So many of the agents I speak with are new - and overwhelmed at the cost of getting started in real estate. They thought the cost of the course would be it; then they learn about dues, E&O Insurance, equipment they need, and on and on.
I don't know why no one warns them, unless it's because the truth would lower enrollment at real estate schools.
They also come into the business without a clue about how to market themselves - something that should be a whole other class in real estate school.
Soon they're bombarded with ads telling them they need to spend more money if they want to be successful. They should buy leads; they should be in this magazine; they should order this promotional material; they should pay for featured listings; they should do mailings; they should have their ad on a grocery cart or a bus stop bench; they should even join Active Rain and pay the monthly fee.
We've all learned by trial and error that not all of those promotions bring in clients. We've also learned that there ARE things a new agent can do that cost time instead of money. My new agent info site: www.promotemyrealestatecareer.com offers an e-book that outlines 107 ways to build a business on a tiny budget.
And last week, guru Neil Patel offered his take, with an infographic detailing How to Get Customers Without Spending Any Money.
Neil's ideas aren't all suited to real estate - you can't exactly offer a discount coupon for a house - but they do go into ways to use your social marketing skills to best advantage. These are ideas my e-book doesn't cover because I'm simply not techie - and not really into social networking.
If you're just starting out and wondering how to get going without going broke - or if you'd simply like to create more business without spending all of your well-earned dollars, check out Neil's post.
Oh, and visit my new agent site - it offers some free letters and ideas you just might be able to use.
Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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