by Julie Escobar
Do you know the biggest difference between the agents who not only survived but thrived during the market downturn? They had a book of business. A solid one. A database of people that they consistently connected with month-after-month. Year-after-year. Why does that make such a difference? Because we know that statistically one in twelve of those people — the ones who already know you, trust you, and like you — will send business your way each year. So, it SHOULD be on the top of every agent’s to do list – but it is not.
First, build it! If you’ve not yet put your sphere of influence database together, there’s no time like the present to start.
- Include every one of your past buyers or sellers. (Unless there are people you would truly never want to work with again, and we’ve all had those!) This is a top tier in your book of business.
- Add friends, family and colleagues.
- Get creative! Start adding all the people that you connect with on a regular basis such as your children’s coaches, doctors, dentists, optometrist, car salesman, insurance salesman, hairdresser, mechanic, electrician, plumber, etc. Anyone you do business with, is a great candidate for referrals. You can find a list of the 250 people who should be in your sphere here.
Next, grow it! As we head into a new month, remember to make an appointment with yourself every month to review for at least one hour where you are in terms of your book of business. Ask yourself these four questions:
- How many past clients will I contact this month?
- What is my focus?
- Who can I add to my database?
- What’s working and what’s not?
Lastly, nurture it! Some of the best ways to nurture your list are…
- Send: monthly postcards or newsletters. Our Community News is very popular and agents love the done-for-you content. The Content Cards and Listing Inventory Series are also top performers.
- Call: Connect with everyone in your book of business twice a year. Most agents break their lists down into weekly and daily increments, then hit the phones as part of their daily to-do list.
- See: Host a customer appreciation event once a year. An end-of-summer picnic might be perfect for getting face-to-face with past customers and thanking them for their business (and referrals).
Building your book of business, for some, isn’t the exciting part of the business. But when your get the 20-year value of everyone on that list, you can start to see it as a priority! Look to our Master Marketing Calendar for some fun reasons to stay connected with your sphere and keep your conversations interesting!
You may also want to check out our Specials page which changes monthly as we add new content, tools and budget-saving promo codes!
Need help? Contact our team today at 866.405.3638!