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Nothing inspires me more than a new year. It represents a fresh start and a reboot. While some hardly seem to notice, my energy is at full throttle because I see 52 weeks of new opportunities to celebrate success ahead. I get excited about new beginnings, fresh ideas, updates to marketing plans and promotional tools.
Prepare To Hit The Ground Running
When we are busy, time passes quickly. Maybe last year you felt like you were always playing catch-up. If you promised yourself that wouldn’t happen this year, you still have time to make a good start on your business preparedness.
Here are five suggestions to help you gear up for the year ahead that have personally proven to be time well spent.
1. Update Your Professional Profile
Review your biography. Your bio is often your first introduction to a potential client. Make it an outstanding one. If you haven’t refreshed it in the last few months, consider a rewrite. Kudos to you if you crossed that off your to-do list recently. In that case, review and add any new professional designations, awards or achievements. You should also include a new professional headshot. Don’t forget to update all your social media platforms and websites where you are featured.
2. Follow Up With Holdover Leads
Contact people on your list of leads or past clients who were holding off on buying or selling until after the holiday season. Follow up with sellers who wanted to list in the spring. It is not too early to inspire them to begin preparations for a March or April listing. Last but not least, connect with your general mailing list, and update them on what is new and exciting about the housing market or your agency.
3. Review Your Tools Of The Trade
Take stock of your work and tech tools. Is your phone, tablet or computer holding you back and making your work more difficult? Then it’s time for an upgrade. For real estate professionals, the year’s busiest months are right around the corner, so don’t hesitate. Do it now when you have time to shop and get accustomed to your new tools.
4. Improve Your Chances By Listening to the Experts
Listen to the experts. Find out what they see ahead for the economy and how it will affect housing. When you set your professional goals and priorities, it’s imperative to have a sense of what to expect on the national scene and the local front.
5. Establish Your Goals, Budget And Marketing Plan
Do a general review of your business. Establish your 2019 goals, and include any from last year that were not accomplished but are still relevant. Take a look at your budget. Did you have a surplus or fall short last year? Make adjustments and establish your business expense priorities for the coming year. Review your local housing market statistics. How has the situation changed, or what do you see happening differently this year? Determine how this fits into your overall marketing plan.
My expectations for the 2019 real estate market are high, and falling short is not on my bucket list. We may not be able to control everything, but we can position ourselves to be ready for anything.