List of Ways to Make 2009 Your Year

1.      Work more efficiently.  Easier said than done, right? Here are some ideas.....

• a.   Time block...have each day of each week blocked off and to how many hours or ½ hours you are allotting to certain tasks and have mini-goals each day.  Review and be accountable. 
• b.   Do your accounting and anything else you normally do at year's end monthly.  (Do your gas mileage and expenses daily into an Excel file)?  Do a monthly profit and loss and see where you can improve. 
• c.   Read a book or take a class on organization and time management - don't say you don't have time.  Actually account to yourself when you implement ideas from the book. 
• d.   Email or text message correspondence with other agents, office, clerical and friends. Save your phone time for your clients and customers.

2.     Work smarter

• a.   Identify when you are the most productive at certain tasks and set that time aside to do them.  Go in when there is no one else in your office and catch up your work. 
• b.   Multi-task.  If you hold an open house, take your laptop and write your blog posts for a week (unless you are inundated with buyers).
• c.   Hire someone from a high school or college (if you can't afford a personal assistant or a virtual assistant).  High school students normally work for free for work-study credit and college students work inexpensively and are more computer savvy than most of us.  Let these students do the work that keep you from producing sales - don't use it to hang out with the other Realtors and gossip.

3.       Lead generation growth

• Review expenses for your current leads capture - get rid of what is not producing and put that money in your pocket or to good use (find something new).   
• Review every lead you have and make contact at least monthly (email, snail mail - however you do it best) - bring your databases current (See 2a if you do not have time to do this personally).
• Once monthly hold a homebuyer seminar, do a mailer or some other promotion to grow your list of leads.
• Call on the Realtors you know that have gone part time or are leaving the business.  These Realtors are a great source of referrals and/or may be willing to sell their leads log if they are leaving the business.   

4.  Networking - New and SOI

•           a. New.  Join one new club or organization 6 times during the year and be active in the functions.   Make sure these clubs or organizations are actually ones you have an interest in so you are not there just to network for your business.  Better yet if this organization or club or class is something where you will learn something that will help you in this business as well as meet new people to increase your SOI. 
•           b.  SOI. Take the time to speak to at least 2 or 3 people per day 5 days a week that are in your SOI   and catch up and update them on real estate in your market.   Don't forget to keep you friends and family and former clients and customers sending business your way.

5. Internet Marketing

• Blog, blog and blog some more.  Not just on Active Rain but anyplace you are visible that will increase your SEO but don't do it if you do not do it professionally.  Get photos and know your area.
• List your homes for free on sites such as Trulia, Craig's List and such.  Free is always the right price but follow up to see which listings are bringing hits to your websites and phone calls to you. 
• Participate in your Board of Realtor's Technology class and familiarize yourself with what they have to offer. 
• Change and update your website or websites.     If you are as technology challenged as I am, let your webmaster help you or take a class and learn how to update your site and make changes to take advantages of changes in technology that were not available when your website was originally developed.  Also there are many free ways to market your website - find out what they are and use them. 

6. Lose the baggage.  This is going to seem harsh but pay attention. 

•  a. Review all of your personal and professional contacts and if there is someone in your personal or professional life that holds you back, make a break.  For some people it is the Realtors in their office that tie up their time when they are in the office and want to sit and chat with you when should be working.  For some people, there is someone in their personal life that seem to have nothing to do but call you or email you all day long expecting a response or for you to stop working to run out for a 2 hour lunch.  Ask yourself if you have this time.  Find positive ways to address these people.  Often just speaking with these individuals work - let them know that you have set goals for 2009 and part of achieving them is to stop taking personal phone calls during business hours or won't be taking personal lunches but eating at your desk.  Same to your fellow Realtors - you may be doing yourself and them a favor - they need to be working as well. 
• b. Do you have any bad habits that keep you from working?  Do you watch television more           than you should or have poor work habits in a certain area.  Lose those bad habits and flourish.

7.  Go back to basics. 

• a. Don't spend money on marketing and advertising just because you have in the past.  Just say no.  Remember the tested and true methods that have worked for you. Phone calls and walk in traffic from signs and referrals are the least expensive ways to procure buyers. 
• b. Make you money the old fashioned way - work for it. 

8. Stay positive.

• This is not the market to be walking around down with a glum face (no matter how you feel).  Positive thinking is part of confidence and it takes confidence to be a successful sales person.  

To all the members of Active Rain and the Active Rain Staff, I wish each of you a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2009.