I am a virtual assistant working almost exclusively for RE/MAX agents. I feel compelled to post to the RE/MAX groups her on Active Rain because I am trying to reach as many RE/MAX agents as I can about an important topic, especially in economic times like this.
Too many of you are not utilizing what you're already paying for! 
Belonging to RE/MAX puts a whole world of marketing tools at your disposal! Your Lead Street website can be customized in many different, attractive ways...and allows your web visitors to register, search the MLS, and contact you for more information. Do you have your "Ping" call-me-now button working on your website? Do you have "campaigns turned on" - that means emails are automatically sent to your web clients, at intervals that you specify. Did you know that you don't have to use pre-written emails, you can customize or completely create them yourself? Did you know that you can easily choose keywords from your website and submit them for search engine optimization?
Do you utilize RE/MAX Main Street? There are videos you can put in your website. Belonging to RE/MAX allows you to quote many impressive statistics that have already been compiled for you. In your newsletters, do you denote which properties were listed and/or sold by RE/MAX? If you do, you will wind up with an impressive statistic to print, something like "70% of the homes sold in your area in the past 12 months were listed and/or sold by RE/MAX."
Even if you're new, or conservative when it comes to spending, many of you have Agent Office and don't utitlize it. Even the older versions have much to offer. You probably know there are letters you can choose from, and plans to choose from, that you can launch for a particular client. Did you know that you can easily create your own customized plans, letters, reminders, etc. and Agent Office will put them on your calendar for you?
Many of the agents I work for don't have any routine way of doing anything. They got to used to business being so good that it just came to them. Now they have to seek it a little more actively, and they're lost! Whether or not you're a Brian Buffini devotee, certain things are just common sense and I know you all will agree with certain fundamentals: If there are ways to get your name out there inexpensively or even for free, it should be done! Agents are competing for business today, bring a listing presentation with you when you meet with a prospective seller - there's one on Main Street that can be customized in less than a half hour! Whatever it is you feel is important to do for a seller, and the various points at which you like to keep in touch, needs to be DONE! That's where the "plans" and calendar reminders come in. Newsletters can be sent on a regular basis for the price of some paper, ink, and postage! You need to keep in touch after the closing. Reward those who refer business to you! I could go on and on, but you get the idea...
Now here come the excuses...I know I should, but I don't have the time/money/organizational skills/attention to detail, etc. etc. The typical comeback from a virtual assistant is "Hey, pay me to do the things you know you should but don't have the time for, and you will make more money by spending more time with your clients." You might agree with that, but there could be several obstacles you have to overcome. Some Realtors are simply uncomfortable with change. Some don't understand the value of certain things, especially when it comes to the Internet. And the big obstacle can be...money.
You all know you have to spend money to make money, even in a market like we have today. That doesn't mean that money is easy to come by, or that it's clear or easy to choose how much to spend and what to spend it on. I have started doing evaluations for RE/MAX agents...I review your website and anything else I can, and you explain to me all the things you routinely do - to get business, to sell houses, and to get referrals. I will tell you what you may be missing that other successful agents are doing. Where I am different than other virtual assistants is what comes next - I will tell you how to get the marketing pieces that you're missing done and what it will cost, but if you prefer I can show you how to do it yourself. Everything I do for Realtors they can do themselves. In a good economy it makes sense for them to hire me to do the administrative things so they can concentrate on the personal aspect of their business. But if resources are limited, there are many ways around that.
I'm talking a one or two hour meeting or phone call at an AFFORDABLE price. My goal really is to help Realtors, so much so that if I get enough constructive comments on this post my next post will be The Ultimate Newbie Marketing Plan, Start to Finish...which, again, will be something you can do entirely by yourself if you so choose.
I hope I raised an eyebrow or two here and that someone somewhere will go talk to their RE/MAX manager and find out how to do a little more on Lead Street or Design Center...good luck to all!
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