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NETWORKING
Attending open houses and social gatherings where
your target clientele will be is the best way to network.
Spending an hour at a great new listing on a Saturday
afternoon could put you in contact with 50 people
you're eager to impress. When the holidays roll around,
personally deliver generous gifts to the top real estate
agents. In most areas, you'll find that the top 50 real estate
agents do 80% of the business, so think twice before
allocating time and money marketing to the masses. You
should also network with local developers, architects,
and custom homebuilders who do speculative projects,
and event planners because they are always looking for
design resources they can trust. I recommend an annual
gift valued at $100 for all of your key contacts. Naturally
the gift should include elements with your name written
all over it and a personal letter that engages the recipient
to partner with you and recommend your professional
services. Complement your in-person efforts with
social media forums like Active Rain and LinkedIn.
Read the local real estate publications the minute they
are released.
