By guest blogger 2012 AAR President Holly Mabery, ABR, CRMS, GRI, SRS

“You Are Who You Are” stuck with me after hearing it at the recent Life Hack Your Brand trends event in Phoenix. It sounds so simple and then not.

Think of this way, what do we crave most in our interactions? Honesty, integrity, authenticity to name a few.

Funny. Those are the same words used by our buyers and sellers when interviewed by NAR in the annual Home Buyer & Seller Survey. They want an agent who is looking out for their interests, going to that next level and they want someone they can relate to and that cares about them.

So, wrap that into your business. You are your business. Take a day off or plan a trip if you need that reminder. Your phone will blow up and you’ll be working your tail off. If you are your business, you need to be branding YOU!

What struck me as most important was not the next best app or script, but how we relate to one another and demonstrate that authentically to our clients. Now, this is where technology helps…Linked In, Facebook, YouTube, Blogs, Instagram, Snapchat…all help us to craft our message and get it out to potential clients.

The key is, whoever you are in real life should be reflected in your social media.

A few key take away’s from Life Hack Your Brand are things I’m working on for 2017:

  • Define & Focus your niche: Who are you working with and what drives you to be different in solving their problems; do you have sizzle and passion? If not, keep narrowing and focusing
  • Know your purpose: What drives you? (Spoiler alert – it’s not money)
  • Tell the story: About clients, properties, lifestyle living; Great Stories Happen to Great Storytellers, so live it and share it
  • Be intentional in your actions and interactions: tweets, posts, likes, blogs and videos will serve you in the future when online relationships need to be offline (Check out the app Charlie to help with reminders.)

If you ever get to see Jeff Turner, Debra Trappen, Katie Lance or Seth Price speak, run don’t walk to get there. In their own ways, each brings energy, passion, a game plan, humor and zeal that inspire and challenge.

Thank you Arizona REALTORS® and ARMLS for bringing this incredible line up to our own back yard. I am swimming with ideas and can’t wait for the New Year!

Tags: , , , , , ,