How to Stop Wasting Time & Get More Out of a REALTOR® Marketing Training
This post originally aired as a podcast!
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Education is a key component of success. The more you invest in improving yourself, the more you'll grow - which is why it's refreshing to see how much the real estate industry focuses on training.
There's always a training to attend on the market, you can learn skills from sales coaches, and of course, real estate marketing trainings cover everything from social media to lead gen. As somebody who has taught and attended many real estate marketing trainings, I know the power of an impactful training. The key, though, is to avoid trainings that won't get you results and instead, lean into the trainings that will work for you.
Because even if you walk away inspired by a training, it won't make a difference if you don't take action. So, in today's episode, I'm sharing how to stop wasting time and get more of the next Realtor marketing training you'll attend.
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I prioritize learning in my business because new ideas challenge us to reconsider what we're already doing and inspire us to move forward. Whether it's an instructional training where you learn a new skill step-by-step, or a session that's designed to motivate you, a valuable training leaves you better off than when you started.
Yet, as a Realtor, we know that your time is at a premium. So, if you're going to take away time from other activities, the marketing trainings you invest in need to work for you. We also know that the right information and trainer can propel you to reach your goals.
Fortunately, I have the experience of both attending impactful trainings and teaching Realtor marketing trainings myself for nearly a decade - and I've learned quite a few tips along the way! Because let's be honest, there's nothing worse than attending a training that's a complete dud or walking away motivated from a training but never taking action on what you've learned. I've seen too many agents walk out the door from a training to never look back on the material again. I've also seen trainings where I can't help but question the accuracy of the information shared.
If you're going to invest your time and energy into attending a training, let's get the most out of it as possible! So, in today's episode, I'm sharing my top 10 tips to maximize your next Realtor marketing training:
1.Evaluate the Source or REALTOR® Marketing Trainer
Hosting trainings is a value-add for many different real estate businesses out there. Whether you're a brokerage, Title company, tech platform, or help agents with real estate marketing (like we do at Ideas for Real Estate!), there's always a virtual or in-person training being offered. Then, on top of those options, you also have online courses and classes offered at conferences.
Before you hop right into RSVP'ing for an event or even watching a replay, I want you to first evaluate who the information is coming from. Is it being hosted by a reputable company where you can trust in their representative? Does the trainer have the necessary background to actually help you? A quick overview of a speaker or company bio can help you determine if the source is legit. For example, on my event registration pages for trainings I host, I make sure to include a mini-bio about my experience and a video about me you can watch as well. That way, attendees can decide whether or not to trust in me! (See a screenshot below of what that looks like.)
Also, I prefer trainers speaking to specific skills to be experienced in real estate. If you're watching a motivational speaker for business tips, it really doesn't matter if they're in another industry. You're there to be inspired and learn general business ideas. But if you're diving deeper into a specific topic or strategy, like with real estate marketing, it often pays to learn from somebody who specializes in real estate. Our industry is very unique, and you'll get more out of what you learn if the techniques have been proven to work for Realtors.
2. Determine if the Topic is an Opportunity or Distraction
After you've verified that the trainer "knows their stuff," then you need to decide if the topic is genuinely one you should be focused on right now.
Real estate marketing can quickly become a place where you get distracted by the next great idea or have difficulty remaining on track because you're trying to do too much. So, seriously ask yourself if the training topic in question will help you reach your business goals for the year. And is it an opportunity or strategy you want to learn more about or become better at?
When you have a marketing plan in place (watch my Realtor marketing planning training here and get my template), it's a lot easier to make this decision.
For example, if you're focused on increasing your repeat and referral business and you see a social media training, ask yourself, "will these strategies help me engage my sphere more and lead to more business?" If the answer is yes, give it a go. If it's a hard no, then skip it. If you've discovered a great trainer, you can always continue to follow them or attend a future training.
3. Decide if Free vs. Paid Content Brings More Value
Once you've decided to attend, the next question is, "is the training free or does it cost money?" Now, there are pros and cons to both types of experiences!
As somebody who hosts free webinars and exclusive content, I can give you an insider peek behind the curtain. Webinars and trainings that are free are an incredible resource to learn new skills and strategies. They're an accessible way to introduce yourself to a topic and determine if you like a trainer's style. As an avid learner, I myself attend many free trainings! However, I also invest in paid content when it calls for it.
Oftentimes, trainers reserve their best tips, strategies, and materials for paid content. Paid content might mean you paid to attend a conference, or you paid for a course or a Realtor membership that hosts trainings, like my Marketing Suite.
If there is value in the training, compare that to the price of the training. If it will truly help your business, does it make sense to invest in it? I, personally, would rather invest in one training where I learn what I need to VS watching several trainings where I still feel like I don't have it figured out. So, consider including a mix of paid and free trainings into your plan for the year!
4. Show up to the Live Session
If you've committed to attending a training, show up live!
There's nothing like the energy of a training when it's happening. It's more exciting to watch and if you're more engaged, you're more likely to learn. I find that when people watch "replays," they're often multi-tasking and not giving the training their full attention.
But my biggest reason to show up live is that you'll actually attend! I have a list of training replays that I plan to go back to, but I likely won't make it to most of them. And many agents are the same way! If you've already determined the training is worth your time, then make it a scheduled appointment in your calendar and a priority.
If you absolutely can't make it live (real estate happens!), then the next best thing is to schedule a time on your calendar to watch the replay. That way, you're still accountable to showing-up and making that commitment to your business.
5. Take Notes During the Marketing Training & Use Any Materials
It's time to go back to school during your real estate marketing training, so be sure to take notes!
The act of taking notes helps you remember the content presented, and you'll have a resource to refer back to. However, I recommend you take it one step further by making your notes applicable to your business. Write down how a concept relates to you, an idea you might have, or what you specifically need to do. This is how you'll get more out of the training moving forward.
In the trainings I host in The Marketing Suite, I make sure we have resources and workbooks that go with all the strategies I teach. For example, I recently taught a training on Instagram Reels, and members received a workbook with room for them to take notes, but also it included visual instructions for creating Reels that they could refer back to.
I create materials like this for our Marketing Suite members to make it as easy as possible for agents to take action on what they learn and apply the concepts directly to their business.
If you'd like to learn more about The Marketing Suite, click here to watch the preview video! Inside, I host a monthly marketing training where you learn an actionable strategy and the topics range from video marketing to marketing planning to Instagram and everything in between! I also follow it up with live coaching sessions to dive deeper into our monthly topic and to answer top marketing questions. And of course, you also get daily social media posts, a monthly email newsletter, marketing support, and so much more! So, if you're interested in leveling up your marketing (like I know you are by being here right now), check it out and use code JOIN25 for 25% off your first month in the membership
Bonus Tip - Another idea to help you stay organized is to use one notebook, binder, or virtual folder for all the trainings you attend. I recommend members of The Marketing Suite print out all our workbooks and put them into a binder. When I attend trainings, I like to write my notes in one physical notebook. Then, I move the important takeaways to the Evernote app, so my whole team can refer back to it.
Figure out a note-taking system that works for you and stick to it!
6. Engage By Asking Questions or "Chatting-In"
Now, when you're attending the training live, one of the best ways to fully leverage the session is to be an engaged participant!
If there's a live Q&A, this is your opportunity to ask questions and get immediate answers. So, while you're taking notes, jot down your specific questions. If you want to take action later, then this personalized advice now can make a major impact. It's also a time when you can learn from other agents and their questions.
As somebody who has hosted many virtual and in-person trainings, I know that the entire training is better if the audience is engaged. And since you verified the trainer was good ahead of time, then the content should be worth engaging with as well!
When you chat in or raise your hand, it encourages others to do the same which ups the energy of the session. It's also a way to be more present during the session and actively involved. That way, you're truly excited about what you're learning and not barely listening while you're also doing something else. So, engage during the training! It makes it better for you, the trainer, and the entire audience!
7. Spend 5-10 Minutes Immediately After to Create a "Recap"
Once the session is over, don't immediately close your computer or walk out the door. Take a few minutes to briefly "recap," what you've learned. Look over your notes and determine the tasks you need to take to put into practice what you've learned.
Even a simple list of "to-do's," will come in handy as you come back to this real estate marking training. After all, the goal of a training should be to better your business. But if you never take action, then you won't benefit from the session as much as you could have.
One trick that I do when I'm taking a training, is to use icons in my notes. I star and underline what's important, but I also put triangles next to "things I need to do." That way, it's easy to refer back to my notes and get more out of what I learn. I just recently attended a marketing conference and came home with a notebook full of notes. Creating recaps of my trainings narrowed my focus when I came home, and I was actually able to leverage some of the strategies and ideas I had during sessions.
You can also use your "recap" time to simply highlight what you want to draw your attention to later. Even just a few minutes of doing this exercise will further enhance your ability to remember the materials while also setting yourself up for success in the future.
8. Schedule Time After the Realtor Marketing Training to Take Action
Now is when you truly get the most out of the training you attended! If you learned exactly what to post on social to attract more buyers & sellers, then let's start posting! If you learned how to create a video to generate leads, then let's fill in that script and get you filming.
While these are all trainings I've hosted, you get my point. Now's the time when you put in the work on your end to accomplish what you've learned. And it all starts with scheduling time on your calendar to take action.
I recommend that you schedule this time soon after the training, either the next day or within a few days.
While you absolutely can take action immediately after a training, I recommend you take a little time. Sit with what you've learned and come back refreshed when you're ready to try out any strategies. After all, if you follow my advice (or are a member of The Marketing Suite!), you should have notes and an action plan to follow!
All of the tips so far have led up to this one. When you've chosen a trainer you can trust in, a topic that will make an impact, and have been proactive during the session, then you have exactly what you need to move forward with taking action!
9. Reach Out to the Real Estate Marketing Trainer for Support
But don't feel like you have to go at it alone! Another benefit to paid trainings is they often come with enhanced support. So if you have a follow-up question or challenge, you can reach back out for personalized support.
If it's a free training, ask the trainer at the end of the session if there's a place you can go for follow-up questions.
I'm always happy to help people who attend any of my trainings and know that many other trainers feel the same way. So, don't be shy about reaching out!
10. Follow the Marketing Trainer on Social & Their Outlets
Lastly, if you found value in what you learned, stay connected to the trainer!
Follow them on social, subscribe to their newsletters, tune in to their podcast (listen to the Ideas for Real Estate podcast here!), and stay engaged.
I always ask people to follow me on Instagram @IdeasforRealEstate and love seeing when people post Instagram stories sharing their time in the training. If you found value in the training, this is a wonderful way for you to share your appreciation for the trainer & help spread the word about them. So, be sure to follow them to continue to learn from them and share the session you attended!
Moving Forward with Realtor Marketing Trainings
The right marketing training can be exactly what you need in your business. You could learn a whole new strategy for connecting with more buyers and sellers. You could move past any slumps or overwhelm with new motivation and mindset. You could implement a small idea that leads to major results.
To recap, be sure to follow these Realtor Marketing training tips:
Evaluate the Source or Realtor Marketing Trainer
Determine if the Topic is an Opportunity or Distraction
Decide if Free vs. Paid Content Brings More Value
Show up to the Live Session
Take Notes During the Marketing Training & Use Any Materials
Engage By Asking Questions or "Chatting-In"
Spend 5 Minutes Immediately After to Create a "Recap"
Schedule Time After the Realtor Marketing Training to Take Action
Reach Out to the Real Estate Marketing Trainer for Support
Follow the Marketing Trainer on Social & Their Outlets
There's opportunity in marketing trainings - which is why I'm so passionate about them! So, I hope that this episode inspired you to treat your next training a little differently and to lean in a little bit more. Because the next training you take has the potential to change your mindset, business, and life for the better!
Want to level up your Real Estate Marketing?
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Free REALTOR® Training: How to Thrive in a Shifting Market with a 3-Part Marketing Plan
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UP NEXT:
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