RECR's Blog

I have avoided using video for a long time.

Considering how easy it is to convert a blog post into a video, I realize that I was merely afraid of failing at the expense of succeeding.

Anyone can do this...

3 Simple Steps To a Video Blog

Step 1: I wrote a blog post. http://activerain.com/blogsview/1585683/working-internet-leads-requires-just-that-work-

Step 2: I turned that blog post into a SlideShare presentation. http://www.slideshare.net/RealEstateClientReferrals/working-internet-leads 

Step 3: I turned that SlideShare presentation into a video.

If you would like more information about Real Estate Client Referrals, please call Clint at 800-977-7058. Or, fan us on Facebook. Also, if you are on Twitter, follow Clint!

Top 10 things people fear the most......

10. Dogs -- I have to admit, I am not afraid of dogs. I am not even afraid of the dogs I probably SHOULD be afraid of...

9. Loneliness -- Again...this is one that I do not have to deal with...I am ok with it. But, I know many people that do have to deal with this daily.

8. Flying -- I love to fly. My wife would rather rip her fingernails out with pliers than board a plane.

7. Death -- Pretty deep subject...I would say I fear the death of those I love more than my own mostly because I don't want to deal with it or think of my world without them.

6. Sickness -- There is a difference between being sick...and being SICK. I can handle a cold or the flu. I have lost people close to me to disease...I don't even want to get SICK.

5. Water -- I don't have a fear of water, but I hate having water splashed in my face...even in a pool.

4. Financial problems -- I have had lots of money. I have had no money at all. I have survived both.

3. Insects -- Yet another fear that I do not have to deal with...but, my sister would rip down a cinder block wall to get away from a spider. Her fear is so deep, she will actually go into shock.

2. Heights -- Ok. Gut check time... I am afraid of heights. It's not the height that bothers me, really. It is the thought of falling that far and hitting the cold, hard ground and breaking bones that scares me. Being up on a wobbly 20 foot ladder?? Oh hell no...

1. Public speaking -- I admit, I have a bit of this...but, I'm getting better. I know people that pass out having to give speeches. I have seen people get sudden attacks of laryngitis, nausea, even require oxygen and medical treatment.

So, what does all this have to do with follow-up phone calls?? 

Fear. 

I think that a generous portion of why people do not do follow-up calls (or continue to do them beyond call number 2...) is fear.

But...the question is.... Fear of what??

Fear of the phone? ...of making a mistake? ...of being annoying? ...of pushing a potential client away? ...of possibly hearing the word 'No'?

Yes. Well, maybe not a fear of the phone per se...(that's a bit ridiculous, right?) But, the others?? Yes.

I have actually had agents tell me the reason they do not make more phone calls to follow-up with clients is they are afraid of pushing them away by being too annoying, potentially causing them to tell them they are not interested any more.

Now, considering that a generous portion of an agent's job on a day-to-day basis is lead generation, doesn't this seem counter-intuitive?

A roofer can not be afraid of heights. A surgeon can not be afraid of blood. A pilot can not be afraid to fly. And...a real estate agent can not be afraid of making follow-up calls.

"Fear is nothing more than a feeling. You feel hot. You feel cold. You feel hungry. You feel afraid. Fear can never kill you." ~~ Joel Grey as 'Chun' in Remo Williams: An Adventure Begins

Although this situation probably isn't as extreme as that Chun was referring to above, the systematic failure to make follow-up calls based on fear may not kill you...but, it will kill your career. 

To overcome this fear...remember one thing: These prospects contacted you asking for information. It is your job to get it to them. And, until you do that, you have not done your job to the best of your ability. In other words, until you get that prospect on the phone with you, you have to continue to call because you have not done your job yet.

When a hurdler sits at the starting line, they focus on the finish line, not on the hurdles. When asked why they do this, they state that if you focus on the hurdles, you will hit them.

Dont focus on the hurdles...focus on the goal. The calls are your hurdles. But, getting your client the information they require is the goal.

Real Estate Client Referrals can help you learn more and earn more. If you have questions, call Clint at 800-977-7058. Or, fan us on Facebook. Or, if you are on Twitter, follow Clint.

Back in April, I wrote a featured article on working internet leads.

I turned it into a slideshow and posted it on Slideshare.net on the Real Estate Client Referrals account...And, I liked it so much, I thought I would post it here to see how it converted to a blog post.

I have to admit...I think it looks very slick. What do you think??

I have written several blogs in the past about what to say in listing ads/announcements. This is a great reminder to include SCHOOL INFO!

Yeah...I know.

Believe me...my jaw hit my desk too when I read that statement during a debate on whether or not I had a responsibility to notify a broker as to the unprofessional actions of one of his agents.

A little background for you...

My company uses email campaigns to fish for agents as any marketing company does. One female real estate agent in Mississippi called my phone off of the emails and proceeded to cuss me like a drunken longshoreman. (This is a "professional" real estate agent, mind you...)

Roughly five "f" bombs and a whole host of other flavorful inuendos and suggestions of where I can put my client's information later, I decided I would call her back. Irritated to no end, I dialed her phone and was directed to her voicemail. (Figures...)

So, at that moment, I politely told her I recieved her voicemail and that as a professional courtesy to the company she works for, the broker that she is under, and the brand she represents, I would be more than happy to make a courtesy call to her broker and let him know how she was representing the company. I also gave her my phone number in case she wanted to call back to attempt to rectify this situation.

After waiting an hour for a callback, it took about 17 seconds to google her cell phone number to find her information on the company website and a direct phone number to her broker. I called him up, explained the situation, and he was FURIOUS that any of his agents would act in such a way. He told me it "would be handled" and he apologized to me yet again as we got off the phone.

To this day, I have no idea what happened, if anything. But, as an advocate for continued education, increased professionalism, and elevating the standards of the real estate industry, I believe it was my right...perhaps even my duty...to let the broker know.

So...My question for you is this: If you know of an agent that is acting in a manner that is ridiculously unprofessional, do you have a responsibility to notify the broker of their behavior? If this was one of YOUR agents, would you want to know that this is how your company was being represented?

You can follow Clint on Twitter, or fan RECR on our Facebook page. Or, if you have any specific questions, please contact Clint directly at 800-977-7058.