I DO network and do one on one....but that's at the bottom of my marketing preference....I need to do high numbers...one at a time does NOT cut it in any industry....market to the masses...

I work my SOI but digitally which I find is the preference of the majority.  People will tolerate the face to face but prefer otherwise.  We need to get our egos out of the equation and understand that we're taking precious time away from people who'd much prefer an email!

I know I groan whenever I hear my doorbell ring - am I alone in this?

I have to contradict and disagree with a few. For me, it's 50% of my month and very much one on one and small group focused.  The classic mistake that many in sales make, is going a mile wide and an inch deep networking; my plan involves going a mile deep and only an inch wide with my database. It's better to have quality over quantity when it comes to relational-networking and working by referral; otherwise you're just transactional.  The "spray and pray" method makes you feel busy, but the results are minimal as this is a largely ineffective method of networking.  I see my CEO position as doing one of three things: 1. being belly to belly or voice to voice with clients and networking partners, 2. taking listings and 3. negotiating deals; everything else is secondary. But, I'm always pleased with my "competition"  disagrees with me on this point, because I'll be at them long term with my deeper connections that refer me over decades. 

Once I get that opportunity (PTF) it's mine!

Much of our day is spent online or on the phone. However, the most effective marketing is face to face contacts.

I do networking events and a few one on ones, but as Barbara Todaro said, that is a very small portion of my time.  I'm w/ Barbara on figuring out "one ot many" rather than one at a time.  I do a lot more on line, and over the last couple of years cards and emails.

More phone than flesh.

I wish more, but we are an impersonal society linked by the digial monster.

Michael Thornton I believe networking and face-to-face meeting are essential in this business.

I like the face to face contact and walk the home area to keep my face in front of the neighborhood. I also have good luck face to face with expired listings.

Not enough but Debbie and I have been socializing a lot more with our data base this summer.

Phone calls

as much as possible. time spent otherwise is not nearly productive. as long as i have showered that day. which is a speculative bet

I consider myself a social person so I like in person contact but then again I blog like I talk so both will work. I find if you find people that want to talk to you then they are the people who you should work with. The ones who don't you should probably let go.

I have a niche that requires me to be more competent than social...thank goodness.  I also consider myself more of an advocate that a salesperson, so networking is a turnoff.

Eve

Mike, I don't know my number but it has to be close to yours.

Michael, the first point of contact is usually on-line. If you have the opportunity to meet face-to-face, that's ideal, but with today's busy lifestyles and so much internet presence, you must be able to impress either way.

There are two different face to face type meetings.

There is the me to the fellow next to me in the church pew.  He (or his friends/family) may have a real estate need and they may think of (remember) me - or not. That will be the occasional deal.

The other is developing relationships with referral partners.  These folks can be responsible for multiple clients in a month, or a quarter, or a year.  I concentrate of face to face with my current and potential referrral partners, but I don't ignore my SOI, either. They're actually easier to make that quarterly phone call to, IMO.

And remember that referrals have to go both ways to have a good relationship.

We need a combination of face to face as well as online, phone calls, etc.  It also depends on the person.  Some people prefer emails so it is best to determine how past clients want to be communicated with.  For new or "not mets" it depends on your marketing approach, ie Facebook, networking groups, open houses, etc.   

not enough