I like to hook up with service providers for strategic marketing projects; especially people who have a good data base, something that’s home-ownership related, right? So I go to a networking function, meet an insurance rep and think: Great! I need a new insurance guy.
After referring six or eight new clients to my former insurance guy, I suggest that he and I work together to present a first-time buyer class to his clients who have renters insurance. I get: Nooo, I can’t do that. Some of those clients were referred to me by other Realtors. I don’t want to make them mad. Okay, what about me and the business I’ve given you over the past two years? Well, you make a lot more money than I do. I have to work much harder than you do to make a living. Huh? This isn’t going well. So who have you been referring your business to? Well, I refer to Susie Jones. She mails me postcards every month showing what’s sold in my neighborhood. Do you know Susie Jones? No, but she must be good with all those postcards she sends out. My response: Have a nice life. (I love that one.)
When I meet with a new service provider, I give them the low-down: I like to work. I want to work more so I can make more money so I can buy more things, like cows. If you don’t like to work, don’t just nod your head; say “No, thank you. I don’t like to work that much. I’d rather do something else.” No problemo. I say, You must treat my clients properly or I’ll beat you up. (Remember the mortgage broker?) If you don’t like to return calls, no problemo. If you don’t like to occasionally work long hours or evenings or weekends, no problemo. NEXT.
So last week, we have lunch. Oh cool, he’s dropping brochures at apartment complexes and will include mine on the back. We’ll do buyer classes to his peeps with rental insurance. We’ll put a social networking group together. I’ll show him how to get a blog. We’ll get married – okay, no.
Left a message: I’ve got a referral for you…tick…tock…tick…tock…NEXT.
Lani Anglin-Rosales
March 7, 2008 at 12:10 am
ah, the many disappointments of vendor relationships. we often place great faith in someone and become disillusioned because they are actually morons in a smart person suit- too bad. thank God for our growing social media networks, right??!
by the way, your commentary sounds very Samantha-ish from Sex In The City… i’m just sayin’ 😉
Matt Scoggins
March 7, 2008 at 11:57 am
Wow, this posts has got me thinking about some of our vendor relationships, or lack there of. Guess it’s time for me and the wife to sit down and do a little strategizing.
Vicki Moore
March 7, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Lani – Samantha huh? Hmm. Where can I take that.
Matt- Let me know how it goes. Brainstorming is great!