Four Killer Tip for Getting Production from Your Bird Dogs

[Scott Nachatilo]

I like using bird dogs because they are bringing me leads that my normal marketing are bringing in. I've done a careful job of communicating with them only via email. To do so otherwise would require way too much of my time. If you train them like that up front, they understand how it works or simply go away. Either way, I win.

But the point of getting them set up in the first place is to get production from them. To bring you leads that are at least somewhat in the ball park of what I'm looking to buy.

So Here are 4 tips to increase their production without eating too much into your time:

1) Get them set up on a autoresponder. I use icontact.com as my email marketing solution. Put them on a sublist.

2) Send them a opt-in form. These are created automatically by your autoresponder. They will fill in whatever information you want - all you really need is their email, name, and telephone number. That way, they will add themselves automatically to your email list.

3) Every autoresponder has a thank you message set up. What I have is a short video explaining how the program works. I give them some tips on finding motivated sellers. I tell them how to send those leads to me (email only).

4) Send them at least one message each week. You can either send them a text message or shoot a short video and send them the link to the video. Either way, you need to communicate to that list. Get them pumped up. Tell them about deals that are going through now.

Also, be careful that you aren't breaking the law by paying them a commission. Realtors get paid commission. Non-licensed folks do not. They need to get paid, just be careful how you set that up.

[Nick J.]

I've got 4 way better tips for you Scott

1. Don't put them on some crappy autoresponder and actually engage them with a phone call, face to face and care about who they are.

2. Help them in helping you. Get them started in a way that inspires them. Do some marketing side by side with them, show them the results, whats working and whats not. Get them on the phone with you while you make calls so they can hear what and how you say things.

3. Ask them for more interaction with the sellers. Get them comfortable with talking to sellers themselves, getting paperwork gathered for you, check and double check comps.

4. Pay them in cold hard cash. There is something psychologically that happens when you hand them X amount of dollars (typically, my bird dogs make $3k easily per deal(another tip, pay them more than the next guy) and they know you're legit, they're loyal to the person who pays them and again, nothing is cooler than having them walk away with cash in their pocket)

So, there ya have it. ;)