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January 2012
Index of all
messages
from the Association President
Start 2012 with a fresh attitude and a plan for your own success
By Nancy Griffin, AAR President
Starting the New Year with a new attitude is an industry must nowadays. Seems like every New Year's Eve we say goodbye to the past, good and bad, take a deep sigh, and hope for the best in the upcoming 365 days. With those deep breaths, we can feel rejuvenated and find a way to "wipe the slate clean," starting the New Year with much hope and promise.
Make it great
In that spirit, here are some great things to work on in the New Year to help you make 2012 a success.
Identify your marketing strategy's strengths and weaknesses. What worked and what didn't? Did you overextend yourself in dollars or in time? Did the activities match your skill set? Have you given your efforts enough time to start maturing? Is your budget holding you back on implementation? If so, brainstorm and refine your processes.
Improve your sales skills. Write down a list of the top areas where you feel you need improvement. The key to this activity is to look at yourself with a critical eye. Also look at the economic climate and the local market. If you feel more education is needed, then take some time and invest in yourself so you can speak more knowledgeably to client needs. If you can do this successfully you will enhance your self confidence.
Be realistic. Look at the demographics out there; if your market has changed (maybe to lower priced listings), then understand what price range you need to be selling and figure out what type of clients you need to target. Take the time to adjust your marketing strategy according to their preference.
Update yourself. If you haven't done it in awhile, update your picture, resumes, websites and marketing materials. Shocking the customer with a picture of 20 years ago is NOT a good thing. One of the advantages of a slowdown is the time to pay attention to these small but very important details.
Set goals. How many buyers and sellers do you need/want to work with and close to reach your desired income amount? Remember to include your personal percentage of deals that typically fall through and add that to your top number.
Upgrade technology. Decide which new technologies and hardware are worth buying and implementing in 2012. Possibly updating your website or creating an online presentation is worth doing. Maybe trying video marketing is something that interests you.
Manage your time. Implement a weekly schedule and stick to it. Include training, continuing education, marketing efforts, appointment times and yes, even time off – or, dare I say, VACATION time? Do it and you won't be mad or resentful when the time comes when you're out on the streets kicking butt!
We don't have to re-invent the wheel. Keeping it simple and real is the best way to go. Know your numbers: what you took in, what you spent. Understand your market and the type of people you have been working with. Get a grip on where you want to be both in income and actual time that you are willing to put forth to get there. If we can do these things, next year will not only be GREAT, but we will have the opportunity to build a solid and strong foundation for continued success in our industry.
Here's to you and a prosperous 2012!
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