Yes, you say, “your team.”  Of course they are physically part of your team, but do they understand what it means to truly be part of your team?  Do they understand your mindset?

Whenever you have someone join your team — in any role — you need to train them to understand your philosophy when it comes to real estate service.  We’re not talking hours of training, but a nice sit-down overview of what you stand for so that your other team members are on the same page with you as they do their job for you — or for the client.

Even if none of your team members ever answer the phone, see an email or visit with a lead or client in any capacity, they still will benefit from understanding what you do, why you do it and how you do it.  They are part of the process of working with home sellers or buyers in some way — either in person or behind the scenes.

Excellent customer service is likely high on your list.  Explain that to your team so that they understand what excellent customer service entails:  bending over backwards to get the answer for your home seller or buyer; being prompt with communication; ensuring excellence in all forms of communication; being available and friendly; making sure details are adhered to; producing correct documents — the first time around.  These few reminders to your team members can make the difference between making your team feel like a team and work like a team!

Let us know how you keep everyone working as a team and how you train your team.

Simply said, home buyers and sellers are not told what to do by someone.  There are too many easily accessible sources of information for buyers and sellers these days.  Home buyers and sellers are won over by the best presenter of the information that is most relevant and valid to their real estate needs.

Real estate professionals influence these home buyers’ and sellers’ choices and decisions and assist them in reaching their real estate goals. You do not direct; you win buyers and sellers over to your point of view — the view that working with you is the best move for them and will save them money, time and hassle. You do not dictate; you inspire! Your marketing and the interaction and education you impart in your marketing are what get your clients — and make your business thrive.

Inspire your would-be clients to act on their real estate needs to buy or sell a home with you:

• Create a space online and in person that helps clients form a vision of what they can do when they work with you — finding that perfect home or selling their home to make their next move.
• Create timelines that help buyers and sellers understand what will happen at every step of the buying and selling process when they work with you.
• Create conversations in many different media that allow buyers and sellers to have exchanges with you openly as they make a move closer to being ready to purchase a home or reach a decision to sell their home.
• Create an empowered team for your business that guides new leads and warm prospects along the buying and selling process until they are ready to make a move — as well as fostering referrals from past clients.
• Create an atmosphere of professionalism that motivates buyers and sellers to choose you when it’s time to buy and/or sell real estate.

Let us know how you effectively motivate buyers and sellers to act on their real estate needs and wants.

10 Levels of Intimacy in Today's Communication

So, the big question is, do you participate in all 10 levels?

And, no matter how many you do participate in, what’s your balance among each of them like? If you’re spending too much time in one level at the expense of the others, you’re missing out on some good conversations. (That means you’re probably missing out on some business!)

If there are levels you haven’t explored, you’re also missing out on some good conversations. (Again, at the cost of missing out on some new business.)

Share what you’ve found to be your effective communication mix. Whether you email us, call us, mail something to us, tweet to us, message us on Facebook or Twitter or post on our Facebook wall, we’d love to hear from you!

Thinking about your marketing — it’s a mix of providers, variety of methods, many different suppliers and myriad of technologies, among other things.

What part of your marketing would you give the award for best supporting role in increasing business? Best technology to help you connect with home buyers and sellers? Share who or what you’d give the equivalent of an Oscar to in your marketing tool kit.

Gooder Group’s goal in 2010 is to continue to serve real estate professionals like yourself with useful marketing tips and advice through this blog and provide the best marketing products and services to help you increase your business through lead generation, prospect follow-up and long term contact.  

Share your thoughts with us on how we can best serve you in the new year — and beyond!  We’d love to hear from you!

Markets:  The words we hear at tradeshows and conversations is “stabilized.”  The worst is behind us.  Sales are not getting worse.  We don’t hear “recovery” or “rebound” or “now things will get better.”  Rather we hear this is the new normal.  The previous market boom was unprecedented.  Real estate rainmakers say they don’t expect to return to those salad days any time soon.  Instead, they are making the most of the market we have because it is what we will have for the coming near future. 

I’d like to hear your insights into what trends you’ve observed during 2009 as we march toward 2010.

Thank you for following our blog.  And thanks for your comments and insights.  The liveliest conversations are ones we have with YOU!

Happy Thanksgiving!

If you’ve not looked over the library of information we have available, today is a great time to click on the categories which organize all the blog posts on RealEstateRainmaker.com.  The depth of the case studies and interviews, real-life examples of tried-and-true marketing techniques, and general information is all available to you right here in one place!

• Advertising Strategy
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We plan to continue blogging and hope you will let us know what topics you’d like us to cover in future posts.  Leave us a comment and let us know!

“Change is great…you go first.” (Quoted by David Crockett)

“Stop waiting for the storm to end and learn to dance in the rain.”  (Late night comedian quoted by Larry Kendall)

“Going to church on Sunday will not make you a Christian any more than sleeping in your garage will make you a Chevrolet.” (Mark Twain)

“You can’t fertilize a field by farting through the fence.”  (Howard Brinton)

“The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago.  The second best time is right now.” (Japanese proverb)

Heard any inspirational quotes lately?  We invite you to share them!

Going to the dictionary.com third definition, a guru is “a recognized leader in a field” or “an acknowledged and influential advocate, as of a movement or idea.”

I’m intrigued by this – and also very wary of this – proliferation of gurus out there.  To become a guru, you need to be a recognized leader in the field and/or an acknowledged or influential advocate.  I am trying to figure out if you’re a self-recognized leader or self-acknowledged advocate that you, too, can become a guru.

Are you a guru?  Do you feel comfortable elevating yourself to that level in the real estate field?  And, who do you feel is a true real estate guru?