Today’s Ask the Expert column features Frederick Herot, Vice President of B2B Marketing for realtor.com® and Top Producer.
Q: How can REALTORS® ensure they’re making the most of what they already have from realtor.com®?
A: Today’s real estate professionals have a multitude of applications and tools for productivity to consider. But before making new investments, REALTORS®, in particular, have a host of business-building resources already provided to them as a benefit from realtor.com®.Below is a checklist of some systems you may have overlooked and the steps you can take to use them to their full advantage:
1. Every REALTOR® has a personal profile already established on realtor.com®
The personal profile is what consumers see when they search through “Find a REALTOR®” on realtor.com®. Is your profile up to date? Is your photo the one you wish to present? Is your contact information current? Here’s why you should have this updated and searchable: According to the most recent NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, approximately half of consumers who purchased a home last year did so because of a referral, recommendation or past experience. If you’re recommended by someone and a prospective client looks you up to find out more, you want to make sure you’re found!
2. A recommendation engine called HyperSocial™
Once you’ve established your profile, you can augment it with this tool. HyperSocial makes it easy to send a quick email to a customer asking for a recommendation. After the closing, most consumers will recommend their agent, but sometimes it’s awkward to ask, and if they send a hard-copy letter, it won’t help you much if it’s not published somewhere. This tool, however, sends a professional request to your client, allowing them to automatically respond with a recommendation. You then have the ability to approve the recommendation and publish it, not only on realtor.com®, but on other sites, such as Facebook and LinkedIn.
