Whether your territory is a highly competitive urban market or small-town bedroom community, capturing your share of that market may often depend not on what you know or who you know, but who knows YOU.
As the new year begins, why not resolve to find new and creative ways to get involved - ways that will benefit both the community and your business.
Chances are, many of you are involved in the one or more of the usual venues: Chamber of Commerce, service organizations (like Rotary or Kiwanis), networking groups, etc.
These are great tools, although their effectiveness depends a great deal on how much time and energy you are willing to put into your membership.
But, in this highly competitive field in which we've chosen to make our livings, the ability to market oneself effectively is just as important as the ability to market a property.
Getting involved in community affairs allows you to get your name out there without breaking your budget.  And, sometimes, you may choose to give a couple hours of your time, versus a couple bucks from your bank account - which can benefit you even more, in some cases.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: people like to do business with people they like.
Participating in a community event or non-profit's fundraising efforts gives you visibility and a common link to others.  Making a good impression - as a monetary supporter, hardworking volunteer or enthusiastic promoter - insures that your name will be at the top of the list when it comes time for these folks to buy or sell, or refer their friends and neighbors to an agent.
So, how do you go about getting involved?
Find out if the communities you serve have master calendars of events and activities. Most of these are maintained by Chambers of Commerce, Visitors Bureaus or City Hall. Getting your hands on one should be as simple as making a phone call or checking out a website.
You should also be able to get a listing of service clubs and non-profit organizations in your communities through one of the venues listed above, or through individual websites.
Look over the events and activities for each group for the coming year, and determine how you might be able to add your support.
Do you golf? Maybe you can get a foursome together for a worthy cause's tournament. (Or sponsor a hole, provide items for a goodie bag, or place an ad in the program most tournaments publish).
If you come across an event that mentions any kind of booths or festival, consider sponsoring a space and providing something fun to draw traffic (drawings, bottled water, inexpensive trinkets), as well as your business info and spotlight on any listings you may have at the time.
Large scale events usually need lots of volunteers. If there's a run, outdoor festival, or other event that draws large crowds and has a number of activities, volunteer some time to help set up or work a shift.
Don't let sponsorship levels (which can be quite high) dissuade you from jumping on the sponsor wagon. Offer to sponsor one thing  (like bottled water for the volunteers or tee shirts with your logo), even if that one thing is not offered as a separate sponsorship.  Organizers often just lump all costs together under "major sponsors," but are thrilled when someone who can't pay the $2,500 minimum level offer to pay $500 (or less) to cover the costs of a specific item or task.
There are a million opportunities to get your name out there in a very positive light, and many won't cost you a dime.
But, the payoff can be priceless.

For more information on this subject or for any buying or selling needs in the Southern California, Contact me at Brea Real Estate