Your database is the heart of your business. Your database is a living and breathing companion on your trip through your day.

I know there are agents who make a lot of money out there who don’t have one. That’s great. They most likely are killing themselves to earn the money they do and it shows in their business and life. I’m not hear to judge, all I know is – having a database is better than not having one.

Here’s how to get started on building your database. Follow these steps exactly. Feel free to COPY AND PASTE this information or print this. Then use it as a checklist as you complete each task.

1. Get a legal pad and a pencil.
2. At the top of the legal pad, write down across the top the following categories:
NAME ADDRESS EMAIL PHONE

3. Under that write down every single person you know. DO NOT FILL IN THE ADDRESS, EMAIL AND PHONE YET.

4. Take your time and think this through. Think about ALL THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE EVER KNOWN. Start with family first, close friends, co-workers, your doctors, local business owners you may know, the kid at the pizza shop…I mean everyone you have contact with.

5. Write only their names – again push yourself further to write down everyone.

6. Grab your address book (if you have one) and/or your cell phone and begin writing down every person on the legal pad (that’s not a real estate agent).

7. Go to your social media accounts (if you have them) and write down all the people you are “friends” with or who follow you (that aren’t real estate agents) and write down their names.

8. Now once you think you have a complete list, do it again. Don’t forget LinkedIn. Please do not bother with writing in contact info. You want to run this this list with an open mind of only who you know – by name only.

9. Once names are compiled, now it’s time to fill in the blanks – PHONE, EMAIL AND ADDRESS information.

10. Put information you have into a CSV file.
Simple directions for creating a CSV file:
In the top line – running across, write in the following:
FIRST NAME LAST NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE PHONE 1 PHONE 2 EMAIL 1 EMAIL 2

Now, depending on the DATABASE you’ll be using, you may have to break up the ADDRESS portion into the following:
STREET NUMBER STREET DIRECTION STREET NAME STREET SUFFIX

11. Now you have a complete CSV file. You have filled in as much of the information as possible. Now it’s time to upload this file to your database.

12. Database – I recommend

This database is easy to use and also targets how to CREATE REFERRAL BUSINESS.

13. Now this is the fun part. You have gone through your contacts – those you know well and those you don’t know well. You have some of their information but not all. Step 13 is critical because now, you’re going to contact each one of these people in your database, by the means that you have and ask to get the rest of their information.

So for instance, if you only have their social media contact, you’re going to send them a message via that social media outlet and ask for their email, phone and address. Likewise, if you only have their phone number, you’re going to call them.

Here is a list of tools and training modules to handle each contact method and exactly what to write and what to say to your SPHERE of influence. Yes, I know, I am awesome. Thank you very much.

14. Stay in touch. This is the tricky part that you’ll have to make decisions about on your own. In combination with the database I recommended, I also recommend the marketing kit that is offered by Buffini & Company. It’s a great way to keep in touch with your people.

15. Add to the database. Every new contact or lead that comes your way is added to your database.

This is a basic way to get your database up and running. Follow these steps and I assure you, you will have a better handle on your business than the average agent, running around using outlook as their “database”.

The List Of Contact Methods and Tools:
Social Media Contacting For Introducing Sphere To Your Real Estate Business
Letter For Mailing For Introducing Sphere To Your Real Estate Business
Phone Conversation For Introducing Sphere To Your Real Estate Business
Email For Introducing Sphere To Your Real Estate Business