Inman Connect 2017:
The Proof is in the Numbers
A couple weeks ago our marketing team headed to New York City for the real estate conference to end all real estate conferences, Inman Connect NYC! If you weren’t able to attend, fear not! Read more for that must-know take-a-ways from this year’s gathering of the minds!
So you may be wondering what the heck I mean when I say that failure is proof that you’re doing something…..so here we go- one of the main take-a-ways that I got out of Inman this year was something you’ve probably heard me say over and over if you’ve been in any of my classes or follow our FB page…just do it! The truly successful people in our industry are those that saw something cool and just TRIED IT. The more people I meet, the more I realize that what sets the total rock stars apart from everyone else is their willingness to try new things and their ability to grasp the fact that they’ll never be an expert at anything if they don’t step out in faith and take on new things!
Now Let’s Break it Down!
DATA is Your Friend – Most large companies use data to predict who will buy what, when they’ll buy it, where they’ll by it and why they will. The real estate industry has the ability to harness and use data better than anyone but until recently, we haven’t. That is all going to change soon. Imagine if you could load your entire sphere of influence into a program that would then run over 2000 data points and spit out of list of who would be more than likely to buy or sell a home in the next 6 months. Would that be something you’d be interested in? Frankly, would that blow freaking your mind?!?! Well that is coming, and in some form or another, is already here! It’s called predictive analytics- google it. It’s not super cheap but then again, neither are any other lead generating sites…and your bang for your buck could be fantastic here. For more info on this, just reach out to me!
“Invest in your expertise. Be the expert of your community because local data is more powerful than national data.”
-Ashton Gustafson
Facebook? Like, whatever…
Almost every home buyer today is starting their home search online and who has the most search friendly platform in the world? Facebook. If you still think that Facebook isn’t worth your time, think again. A few years ago your parents or grandparents probably didn’t know what “The Facebook” even was, right? And now? They’re on it, getting in political arguments and exchanging recipes for spaghetti squash aren’t they? YES, they are! That means that not only has Facebook come full circle but also that you, as rock-star, mega-REALTOR-to-the-stars, need to be there! Facebook advertising is the most directed, effective and inexpensive marketing that money can buy. So use it! If you need help, let me know!
“92% of buyers start their home search online today.”
-Scott Shapiro, Facebook
Technology – Virtual reality is something we’ve been talking about for a while now and guess what? Everyone else is talking about is now too! The ability to walk someone through your listing in an completely immersive way from the comfort of your office or a friendly neighborhood Starbucks while sipping your over-priced cup of coffee sounds pretty amazing to me (that is except for the over priced coffee). How about you? The good thing is that according to an Inman Connect speaker from google, if you aren’t using VR yet, you haven’t missed the boat! Again, for more info, reach out to me or Aaron!
Sweat the Small Stuff & Get Old School – Networking, volunteering, FOLLOWING UP with past clients and being active in your community are all at the heart of how we grow our business. We know this, but sometimes we start hiding behind the technology that is meant to help our business, not BE our business. Lead generation tools are awesome, but the person behind them has to be MORE awesome. Last year 80% of people picked an agent based on a personal recommendation. Often, I think we go for the gold, get the leads then totally forget the importance of nurturing them!
Repeat from Last Year But Still as Important:
Lets Get Uncomfortable – If something makes you uncomfortable, it is probably a good thing. If you’re feeling extra cozy with what you’re doing, it’s probably time to change things up. The goal is to grow, as a person and as a Realtor. If you aren’t growing, your business isn’t either.
I could go on for another hour but let’s get to work..and do me a favor, be remarkable!
Sam T.