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4 Ways To Network For Business

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Creative Commons License photo credit: Azhure

Blog along with me, the best is yet to be!

My cousin, a real estate agent has been complaining non-stop that she has had only one sale in the last six months.

Well, what have you tried to stimulate business, I asked?

She replied that they had done some mailers that didn’t receive any response.

As a direct marketer, I know that is really tough to accomplish… receiving absolutely no response to a mailer. I’ve been doing mailings for our clients for decades and if the mail actually leaves the post office, someone will respond. Guaranteed.

I decided not to got there. I’ve already sent her copies of my book, Sold! Direct Marketing for the Real Estate Pro… and she is still mailing postcards, and hasn’t tested the “tried and true” letter I advised her to mail.

I also asked her if she’d write her copy like she speaks… in a conversational way. No luck.

So I decided to try some other ideas.

How about trying something new, I asked? Silence.

I suggested that she go and sign up for a few of my real favorites:

1. Sign up for Active Rain. You can write your bio on there (make sure to link your website), upload your photo, and write up something about yourself. Then write a post, and then simply check off the boxes where you want it posted. It might look daunting at first, and the more you visit there, the better you’ll like it.

I met wonderful friends at this website, and they keep in touch with me, and invited me to speak at their companies and tell me about new things their learning about marketing internationally, and so much more. It is a user friendly place to go and just comment on other people’s blog posts.

2. The second place I recommend is LinkedIn . It is a business website, where you can find and connect with business associates. Invite them to “link” in with you. You can then see who their contacts are and see if you want to be introduced to those people. It is a great way to network without having to go to an event. You can network with others in your own home office in your pajamas, if you like.

I’ve made my best associates on Linked in by going to the Answers section and posting answers to other people’s questions. I have also asked some of my own and gotten some great responses.

So, when someone awful hijacked my website, and I was “crazed” about what to do, I emailed my contacts and sent out an open question, and the whole problem way quickly resolved with the help of my friends there.

3. I’ve also been trying Plaxo, and it is another professional site that includes some interesting groups in my area, marketing.

4. Then there’s the best new real estate marketing blog… Real Estate Relish. I hope you’ll participate here. Leave your comments and I’ll respond to you. If you have written something that will help people with the joy of real estate marketing, send it to me, and I might offer it here too. Make sure to add your website in the comment field… you’ll get a link that way.

That way, we’ll make beautiful traffic together. You will get some leads from other agents and hopefully, everyone will win!

2 Comments on “4 Ways To Network For Business”

  1. #1 Tyler Webb
    on Dec 8th, 2008 at 7:05 pm

    Lois,

    I am a recent student of your thoughts on direct marketing. I am a retired attorney now affiliated with Champion Realty as an Associate Broker. I am going to contact attorneys in our market who specialize in Family Law and Estates & Trusts. The goal is to establish a working relationship when they have clients who need to sell or purchase residential real estate. I thought I would write a letter and have my assistant follow up to schedule an appointment to discuss how I can bring value to the attorney’s practice. Any thoughts on the idea, the letter or the method of follow up?

    Tyler

  2. #2 Lisa
    on Dec 15th, 2008 at 9:19 pm

    By the way, I found you on delicious.com

    ActiveRain is a FABULOUS place for ideas, maybe not for leads from other agents as much as it is for ways to change how you think. And to keep in touch with what is really happening in RE.

    Personally, I am on Facebook - but am still trying to figure out how to use it for business.

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