“… 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
- 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, click Here.
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:
- VolunteerMatch
- United Way
- Points of Light
- Score
- 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