The Seven Components of a Business Plan: Part 7

It is time for the final component of our seven component of a business plan.

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Today marks the final installment into our series on the seven components of a business plan. This time, we are going to talk about processes and procedures.

All business plans must incorporate a client relationship management system, also called a CRM. There are many CRMs available, such as Top Producer, Firepoint, BoomTown, or TigerLead, that you can choose from. Personally, we use Firepoint, because it can take your business take you from a small group to a large team.

You also need to figure out your marketing plan. Where do you get your leads from? It doesn’t matter if you choose Zillow, Realtor.com, or pay-per-click leads—you still have to map out your systems. Many people jump into using Facebook advertising. However, this is actually the least profitable lead source for agents, simply because it is so common and easy to use.

After your CRM is established, start reaching out to the people in the database.

After your CRM is established,  start reaching out to the people in the database. Set up a system that will tell you how often to call your past clients, your friends and family, and your hot, warm, and cold buyers.

If you have any additional questions about this, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Why Is Education So Important to Real Estate Agents?

The one thing you need to do to be a successful real estate agent is to make sure that you get an education, and I’m not talking about studying for your licensing exam.

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One of the keys to success in our business is education. If I can name one thing that a real estate agent should do, it’s to make sure that you get an education. I’m not talking about getting your real estate license. When you get a real estate license, you take a course, you take a test, and then you forget all about it. I’m talking about learning how to sell. I don’t mean selling real estate. No one in real estate sells houses. You need to learn how to sell your own skills and expertise. Nobody on my team has sold a house to a client because the client picks the house. We sell what we do for the client. We sell how we can do that better than anyone else.

You need to learn how to sell your skills and expertise.

Selling is helping people realize that where they think they want to be might not be where they actually want to be. Selling is about overcoming self-imposed objections. If you’re going to be a professional agent, you need to learn your craft. This is not something to be taken lightly. This is not a hobby. Anyone who wants to be the best should learn from the best. Thankfully, we have a group of mentors here who have helped us, taught us, and brought us along on the journey. If you want to learn how to sell houses at a very high level, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Do You Still Need a Website as an Agent?

Do you need a website as a real estate agent in this marketplace? Lots of agents I talk to seem to think they don't need them anymore. Here's why I think they're crucial.

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As a real estate agent in this market, should you have a website? A lot of agents ask me if anyone even needs a website in this market anymore.

My answer is this: your website is your calling card. It's where people go to find out whether you're legitimate or not. They want to see whether you list and sell homes.

I encourage anyone who is serious about the real estate business to either join a team with a great website or a company with a great website. It's hard to buy a $50 solution to a website and still be seen as legitimate in the marketplace.

Your website is your calling card.

In short, when companies like mine spend tens of thousands of dollars every month on websites, it's hard to compete if you have a cheap, $50 website. Every website manufacturer out there will tell you it's possible, but it's simply not.

If you're going to be a real estate agent and take the job seriously, I suggest you spend the money on the tools to do the job right. If you have any questions about how we do it and who we use or if you're interested in joining our team, give me a call or send me an email. I hope to hear from you soon!