Turning Loyalty into Real Estate Referrals with Barry Kirk

Estate of Mind — The Art of Selling Luxury Real Estate

How Different Generations Use Technology:

When it comes to pointing out the differences between Millennials and Gen Z versus Gen X and Baby Boomers, technology is usually one of the biggest differentiators. Younger generations grew up with the technology we use today, or at least comparable, earlier versions of it. While it might take older generations a bit more time and effort to find and learn their way around new online communities, maneuverability is more or less second nature for Millennials and Gen Z.

While it’s safe to argue that this younger generation is more adept at adapting to new technologies, it’s also very true that this generation has become very reliant on what they hear from fellow members of the tribes they subscribe to. As a result, these younger generations are a little less trusting of institutions (and marketing messaging from said institutions), and are in fact very good at tuning out advertisements that clutter their news feeds and inboxes.

So what does this mean when it comes to real estate? Creating loyalty amongst the younger generation will naturally lend itself to expanding your reach as a real estate professional, simply because those who are loyal to you will potentially be more likely to refer you to their fellow tribe members. Building your own loyal base of clients and potential clients is key to sustainable growth, a healthy referral pipeline, and establishing yourself as a sought after professional in the luxury real estate space.

Prosocial Rewards and the Peak-End Rule:

One of the most effective strategies at capturing new referrals is by offering what’s known in psychology terms as a prosocial reward. These specific types of rewards refer to benefits that you as a professional don’t necessarily offer to potential clients, but, instead, your existing client base offers on your behalf instead. Consequently, these benefits aren’t being framed as having come from the professional, but rather having been given to a potential referral directly from an existing client (as a gift, so to speak).

With prosocial rewards, the person delivering the benefit, an already trusted source of information for the potential client, gets to play the role of insider as they give their friend something of value, all on the behalf of a brand or professional without the brand or professional having to really get closely involved in the process. This is a great strategy for securing new referrals from typically already qualified leads.

Another helpful tip when asking for referrals centers around the concept of the peak-end rule, a psychological term that refers to the highlight and culmination of one’s experiences as the lasting memories most easily recalled. Generally speaking, the peak and end are the two aspects of an experience that a potential client will remember most vividly. When asking for referrals of any kind, the best time to do so is as close to the peak of satisfaction as possible, namely because your client will never be as satisfied with your services as they are at that very point. By always keeping the peak-end rule in mind, you greatly increase the likelihood of filling your pipeline with qualified leads.

Topics and Questions You’ll Uncover During this Episode:

• Who are the next generation of homeowners?
• What is a niche tribe in marketing terms and how can you appeal to these groups to build out your pipeline?
• How can a real estate professional create a network among fellow real estate professionals?
• How and when is the best time for a real estate professional to ask their clients to refer them out to their network?

Resources Mentioned within Episode:

• How to Reach Barry Kirk
• Official Website - Chapman & Co. Leadership Institute
• Connect with Barry on LinkedIn
• The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing