Market Perspective

Image is everything. You can be the very best at what you do, but if you're perceived the wrong way, it can undermine your...

We all wish we had a magic crystal ball to tell us what the future holds, but alas, as housing industry professionals, we have to rely on...

Benjamin Franklin has been credited with the famous phrase, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” We all know this to be true on some...

Overloaded schedules, competing priorities, and a never-ending list of tasks and deadlines: If you asked most professionals today, they’d...

We all know someone who we think was just born to lead. They're cool under pressure, diplomatic, self-confident, and people want to...

ABC: Always Be Closing. We’re all familiar with that classic sales mantra, but is that hard-hitting approach really the be-all and end-all of success in sales? If you’re always caught up in closing the deal, you’ll never have time to get ahead of the curve. The most successful salespeople understand that, in order to stay competitive, you’ve got to keep your knowledge and skills sharp. By making it a priority to Never Stop Learning, you’ll be better equipped to Always Be Clos

"Business is business. It’s no place for emotion, especially when it comes to my customers." If you subscribe to that line of thinking,...

These days, if you don’t have a social media presence, it’s almost like saying you don’t want to succeed. Approximately 68% of adults in the

It happens all the time. You're in a time crunch, you need a quick answer from your client, and you send an email hoping they get back to you in time. You even call and leave a voicemail just to cover all your bases. You'd prefer to just send them a quick text, but isn't that unprofessional? Invasive? Inappropriate, even? It turns out, it's quite the opposite, depending on the situation. According to a new study, " Great TEXTpectations: The Text Messaging Playbook for Seller

In last month’s issue of Spark , we talked about the cost of new customer acquisition and how working to improve customer retention produces a much higher ROI for your business. While that is true, there is one exception to the rule: referrals. Unlike your standard web lead, which takes a lot of marketing dollars to get, referrals are a unique kind of new client. Because they’ve heard about you from a trusted friend or relative, half the battle has already been won. They tak

Getting a new client takes a lot of work. From executing marketing campaigns to capturing leads to moving them through the sales pipeline, a closed deal certainly seems like a cause for celebration. But do you know how much those new customers are really costing you? While every business needs new customers to stay alive, putting most of your energy and resources into new client acquisition might not be the best way to maximize profits. So what's a more beneficial — and cost-

Spring is just around the corner, and with it, the peak homebuying season. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or fairly new to the housing industry, it’s important to prepare yourself for the uptick in activity that’s ahead. Just as professional athletes attend routine practices before the start of a new season, the same principle applies for any business person who is impacted by seasonality. Set yourself up for success this spring by starting on the following activities

Successful customer relationships are vital to the health of your business. Getting to know your customers enables you to better meet...

Economic experts have begun weighing in on expected trends in the housing market for next year. Knowing and preparing for changes in the...

When you were a kid, was there something you wanted so badly that you visualized it down to the tiniest detail? Perhaps you would...

All businesses experience slow periods, often due to seasonality. For those of us in the housing industry, sales are usually booming in spring and summer and drop off during fall and winter. While that's to be expected, it doesn't mean this is a time to relax or slack off. In fact, what you do during the off season matters just as much for your business as what you do during the peak season. By being proactive when business is slow, you'll set yourself up for success and be b

Being a great salesperson is not something you're born with. Sure, some people have a knack for persuasion and emanate charm more...

We all understand the importance of customer service, but what does it really mean to put this into action?

Did you know Facebook is the most widely used social platform in the world? Boasting over 1.28 billion active users a day.

The opinions of past customers can make or break your business. In today's world, not only do you have to work hard to deliver an excellent customer experience, but you also have to capture your customers' feedback once the deal closes if you want to attract new business. That's where consumer reviews come in. If you're interested in staying ahead of the competition, make sure you've got online reviews that are positive, current, and can be found in the right places.