Although you may work predominantly alone in your real estate business, if you are lucky enough to have someone around you who is a real goal setter and a great achiever, especially within your industry, then it’s a great way to see if some of that success can rub off on you.  Have you ever noticed that those agents who seem to be doing really well and who consistently hit their targets seem to spend time with other successful agents? This is because success attracts success and people are also attracted to those who are similar to themselves.

It’s so important to surround yourself with successful people and if you are trying to work your way up through the ranks, it’s a good idea to consider who your closest friends are to see whether you are attracting those who are similar to you or are spending time with those who are real achievers. Whilst this isn’t set in stone, it’s a good exercise in equating those who are going to make it in life and those who don’t. When you start analysing the success rate of those around you, you can quickly see that those who are likely to make it in their chosen career and what their strategies for success are.

Out of those friends closest to you, can you identify their successes as well as their limitations? Do you have friends for example who work incredibly hard but never ultimately achieve their full potential? What are they doing that stops them from going that step further? Are they talented, knowledgeable and creative in their approach? Or do they lack confidence in their own abilities and expect the worst to happen? You can then also analyse your own potential for success and if you are being overlooked or are failing to hit your targets, what are you doing wrong? Sometimes it’s all about the technique, finding the right formulae for success and then delivering.

A great way for you to find and mingle with successful people is by checking out real estate networking events or seminars. Attending powerful training sessions with success hungry agents will certainly not fail to inspire you and you will be able to learn so much.

Goal setting has to be an important part of real estate because it’s all about you and how you can achieve your own personal targets, but it can be difficult to know how to choose the right networking groups so that you can glean their methods for success. If you wish to make a $100,000 a year then, it makes sense to spend time with those who are achievers and who already have raised their game and, who have experienced the same journey that you are now trying to make.

When you attend networking groups, you may find that you instinctively feel comfortable with those at your own level and whilst it’s great to meet people who are currently experiencing the same problems, ideally, you do need to speak to those who have been more successful because how else will you learn?

You might be wondering why those who are at the top of their game would want you around but it’s important to not feel like this. Often those top agents are more than happy to spend time with someone who is not so prolific or successful because it can make their own achievements stand out. This might sound a little black and white and obviously doesn’t take into account, personalities and rapport building but you get what I mean. Never be afraid to soar to success and utilise the skills of those around you. Before you know it, you will be one of those top providers and many ‘newbies’ on their own personal journey to success will be seeking you out to network with.

The first thing that you need to think about is which areas you wish to work upon in the first instance. You need to decide and prioritise those most important areas of work for example: Perhaps you are not confident in your communication skills or find cold calling difficult, these are exactly the areas that affirmations can help you with.

One mistake that people tend to make is that they write their affirmations in a ‘wishy washy’ way. You cannot choose affirmations that are impossible to achieve or that do not state in a very clear and defined way the desired outcome. There is no point for example stating that you would like to earn 2 million dollars within six months. It is highly unlikely that you would do so and without having a plan of action, it is doomed to failure.

It’s a good idea to create a list of all of the areas of improvement that you feel you would like to work on. Highlight just a few of those on the list to start with and write some affirmations that will start helping you to be able to achieve these goals. If you wish to improve your ability to handle difficult clients you could write something like:

I am in control and will communicate in a professional and firm manner

Or

I will sound confident, calm and in control

The idea with affirmations is that you have to not just create a statement but ensure that it is a bold and positive statement and tailored to your needs. You wouldn’t write a statement so that it says ‘I would like to sound confident, calm and in control’ because it immediately lessens the impact. Your statement has to mean something to you and to be dynamic and concise. Once you have written your affirmation, you then need to practice reading it aloud. Reading affirmations out loud can really add impact to the message that you are trying to convey. Remember to say specific words with extra conviction such ‘I am’ because this needs to resonate with you on a deeper level. It’s a good idea to say your affirmations every morning and every evening but you can do them at other times of the day too.

For example, if you were worried about sounding confident to any particular client who perhaps you find it difficult to gel with, you could repeat your affirmations before you meet your client and it can really work in your favour, especially when you start feeling and believing it.

Affirmations may sound simple and even a little far-fetched but if you commit yourself to writing targeted statements which represent the areas of development that you need the most, then you will find in a short space of time, often as little as a week, that they are really starting to work for you. The great thing about affirmations is that you can tweak them to meet any developing needs and they can be used to increase your self-esteem and confidence or simply to boost motivation.

The key to their success however is how you say them and it is important to emphasise the message and mean every single word, do it correctly and they can really help to boost your real estate role.

Let’s be honest.  Technology is a part of life nowadays and social media is huge. It’s far more than simply connecting with family and friends although, in real estate terms, that’s not a bad starting point because if you did but know it, there may be many of your contacts who are thinking about buying or selling a property.

Did you know that facebook has over 200 million users? And these are just the active ones, more join all the time so if you are not on there, you really are missing out on the opportunity to be able to reach out to the masses.

The difficulty with Facebook is that you have to be careful to not constantly bombard people i.e. your contacts with masses of adverts. Remember that Facebook really was set up for personal use but so many people – including Facebook themselves have recognised the potential in terms of business and marketing. A never ending stream of property listings might be a little irritating for some so do make sure that you intersperse your property listing status with personal and friendly other status messages. Just be careful that you always ensure that you are completely professional with any status message too and you will soon see what I mean about this when you start reading the messages published by others. You have to remember that you need people to have a good opinion of you and of your profession. Real Estate is your career and not just a job so others must associate this with you and also feel respectful towards you. Unfortunately many professional people have been known to forget about this.

Ideally, you want to go one step further and to create a Facebook page that will really represent your real estate business and this at least keeps the business side of things predominantly separate from your personal Facebook page. Don’t just create one and then leave it however. It’s vital that you remember to update it regularly and post lots of new listings. Those who are interested in real estate will certainly be sure to keep coming back to visit.

Facebook is a perfect vehicle for real estate and it’s easy to upload photos but if you are considering uploading photos of properties that are on your books, it’s vital that they are professional looking images. No quick snapshots or mobile phone uploads.

Video is an excellent marketing resource and it’s one that many people overlook. Photos are fantastic but video can offer people a completely different perspective. You can be a little creative too because visual imagery can really help to sell a property. Why not consider taking some footage of inside the house (it doesn’t have to be the whole house instead focus on specific features) and you can even have the seller making an appearance or have a voice-over that states some of the benefits of the property. Not every seller is going to wish to have an active role in a video and that’s okay. You can simply arrange to interview them and have the main bullet points appear throughout the video.

You can very easily link your Facebook pages to other social media resources such as Twitter and of course, YouTube. Videos are picked up nicely by search engines such as Google, which increases the potential for you to sell the properties on your lists. Don’t forget to connect your Facebook pages to your business website too and you will soon start generating mass interest.

If this seems a bit harsh considering that the less communicative real estate agent may well have a great deal more experience in the field to draw upon, it’s important to understand that if any real estate agent has the ability to reach out and to talk to people and to gain their trust within a few minutes of meeting, this is the real estate agent that is likely to go far.

Good communication skills are vital within the real estate industry and if yours are a little below par, then it’s paramount that you brush up on them and learn to communicate with the best, otherwise you are always likely to miss out on some top deals.

Never try to blind with real estate science. When you are talking to potential clients and desperately trying to get them onside, don’t be tempted to make the buying and selling process seem more complicated than it is. Sure things can go wrong during the process, but a client is likely to want to sign up with an agent who says it like it is and who is believable and who has integrity.  If you try to bluff the complexities and make yourself sound important, you could just lose out on the whole deal.

Importantly, you need to know how to gain information from your client’s. Never assume what they can or can’t afford. Many a real estate agent has made the mistake of assuming that finances are tight by looking at the client’s current property or even how they dress and this doesn’t always mean what you might think. Plus a client may say one thing but deep down, they mean something else, it’s your job to source the correct information and then work with that.

Many real estate agents focus on the end sale. They consider that their job is practically done once someone has agreed to buy or sell, but a little customer service from start to finish goes a long, long way. Some client’s will need a little hand-holding or simply, need questions answered. Don’t forget that until the final moment when contracts are signed, there is a lot that can still go wrong. Don’t lose a sale or let a client lose faith in your abilities by simply mentally moving on. You support the whole process and check that the client is happy throughout.

If you are fairly new to the real estate industry then don’t forget that you are building a brand and that brand is you. Integrity, commitment, dedication and enthusiasm are four key characteristics that you need to have in abundance. If you don’t have them already, you need to adopt them quickly and then absorb these characteristics until they well and truly become your own.

Remember that people are what makes the real estate role so unpredictable and yet so interesting too. Houses are important and interesting in terms of architecture or design of course, but the interaction with people adds an interesting slant to it. What approach works with one may not work with another so be prepared to be flexible. If you can improve your people skills overall, you will find that you approach difficult situations with greater confidence.

You can make your real estate role as difficult or as easy as you like. It’s all about how you approach it and your clients.

Twitter is a very simple social media site. Its simplicity makes it effective and it’s fun to use, many people find writing their ‘tweets’ strangely compelling.  Twitter is a micro blogging social media platform and when you start tweeting (the name given to status messages) you are effectively answering the question ‘what are you doing?’ Of course, Twitter is used a whole lot more than that but that was its initial concept and it’s a whole community –worldwide making conversation.

If you are yet to set up your Twitter account, it’s very simple, just click on the ‘join’ button, choose a user name and a password and that’s it.  I would be very careful as to the username that you choose simply because it needs to reflect you and your business. If your name is unusual, it will naturally stay in people’s minds but you can always add the terms Real Estate after your name and this will immediately ensure that others know what you are about.  Set up your public profile which includes your name, your location and links to your website and you can be sure that there will be those who go across to check you out. Add a good photo to your profile so that people can start forging connections and know what you look like. It’s possible to add a background photo to your Twitter page and really personalise it.

The idea then is that you build up lists of contacts, ideally those who have something in common with you which could be others who are in the same line of business but you need to be able to reach out across the globe to anyone who might be interested in movement on the property ladder.

It’s easy to add Twitter to your cell/mobile phone too so that you can reply to any direct messages or send out details of new properties immediately they come onto your list, so it really is a case of real estate on the go.

The great thing about Twitter is that it is so easy to write great tweets and because you are limited to only 140 characters, you have to just state what you mean. Don’t just think you need to go and sell, sell, sell. It’s important that you build proper connections with people and allow them to see the real you. This is a powerful way to do more business than if you just reeled off tweet after tweet about real estate.  It has to be a balance act between being personable and being professional. Primarily, you are interested in networking but allow others to see that you are human and interested in what they have to say too.

Any tweets that you find particularly interesting. consider using the re-tweet function button and this then shares their words with your own followers. It also gets you into communication with the people who re-tweet your messages and this is how social interaction works best.

You can also add photos and video to your tweets and this is a hugely powerful visual selling aid. So if you have some exciting properties on your books get out there and take some photos or if you are feeling really creative, take a video which portrays the best aspects of the property and then upload it to your twitter account.

Social media is a very powerful aid and if you link all of your social media accounts, you will find it easier to keep up to date with submitting carefully chosen status messages and yet will be able to reach thousands if not millions of people, if enough people re-tweet or use the like and share button for example on Facebook.

If you want to be credible, you need to have a website that can speak for you in your absence. It’s great talking face to face and networking but when it’s out of hours, your website is your connection to the masses. So when people visit your website, it needs to represent you.

Assuming that you have a website, can you honestly say hand on heart that it is easy to navigate? Is it informative and accurate? Is it filled with information that has been created specifically to help your potential clients? If you were thinking about buying or selling a property and you visited your website, would it be easy for you to find the information that you need? If not, then you need to make sure that changes are made because instead of being credible, you’ll be thought of in a very different light.

Don’t forget that people are bombarded with information about the real estate market and a lot of it is confusing for them. Don’t let them have that experience with you. As the voice of real estate, you need to be able to motivate those who might be fearful of change, calm those who are struggling with their sale and make it easy for those who wish to buy a second property. You are their trusted advisor, the person who can guide them through all of the hype and the real estate red tape.

You need to tell people just what you can do for them and this includes why they should choose you and what makes you stand head and shoulders above the rest. Talking about your abilities and achievements may not come naturally to you, so practice discussing the benefits of their choosing you so that any statements come across naturally.

It’s good to have the confidence to chat about your triumphs, but it’s better if you can show them evidence. Have some case histories and testimonials ready because supporting evidence can make all the difference.

Any literature that you have and this includes website copy, must speak out to the client. It must address them personally and not just be about how great you are. It’s more a case of what you can do for them. They need to know that you are the expert in the field, but they also need to see that you really understand just how they are feeling and what they are going through.

Real estate might seem a straight forward career to many, you aid people when they wish to buy and sell a house. But real estate is far more complex than people might give you credit, and, your skill-set needs to be comprehensive if you wish to compete against other agents in your local area. This means that you need to keep up with the current trends including local ones. You need to ensure that your sales techniques are kept up together and that you consistently work on your communication skills.

Never forget that people will judge you not just on what you can do for them but on how you act, how you think and what you say. So always, always ensure that people will judge you in a positive manner and that you come across as a credible, professional and dedicated real estate agent at all times.

It’s been tried and tested on real estate websites. Those that have good photos get the most views. If you are not convinced of this, then why not try it yourself? When you go to visit potential sellers homes, take along some sample photos of other properties that you have sold and explain what you could do in terms of their property if they decide to go along with you.

Of course, it’s important that this type of discussion take place with all concerned and that it is a two way street, because they may have ideas about how you will represent their house too but one great selling point on your behalf is that they will have some incredible photos to support the sale. By specializing in this area, you have a chance to secure more properties to your list.

Quality photos speak reams about the real estate agent and the properties that you are trying to sell, so you need to ensure that your photography skills are second to none. If you enjoy photography and you know the real estate industry inside and out, you will understand just how important it is to have quality photos as part of your industry branding so never skimp on quality.

When you go to view a property, you need to discuss with your clients the type of pictures that you are going to take and also, subtly suggest the best angle for the photos which may mean that they have a little bit of tidying or redecorating to do. You may need to suggest with them that they make the changes prior to you taking the photos.

This isn’t you dictating to them; rather it’s a case of trying to guide them so that their house sells in a timely manner. But of course, it is down to them whether they do the required jobs, all that you can do is to advise.

Assuming that you have set a date with your new clients, take a good quality digital camera with you and choose the rooms inside the house that you will photograph. You don’t need to photograph every room but a house listing with few photos or none at all, speaks volumes.  With a digital camera you can at least take unlimited photos of each room and then afterwards, you can take some time to select the best shots. Choose rooms that have an abundance of good natural light too and try for some different angles, trying to ensure that the rooms look larger and as light and airy as possible.

To take good photos, you need to invest in a tripod. Without it, your photo will look shaky and unprofessional. Your photos must be clear and in focus. Don’t rush the process of getting a good photo; try to see the room through the eyes of any perspective purchaser. Your photos work to get them to view the property, your sales technique on the viewing will enable them to see the true qualities of the property and the potential.

Your photos if you like form the introduction to the house’s story. It’s the opening section that has to hook them immediately. If the house has wonderful and distinctive windows, ensure that the photos capture this element. If the house has a loft conversion that adds real character to the property, then ensure that a photo that captures the element of the property is taken. Your sales copy on the ad then continues the story, making the house and its potential come alive in the minds of those interested.  Real estate is about selling the whole package and opening up the possibilities to any property to those who are in a position to buy, so don’t waste any opportunity to hook and sale.

Your copy, the text, is all-important. In theory, longer copy is better simply because it has a great deal of information that can tantalise and intrigue the reader. It has to be written in an easy to read style though. Break up large amounts of copy so that it does not become off-putting. Use sub-headlines, paragraph breaks and for any important aspects, use bullet points to add a dynamic edge.  Don’t try to cram too much information into your ad or squeeze a few extra sentences into any spare space. It must read well.

It is imperative that you use high quality pictures, and your photos must support the actual ad copy. In real estate, photos are vital because the reader is going to be drawn into the ad because the picture is compelling. Remember to ensure that the photos show the house  with uncluttered rooms and with plenty of space.

To be able to ensure that you write excellent and powerful ad copy, rather than rushing into the writing, it’s easier to make a complete list of the positive characteristics. You can do this with the actual seller of the house. Don’t be scared to ask them why they enjoy living in the house, how long have they lived there? Discuss the public transport and whether the house owns a great view. Consider all of the features of the property and create a long list of potential selling points and create as many unique points as possible.

Focus initially on the headline and find the characteristic, the angle that will reach out and grab the readers and make them want to know more. The angle that you are looking for is an absolute benefit that someone would get should they decide to buy the house. It has to be a benefit of ownership and not just because there is a beautiful river on the other side of the road for example.

Once you are happy with your headline, it’s time to write the rest of your ad. You need to approach your ad as if you were detailing the history of the house and reaching out with a strong story to the reader. You need to hook the reader by telling them that they have to see the house to believe it and after all, this is true.  What will the new buyer gain by buying the house? Always write your ad through the eyes of the reader.

Your photos have to be vivid and compelling too. Choose wisely. Make sure that your photo compliments the ad copy and vice versa because your ad must make the readers be able to visualize themselves in this room. Finally, close your ad by telling the reader what they need to do if they really want to learn more about the property and how they can get in touch with you if they wish to do a viewing.

Writing good ad copy is never easy but it does get easier with practice. It’s worth investing in the time to make your ads completely powerful and targeted so that they aid the property sale quickly and efficiently. Once you have cracked ad writing, your sales figures will go up dramatically.