Business Building can typically happen more quickly for Real Estate Agents because of relationship building through involvement.
When you started on your road to being a successful real estate agent, you may have noticed that the path is significantly different than starting a standard new job. What is the difference? We think it’s all about Building a great business presence with community involvement.
You are not simply starting a job, you are building your very own business as an independent contractor. They key ingredients to consider in building a new business, because of the tremendous time commitment it takes, is thinking outside the box. One of the ways to master this goal is to build a presence in your community which may be better described as a tribe. This “tribe” can be in a community, a demographic, a sphere of influence, an area of interest, or even a hobby. It’s about a group of people that have something in common that helps build your real estate business. Building yourself apart from the rest is what Tribe building will accomplish for you.
How can you do that? The best way is to understand what it means to build a good, trustworthy reputation within your community tribe. People that share common interests with you will be a faster and more fruitful way to build up your reputation and become increasingly more active in real estate sales while expanding your overall sphere of your influence.
If you are ready to get started in building up your business, along with your reputation in your community tribes, here are some of the top ideas to help launch you off in the right direction!
Reach Out and Volunteer Your Time: One of the easiest and most effective ways to show just how strongly committed you are to your community is to prove it by caring! There are a ton of great ways to get involved in different tribes. By volunteering your time and/or resources, you will emotionally affect people. If you are not sure how to find places who are seeking volunteers, do a quick online search or ask the tribes you are involved in already. Churches, schools, college alumni, food banks, homeless shelters, libraries, or things like volunteering to coach a sports team are all wonderful places to start with. Unless you are a hermit, it won’t be hard to find something.
Become a Sponsor: Select a project that fits your budget. Becoming a sponsor is a great and incredibly powerful tool to get your name spread throughout a community tribe. There are lots of ways to sponsor. A couple of good examples could be becoming the sponsor to a local school swim or basketball team. Many activities need financial benefactors so they can go to meets, travel, supplies, etc. Offering that team advertising dollars, or whatever supplies they need, will allow you to display your information on a banner or program guide that will be in front of many working adults that need to buy or sell real estate as well as all of the people they know. Sponsoring a school play, being a big brother or sister, or any number of sponsor opportunities will give you visibility. It is a well-known fact that the vast majority of nonprofit organizations struggle to gain the support they require, which is why a small investment from you can provide wonderful results.
Education: Get actively involved in education. As an example, some county school regions look for educational speakers for their faculty. Holding a class at a church, a library, or even in a business is also recommended. As an expert in real estate, you can bring in speakers on financing, environmental issues, financial planning, or even how to stage your home. The list of possibilities is endless.
Host or create a Benefit: Hosting a benefit event can prove to be incredibly helpful in terms of making your name known, while also boosting your credibility within the community. Start a book drive to support a local library, have a silent auction for a good cause, or get an organization like Habitat for Humanity involved with a neighbor that needs help with their house. You can even host a benefit for college tuition. These are all wonderful opportunities to get your name out and help others.
Not only are benefit events significantly helpful for your exposure, they are appreciated by those who profit. Reach out and get more people involved. Many businesses can participate providing more value and gaining exposure for their business as well. Will a flower shop be willing to provide you with some flowers to spruce up the benefit? Maybe a local printing shop wants to gain exposure by providing T-shirts with their logo that can be used to raise money revenue. Get creative with this since the sky is the limit. With the right ideas set in motion, it can be incredibly helpful for you and the benefit!
Take to Social Media: Social media has quickly grown to be one of the most tried and true ways to spread information about yourself and your business. Take advantage of this and be active on social media. Create a Facebook group that is aimed specifically at your target. Groups like Smart 1st Time Homebuyers, Time to downsize, or the Making your neighbor’s jealous group with tips and tricks to making your home awesome.
By staying active on social media, you stay actively involved, appear to care, and are bringing value to your group. Keeping your group up to date with pertinent information will keep you in the front of their mind.
There are so many wonderful ways to engage with your community tribes. Getting involved and staying active with these communities will sustain your business and improve your sales results. Whether it’s a retiring couple looking to downsize or a growing family that needs a larger home, your community will think of you first because they know you are not a phony baloney and genuinely care!
Cindy Bishop is the Managing Director of Cindy Bishop Worldwide, a Real Estate School providing Continuing Education and Business Development to the Real Estate Community.
With over 28 years of experience, she is committed to making everyone enjoy education and gain the training needed to succeed. Their Mission is to Help Agents Know and Grow.
Knowing how to write in this business is critical. We recommend our course on Copywriting901 which can be found on this site.