Nicely said Jeff.

I'm #1 with many people.

(I'll let you insert the visual)

Good stuff as usual Jeff!

I'm of the school that everyONE can be a #1. Jacob's ladder in business models only have one #1 on the top rung. It's outdated and doesn't serve the common good. In a circular model (like a RAIN puddle), everyONE counts and EVERYone is the center. WONderfull!

Jeff - good points........wait, points don't count............well it was the first blog i read after signing on....wait, being first doesn't count either..........ok.........i agree totally. just let me first in line for a fresh pizza once and awhile.

Good one Jeff. I wrote something similar back on 9/2 so it is obviously on our minds. Jeff Belonger and I had the conversation on the phone today about another contact of ours going for the gold and calling himself America's #1 Mortgage Broker. I'm looking for some useless title like Earth's Top Source of All Things Perfect. What I do love is "Neighborhood Expert" and really, that's all an individual needs to be to live well and be resepected. Just saying.

And to Mara Hawks - WAR EAGLE (I spent a hazy portion of my life at the Colonial Apartments on Opelika Highway at Ross) I can't imagine they are still there.

I always hated that line. Never used it...my goal is to make my cleints feel like they are number 1 to me.

I like reading the "*" language that many agents use to qualify (make legal) their claim of #1. As for being #1 on AR, it's meaningless if there's no business.

Jeff,

So true. I use what I call my  hamburger philosophy at times when talking with clients. Like "We probably know who sells the billions of burgers, right? But that's not where you would go for the best burger is it?"

Therefore if numbers are the only things that's important to them, then I'm not the right agent.

Jeff, Right on. I'm #1 to those who have chosen to use my services. I do know a few who have picked their Realtor based on their #!!!!!

I am in total 100% agreement with you, Jeff... the client should be Number One! 

Jeff, You'll always be #1 in my book. I just haven't figured out what book that is yet:)

The consumer wants to know what we can do for them NOT what # we are OR what # we place on ourselves.

I don't care what number I am as long as I get the calls. I strive to be on the first page of Google for no other reason than that is usually the person that gets read first. Most of my clients tell me they called me because they liked what I had to say.

Jeff, The only thing I think when I see those ads is the sign on the back of the Septic truck, "I'm #1 in the #2 business."  A marketing relic of the past.

Well, this is a competitive business and being # 1 should be a good thing.  However, you make good points.  #1 to whom and by whose definition.  Good thought provoker.

Hi Jeff

It's all about our customers, so just maybe our customers are #1. If we continue to focus on our customers we may become #1 in their minds.

Good luck and success

Lou Ludwig

I have a hard time with agents who claim they are #!...the DIVAs! Although I am told to become a successful broker, I have to learn to like DIVAs!

Jeff, I would love to have you on my team anytime! "We are always looking for GREAT AGENTS!"

I may not be number 1 as far as numbers, but I would rather spend the time servicing clients the right way.  I have a high referral rate because I focus on relationships instead of the number of closings.  I may not be number 1 in the polls, but my clients come back to me time and time again.  I can sleep at night knowing I have my integrity and good will.  I must be doing something right; I'm celebrating my 11th year in real estate.

I enjoyed reading your post and agree with you.  The comments generated are interesting reading as well. 

Jeff - There is only one #1 spot that holds any real meaning and that is .... being number 1 in the minds of my clients. 

Just like the old saying goes
Call me anyting you want just don't call me late for dinner.

As long as the clients choose us as their #1, that's what really matters.  And of course the client comes first, so therefore they are really #1.

What you are is a wonderful writer for local topics. That shows in your localism posts and here on ACtive Rain. You give the consumer a high degree of information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas. For that alone you are #1 in our book in Carlsbad and why we would refer any client your way. Keep up the good work.

Great post Jeff.  Its not just in our industry but everywhere you look there is a claim by someone being #1.  Two issues come up

1. #1 in what criteria?

2. where's the evidence?

For that reason I ignore #1 claims.  Anyone who needs to tell you that they are #1 probably are not.  It shines through when you are great at what you do and you do not have to announce it to the world. 

Mother Theresa was not out telling the world that she was a giving person, she just did her work and the world saw it.

#1 in my world :) For what? Not quite sure. So many definitions available.....#1 in client satisfaction? #1 in client disatisfaction? #1 in sales? #1 in fun?

People can brag in this industry and others as well, but I'm #1 in the eyes of my kid.....and at the end of the day, that's all that matters to me.

I feel that if you have to advertise that you are Number 1, then most times you are not. 

Ibelieve it's highly over rated.

Jeff, I just happen to be number one for my city for Activerainers but more importantly I try to make my clients #1. Congrats on the Activerain feature.

Last count we had six #1 's here. True we even have one claiming to have sold more toilets than any other agent. Hey Ken and Mara I live in Colonial in 78. Guess what I bought them about 5 years ago, Believeme they are nothing compared to back then and they weren't a whole lot to them now. All but two are section 8.

Good for you.  The bottom line is profit and quality of life.  Greed can get carried away with being number one.  I have seen those who HAD to be number one and they are now $60 million in debt...yes, real estate agents.  I have seen others that half to be number one in AR, yet, they are struggling to make a living.  Focus on what is important.  Stand back and look at the big picture and see what is really important......

Jeff~ The only thing that really matters is that my clients know that they are #1 to ME! 

Well said Jeff.  All you need to be #1 to is the clients you work with.  I still say repeat business and referrals make the best clients

Great Post Jeff.

as long as I am #1 in my kids eyes. It doesn't make a difference. But I agree with you, Some fell being #1 on AR gives you the advantage- IT DOESN'T

I have known some #1's from different companies.  Their negotiating skills included "beating up" on their own clients... 

Some of them acted like "#2" to their customers.

...I'm just saying...

Hi Jeff, I was told by a client today "I respect your judgment in handling my property"  that means a lot to me and no, I am not number 1.  Maybe I could be if I really pushed, but there is more to life.  Good luck.

Jeff, you are so right about this.  The landscape of real estate as we know it has changed.  It's all about treating our customers as #1, being accessible and visible on social networks and providing timely, quality information.

Jeff.. Yes some of us are very competive... Does that really make us # 1... As you already said... No it don't. Here on Active Rain, alot if it is friendly competition. Our course it is nice to go from the bottom to the top. I'm currently #1 in our town here on Active Rain although I trade spaces with a mortgage lender from time to time.

Being #1 in any list is very important.  People use rankings of all kinds to help them make decisions more quickly. 

I guess the bottom line is that to a fair amount of people, rankings of some kind do come into play in their decisions.  So I don't think it would really hurt to be #1 in something in order to capture those prospects where it does make a difference. I don't think there is any donwside to be #1 in something. 

I know a Realtor that brags on everything that "I'm number one in this area and number two in this area."  I agree "who cares?" I think if you have to constantly tell people something about yourself, you are trying to convince yourself of something.

Good points, some people need to make up something to brag about, which makes no sense to me.  If you're good at what you do, it will show through in your daily work.

You are #1 to all of us no matter how much you sell...

Ok you are our #1 male agent in Carlsbad who wears a blue shirt in his picture, has a great smile, writes great posts and uses his sense of humor to teach us all.  :)

I like this post Jeff. I personally am not at all competitive. You got more than me? Good for you. That's my attitude. I only need to satisfy one person at a time. I don't have to be all things to all people.

Hi Jeff.  I heard something along these lines today about how unavailable number 1 really is.  Great post!  KM

I'm not that competitive and tend to dislike people who ARE that competitive. The client needs to be # 1, not us. Duh!

I laugh when I hear Realtors say things like, "I have a balanced life - I have dinner with my family 3 times each week". I think, "you are messed up". I have dinner with my family 7 nights a week. That's the balance I want.

Perhaps it's all a matter of WHERE you want to succeed.

Great post, Jeff.

Great attitude to have a and great post, thanks Jeff!

Great post -- I couldn't agree more.  Earlier today I was on another social website and an agent's tagline was something like... #1 Agent on the #1 Team in the #1 office in the South.   If I was a potentail buyer / seller I don't think I would find that appealing and honestly, I would feel like I'm just a number!

I always say that there is a big pie out there and we just want our share of it.... is all good.  We enjoy being a top producer in our area and are proud of it but it does not matter to us who is number 1.  I think if you do an excellent job than you are number 1 to your client which is all that matters !  I agree ! Great post.

Jeff, there was a guy here in DC who we sort of called the Mohammed Ali of real estate.  He was the number 1 in dollar volume in the country for his old firm in 1978.  He sort of liked it, so he kept it for years and years - never mentioning the 1978 part.  The number one thing is sort of silly, in whatever part of the business we try to claim our bragging rights.

I love it Jeff, great post and perspective!  I also think that if you are doing an excellent job and delivering excellent customer service, that's all that should matter.

Jeff: I think some people really "need" to be #1, if for no other reason but to build up their own ego, which usually means they have, or have had, self esteem problems. 

...then again, I wouldn't mind being #1, at something. LOL

Jeff, that was excellent. You had me remembering a recent home buyer who mentioned agents saying that they are #1 and just how many of them there are. These folks think it's a joke and would never go to anyone who claimed they were #1. So, I got a chuckle while reading your article and remembering that car conversation with the home buyers.

I'm not #1, but I'm competitive and one day I will be!

Everyone has their own set of standards for #1.  I believe in being the best I can be, for me and my clients.  

I think what counts is being the best you can be at the things that you are good at.  Everybody can be #1 at something!

Great post, Jeff.  I would guess that focusing on being #1 kinda takes your focus off those who should really be #1, your clients.  And who is being #1 most important to, only yourself, therefore does it really matter? 

Way back when, the sign at McDonalds used to proclaim how many millions were sold, then it went to millions and millions sold and now it should read, Not sure how many, we stopped counting long ago.

While a potential client is interested in your personal accomplishments, being #1 or listing how many millions you've sold really doesn't matter.  I personally have always loved those who have so many initials after their name on a business card or advertisement that you're left wondering what the heck they all stand for.  Again, nobody cares, Realtors® included!

I am number 2 - so I try harder, which puts me #1 in many people's eyes. :)  My clients are #1 and that is what matters.  Great post, Jeff, thank you.

I suppose anyone could guess that I am a competitive animal.  It just is. 

I love winning.  I don't have to be #1, I just get a good feeling with success and achievement. 

One thing I learned a long time ago.  Winners are usually good sports because one has to lose so many time before we can get good enough at anything to win. 

Winning requires practice and practice requires discipline.  These are the things of which success is made.

Yes, #1 is good.

My father always taught me to make God first the other man second and myself third. I actually have a postcard on my desk that says "I'm third" I have had many clients ask about it and it is always a good conversation starter. Our board has stopped doing the Million Dollar Club because so many agents focused on how to juke the numbers to be on top. You would see agents enter lots as sold just because a developer let them write the contract for no commission. Not a very true look at who is actually producing.

If you can look in the mirror and are happy with what you see in character as well as in ethics then you are number one. If you are doing this business to be top dog then you are not doing the best service to your clients. Your focus is more on yourself then on them, and eventually that will effect your business. They need you to put them first in all areas and make them clients for life not for the transaction that will put you at the top.

Great blog Jeff.

Don't you love it when other agents tell clients that they are #1 or in the top few and THEY ARE REALLY at the bottom of the list? They need to read your blog.

You know, Jeff, you are so right. Being #1 is only relative to what your clients are looking for. Every agent has a niche or is good at a lot of things, but may only be great at one thing. I look at it this way;everybody can't be a General. There are some that are only going to be Sergeants. And if that's you, just be the best Sergeant that you can possibly be. Your work is not going to go unnoticed. If you make great flyers, there is going to be a buyer or seller who is attracted to great flyers. The truth is, in this business, you never can know why buyers & sellers are going to pick you and many times, it has nothing to do with your "stats". I had one buyer to call me and she said that she picked up my card because it was blue and blue was her favorite color...HELLO! Great post!

Jeff -

Being # 1 is a buzz word.  For some, it is an important claim. For others, it's puffing yourself up too much, arrogant.  He might not have time for me.

Not sure who said this, but I heard it years ago -

"To truly succeed you don't want to only be The Best at what you do.  You want to be THE ONLY ONE who does what you do, the way you do it."

Over the years, I have competed with Number 1 in our community for listings many times.  I can honestly say - I got the listing more often than I lost it.

Because what we do, according to our Team Business Model, puts the right combination of tools together to achieve our client's goal faster, with less extraneous marketing needed to keep the message "Number 1" out there in our community.

Our goal, therefore, is to do the best job for our clients - bar none!  This is what neutralizes our competion, even Number 1!

You'll never win 'em all - but you'll generate enough business and loyal clients this way to still thrive.

My thoughts, anyway.

DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO

Jeff,

I laugh at that saying because just because you claim it doesn't mean you really are...you could say you do 30 mil but how about bragging that you spent 200K on marketing and advertising and even if you like to brag about the 100 listings you have...why not tell everyone about the 50 that expired or were taken away due to the fact you couldn't sell them because they are overpriced. It's about how much money I have in my pocket and now many of them aren't even selling RE anymore..they are now selling shop to earn:)

I've heard too many stories lately about people who are #1 in the market (however that's defined) and they walk into listing presentations and simply sign the seller up - No effort at all - As their reputation precedes them ~ good or bad...

I will say though our goal is to be #1 in our clients' mind - and that is something that's earned as you service the listing successfully - and that word does spread as well. 

Sometimes the #1 realtor is not as available as you are to be there when you're client needs you - we need to leverage that reality!

Hi Jeff: I like the buttons on the bottome of your page can you post a blog and teach us newbies how to do that???

Never met a buyer or seller who truly cared whether I was number 1 in my marketplace.  I always tell thm they are number 1.

Jeff - Looks like we share the same philosophy on this topic.  I didn't care who was really #1 when I wasn't, and I didn't "claim" it when I was, although the office insisted on reminding me.  Now - as far as Active Rain goes - it's hugely important to be #1! :-) But - now, I've dropped to #17 - with Jeff Belonger a scant 13 points behind me!

Being #1 is nice especially if you aren't competitive. It's good to be there because of your hard work.

Jeff,

Great post!!  I think that is a great tag line too.....

I'm not #1....my customers are!

I like it....a lot. After all, that's the way it should be. Think I might start using it in my ads.

Thanks!!

Jeff:

Yes agree with Kelly, I have started seeing those buttons on the bottom of AR Blog pages. Love them!

As for being number #1 exposure of course on AR is what makes being number one in your county, state, or category great, but overall yes, content gets you into the Google Searches.

Consumers are starting to use active rain, so when they search for real estate professionals in a certain area they will likely look at the  few on top first.

Also important is that otherr Realtors, businesses that are members of AR who search for businesses in other areas of the county, being close to the top gives you a better chance of getting that referral.

Of course your profile, blog posts, etc will "sell" you, but at least if you are at the top, you get a better chance of someone clicking over to your profile for a look see.

Thanks Jeff!

Jeff, well said. It is not about our position, it is about who we are and why the consumer picks you. It is also about getting back to them 1st when it is a lead. Some folks want more time and attention than an agent can give them at have 100 listings, everyone is different. The number one agent in Ann Arbor doesn't blog, doesn't do virtual tours, but is well connected and been in the business for 35 years.

Hi Jeff, I enjoyed this post. I am not number 1 on the MLS, or by standards of the top agents in my area. I have met unrealistic sellers, buyers, and FSBO's. I seem to do great with getting buyers to become more realistic about their needs, wants and what they can afford. I have been called RARE, THE BEST, and other nice comments by the people/clients I am working with. I have even turned clients away due to bad credit (and I mean BAD--like 400 credit score). I told them to wait even though they don't want to miss the "buyer's market". They told me an agent in their town said don't worry about it, come on in to the office. I told them to continue to rent OR go visit with the agent in their town. I advised them to work on their credit, etc. Guess what? They listened, they are renting for another year and started aggressively paying down their debt. Did I up my sales volume with them? No but I sleep better at night, knowing I didn't get them into something that could ruin their lives. So, #1 just like success means different things to different people.  

I find it quite frustrating that some members of AR have to be #1 so badly that they'll publish their alloted 10 posts week after week, almost all of which offer very little information or insight for the rest of the AR community at large or, more importantly, for the very consumers they're trying to reach, just to rack up enough points to put them at the head of the line. 

I agree Jeff. Nice post. I think the best is to strive to be #1 to our clients. It is nice to be #1 in your state, city, neighborhood, subdivision and galaxy, but no one cares except us anyway or our EGOs.

No matter what we're talking about, #1 is really in the eye of the beholder!

Thanks for the post Jeff... made me reflect upon myself and how I treat others.

Bob

Jeff, this is the first of many blogs of yours I a sure I will read and enjoy! Thanks for putting this issue out there so perfectly! I think you are #1 ;o)

Monica