1) Not asking for referrals (simple, right?!)
It may seem like a no-brainer, but – again – too many agents simply think that repeat and referral business will just happen on its own. While this is true in very select and sporadic circumstances, this is a considerably weak strategy to bet on.
When it comes down to it, you don’t know unless you ask. And if you don’t ask, the answer is always no.
2) Only thinking about referrals when you need referrals
For many agents, generating referrals becomes an afterthought to driving new business. They just happen organically, right?
Nope.
You can’t wait until your pipeline is dry to begin trying to drum up repeat and referral business. Instead, plant the seed for referrals starting with your very first interaction by giving them an incredible client experience.
And assume the close. Make referrals a normalized expectation in the ways you communicate with current and past clients.
3) Providing a forgettable, cookie-cutter experience
In this hyper-connected, online-reviewed, and digital age, people are loyal to brands they connect with in a meaningful way through unforgettable experiences. How your brand communicates is a big part of that.
You, as your own brand and company, have the opportunity to craft a memorable experience through sincere, personal touches that can reach buyers and sellers on any device no matter where they are. Tools like BombBomb make this easier than ever.
Here are some examples:
- Sending a text message showing reminders to prospective buyers
- Sharing listings with clients via social media
- Sending monthly market update emails with client-focused meaning
- Triggering autoresponders from website inquiries
- Creating and sending personalized video walkthroughs
- Reaching out on holidays and special occasions
4) Disappearing after the sale
Obviously, it’s important that your relationships with buyers and sellers don’t end once the transaction is closed.
Now that commission is no longer on the line, your clients don’t necessarily expect you to keep in touch with them. Incomplete and lackluster customer experiences have trained them to think this way.
This is a great opportunity for you to “WOW” them on occasions like birthdays, purchase/move anniversaries, and holidays. Easy and simple messages like these contribute to an unforgettable and extended experience with you.
Here at BombBomb, we advocate getting in front of your webcam or smartphone camera and sending at least one video a month to your database to stay top of mind for repeat and referral purposes. However, this doesn’t mean you should ask for referrals on a monthly basis.
Simply get your face, voice, and personality back in front of your sphere of influence every 30 days or so with a simple video. Share a tip, idea, or update that relates to the special place on Earth that you live and work.
80% of people recall a video they’ve watched in the past 30 days. So, by sending a video of yourself once per month, you ensure that you’re always top of mind. [Insivia]
5) Sending non-segmented messages
Although staying top of mind is vital, you want to stay top of mind in the right way.
You don’t want to be that agent who just constantly blasts their database with irrelevant nonsense. You don’t want to send an email just for sending’s sake. You want to truly connect with someone and generate a conversation.
By segmenting your database into specific categories (new buyer leads, new seller leads, past buyers, past sellers, zip code, price range, A/B/C clients, agents, lenders, etc.), you’re able to send targeted messages that are more relevant to each recipients. This drives higher engagement over a longer period of time.
The days of mass-blasting are over.
6) Not GIVING referrals
There’s a “scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” mentality that tends to get overlooked during the grind of converting leads and serving clients.
By networking with and providing referrals to agents, lenders, and other professionals, you’re building an extremely fruitful referral network that you can legitimately build your business on.
7) Being unreferrable
Maybe you knocked your client’s socks off, but – for whatever reason – you feel uncomfortable asking him or her for referrals.
If this sounds like you, then you NEED to create an easy way for your clients to refer you to a friend, family member, or co-worker on their own. And if you do ask for referrals, you should still do this, too.
Create a referral form on your website, or put a “Refer a Friend” link in your signature that redirects to the form. If you want to go the extra mile, create an autoresponder email from that referral form, or redirect them to a custom “Thank You” page upon submission.
8) Not scaling yourself
At the end of the day, you are your very best sales asset. As the face of your own brand in a human-to-human industry, YOU — your personality, actions, and expertise — drive your business forward.
Unfortunately, it’s impossible for you to be hands-on and in-person with everyone, everywhere, all the time. Therefore, it’s vital that you diligently craft your digital communications as a reflection and extension of yourself and the value that you provide.
Hint: video’s a GREAT way to do this. It lets you be there in person when you can’t be there in person.
For more helpful tips, visit the BombBomb Blog