Calls to make before your private lender luncheon
Author: Alan CowgillI'd like to expand on three steps that can make your luncheon even more successful whether you are preparing for your first or you have already held a luncheon or two.
1) A week before: Contact relatives, friends,
and acquaintances
2) The day before: Make confirmation calls
3) The day of: Use attendees' names
Let me explain my thoughts on each of these topics.
1) A week before: Contact relatives, friends, and acquaintances...
You've gotten a targeted list of names and address from a list broker and sent out postcards and you've placed ads but what about the people closest to you? Shouldn't they be invited to your luncheon and told about this opportunity as well? Of course!
If your family is like my family, news travels pretty fast. Your relatives are probably already aware that you are doing something new and I bet they're very curious about it.
Chances are the story has been somewhat distorted since it has gone through the family grapevine -- from a cousin who heard about it from an uncle who heard about it from Grandma and so on. Anyway, this is a great opportunity to talk to everyone in the family so they get the story straight from the source.
There are several reasons for letting family members know what you are doing. They can lend moral support. They may know someone who is looking for a safe, profitable investment. They may not know there are investment options other than low-paying bank CDs. They may have taken a beating in the stock market and are looking for a safer alternative. They may be sitting on a pile of cash that they don't know what to do with. You never know.
My 1st lender was my Mom. You know what? I talk to folks all over the nation and hear that one of their family members was their 1st lender also.
Since these are relatives, people you've known your whole life, it's natural for you to want the best for them. You should feel an obligation to share this tremendous opportunity with them. Keep in mind what I have said over and over again: there is no need for pressure. Present the information and they can pass or play. People, who understand the program and are able to take action, will. And, there are enough of them to make you very wealthy!
A week before the luncheon, get on the phone and start calling relatives.
In addition to relatives, how about inviting your friends? I heard someone once say that friends were God's way of making up for some of your relatives. :) Your friends know you and like you anyway and probably want you to succeed as much as you do so wouldn't you like a chance to "share the wealth?" If you aren't used to speaking in public, a friendly face or two in the audience is going to give you more confidence.
Now let's expand that sphere of influence a little further --what about acquaintances? How about inviting other people who touch your life? You never know where it will lead when you send out that invitation or make that phone call.
If you haven't invited your doctor, chiropractor, dentist, accountant, or attorney, do so now. Give them a friendly call.
Think about this. You might tell your barber or hairdresser you need an extra special hairstyle because of your presentation. This is a great opening to explain your whole program. They're not going anywhere. You have their attention for at least 20 minutes. Go for it. So what if they can't invest? If you arouse their interest, they'll be talking about it to others. You don't know where that story will end up. You may just get a call from an unexpected source that will change your life.
Who are your other acquaintances? Start making those phone calls to relatives, friends, and acquaintances a week before your luncheon.
Like most other things in life, this is a numbers game. Keep making the calls. If someone turns you down, it's ok. They have their reasons. Make another call and just keep going.
2) The day before: Make confirmation calls...
By this time you should have a list of folks who have said they want to attend your Private Lending Luncheon. The day before the luncheon, call each person on your list to confirm they will be attending. You might want to ask them if there will be additional people in their party, if they have the correct time and location, and if they know directions to the restaurant or whatever meeting location you have chosen.
This does a couple things. (1) It reminds them about the luncheon just in case they have forgotten. You have gone to a lot of work and expense and it is important to make sure they remember to come. (2) They may have additional people who want to join them, like a friend or neighbor they have been talking to about your program. (The greatest marking tool is word-of-mouth!)
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/calls-to-make-before-your-private-lender-luncheon-2734486.html
About the AuthorE. Alan Cowgill is the owner of Colby Properties, LLC. and President of Integrity Home Buyers, Inc. Alan is a full-time Real Estate Investor, investing in single family and small multi-family properties in Springfield, Ohio.
Since 1995, Alan has bought and sold hundreds of investment properties. Alan uses Private Lenders, not banks; to fund his real estate purchases. By doing this, he has created his own private bank of $2,000,000 in funds. Alan looks for "Win - Win" situations, where the seller, the lender, and the eventual homeowner can all "Win". He is not a Realtor, but a Private Investor.
Alan has served as an elected official to the Board of Directors for the Clark County Property Management Association. He is an author, consultant and national speaker. He has been asked to speak on the topics of 'Investing for the Beginning Investor.' and 'Finding Private Lenders.' His home study system, 'Private Lending Made Easy', shows new and seasoned real estate investors how to find private lenders for their own real estate business.
His website is http://www.truthaboutprivatelending.com