Candace’s latest postcard mailing was from the Get More Litings Series and is shown above. To learn more, Click Here.
Congratulations, Candace Bradley, on winning this week’s contest!
Candace had the following words to say about her success sending marketing out from ProspectsPLUS!,
“ProspectPLUS! has been great for my real estate business. They offer a variety of creative marketing campaigns and so much more! Their products are easy to edit, and the website is all-around easy to use. I’ve run some successful marketing campaigns strictly by using ProspectPLUS!. They also sent out a nice gift box unexpectedly with promotional products that I could utilize right away.”
-Candace Bradley
Candace, thank you for this wonderful feedback. We truly appreciate you and your support!
Don’t Forget to Enter For Your Chance to Win a $75 ProspectsPLUS! Gift Card! (see how below)*
HOW TO ENTER: Just leave feedback regarding how using marketing from ProspectsPLUS! has impacted your business, and you’re automatically entered into our next contest.
*If you’ve already entered our drawing in the past and haven’t won, you don’t need to enter again. Your entry remains valid, and you still have a chance to win.
Don’t forget to watch for next Friday’s email announcing the weekly winner!
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 and 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 6-Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan
The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 6-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 Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Review
The Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Review allows you to enter your business goals for the remainder of the 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
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
Here’s a question for you: Why is it called “a sellers’ market” when sellers aren’t selling?
We are facing nearly 26% “… fewer homes newly listed for sale compared to last year,” according to recent NAR research. This is despite a 7.1% rise in homes actively for sale compared to last year at this time.
OK, so how do we make this sellers’ market a true sellers’ market? To start, more listing leads would be nice, right?
One effective strategy is to become a neighborhood or city expert. Sure, tons of agents pay that title lip service, but you, my friend, are actually going to live it.
Not only will a neighborhood – or city-specific blog brand you as the area expert, but it will boost lead generation as well.
The Holiday Series is shown above. To see more, Click Here.
And how will it do that?
With the organic website traffic that comes from your neighborhood or city blog.
“Real estate had the highest monthly organic traffic, on average,” of all the industries in the finance category of a recent SEO report published by Conductor. They go on to state that “… searchers looking into real estate are most likely not tied to a brand. This makes investing in SEO and the website experience more crucial since the ROI could be significant if your site provides the desired property solution.”
In other words, done right, and with the current state of SEO, your little blog could pay off big by providing a steady stream of leads.
Remember, this website/blog is in addition to your IDX website
This website/blog will focus on showcasing your in-depth knowledge, expertise, and passion for the city or the neighborhood. Here are some topics you might want to cover:
Neighborhood Profiles: Provide detailed information on different neighborhoods within your target area, highlighting their unique features, amenities, schools, and local attractions. Including lots of photos.
Local Market Updates: Regularly update your website or blog with the latest trends, market statistics, and insights specific to the neighborhood.
Home Improvement Tips: Share practical advice on enhancing the value of homes in the area, such as remodeling ideas, landscaping tips, and cost-effective renovations.
Local Events and Activities: Promote community events, festivals, charity drives, and other neighborhood activities to foster a sense of belonging and showcase the vibrant community spirit.
Local Business Profiles: Where to get the perfect cup of coffee or a yummy breakfast or dinner. Best yoga studios, hair stylists, auto mechanics, etc. You can find ideas for these on Yelp.com or join your Nextdoor.com neighborhood and read neighbors’ reviews.
Consider inviting local business owners, experts, or community leaders to contribute guest posts or interviews on your website or blog. This not only adds diverse perspectives but also increases the likelihood of them sharing your content with their own networks.
Don’t forget to cross-post every piece of content to social media.
DIY a WordPress site or have one done for you?
While WordPress might be the least expensive way to set up a blog or website, there is another option and that is what is on offer at ParkBench.com.
Dubbed “the only service in the world that actually builds community websites for real estate agents” by the company’s CEO and co-founder Grant Findlay-Shirras, it’s certainly a service worth a look.
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 and 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 6-Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan
The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 6-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 Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Review
The Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Review allows you to enter your business goals for the remainder of the 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
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
“A recent poll revealed 66% of Americans aren’t friends with their neighbors,” according to Susan Meyer at thezebra.com. More than one-fourth of those surveyed, however, took part in neighborhood groups online.
While the internet has whittled away many Americans ‘real-life relationships, all it takes is one person to rally neighbors into turning a neighborhood into a community.
Your position in the community as a facilitator in home purchases and sales makes you the perfect person to get the ball rolling.
Did we also mention that it’s an amazing lead-generation strategy as well?
Getting to know the neighbors
There are plenty of ways to get to know your neighbors. If you like to walk, make it a point when folks are out and about, working in the yard or the garage. Stop and say hi, introduce yourself, and ensure that you remember their names.
If this tactic doesn’t expose you to enough neighbors, try door knocking, leaving postcards, or door hangers introducing yourself on the doors unanswered.
The Photo Introduction Series is shown above. To learn more, Click HERE.
Become a one-person welcome wagon
Visiting new neighbors with a housewarming gift in hand not only makes them feel a sense of community but it’s something they won’t forget. You’ll be forever memorable.
The gift can be as simple as a list including contact information for:
Utility companies they’ll need to call
Pool service providers
Handyman/woman
Highly rated doctors, dentists, and veterinarians
Child care options
Any other mentions you think someone new to the neighborhood may appreciate
Create an event to bring everyone together
This idea can be used later in your relationship with neighbors or as a first step instead of visiting each one individually.
The type of event you create depends on how many neighbors you expect to show up and your budget.
It could be as simple as a barbecue at your home, a neighborhood cleanup event, or the ever-popular movie-in-the-park.
Whatever you choose to do, ensure you take lots of photos and then follow up with each attendee.
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 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
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
Real estate is local – how many times have we heard that one? Real estate buyers, however – especially in certain parts of the country – are increasingly global, and many real estate agents are turning the international real estate client niche into a lucrative living.
Consider this: foreign buyers spent $59 billion dollars on U.S. residential real estate in the last two years, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.
The association also claims that the average sale price ($598,200) and the median of $366,100 were the highest on NAR’s record.
Where is all this money coming from? It depends on, again, local markets. NAR claims that most of it are coming from China, Canada, India, Mexico, and Brazil.
Despite the fact that South Americans are flocking to Miami’s luxury condo market, NAR says that most international purchases are for single-family residences. The study also says that the most preferred cities for foreign buyers are Florida, California, Texas, Arizona, New York, and North Carolina.
So, how does an agent get her fingers in the international real estate pie? Like most niches, it takes time, and it requires a system.
The Shifting Market Series is shown above. To see more designs, Click HERE.
How to break into the niche
Choose an area of specialization. “Because of the wide variation in customs, language, geopolitical and procedural considerations involved in serving international customers and clients, international specialists usually specialize in one or two countries, either related by language or belonging to the same global region,” says Coco Waldenmayer, former managing broker of Engel & Völkers in Naples, Florida.
To select a region in the world that you are best suited to serve, Waldenmayer suggests asking yourself the following questions:
Are you attracted to one continent over others?
What is your familiarity with one or more other cultures?
Does your sphere of influence already include individuals from a certain country?
Have you traveled to the region?
Do you speak the language?
Remember that many international clients come from English-speaking countries even if you don’t speak a foreign language. Aside from the United States, the countries with the highest percentage (not number) of English-speaking residents are:
Australia
United Kingdom
Ireland
Philippines
Canada
Germany
Once you’ve decided on an international farm area, consider obtaining the Certified International Property Specialist designation, which offers exceptional networking opportunities.
There is much more to know about successfully working with international buyers; we’ll be unpacking that in an upcoming article.
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 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
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
Some real estate agents enter the business with a huge sphere of influence to tap for their first deals. A lot of these agents are members of civic organizations, churches, or philanthropic groups. Even parents active in the local PTA come to the business with a list of potential clients.
Sound a bit mercenary?
On the contrary, using your community, social and familial contacts to help you cultivate potential clients makes sense.
“Involvement” is the operative word
One would assume that the busier the real estate agent – the more successful his practice – the less likely he is to volunteer within the community. That assumption is wrong.
Successful agents that understand the power of delegation and hire a staff, even if it’s one assistant, typically have a little time to devote to a community cause or to a personal passion.
When asked how they give back, those who claim they don’t have time to get into the community say they donate money.
While giving to non-profits, charities, churches, and other organizations is commendable, it is not really “community involvement.”
So, don’t let us stop you from writing those checks. We just hope you’ll consider giving some of your time as well.
The Comfort Food Series is shown above. To see more designs, Click HERE.
Mingling online doesn’t count either
The internet has changed many things about the way agents run their businesses, including how they stay in touch with past clients and their spheres. Much of it revolves around the use of social media.
But is social networking comparable to meeting face-to-face within the community?
Don’t get me wrong, being social via tech is valuable to your business. So, mingle online all you want, but it should be in addition to in-person involvement.
Meet and greet
This is where the meat of your community involvement campaign is – those organizations where you can contribute your time and talent and meet lots of folks from the community you serve.
Activities are more relaxed than the typical real estate transaction, so people get to know you as a person, not as a real estate agent.
Let’s face it – there isn’t much that distinguishes one agent from another, but on a personal level, it’s easy to set yourself apart.
Network with a passion
It’s important to pick a cause for which you feel some affinity – preferably a passion. This way, you can focus your efforts on the cause, not the leads. The leads will come – just give it some time.
Of course, if you have a passion – say for helping veterans or tutoring children – half the battle is won right there. If you have lots of interests, do some online research to help pare down the choices. Here are several places to start:
Finally, ask your local church or school what kind of help they may need, and if you’re athletic, become a volunteer soccer, baseball, football, or tennis coach.
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 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
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
From billboards to Google ads, there are so many ways to expose a real estate brand to more eyeballs. Some of these, most of them digital, are hit-and-miss. Viewing your Google ads, for instance, relies on users clicking on your ad.
A compelling direct response report, however, offered on social media, in an email, or on your website has a much better chance of gaining those all-important eyeballs in a way that’s not confrontational.
Quit relying solely on a digital marketing strategy that may or may not be effective. Make your strategy multi-pronged (and far less expensive) with direct response reports.
Digital marketing is an overcrowded space
Let’s face it, especially in real estate, it’s tough to compete online.
It takes a lot of effort and, typically, money to stand out from the crowd online. First, you’ll need a digital marketing strategy; if you don’t hire an agency or try a DIY strategy, the learning curve is a monster.
For the average agent, real estate business marketing dollars can only go so far. Make efficient use of your time and budget by marketing to your target audience with engaging reports.
How to win with direct response reports
You’ll first need to decide which topics you want to cover with the flyers. If you’re a listing agent, there is no end to topics you can use:
3 Critical Steps to Take When Ready to Sell
Dangers of Overpricing
Should I buy or sell first?
How Likely is a Real Estate Market Crash
To see the direct response reports listed above and any of our 50 Direct Response reports, click HERE.
A few of our Direct Response Flyers are shown above. To see more, Click Here.
Looking for buyers? Targeting renters is a brilliant strategy, and you can find many of them in condos and apartment complexes. Here are a few topics to consider:
4 Mortgage Options with Low Down Payments
Rent vs Own
Common Reasons Home Purchases Fall Apart
How to purchase a fixer-upper
Check out the four buyer Direct Response flyers mentioned above HERE and many other reports targeted specifically for buyers.
If you decide to go the DIY route, use basic online formatting on your handouts. Keep your real estate flyers simple and employ:
Lots of white space (don’t try to cram your bio, for instance, on marketing handouts).
Use bullet points.
Use short sentences and paragraphs.
Use a compelling, colorful, attention-grabbing photo.
Keep a digital copy of your creation that you can include in your newsletters, emails, blog, and on social media.
Get them out and start generating motivated buyers/sellers
Although flyers work great in a door-knocking campaign, you aren’t limited to that marketing method. Consider using one of the most effective marketing techniques ever: direct mail. Offer your “free report” on your direct mail piece and provide an easy way to get it either through a link to a download (in exchange for an email address or by text).
Now you’re able to follow up with your new prospect via their email address or phone number to make sure they received their report and to ask if they have any questions.
Branded flyers containing interesting, valuable information, delivered consistently, is a brilliant way to expose your brand as the area specialist to the right audience.
If you’re looking for a way to stand out in a competitive market, consider adding them to your arsenal.
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
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
A for-sale sign went up in the front yard of a home down the street from me. Each time I drove by, I wondered what the listing price was. I finally looked it up online. I shouldn’t have had to do that. Nor should other neighbors have to do that.
A buyers’ agent with frustrated clients should’ve circle prospected around that listing. A postcard to every home in the subdivision, letting them know that a home just went on the market and the price of the home would put that agent front and center in the residents’ minds.
That is just where he or she needs to be if one of them is thinking of selling. And the chances are excellent that another home will go on the market soon.
It’s no longer enough to counsel clients on being patient, adjusting their expectations, and coming into the market fully prepared.
It’s time to get proactive. Not only is it a way to secure listings, but to expose your brand to a wider audience.
Direct mail as the centerpiece of a circle prospecting campaign is probably the best way to take charge. But, it’s not the only way, and this market demands a multi-pronged strategy.
Just Listed Postcards perfect for circle prospecting. See more HERE
1. Add a pinch of social media
You don’t need to be an influencer to obtain results on social media. Get busy posting and responding. Let your followers know what your buyers’ needs are. Share articles on the huge amount of equity that homeowners are sitting on right now and create a sense of urgency to get them off the fence and into the market.
I once read an inman.com article from seattlehome.com managing broker Sam DeBord. In it, he shared a story about how he dealt with a low inventory situation by blogging consistently and sharing his posts on Facebook.
It worked. He got a call from a stranger who read one of his Facebook posts and offered him the listing.
2. So, you didn’t take the listing
Go through your CRM and dredge up information on every listing presentation you’ve made but didn’t get the listing. Check to see if the home ever sold and, if it didn’t, reach out to the homeowner. This one is especially effective if the original market value is significantly higher today than it was when you made your listing presentation.
Chances are, it is.
3. Equity is a game-changer
Again, the equity angle will most likely move someone if they’re not opposed to selling. As I mentioned earlier, homeowners who keep up with the news understand that home prices are high.
Most, however, don’t have the vaguest notion of what their home is worth and how much equity they’re sitting on.
A proactive agent would’ve not only sent me a postcard when that home in my neighborhood hit the market, but she would’ve followed up a week or two later with an unsolicited, basic CMA. Again, circle prospecting around current real estate activity is one of the best ways to get listings.
No, these three steps aren’t new, but they may be game-changers for an agent who is struggling to find homes for their buyers. They are also terrific at getting you back to that coveted top-of-mind position with your sphere.
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
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
“… interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional contacts” is the ideal real estate lead-generation technique. Especially if you happen to have a gregarious, outgoing personality, then networking could be the gold mine of your business.
Even agents who are more introverted can benefit from networking– not only by exposing their brands to more potential clients but by building social skills as well.
Networking opportunities are everywhere
Any event that brings people together provides a golden networking opportunity. Let’s take a look at some of the more common events you may want to attend:
Charity events
School events
Civic club events (Rotary, Lion’s Club, etc.)
Alumni events
Community events
Local sporting events (both professional and school-aged athletes. Pop Warner, Little League, youth soccer leagues)
A client appreciation event that you organize
In reality, any event or any time a group of people is gathered can be considered a networking event.
Sprinkle in some online networking
Online networking presents the perfect solution for the tends-to-be-somewhat-shy agent. It’s also a must-add to any agent’s in-person networking calendar.
Three of the best social media platforms for those in the real estate industry are:
Facebook groups
LinkedIn
NextDoor
Facebook has tons of groups that you can join, including real estate groups, neighborhood groups, and groups that align with just about any interest or hobby.
Using these groups for networking, however, doesn’t mean you should spam people with your listings. Be Sociable, respond to and like their posts, and engage consistently. There are subtle ways of letting your followers know that you’re a real estate agent, but avoid being salesy.
The Inspiration Series is shown above. To see more, clickHere.
Volunteer
To be considered the area real estate expert takes massive exposure to your brand and getting to know as many people as possible.
One of the best and most rewarding ways of getting this exposure is through volunteering at:
Civic clubs
Schools
Church
Non-profits
Community youth athletic teams
Humane societies/Animal shelters
Food Banks
Find a cause that you’re passionate about. Stuck for ideas? Check out these websites:
Google “volunteer opportunities in [name of your city or town]
The fortune truly is in the follow-up
It’s vital to get as much information as possible from the folks you come into contact with while networking.
Aside from volunteering, what do they enjoy doing in their spare time?
What do they do for a living?
Where are they originally from?
You may want to spread these information-gathering questions over time so that you don’t come off as creepy.
Get all of this information into your CRM as soon as possible so that you don’t forget it. Now you have what you need to follow up with people.
If you plant seeds in your garden and leave them alone, the chances are excellent that they won’t germinate. Water, fertilizing, weeding, and ridding the garden of pests are some of the ways we nurture seeds to sprout and thrive.
The same can be said of our relationships with others. Maintaining the new relationships you build through networking is critical if you hope to do business with them in the future.
Just as your seeds may rot if you overwater and over-nurture them, so it goes with those you meet through networking. Don’t be spammy. Be someone they look forward to seeing at the next event.
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
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
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
Brenda’s recent Comfort Food Recipe postcard is shown above. To see more postcards in this series, CLICK HERE
Congratulations Brenda Koeller on winning this week’s contest!
Brenda had the following words to say about her success sending marketing out from ProspectsPLUS!,
“I have been sending out postcards each month for 7 months. I received 3 transactions from them (2 sellers and 1 buyer) and comments on Facebook from people who received the recipe postcards and appreciated them. I feel like it is really helping me to get clients and get my name recognized in the community since I am a newer agent”.
-Brenda Koeller
Brenda, thank you for your wonderful feedback!
Don’t Forget to Enter For Your Chance to Win a $125 ProspectsPLUS! Gift Card! (see how below)*
What Can You Do With a $125 ProspectsPLUS! Gift Card? Here are 5 Things:
Launch and pay for the first month of a Sphere or Farm Scheduled Campaign consisting of 130 jumbo postcards.
Send 130 jumbo Just Listed or Just Sold Postcard to a radius surrounding your listing.
Send 130 Jumbo Get More Listings postcards to an area where you want more listings.
Create a niche prospect list (empty nesters, move-up market, etc.) and send a mailing of 130 jumbo postcards.
HOW TO ENTER: Just leave a review regarding how using marketing from ProspectsPLUS! has impacted your business, and you’re automatically entered into our next contest.
*If you’ve already entered our contest in the past and haven’t won, you don’t need to enter again. Your entry remains valid and you still have a chance to win.
Don’t forget to watch out for next Friday’s email announcing the weekly winner!
PLUS: When you have time…below are some helpful tools to 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 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
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
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