Excuses don’t cut it when it comes to your real estate business standards (part III)

If you truly are generating gobs of money with all your “busyness,” we salute you. If, on the other hand, you are always busy yet your real estate business standards are getting you nowhere in real estate, you may want to step back and get down to the truly important aspects of your business. Otherwise, “I’m too busy” is just a lame excuse and a recipe for burnout.

If you want a real estate website that takes some of that burden off your shoulders, check out LeadSites, the real estate website that works as hard as you do.

If you haven’t read parts I and II yet, go do it. Then add the following to your list of priorities.

I’m too busy to properly utilize free marketing and advertising

Seriously? Too busy to use free stuff? We’re not talking Facebook ad campaigns here. We’re talking one of the most important real estate business standards: content marketing.

You’ll need to get consistent with posting to your blog, first. Then, plan on posting new content as often as possible and share it on Facebook. Slap on a compelling image, and you’re good to go.

Once you get into the habit, THEN you can pay to boost posts.

What about Craigslist? Sure, it has become a major source of spam, but if you have a listing, or an open house, it’s a good way to generate some interest. Tyler wrote a brilliant post about Craigslist best practices.

Finally, don’t ignore Nextdoor.com. While you can’t directly promote your business there, you can (and should) establish relationships there and become known as the neighborhood expert.

 

I’m too busy to attend conferences and conventions – even though these are real estate business standards

If you think that real estate conventions and conferences are nothing more than drunk-fests, sightseeing and boring workshops, think again. As a small-business owner, you truly can’t afford to be too busy to attend at least one every year.

First, schmoozing with other agents and vendors is good for your business. Making new connections help you learn fresh, new ideas, or new ways of using old ideas. And, who doesn’t need to widen their referral base?

Then, there are the educational aspects of these real estate business standards. Workshops and lectures from successful trainers and agents can help push your business to the next level. Visiting vendors to see new tech trends in action can speed up your purchasing decisions and reduce the learning curve.

Finally, there is inspiration to be gleaned at these events. Whether it’s listening to a talk from a successful agent or a motivational speaker, it’s a shot in the arm for your business that you just won’t get staying home and listening to a CD in your car.

I’m too busy to come up with an exit strategy

The people who administer Social Security and America’s healthcare system aren’t the only ones wringing their hands over the impending “silver tsunami.” Since the median age of today’s real estate agent is 53, add the real estate industry to those who are worried.

But agents don’t seem to be concerned. Which is rather scary when one considers that a structured exit plan can mean extra income during retirement.

As an individual agent, you may be surprised how much your database is worth. It may be your “most valuable possession in business,” Mark Given, author of “Finding My Why: Ernie’s Journey,” tells Realtormag’s Melissa Dittmann Tracey.

But, not if it’s a crazy mess

Sure, you’re busy, so save this one for the down season: organize your database. Get rid of the leads who aren’t likely to bring in business, and then prioritize the others. Start keeping meticulous notes on each person, tracking your contacts with them and the results.

Other parts of your strategy should include creating a savings account or IRA, that is hands-off money – only for retirement.

Before the “R” date rolls around, identify the rainmaker that will take over your business, suggests Given.

“Hire a rainmaker so that the flow of business continues to flow, and you benefit from that,” he tells the NAR.

One Napa broker we know hired on a brand new agent with the aim of grooming her to take over her business. They worked together for a year or two until the broker finally retired, leaving the business in capable and lucrative hands. She still receives referral fees from her replacement.

Guess what? The chances are slim that your broker is going to hold a rip-snorting retirement party and hand you a gold watch on the day you bring in your real estate practice’s shingle.

What happens the next day?

Come up with an exit strategy and you won’t need to wonder.

Another real estate business standard is a high-performing website. If you need a real estate website built for the modern agent, check out LeadSites.

Ready to drive more leads? Check out these tips to get started.

Stop saying “I’m too busy” – Do these 5 things every day to be more successful in your business: