How do I generate investor leads beyond my family and friends?
This is one of the top questions we get from first-time real estate investors.
Let’s face it – it’s tough to meet investors. They’re busy people. They didn’t reach success by hanging out with newbies and listening to everyone’s ideas, right?
Wrong!
Well, some of ‘em did. Others were born with a trust fund. Maybe they got a great job, went to college, did that whole professional thing.
Some investors started with a baseball card collection or a comic book shop they inherited from Uncle Harold.
Every investor has a story. Just like everyone else.
Investors are people.
Investors go out to eat.
They go to parties.
They walk in the park.
They shop for groceries.
They go to church.
They support organizations.
They’re regular people who put pants on one leg at a time.
(To be fair, not all investors have legs. I’m sure there are war veterans out there making big cash investing. I hope there are, those folks deserve loads of cash for their service and sacrifice.)
One sure way to meet investors: don’t tell anyone you’re looking. Hide. Make it a big secret.
Wrong!
Get out there and start talking to people. Don’t hide behind the computer.
For sure, the internet is magic. You should be doing online marketing to meet investors. Post ads on message boards, Craigslist, investor sites, google, facebook…
getting your message out online is one of the most effective ways to reach people.
But don’t avoid meeting people. Don’t hide behind email.
If you want to get someone to invest money in you, you probably gotta meet ‘em in person.
Sure, there are exceptions. I know guys who can write email copy that would blow your mind and get you to invest everything you’ve got in them, without a single meeting.
But that ain’t everyone. And if you’re asking a question like “how do I meet investors outside of family and friends”, chances are good it ain’t you either.
Do you really want to be rich?
Are you willing to make sacrifices?
Are you willing to push yourself into discomfort?
You are gonna have to go find some investors.
Here’s the thing: We’ve all gotta start somewhere. Every investor started somewhere.
If you wanna start investing, find out what it’s like to be an investor.
Where do the bankers/investors/lawyers in your town go to lunch?
Where do they go for drinks? How about dinner?
What clubs, churches and fraternal organizations do they join?
Where do they golf?
What non-profits do they support?
Start with some homework. Do a little bit of research. Make a list of all of the events and meetings happening around you, and start looking for the investors at each one.
Usually those guys don’t call themselves investors.
They play it cool, and you should too.
It’s ok to let people know that you’re starting off, but don’t give off that kind of info unless you’re directly asked. Of course, you don’t want to lie to anyone – that’s a terrible way to form a relationship.
The best way to generate leads beyond your family and friends is to make more friends.
It’s also one of the slowest ways.
If you want to know the fastest way to get the most leads, [get REI Brain].