Realtor.org stats
Interesting information. Not just applicable to buyers’ agents, but to agents as a whole, but it makes you wonder. The conclusion was this: 66% would use the same agent again and refer them to a friend who was moving.
2/3 is a large number, particularly if they will refer, because it opens up an agent’s business hugely.
Here is something interesting that I was thinking of, though. Yesterday, I had wanted to email a friend of mine who was working at a different brokerage. I Googled her name in combination with her brokerage: found NOTHING. I looked on Facebook and twitter, although I didn’t expect to find her there and I was right. I finally found her on LinkedIn without a profile, so to speak- although her email address was there.
So I will be able to get in touch with her, and I will. The question is this: would I have spent that much effort, as a consumer, to reach this agent? Even if I really liked the job that she did if I had not found her right off the bat I would have assumed that she was no longer in business and not bothered looking.
It is important to run your name through Google, Yahoo, and Bing searches. For the fun of it, I checked a misspelling of my name, because the last name difficult. I really feel like changing it to Diane RealEstate or something, but I am active enough in the social space so that even with a misspelling, Google autocorrected and found me in ActiveRain and on the community that I cofounded- the TwitterQueens:
Diane "Geurcio"
I know as long as they have some sort of idea what my name is- or my social media nickname HeyAmaretto- people can find me. In fact, if you search “Diane Amaretto,” which some people call me, the first result on Google is this blog’s address, with my name and the correct spelling right there.
Diane Amaretto
So this is kind of funny- but what does it mean to you? Whether you want to be known in the social media world or in the three-dimensional world around you, you have to make a plan and be there. And track where your leads come from so if you notice a drop-off, you can address the issue.
The point is: if the 2/3 or 3/4 of the clients that you have done business with can’t find you, it makes no difference how much they love you. They won’t use you again, and they can’t refer you. Let your past clients help you build your business.
