Something of value: Engage your sphere with something they REALLY want

By
Real Estate Technology with realtor.com®

Your sphere is your best source of business — but sometimes, repeat business or referrals slip through the cracks before you’ve had a chance to get in touch. Is it really possible to keep up-to-date with hundreds (or even thousands) of contacts in your database?

 

When we asked “Rainers” how they manage to get business from their sphere in this contest, several bloggers mentioned that they focus on offering something truly valuable to the members of their sphere. Read on for examples of how four Active Rain bloggers go beyond branded giveaways to truly make an impact.

 

1. Give the gift of a localized subscription

If you work in an ultra-photogenic market, a vacation home market or a city large enough, you likely have the choice of sending a local magazine subscription to your sphere contacts. Both Susan Laxson of Naples, Florida, and Dick and Mary Greenberg, of Fort Collins, Colorado, mention this is their favorite giveaway of the year.

 

Susan Laxson.jpg

[There is] a beautiful local magazine that shares the treasures of living on the Paradise Coast of Florida. It has local events, restaurants, doctors, new home developments, charities, etc. It is a magazine I like to provide all my clients at their closing.

Annually, I renew the subscription for them at a cost of $16.95. A small price to pay for keeping in touch with clients and reminding them every year that you are there to help them with their real estate needs.

 

Dick Greenberg.jpg

Every past client receives a subscription — renewed every year — to [an excellent western lifestyle magazine]. Every month, it is delivered to their home in a special wrapper that says “Compliments of Mary & Dick.”

 

2. Remind them the best things in life are free

A gift doesn’t have to be expensive to be valuable — in fact, it doesn’t have to cost anything at all! We love this last example from Cedaredge, Colorado, agent Debbie Laity, who offers locals the best perk during a busy fall festival weekend each year.

 

DebbieLaity.jpg

Each year in October my town holds a festival called Applefest. This is a big draw and brings at least 10,000 people into our little town. Free parking is difficult to find and paid parking is expensive.

Those clients I had the most fun with get a call from me asking if they are going to be coming to the festival. If so, I tell them they have a parking spot set aside just for them. This year I reserved six spaces in front of my house, and we had more parking in my backyard.

My clients were also asked to stay for an afternoon cookout and party on my patio.

 

3. Show you care by keeping them safe

Flagstaff agent Dusty Rhoton knows that even the most responsible homeowners can be forgetful about basic safety measures. We love this practical tip:

 

DustyRhoton.jpg

Sometimes I will deliver [clients from the last year] something useful like smoke detector batteries so they will stay safe in their home.

 

Ready to dominate your sphere?

We are so grateful to the Active Rain community. Through our contest earlier this year, we gathered up 30 amazing ways agents can engage their sphere to get more business in 2017. We compiled them all into a free PDF download, and we invite you to download it here.

GET THE FREE PDF: How to dominate your sphere.

 

 

Comments (10)

Realtor.com® - A division of Move, Inc.
realtor.com® - San Jose, CA
Proven Systems

We'd like to thank Dick GreenbergSusan Laxson CRS, Dusty Rhoton, SFR, SRS, CDPE, RSPS, SRES, ABR, GRI and Debbie Laity for their awesome contributions to this article! We are so grateful that you shared your "Sphere wisdom" with us and the rest of the Active Rain community.  

Jul 21, 2017 12:40 PM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hey there!  Good stuff!  Always looking for ways to build connections with my sphere...

Ken

Jul 24, 2017 08:38 AM
shirley cicero
Continental West Realty - Livermore, CO
Northern Colorado Mountain Homes and Vacant Land

Great ideas!!! Thanks!

Jul 24, 2017 08:41 AM
Stavrula "Sam" Crafa, RNC,GRI, CDPE, PSA
Future Home Realty - Seminole, FL
Providing the integrity and service you deserve.

Love the safety idea. Wondering how I could incorporate it in my November Pie give-away event. Must give that some thought. Thanks for the idea. 

Jul 24, 2017 09:15 PM
Dorte Engel
RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD
ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dusty has the right idea with the smoke detector batteries.

Jul 24, 2017 09:24 PM
Mega Team Real Estate
Realty ONE Group Alliance - San Mateo, CA
San Francisco and Peninsula Real Estate Concierge

Good feature. Thank you for sharing. 

Jul 24, 2017 11:46 PM
John Wiley
Fort Myers, FL
Lee County, FL, ECO Broker, GRI, SRES,GREEN,PSA

I love the great ideas shared here on engaging your sphere.

It should be about what They want.

Jul 25, 2017 02:50 PM
M.C. Dwyer
Melody Russell Team at eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Felton, CA
MC Dwyer-Santa Cruz Mountains Property Specialist

This was interesting!   Debbie Laity's may be the most unique way to stay top of mind that I've ever heard of.

Jul 25, 2017 04:09 PM
Realtor.com® - A division of Move, Inc.

We felt the same way! Thanks for weighin in, M.C. Dwyer!

Jul 25, 2017 05:41 PM
Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate-Kansas City Homes - Kansas City, MO
Experienced Agent in Kansas City Metro area

These are great suggestions and so thoughtful!  I've also heard of dropping off small gift cards for ice cream during hot weather and car wash coupons in slushy winter months.

Jul 25, 2017 08:40 PM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Congratulations to the winners. Great ideas all.  Love the subscription idea!  

Jul 26, 2017 09:19 PM