Build your Business by Hosting Seminars

By
Real Estate Technology with ReferralExchange CA License #01426453

Seminars are great tools to educate prospective home buyers and sellers in person while showcasing your local market expertise. Host a seminar with these simple suggestions for success:

Topic selection:  Topic selection is critical and should focus on the real estate needs in your community/area. Do you have a lot of vacation properties or first-time buyers? Or, perhaps you work in an area where many people are retiring and thinking about selling their homes.

Timing:  The day and time of your seminars are important as well. Consider doing a “lunch and learn” if you are partnering with a company. Wednesday and Thursday evenings are the best days and times to hold seminars. If you’re focused on first-time buyers, hold these seminars about one month after tax day — these younger buyers might have received refunds and have cash for a down payment. If you’re working in an area with lots of vacation properties, hold a seminar at the end of the season, when people are thinking about purchasing versus renting.

 Clarify your purpose:  Seminars aren’t for selling — they are for educating. Be sure to clearly differentiate yourself from and provide something of value. Give homebuyers access to tools they can’t find anywhere else.

Partner with someone else:  Find a relevant partner to hold your seminar with.  Doing so helps you attract more attendees and makes your seminar more interesting. For a retiree seminar, consider having a downsizer attend. For first- time buyers, have a financial planner or accountant join you.

Open your portfolio:  Stretch your contact reach by way of personal interests. Connect with your gym, your place of worship, or a local community center that may be interested in hosting a seminar. Start with a local business’ lunch-and-learn to reach a wider audience.

Follow up:  Print and hand out powerfully visual take-home swag and be sure to follow-up to set appointments with interested attendees. Don’t loose those contacts – references are crucial to building a successful business.

Extra credit Video promotion:  Film your seminar for marketing purposes. Add it to your email signature, send it to prospective buyers, and promote it through traditional media. Today’s homebuyer is visual and will respond to something they can consume quickly.

Build a valuable reputation in your market and gain customers in the process by hosting a winning seminar today.

 

And, be sure to place any seminar referrals that don’t make sense for you to work into ReferralExchange! We’ll match them with 3 agents from our network, handle all of the paperwork and processing, and pay you a 25% referral fee when the deal closes.

Posted by

Lisa Fettner

VP Marketing

Referral Exchange

lisa@referralexchange.com

www.referralexchange.com

 

Comments (21)

Monte Wall
Keller Williams Premier Realty - Katy, TX
Keller Williams Premier Realty - Katy, Texas

Lisa, you're singing my song.  My 2016 business plan is being built around seminars.  At least 2 per month and if they really take off, then I'm going to host even more.  I love teaching so this is something I'm really looking forward to.  Thank you for the post.

Nov 16, 2015 03:37 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thank you Monte!

Nov 17, 2015 12:27 AM
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

Hi Lisa, that is a very good way to get referrals for business for years to come.

Nov 16, 2015 03:54 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thank you Sybil! 

Nov 17, 2015 12:27 AM
Maria Gerlinger
Reno, NV

Thank you Lisa. As a relatively new agent, I am always looking for alternative ways to generate referrals. I will definitely give seminars a chance. 

Nov 16, 2015 08:02 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thanks Maria! 

Nov 17, 2015 12:28 AM
Linda Guess
Keller Williams Tri-Lakes Branson, MO - Branson, MO
Branson area real estate sales.

Great idea.  I have done seminars in the past and I am planning some for this comming year.  You have some very good ideas.

Nov 16, 2015 09:39 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thank you Linda! 

Nov 17, 2015 12:28 AM
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

I think the greatest challenge today is attracting an audience.  Almost no one under age 45 still reads a newspaper, so how do you get 10-25 attendees ???

Nov 16, 2015 10:27 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Property Manager

Nice blog post, ReferralExchange (Lisa Fettner) .  The follow-up is really the deal closer, isn't it?

Nov 16, 2015 10:57 AM
Shirley Coomer
Keller Williams Realty Sonoran Living - Phoenix, AZ
Realtor, Keller Williams Realty, Phoenix Az

Great post and good information.

Nov 16, 2015 11:11 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thank you Shirley!

Nov 17, 2015 12:27 AM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

ReferralExchange (Lisa Fettner) - timely information as I am working towards my seminar. Thanks, Lisa.

Nov 16, 2015 03:56 PM
ReferralExchange .

Your welcome Praful! 

Nov 17, 2015 08:13 AM
John Pusa
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Crest - Glendale, CA
Your All Time Realtor With Exceptional Service

Lisa - Thanks for the valuable information for building business.

Nov 17, 2015 06:14 AM
ReferralExchange .

Your welcome John! 

Nov 17, 2015 08:13 AM
Lanre-"THE REAL ESTATE FARMER" Folayan
Keller Williams Select Realtors-Buy a home in Washington DC. Sell a home in Washington DC - Bowie, MD
I don't make promises.I deliver results.SOLD HOMES

ReferralExchange (Lisa Fettner) -Really need to add seminars to my 2016 Business Plan. And recording it (Video)-Another thing that I need to add to my Business Plan and not only putting it in your email signature and sending to your SOI but also post it on your Social Media sites as well as use it as a promotion on your next "Lunch and Learn" by sending out a postcard and have people click on the video link. And then at the end of the video people can sign up to win something. And also get them to send it to their family members,friends and colleagues so they can share the video with their family members,friends and colleagues. Next thing you know the video goes viral and you are the Neighborhood Real Estate Expert.

Also if you have it in the morning you can name it a "Breakfast and Build". #Thinkingoutsideofthebox. Thank you very much for sharing Lisa. Great post.

Dec 16, 2015 03:10 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thanks for sharing Lanre! 

Dec 16, 2015 03:25 AM
James (Jim) Lawson, DBA
DomainRealty.com LLC - Bonita Springs, FL
Broker Associate, RSPS, BPOR, HI & PE

Thanks for your seminar suggestion Lisa. You can easily put on a lunch, learn and prize program for the cost of one modest sized color display ad in our market. Especially like the idea of co-hosting with another real estate expert, preferably noncompeting. 

Dec 16, 2015 05:01 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thanks James! 

Dec 16, 2015 05:21 AM
Nattalie de la Mothe
Maximum One Greater Atlanta Realtors - Atlanta, GA
Selling Atlanta Homes like a Boss

Wonderful post and impeccable timing. I am doing up by business plan for next year and was toying with the idea. 

 

Thanks for sharing!

 

Dec 16, 2015 05:37 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thanks Nattalie!

Dec 16, 2015 05:41 AM
David Alan Baker Laveen & South Phoenix Realtor
Keller Williams Realty Phoenix - Laveen, AZ
Your local Expert

That is food for thought.  May be something to consider, I do like the idea.

Dec 16, 2015 06:52 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thanks David! 

Dec 16, 2015 08:31 AM
Cassandra Vickers
RE/MAX Pioneers - Cypress, TX

I've been thinking about doing a seminar or a q&a session via Periscope.

Dec 16, 2015 09:32 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thanks for sharing Cassandra! 

Dec 17, 2015 01:35 AM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Those are some great ideas for hosting a seminar. My Lender would be a great person to partner with, I think!

Dec 16, 2015 10:30 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thanks Evelyn! 

Dec 17, 2015 01:35 AM
Dan Derito
Success! Real Estate - Brockton, MA

Seminars do work in our area. Thank you Lisa for providing such excellent advice about partnering with others.

Dec 16, 2015 11:53 AM
ReferralExchange .

Thank you Dan! 

Dec 17, 2015 01:36 AM
Tai-An Lugo
Keller Williams Realty Centre - Frederick, MD
Considered Done!!!

Lisa Fettner, I appreciate you sharing such great information and advice. Love the suggestion. Love the idea, looking forward to get ready for my seminar in 2016.

Dec 16, 2015 12:53 PM
ReferralExchange .

Thank you Tai-An! 

Dec 17, 2015 01:36 AM
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

First time buyer seminar.

Investment seminar.

At the end of seminar every attendee ran away.... 

Dec 16, 2015 01:21 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, EXP - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Great points Lisa, seminars can be a powerful marketing tool, thanks for the tips.

 

Dec 16, 2015 02:14 PM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

ReferralExchange (Lisa Fettner) -  what kind of seminars would you recommend for generating SELLER leads?

Dec 16, 2015 03:26 PM
ReferralExchange .

I would recommend focusing on topics that would attract sellers, such as how to improve your home's value and appeal on a budget before selling, or tips for making your move with your pets smooth. 

Dec 17, 2015 01:59 AM

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