On average you probably send out dozens of emails every day. And most prospects probably receive dozens more. So, how do you differentiate yourself from every other agent or salesperson trying to get them to buy something?

You let your books do the talking. 

In any email you send to your list of leads, include a link to your lead page in your signature or link it to an image of your book title.

How do you do that? We walk you through all of the steps below!

Create An Eye Catching Banner

Adding an image to your email signature is a sure-fire way to stand out and we’ve created all of the banner templates you need.Our team has created easy to use templates that you can customize using a free Canva.com account.

To access a template just click on the desired template from the sets below. Be sure to watch the video above for best practices.

*Inside each banner set you will find versions for our Real Estate Members and Mortgage Members

Creating An Email Signature With Clickable Image

Now that you have created your one-of-a-kind banner, it’s time to add it to your email signature. In the video above, we walk you through the step-by-step process for creating a new email signature and adding a clickable image.

*Note* In our example, we are using a Gmail Account.

For adding images to email signature to additional providers view the instructions here:
Outlook
Yahoo
AOL

Email Signature Without An Image

Prefer not to have an image in your email signature? No worries, you can add a clear Call To Action promoting your book instead. We’ve even provided a copy and paste template for you to use.Follow the video above to step-by-step instructions for creating a new email signature in Gmail.

For instruction additional providers view the instructions here:
Outlook
Yahoo
AOL

Sample Real Estate Book Call-To-Action:

Have you read my real estate book yet? If not, you can get your very own copy by going here: (Insert Landing Page Link)

Inside my book, you’ll discover many ways to sell any home fast for top dollar. If you or anyone you know would like a free copy, please let me know.

Sample Mortgage Book Call-To-Action:

Have you read my real estate book yet? If not, you can get your very own copy by going here: (Insert Landing Page Link)

Inside my book, you’ll discover how to navigate the home financing process for your next home purchase. If you or anyone you know would like a free copy, please let me know.

Social media is a powerful tool that you can use to generate sales with your book. Where else can you consistently stay in front of all the people you know? You can step up your reach by positioning yourself as an expert.

Obviously, the more engaged you are on social media and the more followers you have, the more successful you’ll be at securing sales and referrals with your book. If you're not active on social media, we recommend trying to increase your reach and engaging with your followers on a regular basis.

Note:

Before you begin promoting your book on social media you will need eye-catching images. We provide all the templates you need to create your very own social media images using the free graphic design software, Canva.

We also have step-by-step training on how you can download your book cover image to use in promotional material.

Pro Tip: Hire a Virtual Assistant to handle this for you! From lead generation and appointment setting to social media management and data collection, the Boost Assist team can help you delegate routine tasks and free up your schedule to focus on the bigger picture!

Find out more about Boost Assist here!

Here’s a quick overview of how you can share your digital book on Facebook and Instagram.

Facebook

There are a few ways you can promote your book through your Facebook page.

Cover Photo

Click on the button in the upper left corner of your cover photo that says Add a Cover then select the option that says Upload Photo/Video from the dropdown menu. When the upload box appears, find the image you want to use, click to select it and upload.

CTA Button

This will only work on an actual Facebook business page, not on your personal Facebook page.

Just under your cover image to the right, you’ll see a blue button that says Add a Button. When the box pops up, choose the option that says Learn more about your business > Learn more,  then click Next.  

Click where it says Website Link, then paste in a link to your author site or digital book link into the box. Your digital book is actually available to read on your author site, so if you want to promote your whole site, link to it here.

Click Save, then Finish.

When you’re done, a button will appear that says Learn More. You can hover over this button to test it out or to change it in the future.

Facebook Posts

If you want to promote your book to all of your followers and make sure it appears on their timelines, create an actual post with your digital book link or landing page.

Copy and paste your link into a post from your page and upload a photo of your banner ad or another promotional image from our team. If you have physical books on hand, you can also take a picture of yourself holding up your book or a picture of a pile of books on your desk.

Not sure how to download the 3D image of your book? Click here for step-by-step instructions!

Post Text Template

“Thinking about selling your home? Check out my book that shows you how to get the most money in the least amount of time! Click here to read it for free!” {Insert Digital Book or Landing Page Link}

Click publish, and your post will be shared with all of your followers. You can also boost it for a small amount of money to people in your area who may be looking to buy or sell. Just click Boost under your published post and follow the steps to select your leads.

If you want this post to stay at the top of your page so it doesn’t get bumped down by other content in the future, click on the three buttons to the top right of your post. Click where it says Pin to Top of Page. 

You can also encourage shares of your post by holding a contest for people who share it. Enter them into a drawing once a month for a restaurant gift card, sports or event tickets, or a membership to a local zoo or museum.

About Section

You can also include the link in your “About” information on your personal or business page so anyone who visits your page can find it when they click to learn more about you.

Instagram

Included in your promotional images is an Instagram-ready ad for your book. You can post this or share a photo of yourself holding your book or your book cover on its own.

When you post on instagram, you can’t put your link in the actual post. You have to tell people to click the link in your bio. 

To add or change the link in your bio, visit your page from the app on your phone (or visit Instagram.com/profilename from your computer) and click Edit Profile. Copy and paste the link to your author site or digital book where it says Website.

Your site will remain on your profile until you decide to change it. When you create a post, direct people to click the link in your bio.

Again, with your Authorify membership, you have access to fully customizable social media graphic templates by clicking here.

There is no doubt about it, in real estate, word-of-mouth referrals are worth their weight in gold, and having a process for collecting client reviews is a must.

In today’s digital world, online reviews are just as or, in some cases, more important than personal referrals. A 2017 study found that a staggering 85% of consumers trust these online reviews with the same confidence that they would have an in-person recommendation.

How does this translate to real estate?

According to the 2019 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers:

Based on those statistics, you can see there is a high likelihood you will be able to collect a review from past clients.

Securing multiple reviews is also key. According to this study, 25% of consumers will trust online reviews as much as in-person recommendations only if there are multiple reviews available.

Where To Display Your Reviews?

The answer to this question is truly anywhere and everywhere.

The more places you can show off your positive reviews, the better.

Obviously, you will be adding testimonials to your book, but you can not forget your online presence.

As an agent, you most likely have at least three different online profiles to keep up with. Whether it be Facebook, Zillow, Realtor.com or a Google My Business Page, potential clients are going to find you in a variety of ways. You need to make sure each of those profiles have up-to-date reviews.

Asking For Reviews

In order to populate all of your different profiles with reviews, you have to first ask for them. By incorporating a review collection process into your routine, you are more likely to be successful.

Upon the closing of a deal, you can send a congratulatory text using one of these templates:

For Buyers:

Congratulations on your new home, [customer name]! Did I do a good job of helping you navigate the buying process? Please let me know here: [Review link].

[Customer name], now that the closing is over, are you happy with my services? Did I do a good job negotiating on your behalf? If so, please consider leaving a review! [Review link].

For Sellers:

Congratulations on selling your home, [customer name]! Would you list with me again in the future? Your feedback is vital. Would you leave some here? [Review Link].

[Customer name], I just wanted to again congratulate you on the closing. Will you do me a favor? Your feedback is vital to my success, and I would really appreciate it if you took a few moments to leave a review here [Review Link]. Thanks!

If email is more your style, you can use a template like this:

“[Customer Name], thank you so much for choosing me as your real estate agent! I hope you are as happy with how your transaction went as I am. May I ask you the favor of writing a review about your experience with me? I use this feedback as a way to continually improve. Here is the link to leave your comments: [Review Link] “Thank you again, [Customer Name]. I appreciate you taking the time to give me feedback, and I look forward to reading your remarks.”

Don’t be afraid to include a little gift like an electronic gift card to a nearby coffee shop as a token of appreciation.

Ideally, you will be collecting all of your reviews right after closing, but things happen, and in some cases, you will need to reach out to clients you worked with months or even years ago.

The key to reaching out to these clients is to have a reason for your communication.

And there is no better reason than an anniversary.

Email is best for reaching out to past clients, and you can use a template like one of the following:

For Buyers:

“[Customer Name], thank you again for choosing me as your real estate agent! I wanted to wish you a happy [###] anniversary in your home! I hope the home has been everything you dreamed. May I ask you the favor of writing a review about your experience with me? These reviews go a long way with prospective clients, and I would them like to hear about the experiences of my previous clients. You can leave your comments here [Review Link].

“Thank you again, [Customer Name]. I appreciate your feedback and look forward to reading it.”

For Sellers:

“[Customer Name], thank you again for choosing me as your real estate agent! I wanted to wish you a happy [###] anniversary on the sale of your home! I hope things have settled down a bit and that you’re as delighted with the end results as I am.  May I ask you the favor of writing a review about your experience with me? These reviews go a long way with prospective clients, and I would like them to hear about the experiences of my previous clients. You can leave your comments here [Review Link].

“Thank you again, [Customer Name]. I appreciate your feedback and look forward to reading it.”

How To Get The Right Reviews

The best reviews include personal stories that reflect your effectiveness, personality, work ethic and qualifications. These specific stories will provide potential clients something to relate to when they’re making a decision on who to hire.

So, how do you get these types of reviews?

It all starts with asking the right questions.

There is no reason to shy away from asking a past client specifically if they would recommend or use your services again in the future. Just don’t forget to follow up with the most important question — Why?

Here is a list of questions to help elicit the type of reviews you are looking for:

By asking these questions, you’ll have a handful of short stories to add to a review page on your website, your social media and even the testimonials section of your book.

Dominate Listings in Your Neighborhood with Your Book

Have you ever seen an agent’s sign in your neighborhood and thought to yourself, “Why didn’t I get that listing?”

Whether you’ve been living or working in your area for a long time or you’re brand new in town, there’s no reason you can’t be the go-to real estate agent in your area. If that’s not currently the case, there are steps you can take to avoid losing out to another agent.

Laying the Groundwork

Before you can become the go-to agent in your area, you have to define that area. Are you trying to work with people in a specific city? School district? Township?

Aim to target an area of approximately 500 homes. Specifically focus on meeting people in your area you don’t know yet.

If it’s allowed in your area, knock on doors and introduce yourself. But don’t just show up and ask people to consider hiring you. Use the opportunity as a simple introduction and to offer them something of value — like your book. Encourage them to look through it and ask if they might know anyone looking to buy or sell their home.

The books are a tangible item that has value — something homeowners are likely to keep, not throw away. If no one is home, either come back another time or leave one of your books in a door hanger with a Post-it note explaining why you wanted them to have a copy.

An agent from Texas, Francesca, was new in the business when she went door to door around her neighborhood. “I started doing door hangers with these ‘pop-bys,’” she said, “I’d go around and pick a few different streets that were close to me, and I knocked on their doors and talked to everybody that would answer, and everybody else just got a door hanger. I got a couple of leads from doing that … I’ll be helping them list their home as well as find a new home.”

Show You’re a Local Expert

Once you let an owner know the benefits of working with someone who specializes in their area, they’ll be much more likely to list with you. Here’s what you need to bring to the table to differentiate yourself from other agents in your market:

Try a version of this script:

“Hi, I’m _____. I’m one of your neighbors. I live on _____ Street. I also work as a Realtor, and I wanted to give you a free copy of my real estate book. Do you know anyone who is thinking about buying or selling a home in the neighborhood?”

The key to making this work is to reach out your hand and give them the book — while you are introducing yourself. When you’ve finished, wait for them to answer, and then see how the conversation progresses. It might surprise you how many people are friendly and more than happy to talk to you.

Honing in on Your Community

Before you start prospecting, first identify the low-hanging fruit — i.e. the people in your neighborhood most likely to be in the market to sell: FSBOs, expireds, vacant homes and those properties that were rented about 10 months ago (where leases may expire soon).

These are the people you should approach and reach out to first. You can start by mailing out your book or dropping it off in person using the aforementioned script.

Then, follow up by phone call a few days later to ask if the person had a chance to look over your book and see if they have any questions. This way, you’re not just calling them blindly or without reason.

Get People to Come to You

Hosting a barbecue at one of your open houses or sponsoring a local event is a great way to grow your brand awareness. Make fliers and distribute them in your area. Create a Facebook event page and share it like crazy in local groups.

Put copies of your books out in a highly visible area and other information/signs around the event that make it clear you’re the one sponsoring it.

If you host an open house in a neighborhood, invite everyone who lives close by. They will come for free food, but they’ll take home something valuable they’ll keep around the house and come back to when they’re in the market to buy or sell.

Results in Action

Frank Causey is a real estate agent with 13 years of experience. However, he recently moved from the south to Pennsylvania, which means he had to learn a lot about the area. “I even have the Southern accent still,” he said. Using Authorify books with his real estate prospects “helps me lay down the fact that I am experienced, I know what I’m talking about, and it makes me look like I have the authority and the know-how and the knowledge to sell their house.”

By using books, he found an effective and profitable way to market himself as a real estate authority — and to boost his own confidence in the process. Clients sense hesitation, and it can undermine their own confidence in the agent.

Here’s how Frank gets listings.

When Frank reaches the end of his listing presentation, he likes to pull out his book and say, “Oh. I’m going to leave this with you to review it.” He tells his prospective client, “Instead of a business card, this is what I’m leaving with you. It’s got my telephone number, my contact information on it. But it’s also a book that I compiled. You’re not going to find it on Amazon.com, but here is a book that can help you.”

He informs the client that the book will explain the steps needed to get the best price for the home. “They smile and go, ‘Wow, that’s really different.’ And I say, ‘Yeah. I just want you to remember me. Even if you don’t list with me, you’re going to remember me because I gave you a book instead of a flimsy business card that you’re going to probably throw away as soon as I leave.’ Then, everybody gets a chuckle out of it.”

Of the 15–20 books Frank has given away, he’s gotten three listings. One listing was for $300,000, which he ended up selling himself, making even more money in the process. He said the biggest benefit of the books is that they set him apart from other real estate agents in the area. “It makes [clients] feel like they’re getting something tangible, that you care about them, and that you’re working for them.”

The books help Frank show he’s a real estate expert, which in turn makes him feel more self-assured, especially since he’s still learning his new market. Of course, Frank backs up his new-found status with a commitment to provide 24/7 help for whatever his clients need. But the books are his most apparent differentiator.

“You’ve got to spend money to make money,” he said. “Even just $100–$200 can be a huge help. Also, be confident, believe in what you’re saying and don’t hesitate.

Frank prefers to give a book to people when he has an opportunity to provide them with some context. He uses them primarily to close the deal after he gets his foot in the door. “If I can get face-to-face with them, my odds of getting a listing triple.”

Pennsylvania is more populous than the part of South Carolina where he started his career. It’s harder to stand out in a crowded market. The books have aided his conversion rate on listing appointments by making him seem authoritative, “especially in the area where I’m kind of the rookie, I’m kind of the fish out of water.”

“Anyone that’s starting out in real estate … I would encourage them to buy the books and buy the program with y’all. Because it does give them a little boost of confidence that they do need. And it makes them look like, even if they’ve been selling real estate for six months, it makes them look like they’ve been selling it for six years.”

Frank said his biggest failure was probably during his first year. He believes that if he had committed to paying a small amount for tools, like his books, he would have benefited tremendously: “You’ve got to have tools. It’s just like, a carpenter doesn’t go to a job without his tool belt.”

To Summarize:

Take Action:

Now it’s up to you to do a little research and get in front of potential clients in your neighborhood. If you can establish trust and credibility with your books, you’ll be head and shoulders above the majority of agents who aren’t willing or don’t have the proper tools to get out on the street and win listings.

As an Authorify Member, you will surely have a wide variety of marketing materials to offer potential clients via social media posts. Whether you are promoting your Home Sellers Book, Buyer Book or maybe even your latest listings, having one central hub for all of these offer links is key.

Luckily, there is a free solution via Linktr.ee

In the steps below, we walk you through creating your Linktr.ee account, connecting your offers to your Linktr.ee page and adding your Linktr.ee to your social media account.

Facebook Marketing is a great way to get more leads and listings. In this training, I’ll show you how to publish your ads, create custom audiences, and track your results.

The books can be a great tool to warm up new leads. But some of our most successful members have also used them to stand out heading into listing presentations.

If you currently drop off or mail a pre-listing package, adding your books to your package can make all the difference. And if you aren’t currently delivering a pre-listing package, now is the perfect time to start.

What is a pre-listing package? It’s a collection of materials you send to a lead before you make the actual listing appointment. The purpose of these materials is to show the lead you are capable of selling their home in a timely fashion and are dedicated to making it happen.

A pre-listing package often includes the following materials. Many of them will appear in the listing presentation, as well.

Here’s an example of a generic cover letter for a pre-listing package:

Dear Name,

I just wanted to drop off this package because I am very familiar with this area and know of buyers currently looking to purchase homes here. Ever wonder why two identical houses sell for entirely different prices?

Why does one house sell for $188,000, while another house, identical in every way, brings in $202,000? It just doesn’t make sense.

The truth is, similar homes sell for varying prices all the time. It happens all across the country. It happens in markets large and small.

Surely, there must be a reason!

These houses do not sell for more money by accident. No magic trick helped one seller get a better deal than the other. On the contrary, higher sales prices are the direct result of careful and strategic marketing. 

In my book, which I’ve included in this package for you to peruse, you’ll find helpful strategies to help you get the most money for your home in the least amount of time. 

If you’re willing to meet with me, I’ll walk you through my specific marketing plan to get homeowners like you the most coin in their pockets. 

In the process of selling, you’ll spend an incredible amount of time holding shows for potential buyers. Unfortunately, many are not interested in buying your home. The average home-showing process takes 3-4 hours. 

I can break down how to make these showings really count. That’s just one of the many things we’ll discuss. If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call at xxx-xxx-xxxx.

Best Regards,

Your Name

Your Real Estate Company

Phone: (333) 555-1212

Email: Name@Email.com

Don’t worry if you’ve never put together a pre-listing package on your own. Our membership site includes a variety of templates and marketing materials you can customize for your own business and include in your package.

The most important component of your pre-listing package — the one thing that will make you stand out more than anything else — is your book.

If your leads receive your book before the actual appointment, you’ve already done the hard work of establishing your credibility. When you arrive, you’ll already have their respect, and chances are, they’ll be ready to list with you without a lot of convincing.

You can reference your book throughout the appointment and even flag or mark off pages in the book that apply to the homeowner’s unique selling situation.

Results in Action

One of our members, April, has had great success delivering a pre-listing packet before she goes on listing appointments.

“Before I even get there, depending on when the appointment is, I'm going to get someone to drop that package off with the book in there. And then we're going to call and make sure they got the package. And then they're very excited. So once I get there and they see what I have, and they see that I sent them the book, then pretty much the listing is already done.”

When she meets with the sellers, she asks them to review her book while she tours the house.

“When I get there, I have a really good listing package. I put a ribbon around it and everything to make it look as if it is a gift. As soon as I come in, I give it to them and I start taking a look around the house by myself. I let them sit down at the table, and I tell them, ‘Go ahead and fill out your seller’s homework sheet and you can take a look at my book.’”

Once she’s done touring the house, she sits down, asks if the homeowners have any questions, and lands the listings. 

To Summarize:

Take Action:

If you aren’t already sending or dropping off a pre-listing package, you’re missing out on a major opportunity to make a great impression. Including your book in that package can put you over the edge, especially if you’re competing against multiple agents.

Get Business at Events with Your Book

Your real estate business relies on people — people who want to buy or sell houses and people who know people who want to buy or sell houses. It makes sense that the more people you meet, the more your potential customer base grows. To thrive, you need to convey your message to those people.

You want them to understand that you’re authoritative, experienced and skilled. You know the real estate industry, from the trends that affect home sales in your neighborhood to the intricacies of financing deals and writing contracts.

Your books can establish your credibility and status as a real estate expert, and events are the perfect way to get them into more peoples’ hands.

Every month, thousands of people gather at special events and mixers. These are opportunities for you to meet people and, with your books, establish yourself as someone with whom they want to do business. But to be effective, you need a strategy.

How to implement your strategy: 

The key to succeeding at events is having enough confidence in your abilities to stand behind what you offer. When you give people a book, you pique their interest, and they’re more receptive to listening to you because they respect you.

Case Studies

A member named Sheri made a sale to someone she met at a chamber of commerce mixer. This person mentioned they were looking for a home, so Sheri gave him her buyer book. The buyer contacted her a few months later and bought a home with her.

Getting Established

Here’s another case study, about an agent named Christine. Not only does Christine hand out her books, she also hosts events to promote them to the public. As a relatively new agent, she’s only been using her Business Card book for a few months. So far, she has given out 50 copies. She’s focused on building her reputation in her community but has already used the books to get appointments with prospective clients.

“I’ve been calling them ‘Savvy Seminars for Homeowners,’” she said of the events she hosts.

Christine and her team invite members of the public to learn more about their business and home-selling strategies, then hand out the books. “Last time, which was just last Wednesday, we had 14 people come, and they all were interested in selling their homes. So, it’s really kind of been really successful for me."

Christine said she wrote a press release for the book. “I got some interest with that and also I give them out at open houses and offer them through social media.” She follows up with people by phone or email, “Then I put them on my weekly newsletter and I follow them on social media and try to keep in contact with them as much as I can.” She’s been gaining great exposure and plans to get the books into some local shops for giveaways.

2 Listings in Two Hours

Sharon has been a Realtor for 11 years. She said she was attracted to Authorify because she wanted to develop a competitive edge — some powerful way to differentiate herself from other real estate agents in her market.

She received a small number of free sample books with her name on the cover and was impressed. “The funny thing is, I see you guys marketing on Facebook a lot, but I’ve never seen the product actually in hand,” she said. She placed a few books on a coffee table in her office as an experiment, to see how her co-workers would react. The response was electric: “She’s got a book! She’s got a book! So awesome!”

She ordered more books, which arrived on a Friday. The following Sunday, she attended an event. She and another real estate agent met up with some clients, watched people milling around, and listened to the live music. “Then for an experiment, we sat at a table where I knew absolutely nobody. I threw two books on the table, and people started picking them up and looking at them,” Sharon said. “It was like fire: ‘This Realtor, she has a book!’”

“I got two listings on Sunday for people I never even knew because of the books,” Sharon said. “One is about $550,000; the other one’s probably going to be pitching in the [$800,000 range].”

Not surprisingly, Sharon decided she wants to order more books. “The way that people respond to you with the book … it just puts you at the top. You’re a professional in what you do. It’s not a business card.” She encouraged people to create books for themselves and to share books with their friends and family.

“I think it’s truly a great product,” Sharon said. “I’m really excited. I think that it’ll probably make me a lot of money this year, using it. It has something of value to it. It has something to hold onto. You’re not likely to throw your book in the trash; they’re always going to keep it somewhere in the house.”

To Summarize:

Take Action:

With your book and this advice, you have everything you need to turn events into lucrative listing opportunities. Don’t miss out on your chance to get your name and brand out. Take 10 minutes and look up events in your area. Find the right opportunity, and get yourself involved. If you don’t take action, someone else will.