Okay, you've spent your two weeks "earning" your real estate license....... Now what? Even in a good market, this can be a tough business for a new agent to get traction.

One of the first things I did when I became licensed in 1999 was undertake an email campaign aimed at successful-looking Realtors around the country.

Of course, not knowing much about real estate, and not knowing any of these agents personally, I had to rely on appearances, so i sought out Realtors with attractive websites, lots of listings, etc. I created an email template, which identified myself as a new agent who was eager to learn, and I asked these agents if they wouldn't mind giving me a few pointers on how I could increase my chances of success as a Realtor.

I was really moved by the number of Realtors who took the time to share some pretty thoughtful ideas on what needed to be done by me, or any new agent, to succeed. A year later, I did the same thing, this time identifying myself as an agent with a year's experience who was ready to take it "next level."

This was a great exercise, and I gained a lot of valuable insight into the minds of some really successful agents. 

I would encourage all of us who have been selling real estate for a while to encourage young Realtors to spend a few minutes on Active Rain each day. Everything I was hoping to learn by contacting successful agents around the country can be found every day on Active Rain.

Just today, for instance, i read blogs which discussed maximizing time, the importance of follow-up calls, etc.  It's almost like an ongoing training class put on by conscientious Realtors around the country. 

So, to all you new agents out there who want to run a smart professional, integrity-based business, this is a really good place to start.