If you’re a real estate agent, it’s essential to build your sphere of influence. This means creating a web of people who know and trust you and who are likely to recommend your services to others. There are many ways to do this, but here are some easy tips that can help get you started.
What is an SOI?
A sphere of influence (SOI) is a group of people you have a relationship with and who are likely to refer business to you. Ideally, your SOI should be made up of past clients, referrals, friends, family, and other business professionals. These are the people who are most likely to recommend your services to others or refer new businesses your way.
They are also the people who can help you grow your business by providing valuable feedback, introductions, and referrals.
How to Build Your SOI
There are several ways to build your sphere of influence. Here are some tips:
Start with Your Existing Sphere of Influence
Your existing sphere of influence is a great place to start. Start by reaching out to your past clients, referrals, and friends. Let them know what you’re up to and ask for their support.
You can also get your sphere of influence from your Facebook friends or followers on other social media platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn. They can also be people you’ve met through networking events or business associations.
You could also create your sphere of influence through emil contacts from previous jobs and college.
Ask for Referrals on Social Media
Social media is a great way to reach out to your sphere of influence and ask for referrals. You can post a status update or put up a photo asking people to recommend your services. As you get more referrals, make sure to thank your followers for their support.
Partner with Other Businesses
One of the best ways to grow your sphere of influence is to partner with other businesses. This could be businesses in complementary industries or companies that serve the same market as you. For example, if you’re a real estate agent, you could partner with a mortgage broker, home inspector, or contractor.
Partnering with other businesses gives you access to their sphere of influence, and it also allows you to promote your services to their customers. It’s a win-win situation for both businesses.
Host an Event
Hosting an event is a great way to meet new people and grow your sphere of influence. You could host a networking event, an open house, or a seminar. This is an excellent opportunity to meet new people and show them what you’re all about.
You could also use this opportunity to promote your business and ask people for referrals. To make the most our of the event, make sure to follow up with the people you meet.
Attend Various Networking Events
Attending networking events is a great way to meet new people and grow your sphere of influence. You can attend events for your industry or other industries. You can also participate in events for business associations or special interest groups.
The more networking events you attend, the more opportunities you’ll have to meet new people and grow your sphere of influence. Such events are also great opportunities to promote your business.
Find a Neighborhood and Start Mailing Postcards
One of the best ways to grow your sphere of influence is to find a neighborhood and start mailing postcards for real estate. You could target a specific neighborhood or zip code. You could also target a particular type of home, like luxury homes or beachfront homes.
Start by mailing postcards with a brief introduction about yourself and your services. Then, include market updates or automated home valuations on your postcards. You can also include special offers or discounts on your postcards. The key is to stay in touch with your sphere of influence and keep them updated on your business.
Look for Leads Online
There are several websites where you can find leads for your business. These websites include real estate portals, classifieds, and lead generation websites.
You can also use Google AdWords to find leads for your business. You can target people looking for real estate services or people who have recently searched for terms related to real estate.
Keys to Consistently staying in Contact with SOI
To stay in touch with your sphere of influence, you need to be consistent. Here are some tips:
Set a Schedule
The best way to stay in touch with your sphere of influence is to set a schedule. This could be a weekly or monthly email newsletter, a Facebook post every day, or an update on LinkedIn every week.
Whatever you do, make sure you’re consistent with it. That way, your sphere of influence will know what to expect, and they’ll be more likely to stay in touch with you.
Use Technology that Allows Mass Texting and Emails
There are a lot of great technologies out there that allow you to mass text and email your sphere of influence. This is a great way to stay in touch with many people without contacting each one individually.
Some of these technologies even allow you to automate your messages to set up a series of texts or emails and have them sent out regularly.
Make It Easy for People to Connect with You
Make it easy for people to connect with you by including your contact information on your marketing materials. This could be your business card, website, or social media profile.
It’s also a good idea to include a call to action on your marketing materials. For example, you could include a statement like “call me to learn more about my services.’
Send Emails and Post Cards
Another great way to stay in touch with your sphere of influence is to regularly send them emails and postcards. You can use these to update them on your business, share market information, or promote special offers.
It would be best to send the emails or postcards for realtors after gaining or closing a listing or transaction from a referral to show your appreciation. You can also use these communications to ask for referrals. For example, you could include a statement like, “if you know anyone looking for a real estate agent, please refer them to me.” As you send these emails, do not be too salesy, as you want to build trust and relationships.
Connect on Social Media
One of the best ways to stay in touch with your sphere of influence is to connect with them on social media. This gives you an excellent opportunity to share updates about your business and connect with them more personally.
You can also use social media to promote special offers or discounts. And , be sure to respond to comments and questions from your sphere of influence. This will help you build even stronger relationships with them
Conclusion
Building and maintaining a sphere of influence takes time and effort, but it’s worth it. These are just a few ways you can grow your sphere of influence. If you’re consistent with your efforts, you’ll see results.
Article by Born Realist