Laser focused on growing their business and better servicing their clients, REALTORS® from across the state recently gathered in Scottsdale for the 2019 Arizona REALTORS® Convention. Successful agents from across the state and around the country were on hand, revealing their techniques and sharing tips. Here are some highlights we didn’t want you to miss!

The convention kicked off with a welcome reception and the 5th Annual Cornhole Tournament. Teams dressed as their favorite music group competed but the win ultimately belonged to Weichert RELO-cators.

The opening keynote was packed full of music and fun rock star stories. Robin Creasman delivered the message that being awesome only gets you half way. You create a positive experience for your customer by making them feel like the star of the show. Make their experience personal and stand out by being the best in the field. “Be the host, not the star!”

Industry giants Sherry Chris, Wendy Forsythe, Jeff Turner and Laura Monroe shared their thoughts on the What’s Trending panel, talking about how you connect with clients in this fast paced, tech heavy world. They all agreed that one size fits all is over. Meta data drives everything. Communication should be tailored to the audience you’re seeking to reach, and that as an agent you must be nimble and adapt quickly.

Top Atlanta REALTOR® Tim Hur dispelled the myth success is determined by genetics. To succeed, you need to change your business mindset. Through perseverance, anyone can accomplish anything. See failure as an opportunity to learn more. Buyers come to you because of your expertise.

Savvy marketers Shay Hata, Krista Clark, Bobby Lieb shared some of their marketing techniques. They all lead their markets by doing something no one else is doing. Be different! Build your brand around what your target clients need. Personal interaction is everything and will sustain your relationship past the transaction, leading to repeat business. Don’t just write an email, write a blog with information your customer didn’t even know she needed.

Lead conversion, the holy grail of Real Estate. Top producers Shay Hata, Phil Sexton and Sam Powell shared their strategies. Know your target and meet them where they’re at. Get your name out there. People believe what they see on the internet. Ask for positive YELP reviews. Sponsor events. Use a multitude of platforms; Homesnap, Facebook, Instagram and Google to start. Create calls to actions, start conversations, make personal connections, and of course, always follow up on the leads you get.

The day wrapped up with the Convention Party and Cocktails with Champions. Guests relaxed with complimentary massages, sipped their way through a whiskey tasting, and hammed it up in the photo booth.

Wednesday started with a bang. Top producers in their markets, Mike Domer, Scott Grigg, Joan Levinson, Kim and Dave Panozzo, and Rebecca Thomson kicked off day 3 with a panel discussion on what makes them so successful. The key to their success? A deep knowledge of their market. They are THE expert in their niche. Relationship building, energy, and knowing more about their market than anyone else in it is what makes them so successful. Read everything you can find. Become the expert. Deliver something they can’t get anywhere else. Sales is finding out what people want and helping them get it.

Wednesday breakouts gave convention goers a chance to dig deep into issues that personally affected their business. Adorna Carroll walked us through the buyer/seller counseling session and sketched out reasons deals fall apart and what you can do to keep that from happening. Laura Monroe shared her brand marketing strategies and what tech tools she uses. Top Ohio REALTOR® Amy Broghamer shared how she rose to be a top producer in her market through prequalifying the seller and getting pricing just right. AAR’s Nick Catanesi unveiled TransactionDesk. Amy Chorew walked us through how to write a business plan that gives you the needed direction to build your business, and Tuesday’s speaker Tim Hur helped his audience understand their value as REALTORS®.

And that was just the morning! Over lunch, attendees learned about Canadian buyers and got lead conversion tips. The afternoon saw more breakout sessions. Adorna Carroll spoke on working as a team. Jay Thompson talked about how treating leads as people can turn into sales and how to protect your business reputation. Top producer Rebecca Thomson came back to talk about how to create an office culture that attracts good agents. Theresa Banabei conducted a CE class on fair housing and diversity.

Chicago REALTOR® extraordinaire Sam Powell wowed attendees with her energy and humor, talking about how the key to success is to pick a niche and really work it. She also shared how she stays in touch with former clients. Remember, if they can remember your name they’ll call you when it’s time to move again.

For the brokers in the house, JT Tsighis, John Mijac, Barry Kramer, and Michele Williamson discussed how they manage their teams. Attorney Art Bourque set the record straight on the difference between employees and independent contractors. We hope to have Art join us for a webinar on this subject soon.

Arizona REALTORS® President D. Patrick Lewis, Phil Sexton and Dave Nolan drew a map for how they conduct open houses, and video maven Kelly Zitlow drew a crowd with her presentation on how she draws people to her business with the use of videos.

Thursday brought the convention to a close with caucus meetings, giving attendees the chance to meet with other REALTORS® from their area to discuss issues, trends and concerns that are unique to their businesses.

We hope to see you next year!

To view the pictures from the 2019 Arizona REALTORS® Convention, click here. https://www.aaronline.com/increase-knowledge/events-conferences/2019-arizona-association-of-realtors

Click here to see the awesome graphic recordings from Caroline with Urban Wild for day 1.

https://www.aaronline.com/increase-knowledge/convention/2019-arizona-realtor-convention-photos/