My Time in Cleveland Ohio
Let's talk about my favorite thing ever... Relationships.I know, I know, I'm a broken record when it comes to talking about the importance of relationships, but I just can't help it, especially when they have made such a profound impact on my life and my business.
Lately, as I've been traveling across the country teaching my Real Estate by Relationship® system, I've been reminded that one crucial pillar in our business is often untapped and overlooked by REALTORS®.
REALTOR® to REALTOR® Relationships!
Not only does connecting with other REALTORS® build community, but Real Estate is one of the limited few industries that can legally give referral fees, and we have to realize that this is a pillar of our business with enormous upside potential.
But before I jump into all of the reasons WHY let's rewind to what made me think of all of this in the first place:
My recent trip to Cleveland, OH!
I met the incredible Cleveland REALTOR®, Rebecca Donatelli, a few years ago, doing our shared favorite thing ever, Volunteering!
Actually... I take that back. We FIRST met on Social Media!(And you all know how I feel about Social Media relationships... they are the BEST!)
I started following her shortly after she was announced a National Association of REALTORS® 30 under 30 Honoree, which is major! And from there, we built our amazing friendship all through Social Media.
Until the National Association of REALTORS® Presidents Circle event in Miami, where we finally met face to face - and when I tell you, it's like it is in the movies... it was! It was like hanging with the bestie you haven't seen in years, and we didn't skip a beat.
We bonded over our shared loves of coffee, our Industry, Volunteering, and a little light gossip about the Market.
I know you're like, okay, Barb, Rebecca sounds terrific! But WHY are you telling us this...BECAUSE friends, Social Media CAN build genuine, authentic relationships.
AND even more significant than that... if you aren't building genuine, authentic relationships with the REALTORS® both inside and outside your sphere, you're missing out. Your REALTOR® Database is one of the essential parts of your business.
My REALTOR® to REALTOR®/Social Media Relationship with Rebecca Donatelli (now the current sitting President of The Lake & Geauga Association of REALTORS®!) led to her asking me to come to speak at their Awards Night & RPAC Auction this past week - and of course, I said yes! Hence my trip to Cleveland and hence this love letter to YOU!
During the Event, I spoke on building your business by Relationship, and I also shared with them the importance of their REALTOR® Database. The key takeaways from my speech that I want to share with you about your Industry Database are;
● Your REALTOR® contacts should be in your CRM but in a completely different Database than your Client contacts. Utilize tags or groups and separate the two to avoid cross-pollinating.
● Your marketing for your clients should NOT go to your REALTOR® relationships. Remember, they already know how to buy a home! They don't need you to tell them.
● Keep your listings for your clients unless you have an extra unique property to show off!
● Share what's working for you! Give tips and tricks that worked for you in the past week; share how your new listing presentation caught a seller's attention or how your holiday porch surprise led to a callback!
● Follow them on Social Media! And ENGAGE in the conversation! We are all striving to help special people find their special homes, and they might just have a technique that's new to you that can help you and your business. There are many incredible ways to connect with your REALTOR® peers, and I promise you that when you move past the competitive mindset, you open yourself and your business up to infinite opportunities to grow.
Remember, alone we are strong... but together? We are SO much STRONGER.