how do you get business referrals?

**shmoo597** · 06-06-2007, 10:17 PM

hey everyone,

I just quit a job with a realty firm and am striking it out on my own, and starting my own private firm. I plan to deal mostly with commercial properties, as this is what I have been trained in.

I am trying to build up a client base - how do those of you with your own businesses get buisness referrals? Do you use word of mouth or websites or what? Do you use forums like this one? On another board someone mentioned businessnetworkingme.com and some other referral sites. Anyone know anything about it, or if these referral sites actually work?

thanks

Alex

**gjtrafl** · 06-07-2007, 05:42 AM

Be sure to keep commercial lenders on your radar. They can be a great source of leads to help grow your business. I would also join some local organizations... Lions Clubs, Chamber stuff, etc....

**KaterinaGasset** · 06-07-2007, 02:22 PM

Find a good BNI group in your area and network like crazy.
Networking is the best way in my experience to get clients.
People do business with those they know, like and trust.
Building relationships and nurturing those relationships is the key to a successful real estate business; commercial and residential.
Business Networking International (BNI) has only one member per profession so if you find one that does not have a commercial Realtor in it then join right away. Realtor positions are almost always taken up quickly in BNI.
Also, they divide Real Estate into 2 positions, commercial and residential. If the position is filled than get put on the waiting list.
BNI has done wonders for all my business ventures. You can look the main site up on line and see if there is one in your area. Also, you can start you own BNI chapter by contacting them online as well.
I have more ideas but work on this one, let me know how it goes.

**Codythebest** · 06-07-2007, 04:49 PM

Knock on doors...

**sellinggalveston** · 06-07-2007, 07:43 PM

I worked a short while at comming up in "Galveston texas commercial real estate" on the search engines and from then till I got to the top was only a few weeks... must not have been much competition. Then when I got to the top I have been to busy to do much marketing... I do almost all commercial now... 400k-2.2M... so its much better than residential and much smoother for the most part. So I am all for internet marketing... I also landed over 2,000,000 in commercial listings the first month I was number one on yahoo.com!

**ChristianOC** · 06-09-2007, 06:24 PM

Online marketers have a saying, "The money is in the list." I believe this is also true in offline marketing/sales.

Establish a list of clients and design a routine for staying in contact.