The sales funnel .. everyone has heard of it, but do you
understand it? Bet you don’t! The definition of
the sales funnel refers to the process that companies lead customers through
when purchasing what they sell. So in our game of lettings and estate agency,
it’s the process of getting the property on the market through to securing the
let /sale.
It starts off with awareness. If they don’t know you even
exist, nothing will happen. It’s all about getting the landlord/ potential
house seller to become aware of the existence of YOU Mr Letting or Estate Agent.
Most agents are great at that (grabbing attention). But here is the tricky part. Once you have
their awareness, you THEN need to EARN their interest. Only once you have earnt
their interest can you earn their TRUST.
Using childhood metaphors ... treat it like trying to woo
someone of the opposite sex. No one
(worth keeping) goes straight to fourth base do they? You have to go through all the bases .. don’t
you? First base is all about earning
their ATTENTION, then second base is all about earning their INTEREST, after
you have got to second base, you can go onto third base, earning their TRUST
...and once you have earned their trust, you will get fourth base .... GET
THEIR BUSINESS
This is where most (98%) agents fall down. They try and
go straight to fourth base. ... too much too quick and too soon. Most agents
fail at this game. The Problem is this. All you have to do is get the landlord/
potential house seller to show interest in what you have to say Mr(s) Letting
or Estate Agent ... so most agents (as it’s a sales process), try and sell
themselves, their services and what their company can offer them .. Sell sell
sell – that’s what it’s all about , isn’t it?
Well, er .. no. Let me explain ...
I can only talk about
personal experiences. I left my well paid job as Senior National role for one
of the largest letting agent firms in the UK on the 12th December
2013. I had no idea what I wanted to do (and it rather took my Wife by surprise
as well!) but I set up my blog to keep me occupied whilst I did. That blog (a
form of social media) that I created is
the thing that gets me my clients ... but here is the twist, I am not selling through social media . I am content marketing.
Everything that I do on social media is above the funnel.
I am concerned about attention and awareness of letting and estate agents. I am
aware of my personal brand and I am focused on being known and being known as a
value creator. So far, it’s been very good for me, because I create content, I
have attracted many letting agents. By reading this blog or listening to my
podcasts or even watching my videos, you already know what I believe. In the process, I am gaining interest and
trust. You have some idea of what it might be like to work with me before you
even email me or ring me.
.... but I am not selling .. what i do It isn’t part of a
sales process. By writing content that is attention grabbing and more
importantly interesting to my potential clients (ie you Mr(s) Letting Agent),
my blog has become my only lead generation and nurturing tool I need to attract
letting agents to me. Selling is about dialogue and promises, but dialogue
without promises isn’t selling...It’s just dialogue. You should do the same for
landlords.. shouldnt you Mr (s) letting / Estate Agent?
You see, all social media is this ... Social media is
what you and I would say face to face, but on a computer screen. People don’t
like to be sold to, but they like to buy. People use social media to connect
and be entertained, but just as in real life, people don’t like to sold to. So
why bang on trying to sell yourself, your services, your company, the fact you
have hit your targets this month, the fact
you won this or that award, you have let/sold so many houses .. nobody cares ... just stop it .. again I
say, nobody cares... If your advertising
mentions anything about you, your company or services ..then its wasting
my time, your potential clients time and
your time .. and you wont get the results you deserve ....
.
All you have to do is talk about what interests your
potential landlords and house sellers ..(and
no it isn’t you or how bl**dy wonderful you or firm is) ... the British are obsessed
with one thing .. how much is my house worth ... so talk about the local
property market ..
I tell you WHAT to do on my blog (www.landlordfarming.com) ... How do you do it? .. Well that’s why you should contact me because
I can get you to 4th base?
;-)