The #1 Key to a GREAT Recruiting Interview

Posted on December 1, 2015December 1, 2015 by The Profitable Recruiter

Sometimes it’s What You DON’T Say

By Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

I love a great salesperson; however I have found that most salespeople? Are good perhaps. But not GREAT. To be GREAT? A salesperson has to have the ability to make others feel good making the decision they have already decided to make.

Think about it. If you are going to buy a car, you go to a variety of dealerships with the intention of buying a car. So why is it such a treacherous process most of the time? I recently bought a new car. I literally walked out of FIVE dealerships before I finally took control of the situation. It’s sad that I would have to tell the salesperson how to sell me a car, but that is exactly what I did. What happened at the first five dealerships? They sent the newest, hungriest person to try to sell me a car. They did not ask me any questions, and to make matters worse, they did not LISTEN to anything that I was telling them with regard to what I wanted. They were focused on what THEY wanted, which was a sale.

There’s an old saying that’s SO true, (one your mom or grandmother might have told you!) It goes like this: “We’re given two ears and one mouth for a reason. Why? Because we were meant to listen TWICE as much as we speak.” Unfortunately, many Brokers, Owners and Recruiters also often fall victim to ignoring this design and speak way more than they listen.

An essential element in becoming a master recruiter is to listen to the needs and desires of the prospect and then present your systems and resources to meet these needs. The key is to LISTEN.

When we don’t listen, we OVER present. The better your company, the more tempted you are to present what YOU want (what you are proud of) rather than what the PROSPECT needs to be successful. Keep in mind that all of us on one level or another are tuned into the WIIFM (What’s In It For Me) channel .

Your best bet to recruit top agents? Stop SELLING. Start LISTENING, and asking questions – and listening to the answers. The truth is no one wants to be sold, but if they are sitting there in your office, then to do have an INTEREST and they do have needs that are probably not getting met where they currently are. Your job is to figure those two things out and provide the solutions. Here’s another old saying that’s worth a reminder: “Hearing is one of the five senses, but listening is an ART.” Practice your art. Your listening skills. Your investigative tools. Your prospects will tell you everything you ever wanted to know if you ask the right questions and you listen for the answers.

Profitable Recruiter Members, please login to your platform today to get all of your December recruiting tools, and review last week’s powerful webinar on demand!

For more great ideas on giving your agents the best resources possible, while attracting awesome new agents, join The Profitable Recruiter. Take advantage of our special winter offer! From now until January 2nd, make any Profitable Recruiter Pro Membership part of your 2016 business plan, and take 35% off with the promo code PLAN35 — PLUS, have the ability to add up to 10 managers or admins to your account at no extra cost! That’s 35% off everything you need to be in the right place at the right time when the agents you want are ready to make a move – including SEVEN HOURS of recruiting audio training, more than 30 webinars on demand, scripts, letters, social media tools and more! What are you waiting for? Register today and write it off as a tax deduction!

How to Out-Perform, Out-Edge, and Out-Brand Your Competition

Posted on November 19, 2015 by The Profitable Recruiter

An Interview with Branding Expert and Keynote Speaker Sima Dahl

By Julie Escobar

Marketing and branding yourself in today’s world is a whole new ball game from what it was even just a few years back. That’s why we’ve invited Sima Dahl, one of the top speakers in the field of social selling, social networking, and personal branding, to be our guest speaker for this month’s webinar as well as our spotlight expert for the week.

Here’s what we learned…

Q: Sima – your systems and strategies take social selling and social networking to insanely powerful new levels – can you share how your approach is so different?

A: For many business owners, consultants and independent agents, there is simply not enough time in the day for all things “social.” That was certainly the case when I started my business nearly eight years ago. With a 20-year track record of success in B2B marketing, I knew that I had to weed through all the hype and drill down to scalable tactics that delivered results.

And what I discovered is that at the business level, social media does not replace effective marketing, nor does it fix an inability to close sales. What it does is amplify what’s working, and that’s powerful. So we start there. Success in any social business endeavor requires laser focus, relevant content, and consistent execution. I advise clients that sell into well-defined target markets to carefully consider just how much “social” is necessary to reach their target market. It’s often less than they think.

But where I pivot from other advisors is that I am a strong proponent of the personal brand as a means to open doors, generate referrals, and attract qualified business. Through intentional networking–both online and off–even the business professionals can achieve heightened visibility and awareness in just 15 minutes a week.

Q: For real estate pros – like most salespeople – success lies in staying top of mind – can you share your top three ideas for helping them do that across their social platforms?

A: In my keynotes and workshops I remind people that social networking is an action verb, so first and foremost, you have to actually log in! Too many people create a profile and think their work is done, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.

One you log in, start by updating your status. Status updates will be different depending on what platform you may be on. For example, Facebook updates will be more casual, and LinkedIn more buttoned up. But status updates act as little billboards that remind people who we are and what we do.

Next, use the Thumbs Up liberally. It may sound overly simplistic but when you “like” or comment on someone’s status, your name pops back into his or her brain.

Finally, connect the dots… Just like we do in the offline world, we can leverage social platforms to make introductions, recommendations and referrals. And that is a gift that people don’t soon forget.

Q: Most agents are at a loss in terms of how to optimize their social profiles – any guidance you can give there?

A: My advice is to be as specific as possible. Too often I see business owners and sales professionals throw really wide nets, hoping to catch more fish. But people want to know that you specialize in their needs, and their markets. Really be clear about your expertise and your accomplishments. Choose your keywords and phrases carefully. But put it all out there, this is not the time to play small.

Q: You have such a strong sense of branding – can you share some insights on how to build a successful brand with our readers?

A: People buy from people they know, like, and trust. And they refer them too! Realtors are in the people business, and their personal brand is inextricably woven with their business brand. One might argue that the personal brand boosts the business brand rather than the other way around. With that in mind, I coach anyone in professional services to practice what we marketers call “consistent messaging across touch-points.” Consider your entire footprint – online and off. From your sales collateral and business card to your online profiles and email signature, remind me of who you are, what you do, and what makes you special, and remind me often. And stay on point. Just because you tell me once doesn’t mean I remember. Stay visible, stay focused. Be the Chief Marketing Officer of Brand You. That’s where it all starts.

Q: If our readers want to connect with you – what’s the best way to reach you?

A: I’m happy to connect wherever they find me! To get an invitation to my launch party for my new website, sign up at SimaDahl.com. In the meantime, here’s the best ways to reach me: Email: Hello@SimaDahl.com or Phone: 312-884-1888 LinkedIn.com/in/SimaSays or Facebook.com/IAmSimaSays or Twitter.com/SimaSays

Awesome Sima. Thank you so much for your time and expertise today. We so look forward to your sharing with our members in depth in our hour long power session on Monday, November 23^rd, from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST. You share social insights like no one I’ve ever heard before and your strategies are actually ones that people can wrap their heads around, and more importantly – take action on!

Profitable Recruiter Members, please login to your platform (or check your emails) today to get yourselves and your agents signed up for this powerfully important webinar. Everyone in your organization contributes or detracts from your digital footprint — you’ll want to invite your whole team to listen in and not miss a minute.

Leading a Team and Leveraging Your Strengths

Posted on November 6, 2015 by The Profitable Recruiter

A Spotlight on Top Agent Nikki James

By Coach Judy LaDeur

Recently we hosted a webinar with our gracious guest and top agent and team leader Nikki James. Her insights and ideas were not only spot on for our industry – they were creative, collaborative, and a big part of why she’s taking her team to the top.

Here are some insights from our interview:

Q: Nikki, you started your real estate career in San Diego as an assistant for a top producing RE/MAX Agent in 2009. Today, you are leading a highly productive team at RE/MAX Gold. That’s quite the transition, congratulations on your success! What was it that first made you think, “Hey, I can do this!”?

A: My husband has been in the Real Estate business for 13 years and he always told me how much I’d love it and how it really suited my personality. I was finishing up my business degree at San Diego State and decided to start studying for my license during my last semester as a “back up plan”. Very soon after graduation, much to my husband’s credit, I realized I did not want to work for anyone else. I decided to start as an assistant so I could ensure some cash flow while I learned the business. Things were a lot different in the market back in 2010 and I was scared! The majority of transactions were distressed sales and/or investors purchasing with all cash. Neither of which I had much experience with. I realized after about a year in that role, that I was now the one putting out fires, talking with and meeting his clients, and handling his day to day business. It gave me the confidence to venture out on my own and not feel inexperienced while consulting clients that were my parent’s age on their real estate decisions! Even before I closed my very first transaction on my own, I had assisted on hundreds of other deals and was able to anticipate any hurdles to come. I’m very grateful I started when I did and learned the business during some tough times because when things started to shift, I did not take those easy transactions for granted.

Q: Today, you have a very successful four-member team, whose production will be about 25 million for 2015. That’s amazing! What does it take to run a team, and more importantly, a successful team?

A: Frankly, it takes money. Like any business, it takes startup capital. We had to work hard to get to a point to be able to invest back in our business. Once we got to that point, we made sure to take baby steps. Adding one team member at a time until we made sure we had enough business to sustain that member. We are about quality, not quantity. I’d rather stay at our size and have everyone double their business next year than add more people and have less time or resources to give to each member. I truly only feel successful when my team members individually feel successful and satisfied in their business. It’s always my number one priority.

Q: Can you tell us about your team and the role each one plays?

A: As we all know, there are many different ways to structure team. I’ve seen many agents in our industry have very specific “roles” such as TC, Buyer’s Agents, Listing Agents, Admins, etc. Our philosophy is a bit different. I give my team members the freedom to have their own identities as independent agents and not be overshadowed by a team leader’s “team name.” I’ve found that most agents get into this business because they are entrepreneurial at heart which means agents want the freedom to brand themselves and not work for “someone else.” We don’t have a team name for that very reason. We work closely with each of our team members to help them brand themselves and create their own identity and book of business. I’m trying to create an environment that lasts, and that my team members don’t feel like they need to have an exit strategy one day. We feel that giving our agents full autonomy and behind the scenes support and additional business, they won’t need to go anywhere!

Q: I understand that you place a lot of focus on lead generation and retention activities. Can you share some of those with us please?

A: Of course. Part of our value proposition is that we invest pretty heavily in marketing that drives a significant amount of business that we distribute to our team. A few of the platforms we advertise on include: Realtor.com, Zillow.com, we have a niche condo website we run here for the Sacramento Region that has been very fruitful called SacramentoCondoMania.com. Because internet leads are different than traditional clients, we focused on initially training each of our team members on how to connect with, qualify and convert these leads to clients pretty effectively. The internet lead is typically in the very beginning stages of their home search and possibly may even be years out from making a move. We cultivate long term relationships with these clients, putting them on a drip system and staying front of mind so that when they are ready to make a move, they will have no doubts on who to call.

Q: You are also doing Detailed tracking of all business for all team members, which demonstrates value. Can you tell us about that please?

A: Yes, we use a lead tracking system that allows us to account for every single lead and client we work with, where it is in the buying cycle and track where it came from. The system is advanced enough to alert each agent on when to follow up with the lead, based on the amount of contacts it’s received. Once the lead moves through the system and ultimately closes on a home with our agent, the system is able to calculate conversion ratios as well. It’s a very helpful, organized tool and database to make sure no one falls through the crack and you know exactly how well you are doing at the end of the year.

Q: How important is value proposition as a team leader, and what do you do to instill that value to you team on a regular basis?

A: It’s everything! If there is no value added, you won’t keep team members very long! I am in contact with every one of my team members almost every day, if not every other day, for various reasons. If I don’t hear from a member for a few days, I make it a point to reach out via text or phone call to simply connect and ask if I can assist them in any way. I help a lot with the transaction coordination of our team’s files, so I am constantly behind the scenes assisting my agents. In addition, we try and have quarterly one-on-ones to keep an open line of communication and are always looking for ways to improve their experience on our team.

Q: If you had to describe your leadership style in a few words, what would it be?

A: Because we don’t have admins, TCs, or assistants at this time, I would say I’m more of a resource and support type of leader to my team.

Q: Do you use social media in your business, and if so, how?

A: Yes. I use it as an extension of my database, not to directly advertise on. I use it as a tool to engage my sphere, my colleagues, my past clients, to stay relevant in the industry news, and to share cute pics of my baby. I’ve learned from client feedback that they love seeing some of my personal life and frankly, most people these days are burnt out on constant ads/business posts on the social media arena. We are more relationship centered and make sure all our followers know what we do and how to reach out if they’d like our help.

Q: You also have a strong referral-based business, which requires pop-by’s, calls, letters, etc. What have you found works best with regard to receiving referrals and leads from friends, family and past clients?

A: It seems to be all in the details! As soon as I close on a home, I fill my calender up with reminder’s to follow up on their month anniversary, 6 months, 1 year and every year afterwards. This follow up just says, “How are you loving your home, neighborhood? Need anything from us? I’m here for you, YOUR REALTOR”. Believe it or not, many of my young clients that I help purchase a home don’t know that I actually list homes as well. I make it a point to let them know when/if they ever decide to sell, I would love to represent them again.

Q: If one of our readers is thinking of building a team, what advice would you give them?

A: Most importantly, make sure you are hiring the right people. You want to make sure their work ethic, communication style, personalities mesh well with yours or that you have a full understanding of how to connect with them BEFORE you make the investment in adding them to your team. Secondly, I would say make sure you have enough business to share with them! You can have all the awesome people in the world on your team but if you aren’t adding value or adding fuel to their business, they will likely start to look elsewhere.

Q: Are there any activities that you have found that work well to “jump start” a real Estate career for any new agents who are listening. Something that would give them quick results?

A: Write a letter and make phone calls to your entire sphere of influence, family, extended family, church family, letting them know you are in the business and would love to help them achieve their real estate goals! Talk to everyone you come into contact with about the industry. I can’t tell you how many business cars I’ve handed out in the line at the grocery store. If people don’t know you need and want their business, they’ll assume you don’t!

Q: Nikki, is there anything that you would like to add before we end and let everyone know where they can find you when they have referrals in the Sacramento area?

A: I’d just like to say thank you so much for having me and thank you to my amazing team for partnering with me. We always love referrals! My website is Sachomemarket.com email is nikkijames@remax.net.

Thank you so much Nikki – you’re an incredible asset to our industry and we so appreciate your willingness to share. We invite all our readers to reach out to you and your team with their referrals – and we’re excited to watch your team continue to succeed! To listen to Nikki’s entire interview log in to your Profitable Recruiter platform today and check it out in our webinars on demand!

For more great ideas on giving your agents the best resources possible, while attracting awesome new agents, join The Profitable Recruiter. Take advantage of our special offer of 30% off with the promo code 30OFF any pro membership. That’s 30% off everything you need to be in the right place at the right time when the agents you want are ready to make a move – including SEVEN HOURS of recruiting audio training! What are you waiting for? When you join – you and up to 10 managers can access your account! Try it for a month and see what it can do for you.

Is It Time to Start Building Your Team?

Posted on October 22, 2015January 6, 2016 by The Profitable Recruiter

Where to Start and Why

By Real Estate Coach Judy LaDeur

You may be at a crossroad in your real estate career and not even realize it. Many agents struggle with the lack organization or working too many hours a day before they cave in. Some agents burn out and leave the business, while others take it to the next level. Where are you?

Building a team takes time. It is essential that you take your time in hiring the right people. There is an old adage that goes, Slow to Hire, Fast to Fire. In my experience, truer words were never spoken. I have learned the hard way that it is best to fire an unproductive team member fast.

First, profile the position so you know what type of person you need to fill it. Potential hires should ALWAYS take a DISC Profile or a similar personality profile. Overlay the new hire prospect profile with the job profile to determine the likelihood of success. A common mistake within the industry is that we hire the first warm body that comes along or we hire a family member to fill in the gap. It is delaying the inevitable and will only frustrate you as you try to build your business.

Team building should ALWAYS start with the team’s infrastructure. You need to determine how many hours you are spending on administrative duties. If it’s more than two hours a day, you need help immediately. It is not unusual to think that hiring and training will take too much of our precious time. But keep in mind that if you don’t have an assistant, then you are the assistant. First, create the full job description. Think about tasks that drag you down, identify them by listing what tasks take away precious time from your money producing activities. Write down the personal attributes that would best suit this position. Design a job description around these needs. This will streamline your interviewing process.

For every one hour of training you provide to someone, you will save ten hours in completing those same tasks. When considering the support you need, determine if you need a licensed or unlicensed assistant. Building a strong staff foundation is critical to the success of expanding your business or improving your quality of life. Working smarter always allows greater opportunities. Maintaining a strong database will also help lead to your greater success. There are many good options out there.

Are you letting inquiries and potential buyers slip through the cracks? This is another common indicator that you need to grow a team. AFTER hiring support staff, the next step would be to hire a buyers’ agent to handle your overflow. This will provide a greater return on your marketing investment and allow you more flexibility to manage your business. Once you’ve done this, you have the freedom to manage your business.

Avoid common mistakes by first gaining a bit of knowledge about team building and team management. Hiring, firing, compensation options, team structure, job duties, referral business, goals, planning, accountability, and team marketing strategies are just a few of the areas that need to be addressed before building a team.

COACHING TIP OF THE WEEK

MANAGE YOUR MESSAGE

One of the most effective ways to manage your time and your day is to change your voice mail message every day and let people know your schedule. While we tend to let our phones run our lives, an hour or two out of the loop won’t ever really kill a deal.

Your message can be something like this: “Hello and thanks for calling. This is Judy LaDeur with XYZ Realty and today is October 22^nd. I am out of the office on appointments all day, but feel free to leave a message here in my voicemail. I will return calls at 11:30 this morning and again at 4:00 this afternoon.

No matter who is calling, they know exactly what the deal is and what to expect. There is nothing worse though, than forgetting to update the message daily!

For more great ideas on giving your agents the best resources possible, while attracting awesome new agents, join The Profitable Recruiter. And if you HAVEN’T put systems in place to ALWAYS have the tools you need to grow your team with less headaches and more results – consider joining The Profitable Recruiter today. From now until February 5th make any Profitable Recruiter Pro Membership part of your 2016 business plan, and take 25% off with the promo code 25OFF— PLUS, have the ability to add up to 10 managers or admins to your account at no extra cost! That’s 35% off everything you need to be in the right place at the right time when the agents you want are ready to make a move – AND includes the SEVEN HOURS of recruiting audio training, more than 30 webinars on demand, scripts, letters, social media tools and more! What are you waiting for? Register today and hit the ground running for next year!

The Seven Daily Habits of a Profitable Broker

Posted on September 2, 2015September 2, 2015 by The Profitable Recruiter

Don’t Wait to Put a Single One in Place

By Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

What do top recruiters/brokers do on a daily basis to insure consistent results in recruiting? They FOCUS. If you look at any profitable real estate firm, you will also find a broker who is committed to recruiting.

There are 7 things that Profitable Brokers do on a daily basis:

They talk to the “right agents” for their firm.
They network with their own agents, and secure referrals with ease.
They network with agents in the marketplace through social media, events, open houses and Realtor events.
They follow up with the agents in their pipeline, and always maintain a pipeline of at least 10 agents who they are actively talking to about joining their firm.
They delegate tasks such as mailings, or anything that can be done by someone else. A profitable broker is always engaged in the highest and best use of their time.
They constantly educate themselves about their competition and know how they compare to their competition.
They have an effective marketing campaign, which is multi-faceted. The right campaign for your company engages print, email, social media, texting, personal notes, and any vehicle which can deliver YOUR message. What’s your message?

Marketing is a key component to any successful recruiting campaign. It’s based on the same principles that you probably drill into your agents on a regular basis. It’s about staying positioned in the marketplace. About staying top of mind with their prospects. It’s about follow up and relationship building. Successful recruiters “walk their own talk” and make all of these habits and action tasks part of their daily routine. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level – how many of these habits are you willing to adopt into YOUR day every day?

Continue to learn how to be the master recruiting skills and be the broker to join in your market. Bookmark our blog, and join The Profitable Recruiter today. We have a full spectrum of membership benefits with all the tools, strategies and solutions you need to position yourself to win this year and every year. Our goal is for you to become the “turn-to” broker in your area for every agent.

Join today and take advantage of our special summer offer of 30% off with the promo code 30OFF any pro membership. That’s 30% off everything you need to be in the right place at the right time when the agents you want are ready to make a move – including SEVEN HOURS of recruiting audio training! What are you waiting for? When you join – you and up to 10 managers can access your account! Try it for a month and see what it can do for you.

A Trend That Can Make Recruiting TOUGH

Posted on June 10, 2015June 10, 2015 by The Profitable Recruiter

And Why Timing is EVERYTHING

By Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

We saw a trend this year that we have not seen for a while. The best agents were not moving as easily as they did in years past. Why? The market was the strongest market that we have seen in the states for the past 10 years. For many agents, this was the strongest market of their career, and they were just not willing to make that move until the end of the market. For agents who have been in the business for many years, they know a great market when they see it, and they were making the best of it!

As a recruiter in the 2005/2006 market, I remember these days. It was frustrating for brokers. I remember one broker saying that they wished it would just slow down so that the agents would move. (That’s one of those careful what you wish for moments!)

In a slow market, agents move to increase their opportunities and do more business. In a great market, they move when it’s convenient and their pipeline is low. That time is fast approaching. In years past, when we had a strong market, the agents made their move in August and September. Just after summer holidays.

Are you positioned for the movement that is about to take place in your market? Are your interview skills sharp? Are you talking to agents weekly? Are you staying positioned in a fun, positive way? June and July is your time to get ready. Your job as the broker is to maintain a non-threatening, passive series of contacts until they are ready. The Profitable Recruiter ENews Campaign is a fun marketing piece that’s getting RESULTS. Remember, the best agents take longer, but they are worth it!

We just got another testimonial this week from Bruce in North Carolina. He wrote, “I just hired an agent as a direct result of the Monday Motivational Messages! She sold about $3M last year and is looking to increase her sales to approximately $5M. Keep those messages coming!”

If you’re ready to ramp up your recruiting, stay in touch with the agents you want, without wondering WHAT to do and WHEN to do it – join the www.TheProfitableRecruiter.com. We give you all the tools you need each month to position yourself as the broker to join when agents are ready to make a move. (We also make it a whole lot more fun!) Oh and if you’re fine tuning your skills this summer – remember – all pro members get access to over 7 hours of training via downloadable links including interview skills, scripts, objection handlers, and more. Be sure to listen in on the dialogue and training for bringing agents on board when their current broker won’t let them take their listings! It’s a game-changer! PLUS, you’ll have access to entire libraries of recruiting letters and notes, emails, social media content, training webinars for recruiting and retention, and opportunities to network with the best of the best.

Join today and take advantage of our special summer offer of 30% off with the promo code 30OFF any pro membership. That’s 30% off everything you need to be in the right place at the right time when the agents you want are ready to make a move!

What to Do BEFORE Recruiting Season Starts

Posted on May 28, 2015May 28, 2015 by The Profitable Recruiter

Fine Tune Those Interview Skills

By Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

Recruiting season is right around the bend – which mean NOW is the time to fine tune those interview skills. Use the summer to stay in touch with your recruits, and to turn up the heat on your recruiting skills by practicing. While it might not feel natural at first – I challenge you to stick as close to the interview process as possible.

Here is an overview of the interview process:

The set up: This is the time to tell them the goals and agenda for the meeting. Set up the interview by sharing your goals and agenda. Let them know that your job is to give them the information that they need that day to make the best decision for their real estate career, and to better have a feel of whether your company is the right choice for them. You should know if the agent is an emotional decision maker or a logical decision maker within the first 5-10 minutes. You need to mirror your candidate for optimal results. Maintain a businesslike manner for logical agents and a friendly, warm manner for emotional agents.

The questions: The questions are the foundation of your interview. If a broker/recruiter cannot master this component, their presentation will be weak, or even worse, they will find themselves “buying agents through making deals” if they cannot hire on value. Surface questions will not give you what you want to know. They just skim the surface. You must really dig deep and find out what is happening in their professional life, what they have now, how do they feel about what they have, and what do they want. Why, When and Why are how most of your questions should start. You can also say, “Tell me more about that” or “when you say

, what do you mean?”

The goal of asking questions for the new or struggling agent:

Do you want them? Will they make it? What are their past accomplishments? Sales experience? What is their behavior style? What have they been doing to build their career up until now? Number of people in their data base? Number of calls they make daily? Farming? FSBO? Expireds? What are they willing to do to have a successful career? Number of hours they plan to work to achieve goals?

The goal of asking questions for the experienced agent interview:

What do they like where they are? What do they dislike? What is the point of difference between your company and their company? What are their long term goals? Can they achieve them at their current company? What are their expectations of you as their broker? What are they doing to generate business now? What tools would best support them to take their career to the next level?

At the end of the questions, you should know which systems you will present and what it’s going to take to hire them. If you don’t know these things, then you either need to ask more questions or better questions.

The prospect that can be most challenging at this stage is the driver. If you are interviewing the driver, keep the questions moving fast, and be very direct. Otherwise, they will start asking you questions and you will lose control of the interview. If you lose control of the interview in the questioning process with a driver, it’s because it’s moving too slow or they are frustrated with the interview and you are not staying on task. This can be a very tough position for any manager or recruiter, but when you find yourself in that position, first realize how you got there and next, regain control as fast as possible. You can listen to the CD’s if you need additional support with regard to asking questions.

Please remember that the purpose of asking questions is to identify the right systems to present to the agent. They usually only need about 5 systems to meet their needs.

The Presentation:

The area that I would like for you each of you to really practice and develop is the 3-step presentation process and the ROI or value close. Failing to present each system in a way that shows value, is the #1 reason that the agent will not join. With regard to presentation skills, please remember that you don’t need to present everything about your company, but you should have visuals and info on everything that is unique about your company and be ready for each interview. What sets you apart and gives you a point of difference? Not only for experienced agents, but for new as well. It can be on a laptop, folders, whatever, as long as it is easy for you to use and it is going to demonstrate what makes your office unique and the results that can occur when they join your team.

This is your 3-step presentation process.

Recap what they said in the questioning process.
Present the tool or system using a visual
Present the results using results from agents at your office or survey results from an organization such as NAR.

Each tool gets presented the same way with the three step process. Then after the presentation, please go back and ask them to give you their opinion as to how many more transactions they can have with each tool. Please remember that they need you to give them results, in order for them to calculate value.

You can then close on the value of joining, which means that you do not have to worry about fees. When you follow the process above, you will see that they can give you the value as perceived and believed by them. It will definitely make recruiting easier.

The RECAP = your ROI

The ROI = your Value Proposition

If you are not using the 3-step process above, and sharing results with your recruit, you will not be able to value close them. After presenting each of your systems, you will recap, which is when you build value.

Dialog to start the recap:

“Let’s review what we have discovered. There were 5 different areas of your real estate career that YOU felt could use some improvement. You said that you definitely need:

More leads
More marketing support
Personalized coaching and broker support
Better tools to compete for listings
More market presence or a strong name in the community.

Is there anything that I missed? Let’s look at each tool/ system and determine what the value is to your career.

With regard to Leads: You said……. As you recall, our agents receive an average of

per year, with most converting 25% of those leads within 6 months. If we gave you the same number of leads each year, how many could you convert?

REPEAT THIS PROCESS FOR EACH TOOL OR SYSTEM WHICH WAS DISCUSSED.

Total all the opportunities and use this dialog:

“If we total up all the opportunities that you believe you could have with our office, the number is

additional sales and or listings sold. If we multiply that number by the average commission received, which is $

__, it looks like you could have an additional $

in income with our company. How does that sound?

More importantly, these are opportunities that do not exist at your current company, so currently, you do not have the opportunity to earn this money at your current firm. You will need to join our team to have these opportunities. When you came in today, I told you that my goal was to give you the information that you needed to make the best decision for your real estate career TODAY. Based on what you are looking at, does it look like a good time to join (your company)? I agree, so let’s take a look at the various compensation plans and determine which one is best for you!

This is called: Closing on VALUE. When you get their commitment, before talking about compensation plans, it’s a lot easier to hire them.

THE CLOSE: You must ask them to join. I like the handshake close. Those who have tried it have found it works great. There are a few people who are shy about trying it. This summer is a great time to master the official Judy LaDeur Hand Shake close.

Stalls and Objections: If you need help handling stalls and objections, please listen to your CD’s. I have all the solutions recorded. Here’s what others have found. When you follow the interview process, as described above, you will have fewer stalls and objections. Have a great summer!

Need help turning up the heat on your recruiting? We’ve got the answers. Join The Profitable Recruiter and gain access to 7 hours of training via downloadable links including interview skills, scripts, objection handlers, and more. PLUS, you’ll have access to entire libraries of recruiting letters and notes, emails, social media content, training webinars for recruiting and retention, and opportunities to network with the best of the best. Join today and take advantage of our special spring offer of 25% off with the promo code 25OFF any pro membership.

Are You Following Up With Co-Broking Agents?

Posted on April 2, 2015April 2, 2015 by The Profitable Recruiter

If Not, WHY Not?

by Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

A great way to build relationships with agents is to take advantage of the opportunities to work with those agents who sell your company listings of whose listings you sell. You not only have a 60-day window to work with them on those sales, but you can also use the fact that they sold your listing to invite them to social events, educational events or extend recognition to those agents.

Here are some examples:

Invite them to an event. When agents think they have earned the right to be at the event, they are more likely to attend, than if they thought they were being recruited. You can send out an invite followed up with a phone call which says: Because you have sold one of our listings this year we would like to invite you to be our guest at…
Thank them. You should always call those that your agents are working with and thank them for selling your listings, or the great way in which they always handle the transaction. After closing, send a note to the homes of the ones you want to interview, or if you know the spouse, send it to the spouse.
Ask around. Ask your agents about who they are working with and what the experience has been. Those are great conversations to have with your current agents,and shows you care about how their transactions are going, and your agents are your best source of referrals. They know who would be a good fit for your team and who wouldn’t. Ask if there was one agent out there who you’ve had a great experience with — a ten on a scale of one to ten — who would it be and why. Then call those agents up and share that compliment. Let them know you’re impressed and you’ve got an open door if they ever think about making a move.
Befriend those agents on social media. Use your social media platforms to be top-of-mind with your co-broking agents so they can get to know you over time.
Write a recommendation for them on LinkedIN. Everyone can use kudos – especially when they are well warranted. Writing a recommendation is a great way to let those agents know they are doing a great job and that you noticed, and for the clients and friends in THEIR sphere to hear see those glowing words about them as well.

The possibilities are endless, but definitely be sure to incorporate these ideas into your spring recruiting efforts.

Recruiting is all about staying in touch. Staying positioned. And communicating. We have the systems that can help you do all of that and more. Become a member of The Profitable Recruiter today, and put the power of done-for-you content and tools that make recruiting experienced and new agents easier, less time-consuming, and even fun. Register today and use the promo code 25OFF to save 25% on any pro membership. To access more than SEVEN HOURS worth of my recruiting Audio downloads, register for either the 6 month or annual memberships. Got questions? Email us! We’d love to help! Make it a great spring season!

Hiring Second Year Agents

Posted on March 12, 2015 by The Profitable Recruiter

A Smart Spring Recruiting Strategy

by Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

Are you looking to get a jump start on your recruiting? Then call the agents who are most likely to move. Statistics show that most agents who go on to become top producers, will make a move 12-24 months into their real estate career. Why? Most agents do not know what to look for when they are starting their career. They are excited that so many brokers are offering them positions. They might pick the one who they like the best, or the one who makes them the best offer. But not all brokers carry through on their promises, and what agents find out really fast, is that there are some really important criteria that determine how successful they can be as an agent. What is the strength of the name of the broker in their area, what are their listing tools which will allow them to compete for listings, what is the commitment of the other agents in the company to be successful and to work together as a team? The best agents figure out that when they have the right tools, environment and systems, it’s much easier to have a successful career. It’s for that reason, that many agents will make a move soon after they finish their first year in real estate. Check with your board or state to see if you can get a list of all agents who started their real estate career since January 2014. These agents are the most likely to make a move, and the best news is that statistically speaking, they will stay with you an average of seven years if they are happy. Maybe even longer!

Here’s a great recruiting letter you can customize and send to these potential recruits:

Letterhead

Dear (First Name),

Our records indicate that you are fairly new to the business. How is your real estate career progressing?

Did you know that a NAR survey of top producers indicated that approximately 87% of all agents surveyed made their first move 12-24 months after getting into real estate? Have you made your first move?

If yes, then statistically speaking, you’re on your way to becoming a top producer. Most agents who go on to become top producers will make another move at some point in their real estate career, so we would like to give you some info about (your company name) now so that when that time comes, you will know enough about us to know if we are a good option for you.

If you have not made a move, are you making the kind of money that you thought you would make when you got into the real estate business? What type of personalized coaching, mentoring and training have you received?

If you knew that you could take your career to the next level and make the kind of money that you hoped you could make by making a move to (your company name) would you make the move?

Let’s get together and see if you can!

Warm regards,

Your Name, Title

This is just one of many recruiting letters, scripts, tools, newsletters, training and special offers you’ll find in The Profitable Recruiter Systems. Each month our members receive 4-5 weekly newsletters, broker challenges and step-by-step action items, 2-3 recruiting letters, 2-3 lumpy letters, social media posts and strategies, 1-3 retention tools, 1-3 new scripts, a powerful training webinar with top talented brokers, agents, and coaches and more. We deliver all the tools you need to grow the business and agent team you really want.

And for a very limited time ONLY, I am offering my Profitable Recruiter Audio Training System (a $297 value) to every broker who registers for a six month or one year pro membership to The Profitable Recruiter. In this audio training package, you’ll have more than SEVEN HOURS of recruiting tools, scripts, dialogues, role-playing, and foundation builders.

Register today for the six-month or one-year Profitable Recruiter pro memberships and we’ll send you the link and password information to start listening to Judy’s incredible training tools right away.

Got questions? Email us for answers! Good luck and happy Recruiting!

Play Ball!

Posted on March 5, 2015 by The Profitable Recruiter

Having a Little Fun With Your Recruiting!

by Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

Spring is right around the corner and baseball season with it — why not have a little fun this month with your recruiting calls with a playful, but effective little dialogue I like to call, “Play Ball”.

Here’s how it works. Head to your local sporting goods store and purchase enough baseballs to send to your top recruiting prospects – the ones you REALLY want. Then have your team members sign them. Then send them out! Wait a few days, then give them call!

Here’s the dialogue:

Good Morning…How are you today?

Did you receive the baseball that we delivered to your home? Well, it is that time of year again! In the spirit of a new baseball season, we played a game of our own in the office. Just as the best teams are always out scouting for new talent, we do the same here at

. I walked around the office and asked each of my associates to name two players they wanted most to have join our team. I’m delighted to tell you that your name came up several times!
As a matter of fact, your name came up so often that I went to the sporting goods store, purchased a baseball and asked the members of our team to sign it for you. It is our way of inviting you to check out our team.

My thought is that if such a large number of my best players want you to join, it might be worth it for us to sit down and share our game plans to see if there is a way that we can work together in the near future. I promise there will be no obligation and no pressure. However, If you like what you hear, let’s play ball! So, how does 3:00 today sound for you?

Recruiting doesn’t have to be boring. Or stress-inducing. Have some FUN with it! We can help!

For a very limited time ONLY, Judy has offered to release her Profitable Recruiter Audio Training System (a $297 value) to every broker who registers for a six month or one year pro membership to The Profitable Recruiter. In this audio training package, you’ll have more than SEVEN HOURS of recruiting tools, scripts, dialogues, role-playing, and foundation builders. In her Profitable Recruiter Membership Platform you’ll have weekly eNewsletters, recruiting letters, lumpy letters, retention tools, social media tools, a full library of webinars on demand (for you and your agents), and new scripts monthly as well. This power-packed duo of recruiting tools is literally everything you need to recruit the team of your dreams, but this offer won’t be on the table for long.

Got questions? Email us for answers! Good luck and happy Recruiting!