Every January thousands of real estate professionals from around the globe converge on New York for Inman’s Real Estate Connect. This is Inman Connect’s 20th anniversary and over 3,500 people will be attending the four day event beginning today.
Inman Connect starts with a day of Agent Connect – a series of interactive sessions discussing the latest tools, tactics and strategies top producers use to grow their business. This is actually my favourite part of the 4 days and I am grateful to have had access to the live stream which started at 3am this morning New Zealand time.
The following are my top takeaways from Agent Connect today:
- “Doing the remarkable is better than doing the status quo. To create a career that is out of the ordinary one must create moments and stories that are out of the ordinary”. Ashton Gustafson:
- Mauricio Umanksy of The Agency based in Los Angeles says that business requires a laser focus on customer service. Umansky remembered staying in a nice hotel for his 20th wedding anniversary and noted that the elevation of customer service possible was almost exponential. The hotel could have used Facebook or Twitter to discover his favorite foods or that he prefers white wine to red and sent a welcoming gift. Agents have the same opportunities, he said. Read the full rundown on the Top producers who are killing it: what they do and how they do it session
- “Technology should bring us closer to our clients so we develop a deeper relationship” @tacomajones
- “You need systems for accountability. The business plan is not as important as the process of creating & measuring it.” -@josephrand
- “Your Human Thumbprint is greater than your Digital Footprint”. Ashton Gustafson
- “I became the expert in my field, but it all started with blogs and social media”. Samantha DeBianchi
- I loved Samantha DeBianchi’s comment In the session Networking Like a Boss – “In this business, it’s like you’re constantly running for Mayor. You never win, but you never lose”.
- “When you ask for the review, be clear that you want five out of five stars because sometimes even the customers who love you will only give you four stars. Simply asking puts them in a 5-star mindframe”.- 7 pro tips on agent ratings session
- Transparency: Consumers are going online for information about the products they use. Review sites are changing the user expectation.
- The role of an agent is more important than ever, and it’s a major opportunity for companies who can leverage technology and transparency.
- Tell clients upfront what team members they will be interacting with and what those team members do. Gwen Daubenmeyer
- Rather than trying to change your customer’s behavior, change yours to better meet their needs. @guywolcott
The themes that have come through Agent Connect today are about providing an experience that sets you apart from your competition, utilising the available tools and technology including Facebook and video to build and connect with your online community, and that transparency is essential. As mentioned in sessions today, it’s important to also remember that your prospective clients are googling you well before they get in contact!
For more top takeaways from Inman Connect visit us on Facebook
Photo credit: Liz Sargent Dobbin
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