Nonstop networking
“Make the most of the skills and talents you have to market yourself and gain exposure.”
Referrals accounted for 50 percent of Juli Rojas’ business in 2000 and netted her $2.3 million in sales in her first full year as a sales associate.
“I regularly contact my friends, family, and acquaintances. I let them know how important referrals are to me,” says Rojas.
To capitalize on her fluency in Spanish, Rojas volunteers as an interpreter for the Police Department. She also gains exposure through open houses. “It’s amazing how many people shop around for a sales associate through open houses. The benefit of an open house is that people see me in a business setting. That overcomes any qualms they may have about my age,” she says.
No matter where she finds her customers, Rojas says, honesty is the only way to keep them coming back. “When customers believe they can trust you, they’ll stay loyal and recommend you to others.”