Top 10 Most Popular Articles of October

In October, our most popular articles ranged from the Halloween oriented (#8) to the frightening (the old, insecure web browsers of #10).

But October also saw a flurry of popular, communications-focused articles—such as answering commission questions (#2), what NEVER to say to leads and past clients (#1), and how to ask clients for a referral (#7).

What other topics struck a chord with agents and brokers last month? Read on to see the rest of our top 10 articles of October!

1. 5 Things an Agent Should Never Say to Leads and Past Clients
When you're communicating with real estate leads and past clients, it can be challenging to handle every conversation perfectly. But being aware of what you're saying (or not saying) can help you begin to have conversations that lead to more leads, more clients, and more commissions! Here are five things an agent should never say to leads, and what you should say instead.

2. Top 4 Ways to Answer Commission Questions
Just about every real estate agent has been faced with home sellers who have commission questions. Usually, they want to pay a lower commission than your normal fee. It's frustrating because sellers sometimes don't realize all the knowledge and expertise that agents contribute to a successful home sale. Here are some ways to answer that "Will you lower your commission?" question most effectively.

3. Friday Freebie: Download This Monthly Marketing Kit Sample
The key to ensuring that clients refer you or use your services again is by making sure they remember your name between transactions. How? It's all about providing value. In this week's Friday Freebie, we'll introduce you to a marketing system that helps you do just that in order to stay top of mind, year after year.

4. 14 Easy Real Estate Photography Tips
Photos are what buyers are going to be looking at later — pondering second visits and offers, maybe thumbing through a whole stack of flyers and brochures from a day of open houses. And beyond that, the best real estate photography also impresses your sellers and further wins them over as clients. Here's how to take your listing photos to the next level.

5. 5 Social Media Strategies to Make Your Real Estate Business Stand Out
Social media isn't a short-term fad. These five social media campaign strategies will ensure your real estate business stands out from your competition.

6. Is the Square Footage of Your Listing Fake News or Are You Selling Properties Using Accurate Square Footage?
Many agents assume the square footage information from an old listing in the MLS or found in public tax records is accurate. But is it really? No, it is not. It is what we call unverified square footage. Agents should always be using verified square footage of a property. Here's what an agent needs to know to understand how verified square footage can improve their level of professionalism.

7. How to Ask Your Clients for a Referral
The Referral Dialogue makes it easier for agents to ask for a referral. It makes the asking part feel more natural so you don't feel like you're being pushy. The beauty of the Referral Dialogue is it explains how you're different from your competition, the concept of working by referral and why their referrals help drive your business.

8. 13 Last-Minute Halloween Events that Will Grow Your Business
Halloween is right around the corner. It's a perfect way to bring fun, sweets and treats to your community and build your business. Many real estate agents wait until the big holidays. Why not begin now? Want to get known in the community or a neighborhood? This is a great time go begin. Here are 13 spooktacular ideas that are fun and can be put together quickly.

9. 6 Real Estate Trends to Keep an Eye on in 2020
The countdown to 2020 is officially on! That means one thing: planning season. We're taking a look back at some interesting patterns from 2019 and discussing our top picks for real estate trends to look out for next year.

10. 4 Reasons You Need to Update Your Web Browser Today
How old is your browser? If you are using Firefox or Chrome on your desktop or laptop PC, are you sure you have the latest version? And why should you need to be concerned about searching the web using an outdated version of any of the popular browsers?Let's look at four reasons that should motivate you to make certain your web browser is updated today.