Special offer

Building A Network? Bring FOOD!

By
Real Estate Technology with Content, coding, marketing, host.

There is at least one thing every person I have ever met has in common: we all have to eat. Like the commercial says, "You gotta eat. Who do you think you are? You won't get far. You gotta eat."

Burgers and Dogs on the GrillAgreed! I eat about four times every day. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and a late light snack - usually. My wife eats three times a day. Everyone who works for me eats at least once every day that I know of and they probably eat two or three other times as well. All of my clients eat and sometimes we eat together. Every Friday my staff eats lunch together. Today I went home and grilled dogs-n-burgers. We ALWAYS have a great time at lunch. Right after lunch I hand out paychecks and the people are free to go or stay and work. It's just one of those things you don't want to leave.

When I do a seminar there is always food there. Almost always we have cheese, crackers, cold cuts, grapes, apples, tea, soft drinks, and water. The same goes for my monthly Real Estate Investor's Meetup. It's just one of those things you don't want to leave.

Then there is that once per year open house where I go all out. I usually grill about 24 pork chops, 5 or 6 full racks of ribs, 6 chickens, some corn on the cob, and a whole load of sides and drinks. Agents, investors, appraisers, office neighbors and more show up and we always have a real blast. It's just one of those things you don't want to leave.

Christmas 2006 Office PartyAt Christmas we have an office party and invite agents and clients. We exchange gifts (White Elephant - if you've never done it do. It's a hoot!) Of course there is more food than you can eat. We have ham, turkey, salad, the whole spread. It's just one of those things you don't want to leave.

Then there is the Christmas party at our house. Catered by a fantastic local restaurant with chauffeur driven limousines to deliver our guest right to the door. Food. Oh my word ... food for miles. Agents, friends, family, co-workers, attorneys, appraisers, and clients all tossed in there together. And we have a BLAST! Party starts at 7:00, dinner at 8:00 and the last people leave around 1:00 or 1:30. It's just one of those things you don't want to leave.

So the next time you are having a "meeting" try to include a little "eating". Don't worry too much about what to have. If people want whatever you put out they will take it. If they don't want it they will more than likely say, "Oh, I wish you would have had some tofu and orange peels. But this is great!"

Unless of course my attorney is there and then he would walk around saying, "I can't eat that. No, I can't eat that. I can't eat that either. Now you KNOW I can't eat those." But he would still say, "Wow, Ken. Awesome spread!"

It's just one of those things you don't want to leave.

 

Posted by

Web/Social Developer For Hire - I code. I create. I manage. Whether you need your website to actually do something other than look pretty or one of the following services let's talk. Anyone can make a beautiful WordPress site (all the hard work is done) but few can make it work for you. , blog content, research intense reports, data reports (and accompanying charts and graphics), ebooks, presentation content, speeches, social media management, advertising scripts, or similar, let me show you what you can have.

Listen to Social Media Edge Radio weekly for powerful tips on making the Internet pay for you. Blogging, social media, and web technology with some of the most successful and well-known guests on the Web!

I started writing on Active Rain in 2006 when I was representing the mortgage industry. I am no longer in that industry and many of the older posts contain outdated information. Please do not contact me for LENDING or MORTGAGE questions but rather contact a licensed mortgage professional from your area. I have always been in marketing and branding and that is still what I do. Thanks for reading!

Comments(3)

Rob Robinson- Lehigh Valley PA
Bertrum Settlements (Title & Abstract) - Allentown, PA

Geeze. where are you located again (oh, I'll be checkin' the profile).... I think I'll stop by on payday. :^)

Don't disagree about having some food around for many, many types of occasions in business.

Jun 08, 2007 06:23 AM
Christine Zheng
Keller Williams Downtown - Denver, CO
Wow! you do go all out on food!! I tried to do food at open house, but people were just not interested... they felt guilty about window shopping home and they just wanted to come in, sneak around and disapear with me noticing them... My cheesecake sat melting, my little bakery basket remained untoched, not even water bottles attract any thirsty visitors... Hmm... any good hints?
Jun 08, 2007 07:01 AM
Ken Cook
Content, coding, marketing, host. - Marietta, GA
Content Marketer/Creator

Sure, I have some hints: Don't do food at open houses!   :)  (Next time just bring your little basket over here and we'll enjoy it - forget those people! And wasted cheesecake, nooooo!)

I do food for Caravan here when an agent invites me (hint hint if any readers are in Atlanta) - but I do GOOD finger foods. As you know no reputable agent will turn down a croissant or brie or orange pico tea! But seriously, I only do foods for networking type events ... not for client builders. I'm surprised they didn't take the water, though. I have water bottles printed with my company logo and deliver those to open houses and they go. So do cups of hot cocoa in the cooler months. Thank you Christine and you too Rob!

Jun 08, 2007 07:33 AM