I hate numbers
Everyone on my team knows I hate numbers. (That’s why I have an Assistant who is a financial wiz.)
But there are a few things I do track, and that is where our business is coming from.
I still track
Some of things I track are:
• Where the lead came from? Which site?
• How many referrals from past clients?
• How many calls from my blog?
• Where each closing came from?
• The searches that people used to find me?
Evaluating
Evaluating what is bringing business to you, is critical to slashing the marketing costs of what is NOT working and ADDING more money to what is.
Tracking what terms people used to find you, via…Google Analytics or Site Meter allows you to see what topics the consumers are interested in.
Spend it Wisely
Time is money and money is well also money. When we are in business for the long haul and not just doing real estate for fun then we have to look at what we do and evaluate for the future.
One thing I also do is keep a Excel spread sheet, of all my sales, clients, source of leads for closing and which buyer agent closed it. At any given time I can look and see where we were last year, the year before that and where we need to be to meet our goals.
Oh, how I wish I loved numbers…I don’t…but some things you just have to live with if you are in business.
As we say in our listing presentations, numbers don’t lie.
Written by Missy Caulk, Associate Broker at Keller Williams Ann Arbor. Missy is the author of Ann Arbor Real Estate Talk and Blog Ann Arbor, and is also the Director for the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors and Member of MLS and Grievance Committee's.

LesleyLambert
September 18, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I need to become more automated with the tracking of numbers, myself. I hate that kind of stuff, does your assistant want to do mine too?
Ken Brand
September 18, 2009 at 3:04 pm
I’m with you, I don’t have to know everything or master every aspect of the biz, I just need to partner with those that do. Cheers.
Elaine Reese
September 18, 2009 at 7:11 pm
I like numbers, charts, & graphs. Probably comes from my former career. It’s really interesting what they sometimes show, and is a tremendous asset when evaluating ROI and marketing strategy/tactics.
MIssy Caulk
September 18, 2009 at 9:34 pm
I enjoy the stat’s and what they show, just not the numbers. Just so I know the results of the marketing I am good.
Lesley, I’ll ask!
Ken, exactly…surround yourself with those who have strengths that we don’t.
Elaine, that darn ROI, that’s for Colleen. 🙂
Bob
September 19, 2009 at 5:04 pm
I track number of call per day, appointments, offers written, offers accepted, new leads, lead sources, revenue per source, and closed deals per source. I find it extremely helpful to look at our numbers so that I understand what is working and where adjustments are needed.
MIssy Caulk
September 19, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Well Bob you are definately tracking your business. Good for you.
Doug Francis
September 19, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Missy, it is a love/hate relationship. Numbers are a pain to keep and maintain, but when you start to follow them there is a “wow factor”.
MIssy Caulk
September 20, 2009 at 6:54 am
I know that I see the wow in my best friend, she loves them.