{"id":128320,"date":"2020-08-07T10:00:37","date_gmt":"2020-08-07T16:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/?p=128320"},"modified":"2021-03-16T17:01:56","modified_gmt":"2021-03-16T23:01:56","slug":"networking-tips-popular-biggerpockets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/networking-tips-popular-biggerpockets","title":{"rendered":"6 Networking Tips From Mr. Popular on BiggerPockets"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019ve been around this community for a long time, and I spend a considerable amount of time adding to discussions on the BiggerPockets Forums<\/a>, building genuine relationships, and bringing the right people together. Networking isn’t really a natural talent of mine; it’s something I developed over time. Now I consider it to be the most valuable use of my time, and I want to teach the next investor the same lesson.<\/p>\n

I was very fortunate to be asked onto the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast episode #301<\/a>, then I started writing for the BiggerPockets Blog<\/a>, then I became a moderator on the forums, and now I\u2019m the host of the \u201cMeet the Investor\u201d YouTube series<\/a>.<\/p>\n

These things didn\u2019t happen because I\u2019m the smartest, biggest, or hardest-working real estate investor around. (I’m definitely not the hardest-working.) They happened because I spend the majority of my time adding value to the community and selflessly investing in the people here.<\/p>\n

Over the years, I\u2019ve written about networking here before. But as I go further and further into real estate, I find that it reinforces the idea that my success in real estate has almost nothing to do with houses and everything to do with humans. <\/em>In fact, I often tell people that I don\u2019t invest in houses at all\u2014I only invest in people.<\/p>\n

Much like you hear the advice to spend less time in the books and more time taking action, I believe that shaking hands is the perfect and most efficient way to take action. With that in mind, here are some of my best tips to develop productive and meaningful relationships.<\/p>\n

Related:<\/em><\/strong> How to Network Like a Pro (Even If You\u2019re an Introvert!)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

1. Utilize BiggerPockets’ Search Function<\/h2>\n

Imagine you\u2019re looking for a lender in your area (or any vendor). Go to the BiggerPockets search function and type in \u201clender,\u201d then filter by member tab and then by location. Scroll through, and you’ll find about 50 active members that fit your criteria. Email all of them.<\/p>\n

You won\u2019t get 50 responses, but you don\u2019t need 50\u2014you really only need the right one. You\u2019ll probably get messages back from about 10-20%, which is still huge.<\/p>\n

This doesn’t have to be for just vendors, either. You can search for anything using keywords\u2014whatever you\u2019re trying to accomplish: flipper, BRRRR, rentals, landlord, etc. The goal is to find the highly specific individual that you want to build a relationship with. It’s simple and incredibly powerful.<\/p>\n

\"man<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t the first time I\u2019ve given this advice on a blog, and it probably won\u2019t be the last, because I use this strategy all the time and it consistently produces results.<\/p>\n

Recently, I was building the guest list for \u201cMeet the Investor\u201d season two. I used this method to get nearly half of the show’s guests. I don’t look at this as just a few people I\u2019m going to do this little project with; these are people who are already in real estate, they are in this community, and now I will know them the rest of my life. All from a quick search and some emails.<\/p>\n

This also means that the more frequently you post on the BiggerPockets Forums<\/a> using keywords of what you do and where you\u2019re located, the more likely someone will be able to find you when they are searching.<\/p>\n

2. Send a 7 a.m. Text<\/h2>\n

Three or four times a week, as soon as I wake up, I start getting hyped for the day. I want to share and spread that hype to people in my circle. I go through my phone list and text people who I think might enjoy or need this positive influence and just say, \u201cHey, I\u2019m thinking of you, and I hope you have a fantastic day. Let me know if you\u2019re doing anything I can help with.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is so powerful when done correctly, and it\u2019s something that everyone can do. Reaching out obviously has to be genuine\u2014I didn\u2019t start this as a networking thing. I just do it because I love it.<\/p>\n

Maybe this specific approach will work the same way for you, or maybe consider creating your own approach. Either way, if it\u2019s not genuine, everyone will catch on pretty quickly. Other people know when you\u2019re B.S.-ing, so make sure to do right by people.<\/p>\n

The overall idea here is to put yourself at the forefront of people\u2019s minds, which is the most valuable real estate of all. You know you\u2019re doing it right simply by their response. (Bonus points for trolling your friends in different time zones. My West Coast friends get these messages at 3 or 4 a.m.)<\/p>\n

I can explain my style more simply as such: I meet people who I know I need in my life, and then I spend about three years annoying them endlessly until I wear them down and we become best friends.<\/p>\n

I have no problem shoving my life into someone else’s life, because I know my motives are pure. If your motives are pure, then you should feel comfortable doing the same. If you are just doing this to get something out of it, then everyone will feel that. It won\u2019t work, and you\u2019ll do more harm to your reputation than good.<\/p>\n

Related:<\/em><\/strong> How to Network Like a Pro on BiggerPockets<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

3. Play the Long Game<\/h2>\n

In the last tip, I mentioned that these processes can take around three years, but the reality is this takes much longer. This is a process that lasts forever\u2014relationships are for life.<\/p>\n

There is nobody you\u2019re going to meet who is going to change your life overnight. But meeting the right person can create a fork in your life that leads to permanent changes over time. It\u2019s important to remember a few points though.<\/p>\n

Knowing someone isn\u2019t the value\u2014it\u2019s the relationship that matters.<\/h3>\n

It’s not about how many phone numbers I have. It\u2019s that people are enthusiastic to talk to me when I reach out. That\u2019s where the real power is.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s like going to a conference, collecting business cards, but forgetting what you spoke to each person about. That\u2019s useless. You want to create a meaningful dynamic that people are excited to participate in.<\/p>\n

Intros are just the start.<\/h3>\n

No one can recreate a relationship they have between you and another person. Being introduced to people through already-established friendships is extremely potent and something we all should be doing, but it\u2019s impossible for them to transfer their friendship to you. All we get is the intro\u2014which is big\u2014but it’s up to us to develop that relationship on our own.<\/p>\n

\"phone-call-hiring\"<\/p>\n

People are an investment, not a transaction.<\/h3>\n

I have a saying about this: \u201cSelflessly and fearlessly invest in people.\u201d Don’t approach people in a way that’s focused on what you can get from them. Instead, consider what you can do for them. If you take care of people and work to improve their lives, the odds are higher that they will enthusiastically try to help when and if you need them.<\/p>\n

This idea applies to everyone, from the contractor you need to work on a house to a powerhouse real estate investor who you want to become your mentor. Invest in people selflessly, and the rest will work out.<\/p>\n

Related:<\/em><\/strong> The Ultimate Guide to Building & Maintaining a Powerful Real Estate Network<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

4. Commingle Your Hobbies<\/h2>\n

Ever tried to become best friends with someone over 30? For many people, it\u2019s not so easy. But why? It\u2019s because people have more established lives, interests, routines, and families to think about.<\/p>\n

Finding people who are into real estate is enough of a shared interest to become friends, but you can compound that exponentially by finding additional overlapping interests or taking one of your interests and using it to add value to their life.<\/p>\n

My personal example is photography and videography\u2014but it can be anything for you. It can be a creative interest, a technical interest, or an abstract interest. Think of your hobbies as a force that can be used for good in your relationships.<\/p>\n

I didn’t pick up photography as a means to network. But along the way, I learned something interesting about our world: Everyone has a camera on their phone these days, but almost everyone is a lousy photographer.<\/p>\n

This is because good image quality does not equal good pictures. A large portion of people are accustomed to seeing terrible pictures of themselves\u2014and they hate it. Then I show up and take one great image of a person, and they love me forever. Easy!<\/p>\n

Lately, I have taken to videography, and specifically YouTube production. But I didn\u2019t go off and make a bunch of YouTube videos about myself out of the gate. I started by putting other people on camera and trying to make them look good first.<\/p>\n

Photography has nothing to do with the lesson here, it’s just to plant a seed in your mind that you can and should use your outside personal interests to compound your business relationships. You probably have a hobby that you can share with other people for mutual benefit. Anything from spearfishing, web design, woodworking, or whatever.<\/p>\n

Find your unique talents and use them as a means to help other people.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

5. Use Your Ego<\/h2>\n

Part of the reason you want to be successful is ego. This is inevitable. You want the money, you want freedom, and you want to announce it to the world when you succeed. That\u2019s ego.<\/p>\n

Accomplishing big goals feels good, and we love to chase those wins. The feeling that comes with them, that\u2019s definitely ego.<\/p>\n

Many of us love to compete. But this can lead to trouble, especially when dealing with debt. So, it\u2019s important not to let our ego control us. While ego may be inevitable, the reward systems that feed the demon are not all created equal.<\/p>\n

I tell people all the time, \u201cI can make money for myself, but that\u2019s easy. I want to be so good that I can make you money, too.\u201d It\u2019s one thing to get an ego boost from hitting your goals. It\u2019s a whole new level of ego when you can help someone else succeed.<\/p>\n

Looking at it this way allows us to feed that ego without starting from a selfish motive, and we can approach people with a genuine desire to help while perfectly reconciling our own interests. Don’t try to suppress your ego; use it to help the greater good.<\/p>\n

Related:<\/em><\/strong> 5 Tips for Growing Your Real Estate Network While Stuck at Home<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

6. Be a Beacon<\/h2>\n

If networking is the organization of people you know, being a beacon means telling people how to come to you. This is what social media and content creation are great for: telling the world what you do and how to get ahold of you.<\/p>\n

In this day and age, part of successful networking requires you to be a beacon to some degree. There are a few ways you can do this:<\/p>\n