Thursday, May 16, 2024

sphere of influence

    In the ever-fluctuating landscape of the real estate market, certain principles remain constant, one of which is the significance of a real estate agent’s sphere of influence.

    The sphere of influence becomes even more crucial in a low inventory market, where competition is fierce and properties are in high demand. Let’s delve into why a real estate agent’s sphere matters more in such challenging market conditions.

    Trust and Personal Connection

    A real estate agent’s sphere typically consists of past clients, friends, family, and acquaintances. These are individuals who have already established a level of trust with the agent.

    This trust becomes invaluable in a low inventory market where buyers and sellers may feel anxious or uncertain.

    Clients are more likely to rely on someone they know and trust to guide them through the process, especially when there are limited options available.

    Off-Market Opportunities

    In a low inventory market, not all properties are listed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Some sellers prefer a more discreet or selective approach to selling their homes.

    Real estate agents with a well-established sphere often have access to off-market opportunities through their network. This can give their clients a competitive edge by allowing them to explore unadvertised properties.

    Word-of-Mouth Referrals

    In challenging market conditions, word-of-mouth referrals can be a game-changer. When clients have positive experiences working with an agent, they are more likely to refer friends and family who are looking to buy or sell.

    Animal Series is shown above. To see more, Click Here.

    These referrals can generate a steady stream of business, helping agents thrive in a low inventory environment.

    Local Market Expertise

    Real estate agents who have built a strong sphere tend to have deep roots in their local markets. They know the neighborhoods, schools, property values, and market trends inside out.

    This level of local expertise is invaluable, especially when helping clients make informed decisions in a competitive market.

    Negotiation Skills

    In a low-inventory market, multiple buyers often compete for the same property. This situation demands sharp negotiation skills.

    Agents with a robust sphere can use their connections and local knowledge to negotiate effectively, increasing their clients’ chances of securing the property.

    Preemptive Opportunities

    Real estate agents with an active sphere are often the first to know when a potential seller is considering listing their property. They can seize preemptive opportunities, connecting buyers with sellers before the property officially hits the market.

    This proactive approach can lead to successful transactions in a market where timing is crucial.

    Agents who cultivate and leverage their spheres effectively are better equipped to navigate the challenges of a low inventory market and excel in this real estate landscape.

     


    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 Magazin

    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 Planner

    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 Online Real Estate Business Plan

    The Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for the year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closings, and so on are needed to reach your financial 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


     

      It’s been years, but I still remember my landlord — a real estate agent — calling me and asking if I knew anyone who wanted to buy or sell a home. At the time, I didn’t. 

      More than that, I truly wanted to help him and felt bad I couldn’t. I genuinely liked the man, and, believe me, the next day, I kept my ears open for real estate chatter.

      Step one toward getting new referrals is to be a nice person people want to help. Step two? Ask for referrals. 

      Ask everyone. Your sphere of influence then connects to their sphere, and each person you contact broadens your possible referral base exponentially.

      But that just covers the basics. There is so much more that agents can do to get more referrals.

      The Bedrock: Relationship Marketing

      According to author Mari Smith, relationship marketing emphasizes customer satisfaction and retention with an eye toward building profitable long-term relationships. 

      It differs from other forms of marketing by focusing more on the client relationship. Its key principle is client retention.

      The good news for the real estate agent is that relationship marketing is less expensive in the long run than other forms of marketing.

      “Acquiring a new customer can cost five times more than retaining an existing customer,” according to Taylor Landis at OutboundEngine.com.


      The Get More Referrals Series is shown to the left. To see more, Click Here.


      Who’s in your Database?

      If your database is populated with only former clients, you’re missing out on a huge chunk of business. 

      You should have every single person you know in your CRM – from your hairdresser to your aunt Martha. If they’re breathing, they should be in there.

      Here’s why this is important: the relationship marketing approach also focuses on the customization of your marketing efforts.

      In his book “Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable,” marketing whiz Seth Godin agrees and insists that you should “differentiate your customers … Find the group that’s most likely to influence other customers,” suggests Godin.

      It starts with asking the right question: “Who do you know who is looking to buy or sell a home?”


      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 Magazin

      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 Planner

      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 Online Real Estate Business Plan

      The Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for the year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closings, and so on are needed to reach your financial 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


        That 89% of homebuyers say they will use their agent again says a lot about the fantastic job real estate agents do with their clients.  

        Yet, only 12% of buyers used their former agent when buying another home (NAR).

        Weird, isn’t it?

        Something happens – or doesn’t – between the closing table and the time your client engages in another real estate transaction.

        Let’s cure the disconnect between “first-timer” and “client-for-life.”

        Former clients are “warm” contacts

        Unlike picking up the phone for cold calling, a call to a former client is like calling a friend.

        It is one of the more comfortable tasks in an agent’s business. If they hired you in the past, they clearly know, like, and trust you. 

        Your only job with these past clients, at least right now, is to remain top-of-mind with them.

        Here’s just one reason why:

        “Depending on which study you believe and what industry you’re in, acquiring a new customer is anywhere from five to 25 times more expensive than retaining an existing one,” claims Amy Gallo at Harvard Business Review.

        Here’s another stat that you may find impressive, “Increasing customer retention rates by 5% increases profits by 25% to 95%”, Frederick F. Reichheld and Phil Schefter, Harvard Business School

        The Holiday scheduled campaign is shown above. To learn more, Click Here.

        Large and splashy or understated?

        Reaching out to former clients doesn’t have to cost a lot or be overly extravagant.

        A phone call, a postcard dropped in the mail, or a check-in on social media are all perfectly appropriate ways to get your name back in front of a past client.

        Here are a few more inexpensive ways to reach out to former clients:

        • Put together a quarterly market update and direct mail it to former clients.
        • Keep in touch via a monthly or quarterly mailed newsletter
        • Send out birthday, anniversary, and annual home anniversary postcards.
        • Include them in Just listed/Just sold postcards you’re mailing to announce transactions near your clients’ homes.
        • Take them out for coffee, cocktails, or lunch.

        Naturally, a large and splashy “touch” would be more memorable. These include client appreciation events. The key to a successful client retention strategy is consistency. 

        The most important part of these conversations

        The question used to be, “Who do you know that might be thinking of buying or selling a home?”

        Today, the question is best when it’s narrowed down.

        If you have read the book “Guerrilla Marketing in 30 Days,” you are familiar with this concept. In it, Jay Conrad Levinson says to try narrowing “… the universe of those you ask.”

        Here’s an example:

        Marcy is a former client who loves playing tennis. Instead of using the broad question, narrow it down to “Who do you play tennis with who might be thinking of buying or selling a home?”

        Instead of combing through her mental database of everyone she knows, her mind turns to the tennis court and her conversations with fellow players.

        You know that former clients most likely want your services when they next buy or sell real estate.

        Don’t let so much time go by that they forget your name. Reach out and stay in touch with them to stop leaving what should be easy money on the table.


        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 

        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


          Mary’s latest Sphere of Influence, Animal Scheduled Campaign, is shown above. To see more, Click Here.

          Congratulations, Mary Falco, on winning this week’s contest!

          Mary had the following words to say about her success sending marketing out from ProspectsPLUS!,

          “I’m new to ProspectsPLUS!. I started my first 12-month campaign two months ago. It was very easy to edit and set up. I love the variety of products offered to promote my business. I also received some freebies I wasn’t expecting. It was a very nice surprise.”

          -Mary Falco

          Mary, 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.

          Leave feedback on Google HERE.
          Leave feedback on Facebook, HERE.

          *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 

          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