Starting Monday with a smile

Monday can be a difficult day. You’ve had either a) a relaxing weekend or b) a crazy-busy weekend with showings and open houses – and now it’s back to work proper. It’s hard to find the motivation you need. But let me share with you a way to feel better about getting to work today…

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When your newsletter costs nothing

I heard from another of our clients the other day, and what he told me is a great example of how newsletters work. Now – this guy is in the insurance industry. But what I have to say applies to real estate too. He said that he needs two sales per month to pay for…

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Your mouse, your sculpture

The computer mouse – a work of art beneath your fingers! You probably never thought of it like that before. It’s just a mouse. But I was watching a video by Logitech yesterday that explained how they designed a mouse. And the prototype – it was made out of wood. Like a beautiful oak sculpture.…

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What clients really respond to

Sometimes, amid the day-to-day hassle of business, it’s easy to forget what really matters. Whole days go by while you are fighting fires and sweating the small stuff. You’re busy on listings presentations, showing homes and solving problems. And on days like that, you can forget WHY you are doing what you doing. So sometimes,…

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How newsletters work

I got the perfect illustration of how newsletters work the other day. It came from a long-time client in Florida. Here, in just a few words, is the simple method for using newsletters to build your business. First, you focus on creating a database of leads and clients. That means you ask people you come…

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Your elite inner circle

There’s no shame in sending just a few newsletters. I was talking to a potential client today – he wants to mail 100. And that’s just fine… because when you send those 100 newsletters to your best contacts (your elite inner circle!) and you keep doing it for a long time, magic happens. The good…

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Just a little bit famous

I don’t know about you, but no-one is going to host a Justin Bieber-style roast for me on Comedy Central. I’m simply not famous enough. (And I’m not bad enough either.) But… You can… and should… be a little bit famous. I just heard from Sandra, a long-term client who is having success with her…

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The most important number

How much do you earn each time you close a deal – on average? I ask you – because it’s an important question. It shows the value of a customer to you. That number is probably the most important number in your business. Because… if you don’t know this number, you are operating in the…

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Daunted, afraid and cynical – and how you can help

Daunted, afraid and cynical. That’s not the title of some horror movie. Instead, it’s how many homeowners feel when they need to list their house. Or how many buyers (particularly first-timers) feel when they need to venture out into the market. Now, I’m not just making this up. I’ve been researching into the words people…

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The most cost-effective way to use print newsletters

Quick message today… If you want to test printed newsletters but don’t want to spend hundreds on a big mailing campaign, do this: Send newsletters to just your most important contacts: your past clients, your top connectors, your top potential referral sources. Keep sending them to these people for at least six months, ideally a…

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What else?

I was at the grocery store I love to hate the other day. (The one where the carts come with spears at each corner, so you can cut your way through the crowds). But anyway… at the deli counter they always ask this: What else? You order something… What else? So you order something more……

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How to have compliant and respectful clients

Wouldn’t it be a wonderful world if… … Clients always listed their homes at the price you suggested… … Buyers turned up for showings at the time you agreed… … Homeowners left their home in a state fit for those showings. Unfortunately, it’s not a perfect world. Sometimes your life will be hard – simply…

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Only you are you

All is not well in the world of olive oil. It turns out, at least according to producers in California, that the extra virgin oil we import from Europe isn’t always so pure after all. Extra rancid, not extra virgin – so the say. Of course, Californian producers have a horse in this race. They…

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Amazing agents who are just too shy

There are some amazingly good real estate agents in the United States. They do a terrific job for their clients. For example, they create a powerful marketing campaign for each of their listings, they take professional photographs (or hire a talented photographer) and give money-making advice on staging. Some of them have an entire “system”…

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Big fish eat best

I had a great chat with one of our clients today. We were talking about what makes her unique – how can she offer something to her market that no-one else is offering. Because… if you can do that, you become the #1, obvious, supremo choice for your ideal clients. Why would they go anywhere…

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Persistence really does pay

”Thank you for being so persistent.” That’s what a new client said today. She’d been receiving these emails for about six weeks. Now, I’m sure I drive some people crazy with these daily missives. Those people usually unsubscribe. But at the same time, I get feedback from people who just love receiving messages. And you…

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How newsletters make clients respect you

One of the most frustrating things in business is when clients don’t listen to you. … Like when they list their home for $20K over market value. Or when they refuse to tidy up for showings. Why… why… don’t they respect you?! One reason might be because they see you as a commodity. One agent…

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