The #1 Source of Recruiting Success

by | Mar 24, 2026

You’ve all heard the old sales adage:  The fortune is in the follow-up.

It’s true. The agents who consistently stay connected with those in their database are the highest producers.

Does the same principle apply to recruiting?

By far, consistent follow-up activities have the highest correlation to the number of hires, quality of hires, and overall recruiting success.

Last week, a coaching client reminded me of some insight a high-performing leader shared with me on this topic:

Follow-up after an initial recruiting connection (working my Warm List) is my most important recruiting activity.

It takes a minimum of five follow-ups for a prospect to become a hire and usually more.

Follow-up is critical because the normal timeline for an experienced agent hire is 8 to 12 months.

Those who follow-up the best and most consistently hire more agents.

Raising follow-up to the level of being the most important recruiting activity requires many hiring managers to make a paradigm change.

The interview/recruiting appointment is not the end of the recruiting process–it’s the beginning.

It just gives you the right to compete for this prospect’s attention in the months ahead.

 

The Simple Psychology of Real Estate Recruiting [2nd Edition]

Unlock the secrets of effective real estate recruiting. Revised to include actionable frameworks for sharper execution and to help you turn psychological theory into a repeatable recruiting system.

Creating Pacts to Avoid Distraction

Creating Pacts to Avoid Distraction

Notice the two parts to Nir’s formula: a pre-commitment and an external force to keep you accountable to that commitment. For recruiting setting goals and time-blocks in your schedule is not enough. Most people need some kind of external accountability, as well.

Look for Individuals Who Want to be Measured

Look for Individuals Who Want to be Measured

It’s not that people with a growth mindset don’t experience failure—they just see failure as an opportunity to learn new things, to be challenged, and to experience curiosity. This is an important topic to cover during interviews and follow-up conversations with your prospects. If you find someone who likes being measured, you’ve likely found someone who will push through the inherent failures of growing a real estate business and experience long-term success.