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Friday, December 5, 2025

    A Real Estate Referral List!

    Nearly half of homebuyers surveyed (49%) by the NAR said that the third most important benefit that a real estate agent can provide is “. . .a better list of service providers,” such as a home inspector and other services. (NAR 2022 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends)

    While homebuyers consider this a benefit, the industry understands it as “value-added.”

    Who would’ve thought that something as simple as a list of vendors could be a treasured service? 

    No, it’s not a new service, but it’s become an in-demand one and a way for agents to set themselves apart while offering value to your services.

    It beats a closing gift

    A real estate vendor referral service is the gift that keeps on giving. If set up properly, it brings your brand before their eyes multiple times into the future. It can also benefit you by giving you “touch” opportunities down the line.

    Content Card Series is shown above. To see more, click Here.

    How to put together a real estate vendor referral service list

    Whether you call them vendors or affiliates, the people on your list should be many and varied. Oh, and highly vetted, which we’ll discuss later.

    Let’s take a look at some of the vendors you might want to include on your list:

    • Accountant
    • Appliance repair/installation
    • Carpet cleaner
    • Countertop Company
    • Electrician
    • Flooring installer
    • Garage door installer/repair tech
    • General contractor
    • Handyman
    • Handyman/woman 
    • Home inspector
    • Home warranty company
    • House cleaner
    • Insurance agent
    • Interior designer
    • Landscaper
    • Lenders/mortgage broker
    • Moving accessories
    • Moving company
    • Painter
    • Pest inspector
    • Pet pooper scooper
    • Plumber/HVAC technician
    • Pool Service
    • Popcorn ceiling removal
    • Professional home organizer
    • Property Manager
    • Real estate attorney
    • Roofer
    • Septic Company
    • Stager
    • Tile contractor
    • Title company
    • Trash hauling 
    • Well inspector
    • Window washer

    Luxury agents might want to include:

    • Architect
    • Audio/visual services
    • Engineer
    • Home security systems technician
    • Home watch/Housesitting services 
    • Landscape architect
    • Trust attorney
    Vendor list research

    If you’re just starting a real estate vendor referral service, you’ll need to do some research in your quest to figure out who to include. Start at yelp.com, read reviews, and jot down the names of those you want to interview.

    Join your neighborhood at NextDoor.com. One of the main topics of conversation on the platform is “Who do you recommend for [insert the service].”

    In fact, if you enter any service into the search bar at the top of the page, you’ll find every conversation having to do with it. 

    Finally, ask for recommendations for your real estate vendor referral service from colleagues, family members, and friends.

    Once you’ve compiled a list of names, move on to the Better Business Bureau to check for complaints. 

    Then, ensure that the vendors you’ll interview are licensed and bonded by consulting the appropriate state licensing board’s website.

    This step is very important. “… the Realtor is not responsible for the work of a properly licensed contractor, or pest inspector for that matter. When a Realtor calls a licensed professional, they are doing so only in their capacity as a representative of their client,” according to Tim Jones at DailyRepublic.com.

    Still, consider putting a disclaimer, in writing, on your website.

    Now, you’re ready to interview each candidate. Don’t forget to ask for references. Get the references’ phone numbers and contact each one.

    There’s more to the compilation of this list than meets the eye. Avoiding RESPA violations is tricky, and we’ll cover that in Part II, so be sure to check back soon.

    PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

    1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

    Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine with rich, full-color content and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts combined with engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

    Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and it costs less than sending a greeting card! – Click Here


    2. The Free 12-Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

    The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do and when. Four key market segments include niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

    3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

    The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes but is also a business-building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

    4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

    The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals.  – Click Here

    5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

    Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here

    6. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

    Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here

      The three most important pages on a real estate agent’s website:

      • Home page
      • Testimonial page
      • Agent (and team) bios

      You can add an IDX page to that list if you’re a buyers’ agent. 

      Today, however, we’re going to take a look at agent bios and the do’s and don’ts when writing yours.

      The importance of your agent bio
      Personal Brochure, see more here.

      “Your bio page is where you can build rapport with your potential customers if done right—something that can be difficult if you’re not face-to-face with them,” according to Daryl Johnson, founder of Frontier Marketing.

      And doubly difficult if the two of you are total strangers. 

      The purpose of your bio is to connect with you not as a salesperson but as a human being. It’s a tall order but critical if you hope to earn their trust enough to pick up the phone and call you.

      If writing your bio is easy, you’re doing it wrong

      Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes agents make when composing their bios is to use other agent bios as a template of sorts.

      If what you hope for is to appear like every other agent in town, use that strategy. 

      If not, the initial steps to writing your bio should include:
      • Knowing your audience 
      • Knowing yourself 

      Research performed by crm.com.au found that websites that stand “… out from the crowd in favorable ways used tactics that helped them appear authentic and transparent.

      Those tactics included:

      • Using real photographs, not stock
      • Offering various ways to get in touch with you
      • Storytelling
      • Showcasing testimonials from previous clients

      “People favor companies that showcase themselves as being customer-focused, human, and easy to understand,” they concluded. And, we might add, they do so without being overtly salesy.

      Most of all, an agent’s bio should help the reader feel like they’ve gotten to know you better and should give them a clearer understanding of how you attend to your client’s needs.

      PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

      1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

      Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine with rich, full-color content and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts combined with engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

      Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and it costs less than sending a greeting card! – Click Here


      2. The Free 12-Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

      The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do and when. Four key market segments include niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

      3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

      The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes but is also a business-building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

      4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

      The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals.  – Click Here

      5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

      This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

      Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here

      6. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

      Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here

        The following are three ways to ensure you get the biggest bang for your buck after generating some real estate leads.

        We’ll call them the three “T”s of lead conversion.

        1. Trust

        As you can imagine, confidence is a trust-builder. However, the opportunity to show off this confidence to a prospect may not appear. So, how else can you build trust? Testimonials.

        There is just no substitute for a glowing review of your services, especially if it highlights your knowledge of all things real estate.

        Think again about possible challenges that may be causing your prospect to hesitate jumping into the market:

        • The need to sell a home before buying
        • Closing date challenges
        • Showing challenges
        • Equity challenges
        • Problems with the home, neighborhood, etc.

        Testimonials that address these common challenges and how you dealt with them are like gold.

        Use them on your website, in your email signature, on your business card, and on every direct mail piece you send.

        Convert MORE leads into listings with the Famous Market Quotes Series. To see more designs Click Here.

        2. Time

        This is a lesson for agents who hope to convert more leads than their competition: be the first person to return calls.

        NAR studies show that 75% of real estate consumers sign up with the first agent they interview.

        Did you know, the average first call response time of all companies that responded by phone is 40 hours and 56 minutes (Xant Research Lead Response Report).

        Nearly 41 hours doesn’t seem hard to beat, right?

        How about five minutes? Studies show that’s the sweet spot. Conversion rates are 8X higher if contact is made within 5 minutes.

        “Measure your response times in seconds and minutes, not hours and days,” cautions Dan Sincavage, co-founder of Tenfold.

        That lightning-fast first touch and an automated recurring postcard campaign will help convert prospects the rest of the way: into full-fledged clients.

        3. Tenacity

        When you plant a seed, does it immediately spring from the soil in full bloom? Of course not. 

        By the same token, do we dig up seeds to ensure that they’re germinating? Nope. For some reason, we have faith that the seed will sprout. 

        We also have faith that if we nurture the seedling, it will grow, and we’ll realize a return for all our time spent on it.

        Yet, when it comes to prospects, so many agents tend to give up after a short nurturing period; the results weren’t immediate.

        “The average incubation period of a lead is 6 to 24 months,” according to coach Kevin Ward. 

        Knowing this should give you the patience to hang on, with faith, that many of them will convert to clients.

        PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

        1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

        Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine with rich, full-color content and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts combined with engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

        Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and it costs less than sending a greeting card! – Click Here


        2. The Free 12-Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

        The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do and when. Four key market segments include niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

        3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

        The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes but is also a business-building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

        4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

        The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals.  – Click Here

        5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

        This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

        Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here

        6. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

        Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here

          Dean Jackson, the ultimate real estate marketer, states, “In real estate, pairing a capital investment mindset with some capital is a winning combination,” Dean Jackson is the founder of  GoGoAgent and  Listing Agent Lifestyle. The following is his breakdown of how to get more listings by becoming a real estate asset builder.

          Most real estate agents don’t come into the real estate business with a capital investment mindset because they’re so focused on earning commissions and controlling expenses.

          I think a capital investment mindset and some capital is the ideal way to become a prolific asset builder. And the best way to build strong long-term assets is with a geographic farm.

          A four-year case study

          I did a four-year case study with real estate agent Tony Kelsey. He started out in a farm area of 2,000 homes and, over four years, generated an almost 11 times ROI by consistently marketing there.

          Over four years, Tony spent $50,000 marketing to the people in this neighborhood every month, and with that investment, he generated $550,000 in commissions.

          He mailed postcards monthly for five months before he made his first transaction of $15,000 in commission. At that point, he had spent $5,000 on marketing.

          From that moment on, he was profitable, and his ongoing investment continued to realize transactions. He was building the asset of identifying future sellers and cultivating relationships with those sellers over time.

          Related: How to Turn One Listing into Five

          The path to dominating

          Now, let’s look at a 1000-home farm in a neighborhood that has a turnover rate of 8%. That means 80 homes will sell this year in that neighborhood whether you do anything or not.

          What if you decide you want to dominate this neighborhood? What will that look like for you in four years?

          Well, it costs approximately $750 a month to mail to those 1000 homes ($9,000 over 12 months). And let’s say the average home price in this neighborhood is $600,000; you’ll get around $18,000 on the listing side of each sale.

          This means after the first transaction in this neighborhood, you will be profitable, just like Tony.

          If, in addition to going after new listings, you cultivate a list of potential buyers in the same farm area and begin communicating with them, you’re taking asset building to a new level. Specifically, since NAR states home buyers purchase homes within 15 miles of their last home.

          This strategy is especially powerful if you are farming in a competitive market.

          In this case, the most valuable thing that you can bring to a listing presentation is a list of potential buyers that you’ve been communicating with over time. You’re actually demonstrating to the seller that you already may have their potential buyer in hand.

          So if you’re looking at a farm of 1000 homes or maybe 800 or 500 homes to get started (whatever you’re comfortable with), all you need is the seed money to get to the first transaction.

          And once you hit that first transaction, the only thing that more money allows you to do is to speed up the process of identifying who more future sellers are.

          Becoming visible to future sellers

          Getting in front of your market consistently through direct mail is a proven marketing strategy, and clearly, one that worked well for Tony.

          It gives you the advantage of identifying those future sellers and building a relationship with them before they even know they want to sell.

          Over time they will begin to view you as a helpful advocate who’s continuously serving their community without expectation.

          The more you get them to think about you, the more the odds increase that they’ll think about you when it matters most, when they’re ready to sell.

          That’s when the fun of being an asset builder begins.

          When you have time…below are some ProspectsPLUS! marketing tools to help support your success.

          1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

          Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine with rich, full-color content and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts combined with engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

          Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and it costs less than sending a greeting card! – Click Here


          2. The Free 12-Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

          The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do and when. Four key market segments include niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

          3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

          The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes but is also a business-building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

          4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

          The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals.  – Click Here

          5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

          This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

          Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here

          6. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

          Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here

            There seem to be two camps when it comes to using CRM’s the “believers” and the “non-believers”. Even NAR has weighed in with their own statistics on CRM use and success.

            Now we want YOUR opinion! Please make sure you’re voice is counted in this nationwide survey by responding below!

              It’s been one heck of a ride, right? An amazing decade or so of a hot, hot, hot sellers’ market. 

              Imagine the relatively new real estate agent who joined the ranks during this period. The only market they know had homes selling within a week, bidding wars, multiple offers, and staggeringly high prices (and, thus, commission checks).

              Buyers’ agents during this period were, to say the least, stressed out. Clients were repeatedly disappointed with refused offers, having to compete against other, often deep-pocketed, buyers and those whose housing budget was so stretched to the max that they dreaded the results of each Fed meeting.

              How will those new agents, and listings agents in general, adapt to the “new normal” that’s about to smack us upside the head?

              The First Time Buyer Series is shown above. Click Here to see more.

              It’s survivable, and you can still thrive

              Since back in the day, listing agents have known that any real estate market has two sides, and the sellers’ side of a switch to a buyers’ market is tough to navigate.

              Being shoved out of the driver’s seat into riding shotgun is frustrating, so these sellers are hard to convert.

              They’re not going to go easy into that goodnight of lower home prices when just a month or two ago, their neighbor’s home sold for $50,000 more than your CMA’s suggested list price.

              Agents may find it challenging to deal with buyers who now have the luxury of being able to nit-pick over price and terms. They’ll relentlessly compare desirable homes to the 5 others nearby that are for sale, knowing that time, for once, is on their side.

              It’s all in how you manage expectations

              Flex your relationship-building muscles because instilling trust with clients and potential clients is critical in the early stages of a market shift.

              Earning their trust through being candid, honest, and up-front can help you manage their expectations and lead them to make better decisions.

              You can do this.

              PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

              1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

              Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine with rich, full-color content and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts combined with engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

              Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and it costs less than sending a greeting card! – Click Here


              2. The Free 12-Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

              The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do and when. Four key market segments include niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

              3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

              The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes but is also a business-building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

              4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

              The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals.  – Click Here

              5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

              This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

              Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here

              6. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

              Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here

                How many more hours will you sit in front of the phone, trying to gin up the motivation to pick it up and dial for dollars?

                Is there anything more boring? Is there anything more stressful?

                If cold calling is a mega lead generator for you, by all means, have at it. But, believe it or not, there are tens of thousands of agents who are sick of it (yes, we made up that number).

                For these agents, we offer alternatives. No, they’re not unique or even new. But we’ve met plenty of agents who’ve used at least one of these strategies with great success.

                1. ‘Til divorce do us part

                “Every 42 seconds, there is one divorce in America,” according to statistics gathered by Wilkinson and Finkbeiner, a San Diego, CA law firm.

                We must warn you that working with divorcing couples isn’t for the timid agent. It is, however, quite profitable for those agents who pride themselves on their ability to remain impartial and have tons of patience.

                Once you’re up and running with it, you’ll likely find that lead generation is positively zippy compared to cold calling.

                Since “Almost 50 percent of all marriages in the United States will end in divorce or separation” (Wilkinson and Finkbeiner), you’ll have a steady stream of business. 

                Aside from the aforementioned impartiality and patience, divorce real estate agents must be consummate communicators, have endless patience, and exhibit utmost tact. Add to that someone who thrives on working under pressure, and you have the perfect person to work with clients in a deeply acrimonious relationship.

                How to find these folks? 

                • Get in touch with local divorce attorneys and solicit referrals
                • Buy a list through Rebogateway
                • Run Google or Social Media ads

                Get more tips from watching these videos at YouTube.com:

                2. Market to landlords

                Sure, landlords are making bank right now, but there will always be some who just want out from under the burden of being a landlord.

                Like other lead gen techniques, marketing to landlords takes persistence and consistency to work.

                Market Dominator is shown above; click here to learn more.

                Again, direct mail is the most efficient way to build your pool of landlord leads. A current market report and/or CMA would be welcome and appreciated. Follow-up touches can include Just Listed/Just Sold homes near the rental and quarterly market updates.

                 3. Start a farm

                Farming is an amazing way for people to become familiar with you and to build brand recognition.  

                Sure, you can create a real estate farm and cold-call homeowners, but the beauty of this lead gen technique is that you don’t have to. There are plenty of ways to keep in touch with the homeowners in your farm area that don’t involve using a phone.

                Direct mail is the ideal vehicle, and you’ll find a variety of products (from Get More Listings postcards to a Market Dominator newsletter (sent through EDDM) to Homes & Life Magazines and more, right here at ProspectsPlus.com.

                Check out this blog post to learn much more about farming in general and circle prospecting in particular.

                None of these real estate lead gen strategies will make you an overnight sensation. But choose one or two and vow to give it your all—to be consistent and persistent — for the rest of the year, and you may just find you’ll never need to make another cold call.

                PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

                1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

                Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine with rich, full-color content and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts combined with engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

                Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and it costs less than sending a greeting card! – Click Here


                2. The Free 12-Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

                The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do when. Four key market segments include niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

                3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

                The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes but is also a business-building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

                4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

                The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals.  – Click Here

                5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

                This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

                Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here

                6. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

                Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here

                  Before the pandemic, the demand for paper products across multiple markets within the industry had been decreasing steadily, causing many mills to shift their focus to other types of paper or shut down completely.

                  Then, COVID-19 caused significant and complex supply chain disruptions as many borders closed and facilities were forced to slow or shut down to protect workers’ health.

                  The paper industry is a global network weaving together raw material sources, manufacturers, shippers, and suppliers. The legacy of the COVID-19 disruption is likely to linger for years to come, but there are other factors contributing to current paper shortages to consider. 

                  Overseas challenges affecting the US 

                  However, new challenges are adding to the current difficulties in providing clients with high-quality paper products.

                  Because paper production is a global industry, political unrest and supply chain breakdowns resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have further threatened an already precarious issue.

                  Russia is the source of a significant amount of raw materials, but the loss of global certifications has impacted the amount of readily available pulp inventory. 

                  The Content Card Series is shown above. To see more, Click Here.

                  The changing paper industry  

                  In the US, increasing labor costs, environmental restrictions, and aging, expensive equipment replacements resulted in multiple mill closings.

                  Overseas mills supplied by overseas raw materials markets stepped into the paper production gap but are scrambling to pick up the slack in raw material supply but lack the infrastructure currently to take on additional capacity. 

                  Additionally, many US and large overseas mills had already shifted toward paper board production as a more profitable product. Demand for certain types of paper, such as print and magazine, had declined for years.

                  During the pandemic, the need for cardboard and packing materials soared, and more mills shifted to accommodate this surge. 

                  “Just in Time” paper production 

                  Many manufacturers in the paper industry had migrated to a “just in time” (JIT) model of production, which emphasizes a reduction in long-term inventory that can be costly to maintain in favor of relying on a nimble and responsive supply chain.

                  However, the combined effects of COVID-19 and multiple areas of unrest globally have exposed breaks in the chain, resulting in shortages. Post-COVID, demand across all paper products skyrocketed, and inventories are now depleted. 

                  Companies are now shifting away from JIT as they attempt to meet the ever-increasing demand for every type of coated and graded paper.

                  Analysts are even raising concerns about election ballots and materials as local and state governments scramble to find sustainable suppliers. 

                  Serving customers in a time of uncertainty 

                  Unfortunately, geopolitical issues, global health emergencies, supply chain disruptions, and changing consumer demand have all united to create perhaps the most challenging position the paper industry has ever seen.

                  However, manufacturers, suppliers, governments, and others are working tirelessly to right the ship and stabilize the industry, and there is hope on the horizon as organizations continue to work together. 

                  Real estate marketing going forward

                  You’ve heard the saying, “when they zig, I zag?”

                  Many marketers, including agents, have decided to step back from direct mail marketing during this paper shortage, waiting for a point down the road when their “dream” postcard paper returns.

                  Be sure to thank those agents if you run into them because their decision to stop marketing has resulted in less competition in the mailbox for you.

                  In other words, is there EVER a good time to disappear from sight when you have a business? I’ll answer that question with another famous saying, “out of sight, out of mind.”.

                  Don’t let your real estate business become a victim of this reality.

                  If COVID taught us anything about business survival, it’s that you can always find a way to overcome and adapt no matter what mountain is in front of you, as long as you keep forging ahead.

                  Final thoughts:

                  Regardless of whether direct mail is printed on 120-pound paper or 100-pound paper, the following statistics still apply:

                  73% of people nationwide prefer to be contacted by brands via direct mail.

                  90% of direct mail gets looked at and read.

                  Direct mail offers a 29% return on investment.

                  59% of consumers say they enjoy getting mail from brands

                  Advertising mail is kept in a household for 17 days on average.

                  Studies show a 125% increase in inquiries from consumers who received mail.

                  PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

                  1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

                  Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine, with rich, full-color content, and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts, combined with engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

                  Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and, it costs less than sending a greeting card! – Click Here


                  2. The Free 12-Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

                  The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do when. Four key market segments are included, niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

                  3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

                  The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes, but it is a business-building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

                  4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

                  The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals.  – Click Here

                  5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

                  This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

                  Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here

                  6. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

                  Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here

                    QR codes are everywhere—in magazines, on supermarket shelves, and even in TV ads.

                    While QR codes (quick response codes) have been around since 1994, they have only recently become an integral part of advertising and marketing for businesses.

                    Fast forward to 2022—QR codes are more ubiquitous than ever in business marketing. But can QR codes be an effective marketing tool in real estate? You bet!

                    Here are five ways to effectively integrate QR codes into your real estate marketing.

                    1. Hyperlink Your Signs

                    Most smartphones can read QR codes and immediately route the user to a landing page or website.

                    Listing your agent website on the For Sale sign may generate some online traffic, but placing a QR code on the sign, as well, is more efficient. It will quickly send potential buyers directly to where you want them, such as an appointment signup form.

                    2. Show the House to Anyone, Anywhere

                    QR codes enable prospective buyers to instantly arrive at a virtual tour they can take anytime, anywhere.

                    Real estate agents can use virtual tours to show homes to a limitless number of people any time, day or night.

                    More people are buying homes they have never seen in person than ever before. QR codes bypass several steps and funnel people exactly where they want to go.

                    Call To Action Postcards with QR Code free offer URLs added. See more designs, HERE. Add a Free QR Code to your Photo Gallery, HERE.

                    A strong call to action is the foundation of high ROI marketing.

                    Use a QR code on your marketing as a quick and easy way to send people to a free home market analysis offer.

                    Check out the Call to Action Series of postcards for done-for-you templates that have free offers already included, HERE.

                    3. An Interactive Aspect in Advertising

                    Adding a QR code to a traditional tool like a business card adds dimension and fully engages prospective buyers’ attention.

                    In the last three years, nearly three-quarters of people surveyed stated they turned to their phones to gather information before making a purchase. For many, a smartphone is an indispensable tool that can help them compare and contrast home features and details. Even in-person visitors will scan a QR code to ‘revisit’ the home later.

                    4. Make Mailers More Dynamic

                    Recent studies show that 70% of consumers say mail is more personal than the internet and 40% say they will try a new business after they’ve received direct mail. Clearly, direct mail marketing continues to be one of the most effective ways to generate interest.

                    Recipients who receive your direct mail piece now have an opportunity to capture your QR code and store your contact information for future use.

                    Additionally, QR codes on direct mailers can deliver critical information to real estate agents, who can then capture this data and determine the campaign’s effectiveness.

                    5. Gather Feedback for Retargeting

                    Placing a QR code at a home showing or after bringing buyers in for a tour can encourage more honest feedback about what worked and what didn’t.

                    Potential clients may be reticent to talk in person and prefer leaving their impressions online. A QR code that takes people directly to a simple feedback form offers the opportunity to gather essential data, leading to more conversions.

                    Get More Listings II Postcard with QR Code contact info added to front & back. See More designs, HERE. Add a Free QR Code to your Photo Gallery, HERE.

                    Adding QR codes to your marketing toolbox can help you reach a wider audience and connect buyers and sellers more quickly. QR codes allow people to skip extra steps, saving time and making them more likely to complete the action or task.

                    Power up your current marketing tools like business cards and postcards with a QR code.

                    In the most competitive housing market in years, QR codes could give you the edge you need to beat out the competition and close the deal.

                    HOW-TO: Watch the “How to add a QR CODE to Your Marketing” Video, Below.

                    FOR YOU: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

                    1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

                    Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine, with rich, full-color content, and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts, combined with engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

                    Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and, it costs less than sending a greeting card! – Click Here


                    2. The Free 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

                    The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do when. Four key market segments are included, niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

                    3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

                    The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes, but it is a business building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

                    4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

                    The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals.  – Click Here

                    5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

                    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

                    Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here

                    6. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

                    Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here

                      We recently conducted a survey asking real estate agents nationwide if they were on track to meet their 2022 goals.

                      The results were surprising.

                      16.8% said they will surpass their goals. 25.5% said they will meet their goals, 21.7% said they will be within 20% of their goals, but a resounding 36% of agents stated they may not even get close to hitting their goals.

                      We Want to Help with the Following Free Resources

                      The following are three tools that will help you lay the foundation for some attainable six-month goals and then help you stay on track for the rest of the year.

                      As the late Yogi Berra has said, “If You Don’t Want to End up Someplace Else you need to
                      know where you’re going”.

                      Unless, of course, you want to spend the rest of this year flailing about for leads, clients, and income.

                      Therefore, decide on your six-month goal to shoot for achieving by year’s end. Whether that’s a specific GCI or a certain number of closed deals, this goal should define how you run your business for the remainder of the year.

                      And, how about making a vow that the journey to that destination is one that you enjoy regardless of where the market goes?

                      Learn from the Past and Build for the Future

                      To get started, dig out your business plan from the beginning of the year and take time to ask yourself some questions:

                      • Did you reach your goals for the first half of the year?
                      • If not, why? Were they unrealistic, not clearly defined? Understand why.
                      • What is within your power to change so that you hit your year-end goals?

                      Then, get clear on how many contacts you need to make to get the closings required to hit your income goal.

                      The free One-Page Business Plan is a quick and easy way to figure out what you need to do every week to reach your year-end income goals.

                      Just plug in a few easy numbers, and you are pointed to the weekly contacts, listing appointments, and closings needed to make your income goals a reality.

                      6 Months of Marketing Strategies Made Simple

                      Another survey question that we asked agents was what marketing challenges consumed most of their time on a monthly basis.

                      39.5% of these agents stated that “deciding what to focus on each month” was their biggest time stealer. The second highest response at 27.2% was, “creating new marketing materials”.

                      This is not the first time we’ve heard these responses to this question. That’s why we created the 2022 Real Estate Marketing Planner (and made it available to you for free).

                      The 2022 Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful guide that defines what marketing to do and when. This planner offers a monthly calendar with holiday observances and weekly SEND, CALL, SEE activities.

                      Four key market segments are included in the weekly plan: Niche Marketing, Get More Listings, Geographic Farming, and Sphere of Influence, along with their recommended corresponding campaigns.

                      Set Your Marketing Budget Based on Revenue Goals

                      Determining how much to allocate for your 6-month marketing budget can be challenging. However, understanding this number can dramatically increase your chances of achieving your bottom line.

                      The Free Online ROI Calculator, allows you to discover how much to
                      spend on your marketing based on your revenue goals.

                      Outlining your goals and how you will reach them financially is the backbone of any successful real estate business plan.

                      The time is now to let go of areas you fell short of your business goals in the first half of this year and move forward armed with the resources and a plan to dominate for the rest of this year!

                      PLUS: When you have time…below are some more marketing tools to help support your success.

                      1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

                      Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine, with rich, full-color content, and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts, combined with engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

                      Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and, it costs less than sending a greeting card! – Click Here


                      2. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

                      The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes, but it is a business-building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

                      3. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

                      This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

                      Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here

                      4. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

                      Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here

                        Top real estate experts and economists have weighed in on the current housing market. Now, we want your expert opinion. We’re asking real estate agents across the country to answer the following question.

                        FOR YOU: When you have time…below are some free marketing resources to help support your success.

                        1. The Free 12-Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

                        The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do when. Four key market segments are included, niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

                        2. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

                        The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes, but it is a business-building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

                        3. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

                        The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals.  – Click Here

                        4. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

                        This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

                        Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here

                        5. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

                        Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here

                          Adding borders and shadows to your real estate marketing piece is an easy way to draw attention to new listing and sold images, an agent photo, and a company logo.

                          Now you can showcase your gorgeous property photos with a colored border or shadow and really make them POP!

                          Get All Eyes Focused on Your New Listing, Sold, Branded Magazine, and More!

                          The Feature Property Flyer shown below has property shadows and a team photo border added.

                          The Homes & Life Magazine shown below has a team photo border added.

                          A Just Sold Postcard shown below has a colored property photo border added.

                          A Postcard Back shown below has a colored agent photo border added.

                          Your property photos, logo, and agent photo are now even more memorable with the addition of these easy-to-add colorful borders and shadows!

                          To see the quick steps to adding borders and shadows to your images on ProspectsPLUS.com in just seconds watch our video below.

                          To get started adding borders and shadows to your marketing images now, CLICK HERE.
                          Watch Video: How to Add a Border or Shadow to Your Image!

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