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STOP What You’re Doing! You Will Not Generate a Single Lead!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Cam Realty and Property Management

STOP What You’re Doing! You Will Not Generate a Single Lead!

If you are in the real estate industry, chances are, you’re in it to make money, if
not, I’m happy you chose this profession as a hobby as you won’t have a single day without an event that make you laugh or cry..think, scream, dance..


Our goal should be to generate leads, follow up, then close. Sounds simple? Well, it does sound simple but it’s not. See, if you’ve been in the business for some time, you probably have a large database and your business comes from referrals. This is our dream position!

What if you’re a brand new agent without that ever lead generating database or don’t know anyone. What do you do? There’s more than one way to generate business but you have to feel comfortable with that method, learn it and execute. No matter what you do, you’re not going to get ten listings within a month. It’s work!
I caution you not to pay attention to those who would tell you certain activities are useless and they don’t generate any business. Here are some examples what “some” say don’t work;

 

-You’re wasting your money and time on ActiveRain- Really? When someone tells you this, ask to see their blog posts, their interaction with other members, whether they’ve been consistent or not. I guarantee, they haven’t been active, they haven’t blogged, didn’t comment, didn’t interact with others. Becoming an ActiveRain member was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, I wish I had done it sooner.

-Facebook is preventing me from working. That’s not Facebook’s fault, is it? Limit the time you spend on FB and be strategic on how you spend the time you allocate to Facebook. I am active on every single Neighborhood Facebook group for my area. I am also a member of Facebook groups that have anything to do with “moving to Florida”. I am talking to others who live right here in my community, I develop a relationship FIRST, business will come. I started posting Florida related posts on my business page and started getting calls. These are just some examples, there’s a lot more.

-Landing Pages are just a waste of money. Show me which platforms you used and failed. Landing Pages do work if you know what you’re doing. There’s a great resource right here on ActiveRain, check out Brivity.com  Be sure to use demographics under FacebookAds when you run ads with your Landing Page. My last one had 26 Seller Leads, That is HUGE, it works folks, you just have to know how to use it.

-Calling Expireds- Can you see me cringe?? This is not on top of my faves at all. If there are 5 Expireds in my local market, they’re probably receiving calls from 50 Realtors..yikes!! Do I call Expireds? You bet I do but not to ask for the listing and not as soon as they come on the market. I may wait a week, a month, two weeks..but mostly, I go back 1-3 years and when I call, I engage in a conversation updating them on the market.

-Door knocking- Ask me to eat a cardboard or do 200 crunches..better yet, I will fast for a week. Who likes knocking on doors of people they don’t even know? I have some ideas but this is about real estate. I do pop bys in my farm area and knock on FSBO doors to give them a packet full of information they could use. Again, come from a place of contribution rather than be a pest.

-Direct Mail- I heard many say this is old school and doesn’t work. Depends on what you mail and what the content is. Do it every three weeks for a year, then tell me it doesn’t work. It won’t work if you do it once or twice before you give up.

-Open Houses- This may be local and also depends on the quality of your Open Houses and marketing efforts. When done right, they work. This is your chance to announce to the neighborhood you just listed a house. Why would you give that up?

-Circle Prospecting- Here we go again, talking about getting on the phone. Call around your just listed or just solds letting neighbors know and follow with a handwritten card thanking them for talking to you.

-SOI- I’m guilty of this. If I don’t put it on my schedule, months will go by before I contact my past clients. Like many of you, I have them in a category A/B/C/D based on how many referrals I received from them.

There are many methods of generating leads from your website to landing pages, phones, newspaper ads, blogging, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Direct Mail....the key is in the follow up. “Out of sight, out of mind”. Stay in front of potential buyers and sellers or nothing would work.

Pick one or two lead generating activities and do them well and do not pay attention to those who say it won’t work. I was told by a Realtor from another state just last week that ActiveRain doesn’t work but he never even tried. I was told by another ActiveRain member that landing pages were just a gimmick and not to waste my money.

This is your year to overcome obstacles but you must first make a decision to reach your goals. Once you have the right mindset, the rest will come with hard work!

STOP What You’re Doing! You Will Not Generate a Single Lead!

 

 

Comments(145)

Donald Kolenda
Kw Rockwall - Rockwall, TX
Share the road to your new home.

Aloha Beth Atalay,

 

Thank you for sharing a breath of fresh air! Like your advice to pick a couple ideas and master them.

Jan 14, 2016 02:39 PM
Beth Atalay

Hi Donald, how sweet of you! Wishing you all the best.

Jan 15, 2016 12:22 PM
Chrissi Chapman Topoleski
Coldwell Banker Realty - Woodbridge, VA
Helping agents live an exceptional life!

Thanks for a great post. It seems consistency and attitude are what is important. What works for one agent may not work for another, and we all have our own personal style, but we're in a people business. It's all about making relationships and getting known!

Jan 14, 2016 10:47 PM
Beth Atalay

Welcome to ActiveRain Chrissi, we are truly in a relationship business.

Jan 15, 2016 12:21 PM
Monica Holvey
Keller-Williams Realty Conroe/ Lake Conroe - Conroe, TX
Real Estate Trooper

Great blog post!  It's even better that you closed reminding us to focus on one or two methods of generating leads... and then commit to it.  We tend to get overwhelmed by the many methods, and finding what works for us is the best way for success.  Any suggestions on how to set goals for various methods?  Ex: How do you know that your Landing Page is successful?  I'm not sure yet how to track results.

Jan 15, 2016 04:41 AM
Beth Atalay

Hi Monica Holvey, I will give you a call on Monday regarding this!


 

Jan 15, 2016 12:15 PM
Jim West
Real Estate Technology Partners - Marysville, OH
Our Passion Is Helping 1st Time Home Sellers

Had to save this one to read!  Thank you

Jan 15, 2016 12:11 PM
Beth Atalay

Thank you Jim!

Jan 15, 2016 12:14 PM
What Not To Renovate
What Not To Renovate - Palm Coast, FL
We provide tips & trends on home renos & designs

Hi Beth,

Congrats on the feature!

These tips are useful to any business.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Jan 16, 2016 06:06 AM
Beth Atalay

Thank you so much, have a great Sunday!

Jan 16, 2016 10:52 PM
Barry Kessler
Pinnacle Estate Properties, Inc. - Simi Valley, CA
Barry Kessler

Thank you for your post Beth.

You make great points and give out great advise.

 

All the best to you in this coming year!

 

Jan 16, 2016 09:47 AM
Beth Atalay

Thank you Barry, have a fantastic 2016!

Jan 16, 2016 10:52 PM
Dana Tapia
Re/Max of Orange Beach - Orange Beach, AL
Gulf Coast Real Estate Professionals

This is great information, Beth Atalay.  I just got my license in December and am new to lead generation.  I've gotten so many suggestions on what to do, as well as what not to do.  Thanks! 

Jan 17, 2016 11:55 AM
Beth Atalay

Thank you and congratulations to you, wishing you all the best!

Jan 18, 2016 01:25 AM
Doris Freeman
Zach Taylor Real Estate - Gallatin, TN
Broker/Agent, 615-961-7799

Great post and some wonderful tips.  Things most of us know but occassionaly forget.

Jan 18, 2016 12:16 AM
Beth Atalay

Thank you Doris!

Jan 18, 2016 01:25 AM
Jeff Stevens
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New Mexico Properties - Las Cruces, NM
Jeff Stevens, Associate Broker/REALTOR

Great post, Beth. I use most of these but am now reminded of the ones I hate...but deep down know I should be doing them! Have a great week!

Jan 18, 2016 01:23 AM
Beth Atalay

Hi Jeffrey, you're not alone, there are some lead generating activities that I absolutely will not do.

Jan 18, 2016 01:24 AM
Pam Orzan Broker, Owner
Coastal Living South Florida Real Estate - Delray Beach, FL
Selling Delray, Boca Raton, & Boynton Beach

Love this! It's all in your mind set! My very first broker 16 years ago told me "Just like Nike says, Just do it!". You have to work all avenues.

Jan 18, 2016 03:17 AM
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

Hi Beth, you listed a lot of tried and true methods of getting business. Thanks.

Jan 18, 2016 09:30 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Great post!  Agreed!  SOI is a huge source of potential business and referrals.  You have a great list of what not to do!

Jan 19, 2016 08:05 AM
Brittany Kinsland
MVP Realty - Naples, FL
In the top 10% of REALTORS® in Southwest Florida!

As a new member of the Real Estate family in FL, it can be quite overwhelming figuring out where to begin. As a matter of fact, when they send you the congrats email from the state they even say you've joined 2 million realtors! Talk about competition and feeling insignificant. I have no clue how to truly dive in head first into this profession (ex bartender - I'm used to people coming to me! haha), but Active Rain was suggested to me by my broker and so far the blogs are a tremendous insite! Thank you. This was a really helpful post.

Apr 09, 2016 05:09 AM
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

Great post and good advice, for newbies and for all of us. To newbies I always say "Start with your sphere of influence,and network in your target areas."

May 15, 2016 02:53 AM
Donna Foerster
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

I love how you think Beth...

This is your year to overcome obstacles but you must first make a decision to reach your goals. Once you have the right mindset, the rest will come with hard work!

Sep 08, 2016 09:46 AM
Beth Atalay

Thank you Donna Foerster 

Sep 08, 2016 10:09 AM
MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

Taking positive action is a huge improvement over no action.

Nov 17, 2016 03:07 PM
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

All busy work to keep each day interesting and on our 'toes', Beth Atalay I know that was not the focus of your post. All the activities you mentioned can be fruitful depending on time commitment and quality of the effort.

Nov 17, 2016 09:45 PM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Hello Beth

WOW

I rolled over to this older post that Praful re-posted, had to take a look to see if I had left a comment back in January of 2016.

Great post, 70 likes and so many comments

Nov 18, 2016 12:15 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Thanks Beth, I also came over from Praful Thakkar 's post.

Lots of crabs in the bucket that are always trying to tell others that "that wont work", I just ignore them and respect those who are putting in 100% to doing Something.

Nov 18, 2016 02:19 PM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

What I like about you, Beth is you think like a leader, act like a leader, and lead like a leader. Congratulations on your feature story! I agree with you 100%.

Jan 18, 2017 12:56 AM