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Thursday, June 30, 2016

Social Media Tips for Real Estate Agents

4 Social Media Tips for Real Estate Agents

Depending on word-of-mouth recommendations is still the way to get business in real estate. However, sometimes word-of-mouth isn't shared in person anymore. Nowadays business recommendations happen online. As real estate agents, you are likely one of the best offline person-to-person salesmen in the country. But there’s a chance you may not know how to apply this showmanship onto social media platforms. Here are your tips for giving you the edge in social media marketing.

1. Focus on your local area

In 2015, for the first time ever, 1 billion people signed onto Facebook. That means that social media could be used to reach literally a billion people around the world—in theory. But trying to reach a lot of people may take more effort than it’s worth. Why? Because you’ll be putting in work to reach people who will never use your services. Think locally—mold your content to your local leadership. When you talk about news and trends, focus on local trends, rather than national trends. Consider tagging and mentioning your local followers as well.

2. Create or curate

Few things improve your social media presence more than creating relevant, helpful content such as blog posts and articles that people can use to improve their daily lives. However, you may not be comfortable with writing your own articles—that’s okay. Finding information from other sources that might be relevant to your sphere of influence can be just as good as creating your own content. Websites such as inman.comactiverain.com, and realtor.com are never short on advice for homeowners and real estate agents alike.
Social Media Tips for Real Estate Agents

3. Keep it simple

Spreading yourself thin on social media can be more time consuming and stressful than necessary. Pick a couple of platforms and dedicate your time focusing on those. You don’t need to hire an outside media specialist, just spend 30 minutes a day on this stuff. Post your articles and blog posts on  Facebook, for example, and share beautiful listing photos on Instagram.

4. Personalize it

You shouldn’t use your social media sites as a way to consistently brag about your business, but you can use it to give your clients and prospects an insight into your life, both inside and outside of work. Share a photo of you and some colleagues out on the golf course or at a networking event. If they’re up for it, share a photo of a couple who just closed on a home with you.
No matter how you choose to go about your social media posting, consider the 80/20 breakdown of social media: post 80 percent about interesting content (like relevant blogs), and 20 percent promoting your brand (like sharing photos of sales and listings).
Follow these 4 rules of social media and you’ll have more followers and more customers in no time.

About Larson Educational Services:

Utilizing 30 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online. To sign up for real estate education from Larson Educational Services, give us a call at 239-344-7510 or visit our website, LarsonEd.com
Brad Larson
Larson Educational Services
1400 Colonial Blvd. #44,
Fort Myers, Florida
33907


Tuesday, June 28, 2016

5 Networking Tips for Real Estate Agents

5 Networking Tips for Real Estate Agents

Networking is one of the most important parts of building your business as a real estate agent, yet many professionals fail to increase their sphere of influence on a consistent basis. This is not the business for introverts. Utilize these 5 simple networking tips for real estate agents to help flesh out your list of prospects and clients.

1. Stay off your phone

Sure, you’ll need to use your phone when it comes to emailing, calling, and texting clients and prospects, but when you find yourself at a trade show or other networking opportunity keep your eyes up. By simply talking to people, eliciting information, and keeping off your phone you can set yourself ahead of other agents. Listen to people. And be sure to get their cards and follow up.

2. Keep notes

When you get information about a new contact, add notes in your phone. Reference that information when you follow up so they know that you not only listened to them when you met, but you also cared enough to remember details about your conversation.

3. Have fun

No, you shouldn’t go out of control on the open bar, but there’s no reason you shouldn’t be laughing and smiling when you’re meeting new people. Everybody gets nervous at networking events, so you can set yourself apart by being present and outgoing. Take a breath, notice something funny about the venue, and make a situational comment to your neighbor and you’ll be laughing in no time.
networking tips

4. Don’t try to close a deal immediately

Few things put people off more than pushy salesmen. You’re not using a networking event to “hit on” potential clients or business people you think could become a part of your sphere of influence. You’re only setting the ground work for a relationship that may or may not yield a business partnership. Don’t be too quick to put pressure on your new contacts.

5. Get out of your comfort zone

It’s great if you see someone you already know at a networking event. Make sure you say hello to them and connect for a few minutes, but be sure to break off and meet some new people. You aren’t doing you or your friend any favors if you only talk to each other the entire time. Seek out someone who looks shy and say hello. Before you know it you’ll be making new friends and increasing your sphere of influence.
Utilize these 5 simple networking tips to help you better take advantage of every networking opportunity you come across, whether it’s a planned event or a chance meeting of a prospect at the grocery store. Check out more tips for new Florida real estate agents here: https://www.larsoned.com/realestate/post-licensing/real-estate-tips-for-new-agents/

About Larson Educational Services:

Utilizing 30 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online. To sign up for real estate education from Larson Educational Services, give us a call at 239-344-7510 or visit our website, LarsonEd.com
Brad Larson
Larson Educational Services
1400 Colonial Blvd. #44
Fort Myers, Florida
33907
Resources:

Thursday, June 23, 2016

#Throwback Thursday from LarsonEd

This #TBT goes back to the early 90s when LarsonEd co-founders, Brad and Dave Larson, and little brother Greg were all dressed up for Halloween. #ThrowbackThursday
Larson Educational

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

How Much Does Your Wasted Time Cost?--Florida Real Estate School

How Much Does Your Wasted Time Cost?


Let’s face it: you waste time. We all do it. You’ve set aside a morning or afternoon to get some real work done and before you know it you’re sitting on Netflix on a 6-episode binge of Gossip Girl. But what's the true cost of wasted time when you’re a real estate agent (or any other self-employed person for that matter)? It’s important for you to ask yourself what your goals are related to time.

How many hours do you plan to devote to real estate?
How many hours do you want to spend NOT working?

Here’s a good way to judge the value of your time.
Florida real estate school
How much is your wasted time costing you?

After looking at this chart, how much does every hour wasted cost you? If you make $50,000 a year, for example, you just spent $150 watching those 6 episodes of Gossip Girl.

Be honest. How do you waste time? Consider how much time is spent in non-productive activities and consider replacing them with something productive instead.

Florida real estate school
Don't be like this guy. Forget about the socks, just use your time wisely!

About Larson Educational Services:
Utilizing 30 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online.

Brad Larson
Larson Educational Services
1400 Colonial Blvd. Suite 44
Fort Myers, FL 33907
239-344-7510

Thursday, June 16, 2016

5 Habits of Successful Real Estate Agents

5 Habits of Successful Real Estate Agents

Successful real estate agents come in many different styles, but they all share one common trait: desire. They all want to meet prospects and expand their sphere of influence at every opportunity they get.
Here are 5 habits that separate the truly successful superstar agents from the competition:

They keep up with technology

The best agents are always up-to-date on the latest technology trends, and this includes digital marketing. Search Engine Optimization (SEO), meaning how easy it is for your potential clients to find you and your listings, is constantly evolving. If you aren’t keeping up with the most recent search engine algorithm updates from Google, then you’ll be left in the dust by a superstar agent who is.
TIP: Did you know that some agents are effectively using camera drones to capture stunning imagery of their listings? Don’t be afraid to think outside the box when it comes to utilizing technology to improve your odds of success.
Credit: droneandquadcopter.com

They communicate effectively

The best agents respond to phone calls, texts, and emails with lightning quick speed. Why? Because they know that if they don’t snatch up a prospect, some other more attentive agent will.
Be the agent who answers questions and follows up with clients all the way through the transaction. By being accessible, you can make your client feel important and cared for, which is good for both of you.
Mold your communication medium to the needs of each client: if they like to text, then text; if they like to talk on the phone, then call.

They have a great network

Don’t be intimidated by agents who are more successful than you. Indeed, the best way to become better is to spend time with successful people and pick their brains.
And of course the top agents know more than just other agents—they know the best contractors in town, the best lenders, the best insurance providers, etc.
The larger and more successful your sphere of influence is, the more successful you’ll be.

They know their market

Expert agents know the ins and outs of their target area. They’re able to tell prospects which schools are the best, where the local hot-spots are, and the unique selling points of their area of expertise (that’s why top agents are often referred to as “neighborhood experts”). The top agents will also know how long houses have been on the market and which ones sold recently and for how much.

They invest in themselves and their business

The best agents are always learning. Complacency will rot your business from the inside out, even if you think you’ve made it to the top already. Always improve your business with material upgrades. And don't forget about your own well-being while you're at it.
About Larson Educational Services:
Utilizing 30 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online.
Brad Larson
Larson Educational Services
1400 Colonial Blvd. #44,
Fort Myers, Florida
33907
239-344-7510

Resources:

Thursday, June 9, 2016

LarsonEd Offers New Health Insurance Classes!


Family-owned and operated Larson Educational Services has had its doors open in Fort Myers since November 2008. We at LarsonEd are excited that for the first time in our company’s 8-year history we are offering health insurance education. This is in addition to our already established courses in mortgage, CAM, and real estate.

Beginning in August 2016, we will offer the Florida 2-15 Health and Life Insurance pre-licensing course. This license allows you to sell all forms of Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Medicare Supplement, HMO, Home Health Care, Managed Care, and Long Term Care policies. You may sell FIXED Annuities with this license as well.

As a professional education business, we are always looking toward the future for possible trends and opportunities. We feel that there will be a steady, continued growth in the health and life insurance industry in Florida. Now is a good time for us to bring our high standards and exam preparation expertise to this growing field. It also allows us to diversify our course offerings and give additional career options to our current and future students.

In our classes, you'll learn about the Florida Health & Life licensing requirements, responsibilities, liabilities, and standards of conduct. We also include, at no additional charge, all the EXAM PREPARATION you need to pass your exams. Click here for the exam prep schedule.

Comprised of 12 modular units covering the basic principles and business fundamentals of insurance, our experts will prepare you not only for success on exam day, but will help you get off to a fast start once you have received your license. Because our course has a modular format, you can mix-and-match dates and locations if you need flexible scheduling. Just call us at 239-344-7510 and we'll help you put a schedule together.

You can't find that flexibility at any other insurance school in southwest Florida! Plus your tuition payment is good for one year! You can attend the course again to review for no additional charge.

We accept registrations all the way up to the course start time.

If the course date you want is listed as *SOLD OUT*, please call us 239-344-7510 to be placed on our waiting list. If we have any cancellations, students will be contacted and placed on the course roster based on the order they went on the waiting list.

Tuition: $339 
Includes:
  • 1-year enrollment period to complete or review the course
  • Our exclusive student workbook
  • Our Health & Life Exam Preparation. No separate class needed!
  • Tuition DOES NOT include the State Manual. State manuals can be purchased online here http://naifa-florida.org/study-manual-30th-edition/
To sign up for the 60 hour Health & Life Agent Pre-Licensing course, click here: https://www.larsoned.com/insurance/licensing/pre-licensing-courses/60-hour-health-life-agent-pre-licensing-course/

2016 Dates and Times
Weekday Classes: 6 days, Monday through Saturday from 8:30am to 6:30pm
There is a 10 minute break every hour and a lunch break from 12:30-1:30pm.

August 22-27 (Weekday)
            Fort Myers
October 17-22 (Weekday)
            Naples
November 14-19 (Weekday)
            Fort Myers

About Larson Educational Services:
Utilizing 30 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online.

Brad Larson
Larson Educational Services
1400 Colonial Blvd. Suite 44
Fort Myers, FL 33907
239-344-7510

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Top 7 Time Management Tips--Florida Real Estate School LarsonEd

Top 7 Time Management Tips


In this age of constant distraction, it’s easier than ever to get off of task. Use these 7 simple time management tips to improve your focus.

  1. Assign blocks of time and deadlines for each task.
Make a realistic estimate. Expect the inevitable interruptions. Consider importance versus urgency.

  1. Set priorities
Some classify tasks as A, B or C priority. This helps clarify what is important and what is urgent.

  1. Create a daily “To-Do” list
This is a simple but not necessarily easy task. It’s the most significant difference between people who are successful in their careers and those who are not.
Florida real estate school
Make sure your daily goals are realistic.
  1. Schedule work days and days off
Consider the unusual aspects of a licensee’s schedule. What are the most active times? Make appropriate use of holidays as either break time or planning time.

  1. Schedule face-to-face time with a client, someone in your target market, or someone in your sphere of influence
Along with the globalisation of online communication comes a lack of face-to-face interactions. You’ll set yourself apart from your competition if you make time to meet with people in person.

  1. Schedule direct preparation time to:
Prepare a listing or buyer presentation, prepare a CMA, or prepare marketing materials.

Florida real estate school
Florida real estate school
  1. Schedule planning time to:
Develop, review and revise your marketing plan; perform market research and analysis; review your budget and financial status.

Use these simple time management tips to use your time more efficiently and improve your productivity.

About Larson Educational Services:
Utilizing 30 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online.

Brad Larson
Larson Educational Services
1400 Colonial Blvd. Suite 44
Fort Myers, FL 33907
239-344-7510

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Why We Often Miss Opportunities--LarsonEd


Florida real estate school LarsonEd
About Larson Educational Services:
Utilizing 30 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online.
 
Brad Larson
Larson Educational Services
1400 Colonial Blvd. Suite 44
Fort Myers, FL 33907
239-344-7510