Keep in mind I have a sales background, and I am ready to get going with generating leads for my business. However, with news of the market reaching a steady median in sales, is a more creative lead generation system necessary? What have you done for your market? What approaches did you use that worked for you when the market was hot that no longer worked for you in the current market? What techniques did you change and modify (if you had to) to continue to get buyer/seller leads year after year?

And why isn't there a lead generation section on this site since leads are the core of our business?

Your question is very broad if you're an agent. What market(s) do you want to reach? First home buyers? New homes? Vacation properties? Farms/Ranches? Commercial? Investors?

Business generation strategies are highly influenced by the type of business you're trying to gain. Though there are common techniques, the most successful "lead capture" strategies are usually dependent upon the type of prospect you're trying to reach.

Hello Jim,

I'm looking to reach the following: buyers and sellers of residential properties. After my first year and I gain some residential experience I plan on moving into the more lucrative market of commercial properties.

First and foremost, though- I want to specialize and build my business around listings instead of buyers (similar to one of the Keller models in Gary Keller's book The Millionaire Real Estate Agent).

RookieAgent007:

Article here on a quick start for building sphere of influence. After that, look at your budget and try some other lead generation things.

For listings, once you've chosen area(s) to farm/work, look at starting a blog. It's almost cost-free and you can approach subdivision and homeowner associations in your farm areas to offer free posting of their announcements and events.

Good luck.

Why do you want to gain residential experience before going Commercial? That residential experience will gain you nothing. If you want to sell commercial properties then do so now. Most full time commercial agents will look at you as a dabbler if you are a Residential agent doing a little commercial. Commercial property is a whole different business than selling houses.

If you are already reading MREA, you should explore the concept of going narrow and deep in a particular neighborhood or price range.

I got no choice with the narrow but I love to go deep.

When looking for buyers or sellers the name of the game is to keep your name in front of your target prospects. I have found that no matter how many transactions you have done the more you’re name is front of your prospects the more likely they will call you when they are ready. Don’t spend a fortune on your marketing materials. A few postcards and a good newsletter is a great place to start. Collect postcards that other realtors mail to you and create your own (You can be very creative with ms publisher). I got my newsletters from a company called farmthem.com (24 newsletters for $25.00) because I don’t have the time to make my own. The secret is to keep sending your prospects something. IT WORKS.

Last post 13 days ago + plug from new member = SPAM

BTW... I found your site to be a 'waist' of time.

I got a couple of great leads I'm working now that cost me absolutley nothing. I post on some relocation message boards and have gotten 2 great leads in the last 5 days that are going great.