As promised back in September, I am providing an update to my Mortgage Marketing Plan.

I’ve gone through the basic exercises and have come up with a S.M.A.R.T. goals. Identified 6 areas to focus on to improve my business and working on 3 of those from the get go to maintain or improve them.

Unfortunately, one of these three involves the, as they title it “Done4U” website. Well, I have to be honest (for those that know me this seems to be the only mode I have) the website is… how shall I put this nicely… not quite ready for prime time?

The clear and distinct impression I got was this was a super duper, ready rock ‘n roll, all the bells and whistles website that would just naturally start generating leads. All I had to do was upload my contacts and fire up the site.

Fortunately I had the presents of mind not to use my main website address or I think I would have driven out to B.C. personally and shot the entire development team. Let’s say, I’m not happy with them at the moment and have a list of problems/requests a page long. They keep thanking me for my feedback, however with each new report my sarcasm (again for those that know me, sarcasm is my preferred mode of speech rather than type obscenities or scream at people. I know it’s not effective to use sarcasm in an email as it may be interpreted incorrectly. Better that then what’s really on my mind, I think)… where was I… yes, my sarcasm increases along with the brevity of the email.

So, here I am. I have this (potentially) wonderful website that I would dearly love to use. I can see all kind of potential, but as soon as I start to use it, I run into a wall. Can’t do this. Can’t do that. This is broken. This doesn’t work.

On the one hand I know if I don’t tell them exactly what’s wrong, it will never get fixed. On the other hand (you have five fingers , I shouldn’t be the one doing *ALL* their testing for them. I have a business to run and that business is not finding all the problems with their site.

Wait a minute, didn’t I sign up for assistance with helping me market my business? Why is it that the one major thing I’ve chosen to focus on (as a direct result of my engineering background) is not helping me with my marketing? AND I’m paying for this. (This is where my wife will chime in and say “yep, why are we doing this again?”)

On the positive side, I have to give them some credit, I feel I have  to try and balance this article somehow. They (the coach) have indicated that I first and foremost needed an assistant. Well, I must say I have hired the most wonderful assistant. She’s smart. Good looking. Great conversationalist. Keeps me on my toes and keeps track of all my files (when I so desperately needed it). She’s already developed systems for whom ever takes over the position from her. She has also created excel spreadsheets that provide comparisons of different scenarios for my clients to use. She’s organized all my files and created a filing system (one that others will understand and not just me, she would say .

Out of this rough spot I seemed to have stepped into, comes  diamond. Why do I sing her praises so highly? Well, she knows me like no other and her love bucket has been a little low of late. My partner for life, who has always supported me in everything I do. Despite all the crap that she’s currently going through, has made the time to make sure my business (hers too now) runs as smoothly as possible. My heartfelt thanks to her. I’m hoping if she sees it in print on the web, she might believe me….just a little bit more. It’s hard not to take someone whom you know and love and see on a regular basis for granted. Guilty as charged.

Stay tuned for more marketing updates. I will be trying a new idea with an agent in the office. He’s a real go getter, which I think is what is required to make it work. Simple idea (aren’t they all?). Post cards and an 800 call service.