity, and clarity are a loan officer’s best friends when trying to reach out to new and existing clients. By workshopping a direct mail message with real consumers, you can create targeted content that connects and compels house hunters to call This inbound approach eliminates the awkwardness and irritation of cold calls while showcasing (in the very best way) the convenience and customization your company can offer. As your customer base and bottom line grow, you can also scale your direct mail frequency to match your burgeoning needs – tapping into new markets and meeting new prospects in the process.
Remember: your existing customers are one of your greatest resources when it comes to marketing your business, particularly during an economic downturn. Reach out to them regularly, ask for their feedback, and showcase your expertise in the process. Future borrowers will appreciate this personal touch and will be far more likely to recommend you to their friends and family who may need similar services.
Camber Marketing Group can help you devise strategies to optimize your existing book of business, whether launching a past client campaign or tapping into our 24/7 Monitoring Program, which alerts lenders the second a customer enters the market for a new loan. Reach out to us today to learn more.