Several month's ago, I conducted an informal survey. I asked real estate agents the following question:
"What is the Best Book You've Ever Read?"
Our survey quickly filled up with different answers. In fact, I listed every book recommended by agents completing in the survey at this blog post: The Best Books for Real Estate Agents
In fact, take a minute and go review all of the books recommended by agents taking my survey. See if you can spot anything that might be helpful for you in 2009. I'm serious, review the list and try and find any commonalities. There is a BIG lesson for you in the list of recommended books.
Here is what I noticed…
Out of all of the books recommended by real estate agents, only ONE was on marketing. The only book recommended that was focused on marketing was "Gorilla Marketing" by Jay Conrad Levinson. Do you find this interesting? I certainly do.
Various survey's indicate that the average real estate agent earns less than $20,000 a year. Do you see a correlation between the books we are reading and our financial results? I certainly do.
Marketing is our highest value activity – by far. I would rather be a better marketer than a better salesperson. Would you?
The problem is that the majority of real estate agents aren't reading and studying marketing. We are reading books on goals, management, investing and more…
Wouldn't it make sense for us to study marketing? Wouldn't we see a larger return for our time investment? Wouldn't we get more clients? Wouldn't we sell more homes? Wouldn't it make our businesses more valuable?
I hope you answered yes to my questions. If so, consider adding ONE more resolution to your list for 2009. Here it is:
I WILL READ ONE NEW MARKETING BOOK A MONTH AND I WILL APPLY WHAT I LEARN IN MY BUSINESS.
Change what you read and you'll change your business.
Happy New Year!
