Politics and Sales

As the campaign for President officially began last evening, I couldn’t help but think of  the similarities between  politics and sales.  More specifically, the similarities between the plight of a politician and that of a realtor.  Both really have to depend on their ability to sell their credentials in order to convince others that they are best qualified for the job. 

The Harsh Reality

How well do we really know those who are running for the highest office in the land?  How do we accurately discern between the perception and reality of the candidates’ character.  The truth is that you don’t.  Couples live with one another, sometimes for years, before they actually learn the true character of their partner.  So is it really feasible to expect to determine the genuiness of a candidate via sixty second sound bites or a series of debates consisting of canned responses?

Back to Our Plight

Thus the challenge, for both politicians and salespeople alike, is to develop creative ways in which to help the public get to know them.  For realtors this is not an easy task, simply due to sheer numbers.  In most communities throughout the country there are hundreds of realtors in every town.   Consequently, the task of becoming a known commodity and distinguishing yourself from the competition is even more daunting than competing against a handful of candidates.

The Bright Light

The bright light at the proverbial tunnel’s end, however, is that those very same towns have 10% – 20% of the realtors who are doing just that, leveraging the Pareto Principle.  Making their names a household word and giving prospects a sense of who they are through consistent:

• Blogging
• Social Media
• Phoning
• Direct Mail
• Physical Networking

Choose your pleasure and ride your strengths to establish your own personality and reputation in the mind of the public.  This new year will be your best ever if you do it with success.

What venues are you using to establish your credibility?  Please let us know with comments below.

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