Jeremy Williams
By Jeremy Williams
I recently found myself watching the Veggie Tales episode about the “Rumor Weed” with my 4-year-old daughter. As the Rumor Weed spread more untruths, sometimes only slightly bending the truth, the weed would grow. After watching this moral-based show directed at children, I wondered what type of environment do I live in on a daily basis; a pristine garden with flowers and plants or a field of out-of-control weeds?
If you’re in the field of out-of-control weeds, how do you seek resolution to your weed problem. First you have to determine what kills the weed. The only way to kill the weed is to get to the root. Removing the leaves or leveling the weed to ground level will not kill the weed, and often times will make your weed problem worse. Who are the weeds in your market center or in your life in general? How do you address your rumor weeds?
Step 1: Do not become plant food for the rumor weed. In other words, don’t get yourself into that mix. Avoid this at all cost, or you will soon be surrounded and choked by the weeds.
Step 2: If you’re in a leadership position, have a fierce conversation with your weed. Remember, killing a weed requires getting to the root. Determine who your weed is, schedule a time where you can meet with your weed with no distractions, and have that fierce conversation. This will more than likely be a confrontational conversation, but a necessary conversation to prevent your Veggie Tales rumor weed problem from growing. Before this conversation takes place, you might want to read Susan Scott’s Fierce Conversations. Continue reading »
Jeremy Williams
By Jeremy Williams
When meeting with one of our top-producing REALTORS® today, the topics covered made me think about how often both seasoned agents and new agents try to “wing it” when it comes to their businesses. Taking this approach can lead to undue stress and burnout if not addressed quickly. It can lead to the question, “Why am I doing this?” If you are experiencing these feelings, here are some steps to get you back on track.
1. Write down a list of all your weaknesses.
2. Sit down with your broker, manager or team leader to go over the list. Prioritize the list. Don’t expect to address all areas in which you are weak at one time. Take your top three-to-five areas in which you need improvement. Focus on items that are directly tied to the amount of time you are working and those items related to revenue generation. Examples: You need an assistant to leverage your time. Your database is not in order, and your follow-up with potential clients lacks as a result of not being organized.
3. Create a plan to address those issues.
4. Set realistic objectives and goals to overcome your highlighted weaknesses. Continue reading »
Jeremy Williams
By Jeremy Williams
It’s raining around here, but not raindrops. The sounds of complaining and worry are always in earshot when working in a real estate market that has softened and seen some additional challenges as a direct result of government policy and tightening financial markets. Sometimes it is a drizzles and other times it is a down pour. The raindrops always seem to gather in the same places forming nimbus clouds of doubt and complacency. Getting caught in one of these storms can just flat out ruin your day and potentially your career.
My recommendation is to carry with you an umbrella, in case you end up around conversations that lead to a chance of rain. Keep your head up and focus on the key component of your business; lead generation. Don’t get sucked into the updraft created by an impending storm.
How do you avoid the rain? Know your market statistics and factors influencing your business. Be able to convey this information to your home buyer and home seller clients. Be willing to have the tough conversations with your clients if needed and always be upfront and honest. Get ready to adapt your business to meet the current market. Just as a ship will typically sail around a looming storm, learn how to stay clear of those who have chosen to focus on what might be a challenging situation as opposed to the solution to the situation.
Avoidance of the rain is best and typically your gut will provide an accurate forecast, but just in case, make sure you pack your umbrella before heading out today. Also know that the rain to shall also pass. Have a great week in the business.
Jeremy Williams of Keller Williams Realty NE in Kingwood, Texas specializes in the residential real estate market of Kingwood, Atascocita, and Humble, Texas. Visit his Web site at www.williams4yourhome.com.
Jeremy Williams
By Jeremy Williams
In a series I am teaching on social media to a group of agents at the Keller Williams Realty NE office in Kingwood, Texas, I have emphasized that social media should just be one of many components in an agents tool kit for lead generation. With all the new social media sites online, it can be overwhelming and it is easy to slip into the mindset of “I must be on all social media sites.” Are you experiencing these feelings? Are you spending more time on social media sites than with people? Have you become an addict?
Here is a 12 step program for REALTORS® to remedy your situation:
1. We admit we are powerless over Facebook, Twitter, Linked, WordPress and YouTube – that our lives have become unmanageable after staying up until 2 in the morning to monitor status updates.
2. Came to believe a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity, including lead generating using more archaic methods such as dialing a phone number or shaking a real, “not virtual,” hand.
3. Made a decision to turn off our computers thus stop sharing our personal photos of us in bathing suits at the lake and return to sharing our experiences in person. Continue reading »
Jeremy Williams
By Jeremy Williams
Like all marketing in any business, especially as a practitioner working within a competitive market, your marketing must be effective. One of the most important factors in marketing, as a REALTOR(R), is visibility. It amazes me that so many agents have Twitter accounts, but they have not taken the time to advertise that they utilize Twitter on either their Web site or blog.
Twitter is a powerful social networking tool that can be used to communicate information relevant to listings, services offered or market information to real estate practitioners and the general public. Notice I have in the sidebar of my blog a widget with my Twitter feed (see http://ne-houston-real-estate.williams4yourhome.com). The Twitter feed on my blog serves two purposes. First, it notifies visitors to my blog that I have a Twitter account. If a visitor to my site clicked on anything within the feed, they would be taken to the Twitter site and if they have an account click to “follow.” Second, the Twitter feed showcases my latest Tweets with pertinent information tying back into my listings, services offered and market information. Twitter is a powerful marketing and networking tool if used properly. You might Google “Twitter etiquette” as that can be a whole separate topic.
Here is how to add a Twitter feed to your blog or Web site: Continue reading »
Jeremy Williams
By Jeremy Williams
I have heard other real estate practitioners say, “If you don’t take the listing, someone else will end up listing the home, selling it and making a commission.” I recently fell into that mindset and regretfully so. After months of actively marketing a property using both my time and money, the seller pulled their listing agreement saying that they just needed a new set of eyes. Despite my early reservations following the listing appointment, in the back of my mind I kept hearing take the listing or someone else will.
Upon termination of the listing agreement, frustration set in, but then clarity shortly followed. I realized I had spun my wheels marketing a property that just was not going to sell because the sellers’ expectations were unrealistic. Being upfront throughout the listing period, I let them know that several changes cosmetically needed to be done to make their home competitive with other homes in the market. I also let them know that the market required being priced correctly. The sellers did not believe that I knew what I was talking about. They held firm and did not pay attention to the feedback received by those that toured, the fact that no one submitted an offer after multiple showings, and for several showings stayed on sight as opposed to leaving, making the prospective buyers and their agents uncomfortable. I knew I was in trouble when I once made a suggestion early on and was called out as being ridiculous. Continue reading »
Jeremy Williams
By Jeremy Williams
Are you looking for a new way to drive traffic and generate leads? Are you working with a marketing budget that has been scaled back? What if I told you that you could do this for free with the exception of owning a computer, simple video building software and a YouTube account? While reading this blog post, feel free to reference my YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/williams4yourhome as an example.
For my business, I use Microsoft Movie Maker software to build my videos. With this software you can import both video and still photos. Microsoft Movie Maker also gives you the ability to add slides, including both title and credits. For the most part I used still pictures in my video and essentially create a slideshow. Using Microsoft Movie Maker, you also have the ability to add music to the video and transitions. Once the video/slideshow is built, the newest version of Microsoft Movie Maker has a button to submit the video to your YouTube site. Of course you will need to have your account established with YouTube prior to this step.
Once your file has been submitted to YouTube, you will want to edit the video by adding keywords to the title, a description including the keywords you used for the title, and tags that reflect both the keywords used in the title and the description. Using this keyword method will help your video be found in the search engines by potential customers. Continue reading »
Jeremy Williams
By Jeremy Williams
I spent one of my days last week both watching my son, whom was sick, and putting together an elliptical machine that I ordered by mail. The elliptical machine was a request of my wife, though somehow I think I will be using it more often after all the work-related lunches I visited last week. What I learned very quickly was that without an instruction manual showing me how I was going to build this complex cardio machine, I might as well just told the delivery guys to keep it on the truck. The instruction manual for the assembly of the elliptical machine acted as a road map. It started with a listing of all the parts and tools required to assemble the machine and ended with the completed product.
How many times do we try to operate without a road map? How many times do we drift from the “instruction manuals” created, including systems and modes of operation for our businesses? If I had not followed the instruction manual for the assembly of the elliptical machine, it would have been unsuccessful use of my time and energy. It may have even been dangerous.
Do you have goals? Do you utilize systems? Continue reading »
Jeremy Williams
By Jeremy Williams
“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and poverty will come to you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.” Proverbs 6:10-11
When you read these words initially, especially early in the morning without hot coffee flowing through your veins and ZZ Top blowing out your computer speakers, they may seem not so encouraging at first. You think to yourself, you are working harder than ever before in a market environment that has softened over the last couple of years. The results of your closed production are similar or less when compared to the previous year in which you worked less. It won’t hurt for you to take a little rest; kick back in your chair and take a break. Your tired and feeling beat down.
I believe the words from Proverbs warn us from becoming complacent in our businesses. Now is the time to take control and prosper from the hard work and long hours we put into our businesses on a daily basis. Now is the time to wake up from our slumber.
Remember the following things that should help in refocusing your mindset today.
1. The real estate market is cyclical. If you are in a down or soft market, what you do today will benefit you when the market makes an upswing. Continue reading »
Jeremy Williams
By Jeremy Williams
After receiving a multitude of sales calls this week from various vendors across the nation, I came up with the new phrase “hocus pocus focus.”
Normally I would hang up the phone with one of these sales representatives after politely saying that I am not interested at this time. But this week I listened to their pitches.
I define “hocus pocus focus” as the ability to conjure and disguise a service, with or without deception, that focuses on our desire as real estate pros to do more business. Who does not want more business? So our human nature to fulfill this desire can lead to making bad financial decisions in our businesses, when we already know in our gut that we are submitting to an illusion. The focus on meeting our needs to do more business is the hook these sales representatives focus on because they know it is hard to reject.
“Hocus Pocus Focus” is dangerous to real estate practitioners, so beware. Here are some things you should listen to very carefully when you are contacted by a sales representative wanting to sell you a service that will “grow your business.”
1. Name dropping: “So and so is using this product in your office and having amazing results.” A lot of these sales representatives work off lists so it is easy to drop a name. Ask the sales representative if you could get their name and number to get back to them after you have followed up with those that are “getting amazing results” from their product. Continue reading »
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