GEORGIA 11-15-21

GEORGIA EDITION

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THINGS YOU CAN DO TO ACHIEVE YOUR BIGGEST GOALS FEATURED AGENTS

CYNTHIA BROWN JANE MCAULEY JEANINE T. BLUMER

RECONSIDER REFERRAL-ONLY When Planning For The Future

5 FRESH NEW APPROACHES TO

CONTENT MARKETING

IS FINDING A

NICHE MARKET

RIGHT FOR YOU?

COVER STORY

AIMEE McBRIER

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Top Agent Magazine

GEORGIA EDITION

T. BLUMER Top Aimee JANEAgent MJEANINE cAULEY A lifelong resident of Atlanta, Jane with her hustheir Healthy Pets Event, o When 7she moved to Georgia 17 McBrier 18 BROWN 21 of Pathfinder CYNTHIA McAuley has both lived and sold real shots and spay/neuter to t band in 2000, Jeanine Blumer was ready estate all over the city she calls home. financial hardship and M to pursue a different path from the corpoRealty, a boutique firm, Cynthia Brown doesn’t just also “Moving As the lead of McAuley & Associates, Associates donates aca s help her clients buy or sell feelclosing. like the she’s become of the city’s top tion their with every S rate careeroneshe’d built marketing consumer agents.

She is“Iconsistently recognized huge community electroni homes.

SheCoweta educates them along a Children’ serves County goods. wanted an opportunity to work among her peers as Top Producer with drive garnering more than the way that so they can feel comtoys and do2 directly with people—something the Atlanta Board of Realtors and of old computers, monitors fortable aboutsurrounding the decisions order, they and the would allow me to make a positive difwithin her company as part of Coldwell otherwise headed for the l they’re making. “For buyers, I the house s Banker’s exclusive President’s this past year, with the pan ference in their lives,”Circle Jeanine explains. do an initial consultation to see several kids food are sm areas of Georgia. and “Having International Diamond Society. sponsored dr relocated a BROWN number of times, IMCAULEY had assistance AIMEE MCBRIER CYNTHIA JANE require JEANINE if they obtain-T. BLUMER

her Coldwell Banker offic

Cynthia sta experienced both good realfinancing, estate and wecommunity discuss involved, Jane’s innovative approach to the and mar- bading ass closing, sen I knew I could a quality their needs so that we facing can find ket agents, has been and especially helpful in the offer food insecurity. let them kno current real estate climate.

Known for After her “no-nonathat home that’s right for For expectations.” sellers, I always do acollege of service would exceed mythem. clients’ over the by easy putting herself through She also sense” attitude and tough negotiating skills, she’s “I’m so lucky how that my success in realse es CONTENTS competitive market analysis that shows clients wewhen they ge working in sales, Aimee McBrier asked, she’ll send been able to easily navigate Buyers Sellers me in a position to give back. One of th arrive at ad theboth pricing of and theirand home.

Spending that time uplike She answered an in the paper was hired by John buying “what’s next?”

A friend suggested theofor through multiple offers and win out every time.19) 5 THINGS about it, is YOU my kids love being a part itt purchased 4) RECONSIDER front helps people understand the process and removes excited about her upcoming Wieland Homes.

She spent the next 8 years with the comhelp them real estate industry.

“18 years later,fundraiser herewitf REFERRAL-ONLY WHEN CAN DO TO ACHIEVE some of the stress they may be feeling.

It’s how I’d want Taking care “It’spany, so important a tight market to work with an BIGGEST day thisto year, offering to match clients’ absorbing everything Johnare,” Wieland had teach PLANNING FORtoin THE FUTURE YOUR GOALS we says Aimee, who now serves be treated myself.” agent with extensive experience that knows how to their favorite local charitableand causes. sheHop sup her.

After surviving two bouts with breast cancer, she Not surprising County the surrounding the perfect offer for a Buyer or Coweta provide clarbe aand win-win for the community.

If you herareas area.

S 14)craft 5 FRESH NEW 22) IS FINDING A Cynthia graduated from Tuskegee University and Iowa decided tothem workpick forthe herself, and today is one of the munity, not on ity to a Sellertotogo help right Buyer,” for a realtor in Atlanta with passion and of aGeorgia.

Repeat clients and and referrals local schooe APPROACHES TO NICHE MARKET State University with Degree in Forest Products, McAuley said.Agents for Berkshire spare, look no further than Jane Top Ten Hathaway Home Services support of sinc its ing, McAule but make up 70% of her business, her CONTENT MARKETING RIGHT FOR YOU? went to work as a District Forester selling land for the while Georgia Properties, as wellastute as being in the Top 1 per-combined sports and freewith timedra ho local Weyerhaeuser Company,valuable. where sheknowledge, found her love for That expertise has proven to be extremely cent Berkshire Representing contributing t More thanfor ninety percent ofHathaway her business is direct real estate.

After marrying, she moved into ethic, residential an worldwide. impeccable work brings former Going forw clients and the over Creekview School in workingfor or giv referrals frominprevious clients with $20 million sales.around Twenty-three years later she’s aDistrict Million Dollaraccount clients back.

Each year, they ness by ma in sales so far thisProducer year.| Faxwith Georgia’s Cherokee County, combined her years alsosales a dogof lov the Signature Properties Group, representPhone 310-734-1440 310-734-1440 she’s come anshe’s increasing number of her total ingtraining clients across Georgia’s Golden Islesofarea, of corporate with a deep knowledge the including real hounds she adt mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com adherence approximately $15 million.

“I feel really fortunate that my clients understand the St.beSimon and Jekyll Islands without and the city of Brunswick. estate tocontinued. help them maximize their No portion of thisindustry issueMcAuley may reproduced in any manner whatsoever priorvalue consent ofof the publisher. Top Agent Magazine cating herse value I bring,” “They know that the is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published materials, Top In 2020 she closed $5.4 million in sales volume, with 75 home investment.

Going forwar within her p nobody is going to work harderforfor them.”

Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors.

As for the secret to her success, Aimee percent business coming from repeat clients or refer-making To subscribe or change address, sendof inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com. better,her whilc Published in the U.S. rals. A look at her says, reviews explains the reason behind “I’mis just honest, and I do their what I say Aside from helping her real estate clients, Jane done would Her sellers benefit from the professional staging and lives ah that loyalty.

As one Ihappy client put it: committed to helping her community through her am going to do.”

That effort doesn’t end ter of my photography Jeanine utilizesMcAuley to capture service in theli charity, The Act Bigger Foundation. & the most beaufrom fa th the closing table. To stay in touch at with Top Agent Magazine 3 my Contact 918-7 “This movecharitable isfeatures our 10 and I can say without tiful and of their homes, asreservation well Jane at (404) Associates helpsinteresting fund local organizations stress and jo or janemcauley1112@gmail. clients who ultimately become friends, Cynthia Brown is the professional, organized, including causesthat aimed at animal welfare, themost envi-

CK VLASIDIS

Reconsider Referral-Only When Planning for the Future

A 100% referral rate is a testament of client happiness. But even a 30% referral rate is proof of client satisfaction. It’s all relative, say some agents. One number pays tribute to past success, which is certainly a story worth telling. But the other might better predict the future. Many agents plan for the idea that 4

working only on referral may not be sufficient during slower times of the year, in a down market, or when an agent needs to expanding into a new sector.

Unless you are clairvoyant enough to flawlessly predict every market change or every

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Many agents plan for the idea that working only on referral may not be sufficient during slower times of the year, in a down market, or when an agent needs to expanding into a new sector. life change that your clients and referral partners may experience, it’s wise to maintain an active marketing presence. The reasons vary, however, depending on the goals and trajectory of each individual’s business.

If long-term success, a growing team, a legacy or expansion into new areas are not priorities, then working a sphere of influence may be enough for some agents, especially those who may be in the industry mostly for the love of the business. But for a majority of agents, no matter how much they love their work, their real estate and mortgage businesses are careers, first and foremost.

Let’s start with the team-builders and mentors. Agents and brokers who are building teams are wise to invest in business marketing, advertising and community outreach. Ty Hutchins, who owns and operates Ty & Company Real Estate in Colorado’s Front Range, says that, while she could personally live off referrals alone, her goal is to build up her agents. “I do the marketing piece for my team, so I can help them succeed,” she says. That marketing includes running commercials on TV and in movies theatres, as well as lead generation that identifies potential buyers, sellers and Top Agent Magazine

investors between the Colorado Springs and Denver markets. Her team’s goal, she adds, is to promote their reputation of being honest, hardworking professionals with the reach of a major brand but the personalized approach of a boutique.

Then there are the growers. Khrista Jarvis and Nicole Jung of The Khrista Jarvis Team in the San Francisco Bay Area, are on a considerable growth track. “We’re the #1 team in our area and the top team in Compass Real Estate nationally,” explains Khrista. While high marks for service on behalf of their clients have led them to these heights, they know that they must continue to evolve and market their brand. “We do a good deal of social media marketing for our listings and for our business,” she says. Their names, therefore, are frequently linked to sentiments of trust, dependability and market knowledge, both in their marketing and in their reviews.

Next, there are those who weathered the worst of times. Susan Roche entered real estate sales in 2003, following several years of property management in North Carolina.

The key to her sustained triumphs through major market swings lies in her long-range planning. “If the market starts to dip or fall,

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I have safety nets in place,” says Susan Roche, team leader of Simply Real Estate, based in Charlotte. “When it’s a seller’s market, I still plan for a buyer’s market and when it’s a buyer’s market I plan for a seller’s market..” In other words, no matter how comfortable her existing work may feel, she networks consistently. She also employs a full-time marketing director who leads several projects including ongoing research, events and social media exposure in addition to listings marketing. By staying ahead of market changes, Susan knows she can unfailingly represent her clients’ best interests while still maintaining a safety net for her business.

Even professionals with more than three decades’ experience and deep referral networks know the importance of business

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marketing. Cathy Richards, co-owner with Nancy Dalaska of Epic-Wasatch Homes in Park City, UT, entered real estate in 1987 and still draws at least a fifth of her business from lead generation, social media marketing and community outreach. Her business partner, Nancy, adds that real estate is about much more than their own business. “We love collaborating and brainstorming with other agents to help them prosper,” says Nancy. “We believe the healthier the market, the better we all are.”

Regardless of market conditions, even the best reputation can’t guarantee long-term success. To sustain and grow, it’s wise to feed your business by increasing exposure, remaining flexible and maintaining systems for customer service, networking, research, marketing and lead-generation.

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AIMEE McBRIER

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Top Agent Aimee McBrier of Pathfinder Realty, a boutique firm, serves Coweta County and the surrounding areas of Georgia.

After putting herself through college by working in sales, Aimee McBrier asked, “what’s next?” A friend suggested the real estate industry. “18 years later, here we are,” says Aimee, who now serves Coweta County and the surrounding areas of Georgia. Repeat clients and referrals make up 70% of her business, while her astute local knowledge, combined with an impeccable work ethic, brings former clients back. Each year, they account for an increasing number of her total sales of approximately $15 million.

NICK VLASIDIS

8Copyright Top Agent Magazine

As for the secret to her success, Aimee says, “I’m just honest, and I do what I say I am going to do.” That effort doesn’t end at the closing table. To stay in touch with clients who ultimately become friends, she implements strong marketing campaigns, sending postcards out quarterly, email blasts periodically, and daily social media posts. Having a marketing director on staff helps Aimee keep up with demand while also keeping her name at the forefront of her audience’s minds. Aimee Top Agent Magazine

utilizes social media to showcase upcoming listings, closings, and exciting developments.

Most clients don’t want another piece of junk mail every day, so Aimee employs online strategies to help them stay informed without Top Agent Magazine

being intrusive. And, when a client does open their mailbox to mail with Aimee’s name on it, what they find will no doubt be something beautiful featuring local artists that they’ll want to keep around.

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Aimee will continue to do well by all those she encounters.

“Our world today can be so cutthroat,” she says. “ Whether a client is spending $200,000 or $800,000 on a house, everyone deserves to be treated fairly.”

Many of Aimee’s connections stem from her personal life as she is very involved in her children’s elementary school and the community through her husband’s career as a firefighter. “Counting my kids,” Aimee shares, “our family is going on six generations in Coweta County.” This makes it Copyright Top Agent Magazine 10

easy to understand why the motto for her career is “real estate with roots.” Speaking of history, this article is the second time Top Agent Magazine has featured Aimee. Since we last spoke, Aimee has moved to a new brokerage, Pathfinder Realty, a boutique firm that she adores. “They are fantastic!”

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she says. This smaller firm grants Aimee the freedom to choose and incorporate her brand, colors, and logo, which is key to her marketing strategy.

What has not changed since our last article is Aimee’s passion. “I enjoy fitting those last puzzle pieces together,” she says. Despite her Top Agent Magazine

job satisfaction, some days are hard, especially with challenges presented by a global pandemic. In the past few years, many sales have been heart-wrenching. “Helping my clients close that chapter,” Aimee says, “and open the new, fresh chapter makes it all worthwhile.” Heading into the future, Aimee is also starting a new chapter. Her construction team Copyright Top Agent Magazine 11

will soon break ground on a new real estate development and the first investment property she designed and commissioned.

When not working to help others put down roots, Aimee invests her time into her family. They enjoy the lake and have recently taken up horseback riding. Excited for what

the future holds, Aimee will continue growing and investing in her business while building new properties. Whatever comes after, Aimee knows one thing for sure. She will continue to do well by all those she encounters. “Our world today can be so cutthroat,” she says. “Whether a client is spending $200,000 or $800,000 on a house, everyone deserves to be treated fairly.”

http://www.aimeemcbrier.com aimeemcbrier@gmail.com

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mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com http://www.topagentmagazine.com

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5 Fresh New Approaches to Content Marketing A couple of weeks ago we were conducting a workshop when we were asked two excellent questions about content marketing:

• People

don’t want to hear from a roofing company every day. So how do you produce fresh and interesting content for social media that goes beyond your core services and yet ties back to your business?

• Can

you extend your social media presence and content to include personal things (like your hobbies) and how does that affect your overall business image?

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The workshop attendee who asked the first question was right. Almost no one wants to hear from any company every day… especially if all the content is about products and services…and yes, even if they’re giving helpful tips and information. Does that mean you should stop producing excellent daily content related to your business? No, of course not! Content is created for two reasons.

First, to provide knowledge, expertise and even entertainment to your ideal customers in order to achieve top of mind awareness as an authority in your industry. And second, to produce SEO-rich results that keep you at the top of search engines. You must strike a

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balance between the two, and try to include content that draws people in by being super interesting and entertaining….and yes, sometimes personal.

To help answer those content questions above, here are five different types of content (beyond the traditional stuff) that can give your brand a fresh, unique and balanced approach:

1. PHILANTHROPIC Your community efforts say a lot about who you are, and people will make an extra effort to do business with you as a result of this connection. We’ve consulted business owners who are very hesitant to promote these efforts because they don’t want it to seem as though they are exploiting the charities and organizations—and most especially because they don’t do it for the promotional aspects. They do it to give back. I ask you to keep this in mind. Nonprofit and charitable organizations very often have small marketing budgets. Not only do they rely on outside marketing forces to promote their initiatives, they would likely be forced to close their doors without that support. That means that when someone with a strong brand and presence promotes them, it’s a highly trusted and personal connection, and you can’t buy that kind of support. In other words, they not only need you to promote them, they want you to promote them. But your instincts are correct. It’s not about you. So just make sure your entire content focuses on the organization you’re helping, what they do for the community and how Top Agent Magazine

others can join in the cause. Then it becomes a huge win for all.

2. HOBBIES You bungee jumped from four of the tallest bridges in the U.S. In your spare time, you go fly fishing. You love playing chef and use only locally grown, organic foods. Your friends are always begging you to go to Vegas with your card shark talents. You’ve done mission work in Africa and would like to start your own group. You almost played professional baseball. You have an insane talent for gardening design or bass guitar.

Your family works at a soup kitchen once a month. Ok…you get the picture. And two more words. Reality TV. People are interesting…and people are interested in interesting people. We remember others based on these unique traits. And most of all, people love the story behind the face. Don’t be afraid to share your hobbies. Quite often, it’s the first thing that will personally connect you to a prospect.

3. CREATIVE CONNECTION This one is perhaps our favorite. While we can’t imagine seeing something come across our news feed from a landscaping company every day, imagine this for a moment. What are we always told to remember in this hectic world? Stop and smell the roses, right? So what if…a landscaping company posted a beautiful flower each day, just to remind you to ‘stop and smell the roses’. And at the bottom of that photo (small print), you included

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the type of flower and type of environment needed to make it flourish (moist soil, full sun, etc.). And then, of course, watermarked it with your logo….and a title like, “Sam’s Daily Reminder: It’s Time to Stop & Smell the Roses”. You could even include some great, thought-provoking quotes. It has the personal connection (Sam), the business connection (flowers & logo watermark) and a cool creative connector (pause the meetings and paperwork to take a moment and appreciate life by noticing this beautiful flower). This is a great idea for staying ‘top of mind’ and connecting business with the kind of creative messaging people wouldn’t mind seeing every day.

4. EXPERIENCES This one is similar to hobbies from the personal aspect, but instead of something that identifies us like our hobbies, our experiences are random happenings that can have great interest and meaning to our audience.

Whether you have a unique experience buying a new car or a fateful conversation with a stranger in the airport, if you feel it ties into a life lesson or business lesson you’d like to share, by all means do. The lesson is to keep your radar up 24/7. Any experiences you have which relate to your

ideal customer are an opportunity to connect beyond the business world. And when we do that, we become a part of the family.

5. INFLUENCERS “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future”. You’ve probably heard that saying, and the same is true whether you are a teenager or a business owner. Maybe you’ve learned a lot of your business knowledge from Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or Warren Buffet…or you like to quote Benjamin Franklin. Perhaps you have some mentors you’d like to recognize and tell why they’re important to you. Sharing the people and things that influence us is what makes us human. No matter how successful your business, you didn’t get there alone. People and circumstances shaped you along the way. Recognizing others for their contribution in our lives, large or small, is important in staying connected and grounded.

We hope these five types of content help you to put a fresh spin on what you share with your audience, whether personal or professional. We believe you must have the combination of both to build an incredible brand.

Tonya Eberhart is the Branding Agent to Business Stars and founder of BrandFace®, LLC. Michael Carr is America’s Top Selling Real Estate Auctioneer & BrandFace® partner. Together, they focus on personal branding and marketing designed to help real estate professionals become the face of their business & a star in their market. BrandFace® for Real Estate Professionals is a book, professional speaking series and an exclusive workshop for agents, and is currently active in 18 U.S. states, Canada and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.BrandFaceRealEstate.com.

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CYNTHIA BROWN Cynthia Brown doesn’t just help her clients buy or sell their homes. She educates them along the way so they can feel comfortable about the decisions they’re making. “For buyers, I do an initial consultation to see if they require assistance obtaining financing, and we discuss their needs so that we can find a home that’s right for them. For sellers, I always do a competitive market analysis that shows clients how we arrive at the pricing of their home. Spending that time up front helps people understand the process and removes some of the stress they may be feeling. It’s how I’d want to be treated myself.”

Cynthia graduated from Tuskegee University and Iowa State University with a Degree in Forest Products, and went to work as a District Forester selling land for the Weyerhaeuser Company, where she found her love for real estate. After marrying, she moved into residential sales. Twenty-three years later she’s a Million Dollar Producer with the Signature Properties Group, representing clients across Georgia’s Golden Isles area, including St. Simon and Jekyll Islands and the city of Brunswick.

In 2020 she closed $5.4 million in sales volume, with 75 percent of business coming from repeat clients or referrals. A look at her reviews explains the reason behind that loyalty. As one happy client put it: “This move is our 10th and I can say without reservation that Cynthia Brown is the most professional, organized, trustworthy and supportive agent we have ever worked with. We give Cynthia our highest recommendation and encourage everyone to reach out to her for all your real estate needs.”

Cynthia advises sellers on how to prepare their home for market, identifying needed repairs and updates, as well as engaging a professional stager to get it ready for the professional photographs she’ll use with the listing description. She then markets it across all of the social media platforms and her company’s website. If the sellers have children, Cynthia involves them too.

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“Moving can be stressful for children, so I make them feel like they’re part of the process by having them sign a Children’s Listing Agreement. If they pick up their toys and do their part to help keep the house in showing order, they get to choose from a variety of rewards once the house sells.” Cynthia laughs, before adding, “The kids are smart. They always choose the money option.”

Cynthia stays in touch with all of her clients after the closing, sending them a monthly calendar of events to let them know what fun things are happening in the area.

She also sends out cards or gifts on holidays. This year she’ll send Christmas tree ornaments for clients who purchased their homes in 2021.

Taking care of her community is important to Cynthia, and she supports a number of charity organizations in her area. She also does gift card donations through a local school to help families in need. She enjoys traveling, but since the arrival of Covid she’s spent most of her free time homeschooling her 11-year-old son.

Going forward, Cynthia will continue to grow her business by maintaining the high-quality service for which she’s come to be known, and which flows from her adherence to the “Golden Rule.” She’ll also keep educating herself on the changes and technological advances within her profession in order to serve her clients even better, while drawing strength from God. “Nothing I’ve done would be possible without having Him at the center of my life. I’ve also had incredible love and support from my family, who have been with me through every stress and joy.”

Contact Cynthia at 662-694-9235 or email cbrown4738@yahoo.com.

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JANE McAULEY A lifelong resident of Atlanta, Jane McAuley has both lived and sold real estate all over the city she calls home.

As the lead of McAuley & Associates, she’s become one of the city’s top agents. She is consistently recognized among her peers as Top Producer with the Atlanta Board of Realtors and within her company as part of Coldwell Banker’s exclusive President’s Circle and International Diamond Society.

Jane’s innovative approach to the market has been especially helpful in the current real estate climate. Known for her “no-nonsense” attitude and tough negotiating skills, she’s been able to easily navigate both Buyers and Sellers through multiple offers and win out every time.

“It’s so important in a tight market to work with an agent with extensive experience that knows how to craft the perfect offer for a Buyer or provide clarity to a Seller to help them pick the right Buyer,” McAuley said.

their Healthy Pets Event, offering free shots and spay/neuter to those facing financial hardship and McAuley & Associates also donates a shelter adoption with every closing. She hosted a huge community electronics recycling drive garnering more than 2000 pounds of old computers, monitors, and phones otherwise headed for the landfill. And this past year, with the pandemic, she’s sponsored several food drives outside her Coldwell Banker office to get the community involved, assisting those facing food insecurity.

“I’m so lucky that my success in real estate has put me in a position to give back. One of the best parts about it, is my kids love being a part of it too!” Jane’s excited about her upcoming fundraiser for her birthday this year, offering to match clients’ donations to their favorite local charitable causes. Hopefully, it will be a win-win for the community. If you’re looking for a realtor in Atlanta with passion and experience to spare, look no further than Jane McAuley.

That expertise has proven to be extremely valuable.

More than ninety percent of her business is direct referrals from previous clients with over $20 million in sales so far this year.

“I feel really fortunate that my clients understand the value I bring,” McAuley continued. “They know that nobody is going to work harder for them.”

Aside from helping her real estate clients, Jane is committed to helping her community through her charity, The Act Bigger Foundation. McAuley & Associates helps fund local charitable organizations including causes aimed at animal welfare, the environment, and food insecurity. Jane sponsors several programs through Lifeline Animal Project, including 18

www.

Contact Jane at (404) 918-7112 or janemcauley1112@gmail.com.

You can also visit her website at janemcauley.com for more information Copyright Top Top Agent Agent Magazine Magazine

5 Things You Can Do To Achieve Your Biggest Goals If there’s one thing successful people can agree on, it’s that setting goals has been key to their success. Whether you’re creating a five year plan or just settling on what you want to achieve by the end of the day, setting goals gives you the focus and direction you need to complete even the biggest tasks.

But there is a method to setting them. It’s a process that takes careful thought and conTop Agent Magazine

sideration up front, which is then combined with the hard work necessary to implement your plan. Luckily there are proven methods to goal setting that you can start using immediately.

1. MAKE YOUR GOALS SPECIFIC

Yes, it’s fun to think in grand terms of where you want to end up in life and in your career, but it’s better to have a specific

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Your plan of action should include daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals. goal like “Increase my sales by 25%”, than “Get rich.” When a goal is clear and specific, it allows you to figure out the exact steps you need to take to accomplish it. The more general it is, the more paralyzed you might be when it comes to figuring out what to do since, the choices may be overwhelming.

2. MAKE IT ATTAINABLE

Making attainable goals might seem boring, I mean afterall, you want to dream big! But you don’t want to suffer through the disappointment of not reaching your goal, something that may not even be possible at this stage in your life to begin with. One solution to that is creating goal levels. You can have the dream goal, but underneath that you have the realistic goals that are setting up a foundation for achieving the big one.

Things that are attainable still take work and effort to achieve. Those small victories will keep you motivated and encouraged to go for the bigger dreams. And don’t forget, those little goals may have been things you wouldn’t have gotten done if you didn’t set out to achieve them, so be proud!

3. PUT A PLAN OF ACTION IN WRITING

Your plan of action should include daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals. There is something about seeing things in writing and crossing them off the list that is oddly satisfying.The daily goals are especially 20

important in regards to building up those good habits. The first few weeks of your plan of action are critical when it comes to your long term success. Reaching a goal is something you are doing every day, all throughout the day, in numerous ways.

Achieving goals is all about creating good new habits.

4. MAKE IT MEASURABLE

This is key, since you definitely want to reward yourself for a job well done, and having a goal that is measurable in some way is a sure way to know. Maybe it’s to increase your lead generation or to cut expenses, whatever the case, have a measurable test you need to meet, as well as a time frame. Then calculate what you have to do to reach that goal. Not only should your goal be specific, but the plan and the measure of success should also be set in stone.

5. ADJUST AS YOU GO

You can have all the best laid plans, and you still might quickly realize that what you thought would help you reach your goal, might not be cutting it. Commitment to reaching your goals is good, but commitment to a plan you know isn’t going to work is not only a waste of time, but will be a devastating blow to your motivation.

Sticking to a plan everyday means adjusting it accordingly.

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JEANINE T. BLUMER When she moved to Georgia with her husband in 2000, Jeanine Blumer was ready to pursue a different path from the corporate career she’d built marketing consumer goods. “I wanted an opportunity to work directly with people—something that would allow me to make a positive difference in their lives,” Jeanine explains.

“Having relocated a number of times, I had experienced both good and bad real estate agents, and I knew I could offer a quality of service that would exceed my clients’ expectations.”

She answered an ad in the paper and was hired by John Wieland Homes. She spent the next 8 years with the company, absorbing everything John Wieland had to teach her. After surviving two bouts with breast cancer, she decided to go to work for herself, and today is one of the Top Ten Agents for Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Georgia Properties, as well as being in the Top 1 percent for Berkshire Hathaway worldwide. Representing clients in and around the Creekview School District in Georgia’s Cherokee County, she’s combined her years of corporate training with a deep knowledge of the real estate industry to help them maximize the value of their home investment.

Her sellers benefit from the professional staging and photography Jeanine utilizes to capture the most beautiful and interesting features of their homes, as well as Berkshire Hathaway’s Award Winning Advanced Property Marketing System developed to draw interest from a wide range of buyers and garner top dollar for the listing. Buyers can take advantage of the brokerage’s cutting edge technology that allows them to find their dream home faster than the competition. All of Jeanine’s clients benefit from her tireless work ethic, her unmatched knowledge of the market in the corridor of Cherokee County that she serves, and the relationships she’s built over her many years in the industry.

Jeanine has achieved many production milestones over the course of her real estate career, earning top honors.

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She’s a recipient of Berkshire Hathaway’s Chairman’s Circle Gold Award, a Life Member of the Multi-Million Dollar Club with the Atlanta Board of Realtors, and a 2015 winner of the prestigious Phoenix Award for over 10 years as a multi-million dollar producer. But she’s most proud of her high rate of repeat clients and referrals, a tribute to the trust her community places in her. “If you work hard and value doing the right thing over the easy thing, people will come looking for you when they get ready to make a life-changing decision like buying or selling a home. I’m honored to be able to help them with that process.”

Not surprisingly, Jeanine is well known in her local community, not only as a successful Realtor but also for her support of its students. She’s a perennial booster for the sports and drama programs at Creekview High School, contributing time or money as needed. When she’s not working or giving back, she enjoys tennis and golf. She’s also a dog lover, and likes spending time with the 3 greyhounds she adopted.

Going forward, Jeanine’s plan is simple: to continue making her clients’ journeys into the next chapter of their lives a happy one by providing the best real estate service in the industry!

Contact Jeanine at 678-858-4927 or email jeanineblumer@aol.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 21

Is Finding A Niche Market Right for You?

A lot of Realtors® take the ‘jack of all trades’ approach to their businesses, and some are extremely successful with doing it all and doing it well. But taking that approach can also make it hard to stand out if there are a lot of agents in your area taking the same approach.

If you’re looking for a way to stand out from the rest, finding a niche market might be the way to go. Although it might sound limiting at first, with the right branding and marketing, your specialty and expertise may help you lock up a market after you become well known for being the ‘go to’ Realtor® in a certain demographic. Having a niche helps you target your marketing, making it more effective, until eventually people are seeking you out as you build your reputation as the foremost expert in your particular niche.

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Despite the benefits of taking on a specialty, it’s still something that only a small percentage of Realtors® do, which means you have a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor in your area by being ahead of what is sure to be a looming real estate trend.

You want to claim your stake on the niche that best fits not only your passions, but something that fills a void in your market.

If this all sounds good to you, the next step is finding your niche! Here are a few things you need to consider:

There are two approaches to having a specialty, one that is truly your all-consuming passion or a sort of revolving niche, one that changes with the market Top Agent Magazine

In addition to creating a thriving business, finding a niche may even unlock a hidden passion. Does your area have a large historic home inventory? Are you passionate about helping first time home buyers realize their dreams?

Having a personal connection to what you specialize in is always a great way to start out. If you’re passionate about something, you’re almost guaranteed to have the work ethic it takes to have success in a niche market. Once you hone in on a niche, make sure the market data backs up your focus.

Another approach is changing with the market. If you’re truly an expert in a few areas of the business, it might be good to have sort of a revolving niche. In a down market you might specialize in short sales and foreclosures.

When things pick up, you may take your innovative approaches and start applying them to luxury homes.

Whether you take the consistent niche approach or the flexible one, it’s really all about figuring out what best suits you and your market.

Fill a void in your market Maybe you don’t have an instant passion for one particular niche. In that case, there are several areas you can consider. A lot of it will start with really researching and analyzing your market and having a good eye for what future trends will be. Is there a certain demographic that is surging in your area? Cater your business to serve them. Maybe you are fluent in Spanish and your area is seeing a rise in a Latino population, who are emigrating from other countries. Or perhaps, you live in an area that has a larger retirement population. There Top Agent Magazine

are numerous demographics that truly need expert real estate advice. Be the one to fill it.

You can also focus on a particular neighborhood or gated community. Helping people navigate the ins and outs of a particular HOA can be a lifesaver.

Are you already serving a niche?

Of course, sometimes you may already have a niche and are unaware of it. Maybe you are already dealing with a lot of first-time homebuyers. Look over your sales records and see what might already be there, then make it official.

Figure out why you’re drawn to that area and then nail down the reasons you’ve excelled with that niche and use it to create a marketing plan and branding.

Find ways to really sell your expertise Once you figure out your niche, get the training, designations, and certifications that will enhance your expertise. Another way to let it be known that you are the ‘go to’ Realtor® in your particular niche is to become a resource online. Create a website with informative blogs and marketing information. Make a mark on social media where you can link back to your site, so potential clients can actually interact with you.

There is a lot to consider when you’re thinking of going the niche market way with your business, but if you consider everything carefully and focus in on something you can be passionate about, the rewards could be a major win for you and for your clients.

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