I think you need to do some research for yourself. Read books on real estate, listen to audio books in the car, and let your new world be REAL ESTATE. Call everyone you know. Tell them that you are in Real Estate now. Ask them for referrals. I mean it when I say call everyone you know. Go through your yearbook if you have to. Attend networking events so you can network and pass out your cards and get theirs. The reason why I'm stressing call the people you already know and getting to know other people is because statistics show that everyone should know at least 250 people. You do the math. Just build up trust with people. Making a real estate purchase is a big decision in ones life so become trust worthy.
Next thing do is to put together a business plan. It may sound like a lot of work but it is a business, and with a business plan you can use it to track your success. (I personally like structure in my business.) A business plan can be written on the back of a napkin as long as it states a goal.
Next is a marketing plan. WooHoo!!! The world lives on marketing. In a marketing plan you simply state how you are going to connect your customers with your services and or products. A marketing plan consists of six basic components:
Target Markets- Who are your customers? Find out who has a need for your service. Do some research to acquire more information about your market. You need to know what they like and their spending habits.
Products/Services- What are you offering? What are field of Real Estate are you specializing in? Residential, Commercial, etc,
Promotion- How are you going to inform your customers about your solution to their needs? (Passing out business cards is a form of promoting.) Do a free seminar about buying Real Estate. Those who show up are prospects!!!
Budget- how much money do you have set aside for marketing? The more money you spend in marketing the more customers you will get. Its called law of probability.
Distribution- How can your customer get to whatever it is you are offering? Are you doing this full time or part time? When can you be reached? What’s your schedule? When are you in the office?
Pricing- What is the price of your solution to you customers needs? What’s your commissioned rate?
Services- What other options can you offer to enhance your solution’s value?
I want to leave you with some marketing ideas but you really should be open-minded and find as many ways as possible. Not all techniques work for everyone.
- Again Attend as many networking events as you can. Make friends. Be prepared to prospect and pass out business cards.
- Business Cards are very inexpensive now days. Your company may provide you with some but if not you can go to a store that specializes in printing. I like Staples personally. Vista Print is good and they have some that are free.
- Classified ads in your local newspaper are inexpensive also. (Don’t worry people still really read them).
- Internet Marking is huge now days. Place ads online some are free some are not. Just go to Google and type in any question you have (that’s what I do!) about any kind of Internet marketing.
- Give a free seminar on real estate and if you are selling high end Real Estate you should advertise using a headline like “Learn how to buy Luxury Properties” Like I mentioned earlier people respond to free and you know that they are prospects if they come. Get their addresses (home and email)
Always have a place where you store emails and home addresses because you can always follow up and say hello. (Don’t forget to ask for referrals.)
Okay. I think that’s enough to get you started! Good Luck on your journey and remember, my three favorite words NEVER GIVE UP!
Nicole