ACT! How to get more out of the volunteers in your REALTOR® Organizations

WHY DON’T THEY GET IT? These issues affect their business It doesn’t take that much to respond If REALTORS® turned out, it would make a HUGE impact Their reputation can carry an issue by itself They could be the go to organization on land use policy if they wanted

These issues affect their business

It doesn’t take that much to respond

If REALTORS® turned out, it would make a HUGE impact

Their reputation can carry an issue by itself

They could be the go to organization on land use policy if they wanted

WHY DON’T THEY GET IT? What are YOU doing to make them understand the importance of the issues and their involvement? How are you framing the message? Who is delivering the message? How often are you asking volunteers to be involved? How can you improve these items?

What are YOU doing to make them understand the importance of the issues and their involvement?

How are you framing the message?

Who is delivering the message?

How often are you asking volunteers to be involved?

How can you improve these items?

WHAT DON’T YOU GET? People respond to issues that directly affect them People respond to requests from people they respect and trust Even the most fervent volunteers only have so much time to invest We need to re-evaluate how we enlist our volunteers

People respond to issues that directly affect them

People respond to requests from people they respect and trust

Even the most fervent volunteers only have so much time to invest

We need to re-evaluate how we enlist our volunteers

RE-EVALUATE You may already use some of these suggestions in your program The key to continuing success is to identify what elements can be improved upon, and figuring out how to do that Build upon a solid foundation

You may already use some of these suggestions in your program

The key to continuing success is to identify what elements can be improved upon, and figuring out how to do that

Build upon a solid foundation

Step 1 – Prioritize Issues List top 10 issues you are likely to deal with that year List appropriate responses to: Each Issue At each stage of the issue’s development This is just a guideline

List top 10 issues you are likely to deal with that year

List appropriate responses to:

Each Issue

At each stage of the issue’s development

This is just a guideline

Step 2 – Find Messengers Create a quick list of contacts to react to these issues: Different contacts for different levels in the process Volunteer messengers for each office Identify All Communication Options

Create a quick list of contacts to react to these issues:

Different contacts for different levels in the process

Volunteer messengers for each office

Step 3 - Make Issues Personal Understand the psyche and interests of your audiences Craft your messages accordingly for : Brokers - Agents Clients / Consumers - Media Coordinate volunteer identification Develop databases / data tags / data lists Identify agents, offices, and business models that meet these interests

Understand the psyche and interests of your audiences

Craft your messages accordingly for :

Brokers - Agents

Clients / Consumers - Media

Coordinate volunteer identification

Develop databases / data tags / data lists

Identify agents, offices, and business models that meet these interests

This is your FOUNDATION You have your top issues, and will add to them as new issues come along You have your audiences, and know how to communicate to them You have your messages, and know how to get them to their audience

You have your top issues, and will add to them as new issues come along

You have your audiences, and know how to communicate to them

You have your messages, and know how to get them to their audience

Employing the Right Tactic Get leadership on board with your plan Get volunteers on board with your plan Design structure and procedures for employing the right tactic

Get leadership on board with your plan

Get volunteers on board with your plan

Design structure and procedures for employing the right tactic

Employing the Right Tactic Know which: Audience to communicate with Method to communicate with Message to employ Know what you need the volunteers to do

Know which:

Audience to communicate with

Method to communicate with

Message to employ

Know what you need the volunteers to do

Employing the Right Tactic Don’t Over React Create volunteer opportunities Use your volunteers effectively Use your volunteers sparingly COMMUNICATE!

Don’t Over React

Create volunteer opportunities

Use your volunteers effectively

Use your volunteers sparingly

COMMUNICATE!

Tips for Success! The Basics Know Key Issues Have a Plan Personalize Use Appropriately

The Basics

Know Key Issues

Have a Plan

Personalize

Use Appropriately

Tips for Success! Stay focused on the issues that are most pressing, not most egregious to the industry Start off small, don’t try and answer every question at once

Stay focused on the issues that are most pressing, not most egregious to the industry

Start off small, don’t try and answer every question at once

Tips for Success! Identify Messengers Know who is the right speaker to the right audience in: Your Association Each Office To the community To elected officials To the press And know when to use each one!

Identify Messengers

Know who is the right speaker to the right audience in:

Your Association

Each Office

To the community

To elected officials

To the press

Tips for Success! Speak to their interests Put in THEIR terms Relate to THEIR business Communicate on THEIR level Take the message to those who need it

Speak to their interests

Put in THEIR terms

Relate to THEIR business

Communicate on THEIR level

Take the message to those who need it

Tips for Success! Use Technology Use Database capabilities Run lists to communicate Communicate Often Get Active Rapattoni / MMSI Good Ol’ Excel

Use Technology

Use Database capabilities

Run lists to communicate

Communicate Often

Get Active

Rapattoni / MMSI

Good Ol’ Excel

Tips for Success! Don’t Overdo It When it comes to your response When it comes to how many issues you engage volunteers When it comes to using messengers When it comes to turnout on issues

Don’t Overdo It

When it comes to your response

When it comes to how many issues you engage volunteers

When it comes to using messengers

When it comes to turnout on issues

Tips for Success! Finally, for continued success… Send a Thank You card to those who helped out on issues Send a report about your successes Recognize those who volunteered

Finally, for continued success…

Send a Thank You card to those who helped out on issues

Send a report about your successes

Recognize those who volunteered

ACT! How to get more out of the volunteers in your REALTOR® Organizations CHIP AHLSWEDE www.RegalStrategies.com [email_address] (714) 402-1430