TORONTO EDITION
Using Client Feedback to
Elevate Your Real Estate Business
10 WAYS TO BECOME A CELEBRITY REALTOR® On Social Media
COVER STORY
ARTHUR CHAN
1 Billion-Plus Reasons Why You Should be Active on Facebook
INCORPORATING CHARITABLE GIVING IN YOUR REAL ESTATE PRACTICE
TORONTO EDITION
9
ARTHUR CHAN ARTHUR CHAN
CONTENTS 4) 10 WAYS TO BECOME A CELBRITY REALTOR® ON SOCIAL MEDIA
15) 1 BILLION-PLUS REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD BE ACTIVE ON FACEBOOK
6) INCORPORATING CHARITABLE GIVING IN YOUR REAL ESTATE PRACTICE
20) USING CLIENT FEEDBACK TO ELEVATE YOUR REAL ESTATE BUSINESS
Phone 310-734-1440 | Fax 310-734-1440 mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher. Top Agent Magazine is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. To subscribe or change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com. Published in the U.S.
2
Top Agent Magazine
mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com
Top Agent Magazine
3
10 WAYS TO BECOME ® A CELEBRITY REALTOR ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Establishing yourself as a well-known REALTOR® on social media requires developing a solid personal brand, producing captivating content, and engaging with your audience. Here are some steps to help you achieve that: 4
Top Agent Magazine ®
Top Agent Magazine
1. Produce Regular Content
6. Communicate With Your Audience
Create a content plan that matches your brand and appeals to your target audience. Share a mix of professional real estate content, behind-the-scenes glimpses of your life, and engaging personal content. To keep it interesting, use a variety of content types, including photos, videos, and written posts.
Respond promptly to comments and messages. Ask questions and encourage interaction in your posts. Host live Q&A sessions or virtual tours to engage with your audience in real-time.
2. Use Creativity in Marketing
Share educational content about the real estate market, home buying/selling tips, and industry trends. Position yourself as a knowledgeable expert in your field by providing valuable information.
Your Listings
Use high-quality images and videos to showcase your properties. Incorporate storytelling techniques to make your property listings more engaging. Highlight unique features and selling points of each property.
3. Set Your Brand Determine what makes you stand out from other REALTORS®. Discover your selling points and unique traits. Create a brand that reflects your personality, expertise, and values, and give it a name that is memorable and aligns with who you are.
4. Enhance Your Profiles Make sure you’re using high-quality, high definition profile photos. Write a bio that highlights your real estate experience, areas of expertise, and any unique qualities that make you stand out. Include contact information and links to your website or other relevant platforms.
5. Connect With Your Peers Collaborate with other influencers or professionals in the real estate industry. Attend local events and network with other professionals in your community. Cross-promote with other REALTORS® or businesses in related industries. Top Agent Magazine
7. Provide Information and Value
8. Use and Create Hashtags Research and use relevant real estate hashtags to increase the discoverability of your posts. Create a branded hashtag to encourage your audience to share their experiences with your services.
9. Stick to a Regular Posting Schedule Establish a consistent posting schedule to keep your audience engaged. Use analytics tools to determine the best times to post for maximum visibility.
10. Be Yourself Showcase your personality and be authentic in your posts. Share your successes, challenges, and personal experiences to connect on a deeper level with your audience. Remember, building a celebrity presence on social media takes time and dedication. Stay true to your brand, be patient, and adapt your strategy based on what resonates with your audience.
Top Agent Magazine ®
5
Incorporating Charitable Giving in Your Real Estate Practice
As real estate professionals, taking part in the community and serving others is central to a long-lasting practice. After all, agents are in the business of homeownership, building a financial future, and helping their clients begin new and fruitful chapters. With that in 6
mind, how might an agent deliver that spirit of service in a broader sphere? The truth is, charitable giving offers nothing but upsides. Contributing to a worthy cause is a noble and meaningful endeavor, but it
Top Agent Magazine ®
Top Agent Magazine
Contributing to a worthy cause is a noble and meaningful endeavor, but it also presents positive byproducts for the giver: tax write-offs, name recognition in the community, and the ability to expand your network.
also presents positive byproducts for the giver: tax write-offs, name recognition in the community, and the ability to expand your network. If charitable giving is an idea you’ve toyed with, or a practice you’ve engaged in only now and again, here are a few ways to make it a foundational element of your business and a win-win for all.
Find causes that speak to you. Donating funds or resources can feel anonymous if you’re divorced from the organization you’re working with. While national and international charitable organizations are certainly effective and worthwhile, you might consider partnering with local chapters of those organizations, or identifying hyper-local organizations that address need in your state, county, town, or even your own neighborhood. The first step to establishing a charitable relationship is to find a cause that you genuinely care about. For many, animal rescue is a tangible cause where resources and volunteership are always welcome. For others, children’s health and advocacy is a calling. Regardless Top Agent Magazine
of your personal passion, participation can be big or small. From sponsoring a local youth sports league to partnering with an area animal shelter for their annual spay-athon event—there are all sorts of ways to make a difference.
Unite your team for the common good. One way to make charitable giving a staple is to do it in arm and arm with others. Supporting a local cause is a great way to bring your team together in a unifying capacity. Hosting coat drives in winter, blanket drives for local animal shelters, or backpack drives for needy students at the start of the new school year— all are straightforward and highly useful, direct ways to give to your community as a team. It’s also important to set collective goals as a way of keeping people motivated and accountable over time. Offices are productive, but often hectic spaces. Injecting a collective goal with a positive, tangible result can create an ambiance of goodwill and generosity—both of which are worthwhile attributes to cultivate as
Top Agent Magazine ®
7
the leader of your team. Lastly, consider timely giving as a way of connecting your team to their community. Natural disasters, local fundraising drives, and improvement funds are all direct ways your team can contribute, while they themselves reap the benefit in the community.
Include clients in the process. You’ve likely heard of charitable donations made in the name of your client as an alternative to the classic closing gift, but there are a few ways you might update this method of giving. For starters, consider including your clients in the selection process. Do they have a special cause that’s close to their hearts? Likewise, you might
8
consider making regular, consistent giving a part of your routine post-closing. Instead of following up with your yearly poinsettia plant or pumpkin, you might find a cause in their neighborhood or township that you can support in their name. It’s wise to choose something apolitical, but a cause that’s hyperlocal to their area demonstrates unique thoughtfulness. There are plenty of ways in which society as a whole can benefit from charitable causes that build goodwill in the world, support those less fortunate, and bolster a positive future. Incorporating charitable giving in your business model is a generous way to make this mentality a central tenet of your team and a defining characteristic for your clients to remember.
Top Agent Magazine ®
Top Agent Magazine
ARTHUR CHAN
Top Agent Magazine
9
ARTHUR CHAN Born and raised in Toronto, Arthur’s expertise spans across the city and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), dealing in a variety of properties from cottages and land to commercial spaces, multifamily units, luxury condos, and high-end residential homes. Sales has always been Arthur Chan’s forte. “I’ve been in sales pretty much my entire life,” he explains. He’s honed this skill diligently over the years, and has now built a solid real estate business from it. Today Arthur operates primarily solo, yet he’s in the process of expanding his capabilities by forming a small, efficient team. This strategic 10 Copyright Top Agent Magazine
move ensures that his clients receive uninterrupted service, even if someone is away. Born and raised in Toronto, Arthur’s expertise spans across the city and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), dealing in a variety of properties from cottages and land to commercial spaces, multifamily units, luxury condos, and high-end residential homes. His Top Agent Magazine
comprehensive experience in every facet of real estate showcases his adaptability and profound understanding of the market, making him a go-to expert for anyone looking to navigate the complexities of property investment in Toronto and beyond. Arthur stands out in the real estate world not just for his sales acumen, but for the deep,
personal connections he fosters with each of his clients, treating them more like family than mere transactions. This approach has culminated in an impressive 90% repeat and referral business rate, a testament to his ability to not only meet but exceed client expectations. “90% of my business comes through my referrals. Helping my clients on a Saturday at 11pm has definitely worked
Arthur stands out in the real estate world not just for his sales acumen—having consistantly won numerous prestigious awards from RE/MAX year over year—but for the deep, personal connections he fosters with each of his clients, treating them more like family than mere transactions.
Top Agent Magazine
11 Copyright Top Agent Magazine
Not one to shy away from direct engagement, Arthur utilizes his extensive network of contacts, including a database of other agents within the city, fostering collaboration and broadening his listings’ visibility. out well for me,” Arthur says. This trust extends across generations within families, from grandparents to their grandchildren, showcasing the deep-rooted confidence in his expertise and care. Arthur’s strategy for maintaining these relationships goes beyond the closing of deals. He emphasizes the importance of post-sale interaction, ensuring he remains a constant presence in his clients’ lives. Hosting annual events, particularly around the holiday season, Copyright Top Agent Magazine 12
offers a warm, inviting opportunity for clients to connect, featuring dinners, wine, cheese, and raffles. Arthur is also very active in the pre-construction market, having platinum, first access to projects in both Toronto and Calgary. When it comes to marketing his listings, Arthur blends traditional methods with modern platforms to ensure maximum exposure. “One of my listings was Top Agent Magazine
featured in the Toronto Star Magazine,” he says. Beyond media features, Arthur is an avid user of social media, tapping into its vast reach to connect with potential buyers. He also values the power of print advertising, incorporating it alongside digital efforts for a comprehensive approach. Not one to shy away from direct engagement, Arthur utilizes his extensive network of contacts, including a database of other agents within the city, fostering collaboration and broadening his listings’ visibility.
Top Agent Magazine
When Arthur isn’t working, he’s spending time with his family, including his 3-year-old son. “I also like to travel,” he explains. But real estate takes up much of Arthur’s time, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I just love real estate, the market is always on my mind. Even when I’m having conversations during my off hours, I’m talking about it.” He also sets aside time and funds for the community, donating a portion of his sales to the Children’s Miracle Network to support Sick Kids Hospital.
Copyright Top Agent Magazine 13
Arthur’s vision for the future is clear and ambitious, with plans to establish his own brokerage. As a licensed broker in Toronto and holding an associate license in Calgary, he aims to focus on a more technologically driven approach to real estate. This move is not just about expanding his business, it’s
about enhancing the service and support he provides to the community, ensuring they benefit from the latest innovations in the industry. “What I love most about my job is that I get to help people, and see a smile on their face when I tell them I got them what they wanted.”
For more about Arthur Chan, call 416-303-SOLD (7653) or email him at artknowsgta@gmail.com
Copyright Top Agent Magazine 14
Top Agent Magazine
1 Billion-Plus Reasons Why You Should Be Active on Facebook By Bubba Mills
The number is staggering and potentially career ending for REALTORS® who ignore it: 1,440,000,000. That’s the total number of monthly active users on the social medium Facebook. That number alone is reason enough to use it regularly in your real estate business. But Facebook can also help turn you into the expert in your community. Just by sharing knowledge and relevant events about the community you can become the go-to source for all things local – a perfect way to capture the attention of prospective buyers. Plus, Facebook advertising also gives you tons of targeting layers like age, location, recent life events and interests. Plus, it constantly adds new targeting filters and functions that help you reach even more niche prospects who closely meet your customer criteria. Talk about pinpointing a target audience. Top Agent Magazine
Top Agent Magazine
15
Another Facebook real estate ad tool is Website Custom Audiences that lets you create Facebook ads that target users who have visited your website. And several apps specifically for Facebook have emerged. Consider these: • Heyo.com: Helps you host contests, showcase promotions and high-
light special offers. • Woobox.com: Let’s you easily create quizzes and other fun tools for engaging content. • Pagemodo.com: Helps you make your Facebook business page both sleek and stylish and tabs allow for easy lead capture. But the latest offering is just as cool. It’s called Facebook Live and it lets you stream live video on the internet. I recently wrote about Periscope, another live video streaming app, but when you use Facebook Live you’re automatically featured at the top of Facebook users’ news feed. What’s more, statistics show that live video is viewed more than recorded video. How can REALTORS® use Facebook Live? Open Houses: Broadcast a walk-through of a new listing
and highlight all the great features.
Webinars: Host live webinars targeted to buyers and sellers. They can sub-
mit questions just like a real-life seminar.
Real Estate Talk Show: Offer the latest news in the industry plus share lo-
cal events and your newest listings. In short, become the Lester Holt or Diane Sawyer of real estate in your town with your own “TV” show! Facebook offers these tips for using Facebook Live: Promote: Tease upcoming Facebook Live broadcasts for more viewers. Plan better: Take time to plan what you want to do in the video, whether
it’s a few key talking points or to have a few questions ready ahead of time in a Q&A, in case incoming comments slow down. 16
Top Agent Magazine
Top Agent Magazine
Invest in some equipment: A shaky live stream turns off viewers so con-
sider a tripod or other stabilizing tools, especially if you’re taking viewers on a tour of an open house. And check the shot before going live.
Get the lighting right: If you’re indoors be sure you have plenty of good
lighting and avoid a lot of light directly behind you because it’ll wash you out.
Sound good: A common mistake for beginners is overlooking sound.
Consider an external microphone to make sure your viewers can actually hear you. And if the live option makes you a little nervous, you can also stream pre-recorded videos. Hey, that has worked like a charm for TV for decades. Some businesses promote their web series to “air” on Facebook Live at a certain time like TV shows. After they are streamed, Facebook Live videos function as normal Facebook videos. Some business owners believe videos may perform better if they begin as live ones. NowThis, a news company that publishes entirely on social platforms, experimented by streaming a 38-minute compilation of its favorite viral videos via Facebook Live. The stream received over 20,000 views and over 500 comments, according to Facebook’s counters. Yes, all the new-fangled internet tools, apps and options for REALTORS® can be a bit overwhelming. Just take it one step at a time and you’ll slowly be right there in the business-winning mix. E-mail me today at Article@CorcoranCoaching.com and I’ll send you more free information about how technology can help your real estate business. Copyright©, Bubba Mills. All rights reserved.
Bubba Mills is the CEO of Corcoran Consulting and Coaching Inc. (www.corcorancoaching.com/programs, 800-957-8353), an international Real Estate, Mortgage, and Small Business coaching company committed to helping clients balance success in business, while building value in life. Bubba Mills is a nationally recognized inspirational and education speaker, coach and mentor to the top real estate agents and mortgage companies. To find out more about Corcoran Consulting & Coaching, call 1-800-957-8353 or visit us at www.CorcoranCoaching.com. Top Agent Magazine
Top Agent Magazine
17
Laughs!
18
Top Agent Magazine
mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com http://www.topagentmagazine.com
Top Agent Magazine
19
USING CLIENT FEEDBACK
TO ELEVATE YOUR REAL ESTATE BUSINESS For real estate professionals, publishing your client testimonials is a key strategy for establishing trust, enhancing your reputation, and drawing in new clients. Through the strategic use of positive 20
client feedback, you can demonstrate your expertise and the exceptional value you offer in real estate transactions. Here are key strategies for maximizing the impact of real estate testimonials in your business:
Top Agent Magazine ®
Top Agent Magazine
Diversify Your Testimonials Collect feedback from a broad spectrum of clients, such as first-time buyers, sellers, investors, and those facing unique challenges. This approach offers a comprehensive view of your capabilities.
Promptly Request Testimonials Aim to obtain testimonials soon after closing a deal. Prompt timing ensures clients’ memories are fresh, enabling them to share detailed and impactful experiences.
Utilize Testimonials in Marketing Efforts Embed powerful testimonial excerpts in your marketing materials, including brochures and flyers, to catch the eye of prospective clients and underscore your track record.
Broadcast Testimonials on Social Media Publicize your client feedback on social platforms, using engaging visuals or property photos to accompany the testimonials.
Enhance Your Website with Testimonials
Innovate with Testimonial Videos
Develop a section on your website dedicated to client testimonials. Display them attractively, including clients’ names, photos, and specific transaction details if possible.
Elevate your client feedback with video testimonials. Short, engaging videos can make a lasting impression on potential clients by showcasing genuine satisfaction.
Top Agent Magazine
Top Agent Magazine ®
21
Incorporate Testimonials into Email Marketing
Create Detailed Case Studies
Utilize testimonials in your email campaigns to underscore your expertise and encourage engagement from potential clients.
With client consent, develop case studies that explore specific challenges and your successful interventions, offering deep insights into your problem-solving prowess.
Present Testimonials to Prospective Clients
Highlight Testimonials in Your Online Presence
Integrate client success stories into your presentations to illustrate your track record and reassure potential clients of your ability to deliver favorable results.
Feature client testimonials in your profiles on key real estate and social media sites to bolster your online reputation and attract new clients.
Feature Testimonials in Your Blog
Promote Third-Party Platform Reviews
Share client success stories in blog posts, integrating testimonials to lend credibility and a personal touch to your narratives. 22
Encourage clients to review your services on esteemed real estate platforms, enhancing your visibility and credibility.
Top Agent Magazine ®
Top Agent Magazine
Engage Through Testimonial Events
Keep Your Testimonials Current
Host webinars or events where clients can share their experiences, providing a dynamic forum for potential clients to learn and interact.
Advertise with Testimonials Use testimonials in your advertising campaigns to spotlight positive client experiences and foster trust with your target audience.
Top Agent Magazine
Regularly refresh your testimonials to maintain relevance and demonstrate your continuous commitment to excellence and client satisfaction. By strategically publishing real estate testimonials across various platforms and marketing channels, you can build a compelling narrative that resonates with potential clients. Authentic endorsements from satisfied clients serve as a powerful tool for establishing trust and differentiating yourself in a competitive real estate market.
Top Agent Magazine ®
23
mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com
24
Top Agent Magazine