How to Create Business During the Holidays Even Though You’d Rather Be Shopping, Eating, Drinking, or Relaxing!
Actually, You Can Do It All!
By Jerri Udelson, MCC
There are almost three weeks until Christmas and four weeks until New Year’s Eve. For most real estate agents and other self-employed individuals, business slows down as people focus on preparing for the holidays or going on vacation.
This is actually a great time to create business for 2020. While most agents are in holiday mode, taking time off to go shopping and socialize, now is the perfect time to:
Call/text/email or DM all of the people in your sphere of influence. Set aside an hour or two every morning, sit down with a cup of coffee, and contact everyone with whom you’ve done business, everyone who has referred you business, and everyone with whom you would like to do business.
The number of contacts can range from hundreds to thousands.
Leave a message saying, “Hello. This is ________ from _______. I’m calling to let you know I’m thinking of you and to wish you and your family Happy Holidays.”
Or, “Hello. This is ________ from _______. I’m calling to thank you for your business and to wish you and your family Happy Holidays.”
Make each call short and upbeat. It’s a reminder of your relationship with the people in your business life—not an opportunity to prospect.
Send holiday cards (and perhaps small gifts such as chocolates, cookies or paperwhite or amaryllis growing kits) with personal, handwritten notes to people with whom you are working as well as past clients and customers.
Send holiday gifts to your top clients and customers and to those who have referred business to you this year. Bottles of wine, flowers, custom gift baskets, and gift certificates/cards to fine dining restaurants are always appreciated. Stay away from branded gifts like pens, datebooks and calendars.
Schedule holiday lunches, drinks or dinners with people in your sphere to thank them for their business.
Plan a client appreciation party to be held after the New Year for top-referring clients. People are extremely busy during the holidays, so it’s best to create something for January, when things slow down.
Stay in business mode while others in your office are in holiday mode. You may get clients whose agents are on vacation and receive calls from buyers who have time to look at properties on their days off.
While there is less inventory between Thanksgiving and early January, the sellers who have listed their properties are more motivated, as are the buyers. And listings look great when decorated for the holidays.
Finally, schedule time off to enjoy the season. Have a midweek massage, take your children to see Santa, go shopping first thing one morning before the crowds descend (and after you’ve made your holiday calls), have a special night out with your partner. You deserve to take care of yourself.
Yes, you can do it all! Just don’t neglect your business during the holiday season. It’s the best time to reconnect with and thank the people who have contributed to your success. And it’s the perfect time to set yourself up for a terrific 2020!
Make 2020 Your Best Year Yet. I have a limited number of coaching spots left for my new program, “Make 2020 Your Best Year Yet.” It’s a package of three private one-hour coaching sessions over the next two months. Together we will create a fantastic business plan based on what you actually love to do and what you are willing to do to grow your business and create a life you love in 2020.
This is not a “get up at 5 am and ‘crush it,’ one-size-fits-all” program. It’s personalized coaching with a master coach who has coached top-producing agents for over two decades.
Call or email me and we can discuss the details and see if this program is perfect for you.
(505) 988-5533 or JerriU@gmail.com
EntrepreneurialCoaching.com
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season, filled with love and gratitude.
