Real Estate Blog - My Favorite Prospecting Tool!

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My Favorite Prospecting Tool!

Nametag Even though I am friendly and talkative with people, I joined Jennifer Allen's "Introverts Are Sales People Too" group for a reason...

I don't have too much of a problem making some silly small talk with people, and I usually get past my shy feelings/discomfort/nervousness with jokes and clowning around, making people laugh with me ON PURPOSE.

I do have a problem talking to people about what I do for a living though, not because I'm ashamed of being a REALTOR but because I don't want people to think "Oh dear, she's going to try and sell us something!"

One of the greatest things for people like me is the name badge provided by my broker, WEICHERT, REALTORS - Paupack Group! I love this thing and wear it EVERY TIME I leave the house.

I have had more than one person approach me and say "Oh, you're a REALTOR?" or "You work with Weichert? I see them ALL over the place! You must be BUSY!" and open up the dialog with me - thereby releasing me from any fear that they will misinterpret what I say, as THEY are the ones bringing it up. Conversations began with my name tag almost always end with me leaving my business card with someone and a possible new contact in my future.

If your company does not have name badges, and you are not always comfortable just introducing yourself and starting off with a "pitch", I strongly suggest you approach your broker or company's owner and ask about it. IMHO, even if they refuse to purchase such a thing, go ahead and invest in it on your own, even if it just says your name followed by REALTOR (check your state laws re: that, though! you may need to have your brokerage on it).

Here is a quick Google search for "Custom Name Badge" companies. If anyone has any companies they are happy with, post them in the comments section!

Karen Rice Real Estate Blog Northeast PA

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Karen E. Rice is a real estate agent working in Pike & Wayne County of Northeastern PA in the Poconos. Lake Wallenpaupack is one of Pennsylvania's most popular destinations for vacations, retirement, and purchasing a home.

Posted by Karen Rice | Lake Wallenpaupack | Pike & Wayne County, Northeast PA Homes on 08/15/2007 06:49 AM

Comments (24)

pike county pa real estate thoughts tips and opinions for agents

Originally posted at: Pike/Wayne Real Estate: My Favorite Prospecting Tool!

24 Comments on My Favorite Prospecting Tool!

AUG

2007

I'm jealous!! I started with HH before you switched to Weichert, and I'm still waiting for MY name badge! I do have a cute little pin that says "Howard Hanna", and I wear it everywhere!! It does come in handy. I'll have to ask our secretary today..."Where's my name badge???"

I think my office secretary was getting very weary of me asking "Where is my name badge?" LOL

That is good to know. I'v elways had mixe feelings about wearing badghes. I may just have to change. Thank you.

Hi Karen!

I'm with you, wearing the name badge is a great conversation starter! So is keeping a car magnet on with my company name and cell phone number. As often as I am filling my car up, there is always someone to talk to there!

Cheers,

Heather

Karen, I fully agree with the name badge. Usaually in cooler weather I will wear at least a Realtor pin. It is a good conversation starter. Everyone wants to talk about Real Estate.

Karen, I no longer wear a name badge, but maybe I'll start wearing my Realtor(R) pin again. Or my ePRO pin. You're right - it's advertising. I've been thinking of getting one of the magnetic car URL decals.

Anything that will break you into a conversation with another person without that feeling of 'they might think that I am going to try to sell them something' makes a big difference. A good friend of mine has worn a name badge for her 16+ years in the business but she has never been afraid to talk to anyone at anytime (a real gift!). Good idea...

I've thought about this as a way to get business and be recognized, but I can't bring myself to wear one...just not my style.

A name badge may be good. At least I won't forget my name! lol Can you tell me what IMHO stands for? I see it in a lot of your blogs and I am completely clueless.

My name badge is on order, and our admin person is checking today on its status. AND she's checking on my sign-riders. Yippeeee!! Now to get some listings to PUT the riders ON...details, details. : )

I love my rhinestone Real Estate jewelry some much that I am the local distributor. Yes I do get a lot of RE questions- which is great.

Karen,

I wear mine everywhere- my husband often had to remind me to take it off because I forget I have it on.

Michael - IMHO = In My Humble Opinion

AUG

2007

My kids hate it when I wear mine... lol -

I think I should wear my name badge more often.I only wear it at an open house, and that too if I remember.

Gina: Everyone in my office wears their badge from the broker on down to one of the agent's kids who "assist" - it's so cute, they both have badges with their names that say "Real Estate Executive Assistant" or something. LOL!

Jon, Chris, Al: I feel naked if I show up at the office without it. I do not mind wearing it at all.

Brian, Frank: I have mixed feelings about wearing the REALTOR pin! LOL! I hardly ever see anyone here wearing it, and when the board president told us, at our orientation meeting, to wear our pins with pride, I noticed that he didn't have his on. ha! I was afraid that wearing it would brand me as a newbie or something, whereas the Weichert badge just means I work for the best real estate office in the area! :-)

Heather - my office also provided magnetic signs for the car and a license plate for the front too. I love it!!! People notice it too. Someone saw me in the supermarket the other day and said "I see your Weichert car all over the place!" With over 25 agents and everyone with signs, badges, and license plates, it's hard to miss us!

Thesa, why do they hate it? My kids want their own like the other agent's kids! LOL

Rita - I try to take mine off in the car and put it on the dash so that I can find it in the morning, but then sometimes I bring it inside and often have to search for 20 minutes (my house needs help. haha)

Sue - I was so impatient for mine to come. I looked so "new" without it.

Dionne - rhinestone realtor jewelery? Do tell!!!

Michael - sorry- yes, IMHO - In My Humble Opinion. IMNSHO = In My NOt So Humble Opinion :)

Karen: I think my badge is one of the best advertising tools I have. And it's funny how I will be so surprised when some stranger calls me by name in a store or some place like that. Then I remember my badge! I think everyone on earth should wear a name badge so we could all be on a first name basis, what do you think?! LOL You are right, it is a very good prospecting tool.

I did a blog on name tags not too long ago, I don't think agents realize just how important they are, I try to wear mine all the time.

I started wearing a name badge just a few short months ago. Conversations are up, too, as a result.

AUG

2007

Thanks, everyone for the responses; I'm glad to see so many folks love their nametags!

Would you all believe this - I LOST MINE SOMEWHERE IN THE HOUSE and can NOT find it! I asked the secretary to order me two more - hopefully by then my other one will turn up and I'll have three...a much better chance of finding it when I need it! I specifically made a point to take it off and leave it in the car so that this wouldn't happen...but somehow, it came in the house. Not in the laundry...not in my laptop case, not in my purse...

Now I have to go five days without one. :(

Oh nooooooo!!! And I just finally GOT MINE today!! But it just seems so...well, so BIG. Maybe it's just the top I had on today, but it seemed to just hang there. We'll try again tomorrow.

And you're right -- you'll find it when you aren't looking for it...just like I tell my kids. : )

My badge is magnetic which is SO COOL! Won't ruin any of my shirts or sweaters.

I've had other pins though that I had to pin thru an ...er...undergarment as well as the blouse to make it hang right.

That is so funny -- I almost did that today! But I was afraid I'd forget and wind up ripping my top. I like the magnet idea -- but is it strong enough to go through a suit lapel or sweater?

Yes, I believe so. Haven't had it in sweater season yet, but it seems strong enough.

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