They provide a great way to grow your SOI and stay in contact with your existing SOI members, as well. Its easy to neglect these tasks if you dont have a contact plan in place. I'm a big fan of communicating with one's sphere of influence (SOI) via the written word - with the caveat that those written words are YOUR written words, not some words written by someone else who doesn't know you! Your way of handling the award was so tasteful. We have all been there. Dont do that. Watch the video now. 240-408-4002 contact@homeactions.net Truth is, most agents are terrified to start working their spheres of influence (SOIs). So give your full attention to every person you meet, and remember, everybody matters. Gratitude is the best way to get more of what you want. Tools like BombBomb Prompt make it easy to automate a personalized video in your email drip campaigns no fancy videographers required. If you know anyone whos thinking of moving any time soon, would you just keep us in mind? And heres where you apply this knowledge to making your phone calls. But, Read More How Email Marketing Changed My Real Estate Business Forever (DO THIS)Continue, Would you like to sell an additional four to six homes a month? If you pay special attention to the people who are most impressed with your services, you can increase your sphere of influence drastically. 2023 ActiveRain, Inc. All Rights Reserved :) homeFair Housing: Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers, Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos, Lizette Realty - Richmond KY - Lexington, KY, Lizette Realty, Lexington KY MLS - Kentucky Homes, CEO/Owner/Team Leader/Keller Williams Executives Realty LLC - Highlands Ranch, CO, Real Living / Home Realty - Owensboro, KY, Owensboro KY Real Estate -270-903-2167 Homes, Cond, Quicksilver Real Estate Solutions, LLC - Portland, OR, Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY, Prudential Lancaster Real Estate - Lancaster, PA, Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK, BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK, Cary Property Pros - 4 Sale Realty, Inc. - Crystal Lake, IL, Cary Property Pros. I would love the opportunity to work with you. The first step is to just get the names down on paper and at this point, its absolutely crucial you dont undervalue or overthink a single candidate for your list. Good news! If you'll actually DO the personal postal mailing, that would be a good excuse for one, but if you keep putting it off, email might be better. Ive helped hundreds of real estate agents, team leaders, & brokers all over the country increase their sales, online presence, and create scalable systems. Take this epic SOI marketing story (again from Justin Seeby). There are disadvantages to this traditional use of Listing E-Alerts. Or ask for feedback?? Come up with a meaningful message, and hit your database with a postcard mailer. Constant Contact and Emma are two good examples. I had no idea this got aGold Star since I'm not getting notices of comments (ARGHGHG), so what a nice surprise. Go the extra mile and do this for any member of your SOI who gives you a referral, whether theyre a past client or not. Youre not asking for anybodys firstborn child, and youre not inconveniencing them youre providing value. Holiday cards are a classic way to stay in touch throughout the year. When you target through every channel like this, you are in your SOIs brain. Well done ! So, youve sent out an email newsletter. Look, we get it. Pro Tip for Facebook: Create a separate SOI list for your Facebook friends who are extra active in the community and set your notifications so you can engage with them frequently. Pro Tip for Twitter: Always post local content with relevant local hashtags. Heres how Jason asks for the referral (and remember, these guys have been chatting and laughing it up for at least 10 minutes before it even gets to this point). Focus on the social media sites where most of your SOI connections are, and the ones you already love and use regularly. Brian Icenhower of The Real Estate Trainer has a great tip. This is how you start to learn what type of content is engaging, and which subject lines get the most responses. Dear (Employer's Name), I want to thank you once again for speaking to me on behalf of the secretary position at (Company Name). 3. Featured at one of my favorite groups at AR short simple and to the point not to mention very different. What's the reason you're reporting this blog entry? But if for some reason you decide that youd rather not receive these updates, you can unsubscribe yourself or just simply reply to an email and well discontinue it for you. For example, we did $2 million worth of sales to one couple I hadnt talked to in 13 years. Letter To Sphere of Influence Draft: Good news! You can collect those business cards virtually if you want them. Today, were giving you a FREE DOWNLOAD of our Seller Lead Listing E-Alert Email Drip. There are a lot of questions that we have the ability to address for our clients. Now, your phone call list is much more manageable. :). The tricks to good yay-me's are 1) your audience already cares about you because you don't yay-me all the time and 2) it's done without a hint of referral-begging and 3) your excitement over your achievement or award or whatever is 100% sincere. Any new listings that come onto the market will be instantly emailed to your buyer. Ill tell you the most effective way to reach out to your SOI is probably the least sexy way. What Is a Sphere of Influence? Jennifer - I really needed to read this!! "It's an honor being nominated" - last year when I was among Inman's 100 Most Influential. This is how you reconnect with your sphere of influence database. Most CRMs make it easy to set up email drip campaigns to go out to relevant segments of your list (in Follow Up Boss we use Action Plans to help keep it simple). One of the most powerful ways of attracting interest and building strong connections is by offering something of value. Great blog and example. You can use variations of this, but the most important thing you can do is to be authentic. By reaching out and sending gifts you generate a raving fan rather than just another number in your database. Brian Icenhowers 2023 Real Estate Market Predictions, Real Estate Broker Business Plan Template, Use This Real Estate Team Onboarding Checklist & Process, Introducing a Custom Real Estate Training Academy Built for Your Organization, Social Media for Real Estate Agents: Building Your SOI, Facebook for Realtors: Friends Lists and the 10-10-5 Plan. The rags-to-riches real estate mogul emigrated to the US in 1986, knowing literally no one and went on to become one of Americas top agents and the king of real estate referrals. Its a minimum level of customer service to check in with your past clients and make sure theyre okay, especially right now. Reach out to some of your past clients from the last two or three years, depending on how much business you do. Of course, being busy is good; however, if you do not keep track of your sphere of influence and work on it by networking, your business may begin to suffer. Even a short handwritten card or personal email can go a long way in nurturing the relationship by simply letting them know how much you appreciate them, and that youre always there to help. Real estate prospecting lettersletters agents send to buyers, FSBO, FRBO and Expired listing homeownersare still one of the best ways to generate leads in 2022. Were going to give you everything you need to work your SOI like a pro. Required fields are marked *. The name of the game is Listing E-Alerts. This helps you get rid of any old contact information that is either incorrect or no longer in use. Here's a real estate business letter template that you can download and use. Take Advantage of Direct Mail Marketing 6. In 2016 and 2017, Rons team closed 533 and 470 transactions, respectively, without following the conventional sales advice. Getting permission to add people to your list is important, but there are other ways you can make the askwithout straight-up asking. RELATED BLOGSNewsletters - Turning Cheese into SOUL(Part 1)Newsletters - Turning Cheese into SOUL (Part 2)Newsletters - the Difference Between "Meaningful" and "Interesting". It wont be like that for long. Love your ideas and thanks for the inspiration. The one significant advantage to email is that it's much easier for your audience to respond to you personally (they just have to hit REPLY!) There is a fine line between flaunting and genuine and it looks like your E-mail was very genuine! When you decide on a CRM, make sure it has the customizable Listing E-Alert capability. Pro Tip: Star or highlight the people in your SOI who you know are the most influential ones. You may be under the impression that phone calls are an annoyance. This is one of the easiest ways that you can dramatically expand your sphere of influence. I've written about this concept once or twice or a dozen times - see the list below for related blogs. Many agents will send client appreciation gifts anything from bath salts to lottery tickets to gift cards, etc., just to say thank you and stay top-of-mind. Learn more at AgentDominator.com, Getting more referrals with the $500 Certificate letter, Postcards drive seller leads to your open house. Mr. Icenhower is the CEO of Keller Williams Realty Kansas City North, an attorney, a real estate broker, real estate litigation expert witness, and a frequently published real estate author. This takes some time. In real estate, being active and engaged as a friend is being active and engaged as a business owner. For many, leads are drying up a bit, so you may be feeling a little stuck. It's been way too long since we've seen each other. I have often felt that emails that are being promoted for you to send to your sphere by the Brokerages are to "Spamish", while yours is not. Many agents stay surface level and dont think about the personal touches or special things they can reach out to people in their sphere for. Almost every CRM has a Listing E-Alert tool now. If you are a seasoned real estate agent, then you know who is most impressed by your work. These letters are a 180 degree turn away from the old "Here I am, help me get more clients" style What do you love about it? This letter will be particularly appealing for potential clients who don't already have a go-to agent for their questions. For example, if you see that someone in your sphere of influence has recently adopted a dog, make sure you congratulate them on that adoption. All because of one fundamental business driver: Authenticity. You are in communication again, and if you continue to stay in contact with them going forward, you will grow your sphere of influence. And if youre still hesitating to reach for the phone, consider this: In our post-2020 world, the real-time, personal connection available by phone may be preferred over the convenience of email.. If you know anyone whos thinking about buying or selling a home and you get an opportunity to refer me, I would greatly appreciate any real estate referrals and thank you., Thats an example of the real estate letters you might send to previous clients. One of those things is the YAY-ME letter. You make an impression and brand yourself into their head. By adding a signup link to your email signature, you can easily expand your list even when sending emails for other purposes. They build their spheres of influence through charity and service rather than passing out business cards.. Just make sure you ask for permission first (theres nothing more annoying than getting an email you dont remember signing up for, right?). This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. I can see on social media that you are doing quite a bit of traveling and having a great time. Working your real estate sphere of influence takes far more time than money, at least in the beginning. Do you know anyone who might be thinking of purchasing a home in the future? At least if you sold them a house, you will for sure have their mailing address! Put yourself in your contacts shoes. It's a fabulous opportunity to very subtly remind your sphere that you're competent and confident AND give them a chance to congratulate you on whatever it is you're telling them about which can open up the door to conversations! Do your prospects know? Michael Montgomery of Rev Real Estate School. : ). If you choose to implement AI, you may need to upgrade a pay a small fee through your CRM. No need to respond - we are just huge on referrals so if anyone comes up, we are always happy to help. Do you have something you could YAY-ME about to your sphere? Assuming youve already let your sphere know youre in the real estate game, heres a quick, friendly template to help get them on your email list. Thanks for shring this Yah-me. Most email marketing programs have a phone app as well, so you can get these important updates to your phone as you track the reception of your newsletter. Once you're under Audiences, you can edit "Audience Details" to suit your preferences, narrowing items such as age, location, and even interests. It is a beautiful cherry wood plaque that reads: In Appreciation and Recognition Of Your Outstanding Performance and Achievements In The RE/MAX Organization. Listing E-Alerts can also be referred to as Search Updates or Auto-Prospecting. It is such a surprise when someone takes the time to send a note that is personal. That is why it is important for you to pay close attention to your sphere of influence real estate agent. Love it or hate it, email cannot be ignored. Start with your past clients because these are people you just sold a house to. Still not sure how to write it? (Were talking multiple millions in volume.). Out of 30+ agents in my office, I was one of only 9 to receive this honor! They also might get your name introduced to new people, because some of those letters contain the kind of information that people enjoy sharing over coffee or cocktails. Because, without you putting your faith and trust in me last yearwell, I wouldn't be writing this email at all! Since some agents have been in the biz for awhile, maybe we can call it "A Prospecting Letter." If you demonstrate that you are an expert in the local area, you will have an easier time converting your clients. ), And lets face it. I think I would prefer that over an e-mail. They may even have some great content ideas. In that survey, they have always shown between 78 and 82 percent of all people that purchase a residential home use an agent that they know or that someone they know referred to them. If you are taking a look at the current real estate market, you will quickly realize that we are living in unprecedented times. They better like it, or youre going to get blocked! Beautiful. Excellent letter, of course, Marte! I'm so not into the self praise thing but see so many excellent examples of how to do it right. Remind your sellers about something you did that added a lot of value for them. You can also see what specific links the recipient clicked. All that I need from you is to verify that I have the correct home address and email address for you. This is actually not going to be helpful because you are not going to remember anything beyond what is on those cards. Instead of posting about politics or another crazy cat video, take a minute to share a story about a recent win or revelation in your real estate business. Brian is also the creator of www.TheRealEstateTrainer.com, a website that provides real training material for real estate brokers managers and other industry leaders. But a good rule of thumb when youre first getting started with contacting your SOI is to list your contacts according to how you know the person. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); PROGRESSIVE TRAINING FOR REAL ESTATE AGENTS AND TEAMS. Sending out a regular newsletter with helpful tips on how to make simple upgrades to the home, news from the local market, etc. A good CRM must have an IDX feed to your local MLS. (One of my recent clients almost got badly burned by an inflated zestimate!). In real estate, you have to develop a strong relationship with the buyer or seller. Sphere of Influence: Definition and Example Written by: Andrew Helling Last updated: November 3, 2022 In the real estate industry that utilizes word of mouth marketing, an agent's Sphere of Influence is extremely important. You can count onme to provide up-to-date information, honest answers, dependable communication, and total support and I promise not to be pushy. A few common questions people ask include: Your sphere of influence our first to everyone who is in your network, personal and professional, who values your opinion. That said, the fact of the matter is that our SOI is where its at. It can be easy to make mistakes along the way, but with the right mindset and a willingness to, Read More What I Would Do If I Started My Real Estate Business Over AgainContinue, As a real estate agent, finding new leads and potential clients is an essential part of your job. Yours was the best ! Go to your business page and click at the top where it says "Ad Center.". Brian Icenhower, Esq, BS, JD, CRB, CRS, GRI, ABR is a nationally recognized real estate trainer, speaker and coach. Happy Anniversary to ME! It's so great to get off on the right foot - this letter would do it. In 2012 he shifted his focus to work exclusively with real estate agents, helping them dominate listings in geographic farming, past clients, and commercial properties. The bulk of our business comes from referrals so wed really appreciate it if youd keep us in mind. How to Nurture Your SOI (+ Free Templates! People in your sphere include your friends, family, former clients, and their second-order contacts. It posts your ad and provides a messenger link for the recipients so they can message you directly. And in this case, that brand is you. Why not get deep once in a while? As a member of the(name)Multiple Listing Service, I now have access to information about homes for sale and sold, average prices, and market trends in(name the area your MLS covers). Now the client is expecting Jasons call and will be much more likely to have a referral ready. Take Advantage of Direct Mail Marketing, Frequently Asked Questions About the Sphere of Influence, Use networking to help you improve your sphere of influence and real estate referrals, Use social media to help you build a stronger sphere of influence and boost real estate sales, Prioritize your time with your followers to build your real estate business, Take advantage of local news publications to boost your real estate career, Use events to help you grow your sphere as a Realtor. 2. Real Estate Letter, New Year Letter, Seller Prospecting Letter, Real Estate Templates, Real Estate Marketing, Realtor Letter, Farming Letter ElevatedAgent (1,531) $5.00 Textable Christmas Card, Real Estate Client Holiday Card, Digital Holiday Card, Real Estate Marketing, Winter Card | INSTANT CANVA DOWNLOAD AgentsAssemble (482) $4.00 Given that the vast majority of people in the younger generation are looking for a house to help themmake room for their pets, this is something that you may find yourself doing regularly. More than anything else, these real estate letters are a thank you with a request for real estate referrals. You may be hesitant to call them because you havent called them in so long. are great for staying top-of-mind. For most people, their home is their most valuable asset, and its also their biggest liability. forcing real estate professionals to pivot, people are more receptive to phone calls now since the COVID-19 crisis began, Brian Icenhowers 2023 Real Estate Market Predictions, Real Estate Broker Business Plan Template, Use This Real Estate Team Onboarding Checklist & Process, Introducing a Custom Real Estate Training Academy Built for Your Organization, Inman News Puts Spotlight On Brian Icenhower: Provide Value and Save Your Brokerage Or, Find a New Job., Instagram Story Ideas for Real Estate Agents. This traditional use of the Listing E-Alert tool is a great value add to your clients. When you send an email out, you can watch your results roll in. Why Is Growing Your SOI So Important for Real Estate Agents? saying thanks to those who have helped you attain success is a great way to foster more !! As a real estate agent, your sphere of influence (SOI) is made up of the people you are personally connected with who you have a reasonable chance of influencing with your real estate expertise. Thats the last time Im going to use that real estate agent.. You may have several lists of contacts lying around maybe you have an email newsletter list, a contact list in your phone, and your CRM database. By properly using Listing E-Alerts, along with these real estate email templates, you will have an easy channel of communication with your SOI. Where you make your list will depend on where you are in your business. If you take a look at the market at this time last year, you will quickly realize that nothing lasts forever. Hello Marte, love the letter and your post has been featured to the group: I like this approach, Marte. (MAKE SURE your contact deets are in your profile!). Be clear that you have no agenda. They already know you. Love it Jennifer. You can get his full briefing in this video. Once you begin making sales, add each of those clients to your database in a different folder, so you can keep past clients and your sphere separate. and current clients your sphere of influence and your prospects 18 real estate letter templates in pdf google docs word web free download here is a well And conversations with the people we know can lead to all sorts of wonderful things. Heres how to do it, The BEST real estate postcards to generate seller leads: Part 1 home valuation approach, Powerful, easy touches for sphere of influence and past client Part 2 refrigerator clip, The TOP 7 low-cost ways to find seller leads with geographic farming, P143 The 4 BIGGEST drivers in getting listings in the cold market Part 1. Its one of the easiest ways to get your database engaged again. But how many agents actually take that advice? Obviously, you cant talk about connecting with people without talking about social media and each social media network has its own merits. If it helps you to have a framework, follow these easy-to-remember steps from Dr. Lee Davenport to help build rapport when you C-A-L-L someone in your sphere: Following these steps will help show you care while also subtly establishing you as a trusted real estate professional that your connections can count on. Once you get to know them a little better, you can break it down even more into Buyer and Seller Prospects. Send out mailers to your sphere, or use a specialized advertising tool, like Adwerx to increase your online visibility with this particular group. Now that we are living in more uncertain times, we are presented with an opportunity to reopen the line of communication between ourselves and our sphere of influence contacts.