ALISO VIEJO, CA, June 27, 2007 – While the salad days of juggling multiple offers and writing contracts faster than the ink could dry on the paper have all but disappeared in most parts of the country, former top producer and industry veteran Terri Murphy says this is a perfect time to begin building key relationships that will actually pay off bigger dividends in the long run.  “The key to any sale is relationships. The good news is when you get a hiccup in the market like this, you have more time; more time to develop and invest in relationships.”

Murphy is a big believer in the power of relationships and points to partnering with vendors as a crucial step in building your referral network.  “If you study the exceptional performers, people who’ve survived hundreds of markets, the people who do the most business, they concentrate on people who already know them, like and trust them.”

So how is this concept different from the traditional example most agents are familiar with? You know the one, it’s the “Hi, Mr. Broker, I’m Joe Real Estate, let’s share advertising costs in the local classifieds,” model.  Murphy says a true strategic relationship goes much deeper than that.  “Strategic partnerships benefit everybody involved by expanding the service model, and that means you have to have a structure, like any relationship. “

But how do you know who to approach, and what to say? On this week’s RISMedia/iSucceed Business Development and Training Call, Terri Murphy  tackles an oft-overlooked topic and brings it down to earth by giving real examples and advice of how to determine, approach, and secure strategic partnerships in your business.   Hosted by iSucceed’s own Kelly Kelley, the interview will be available for one week only at www.isucceed.com/rismedia.  In the interview Murphy explains:

• Which key industry players you should approach first
• A simple script to use that instantly puts the other party at ease
• Why strategic relationships can be so helpful to your bottom line

As an agent, Terri Murphy listed and sold more than 100 homes a year while traveling extensively as a speaker, best-selling real estate author and Internet consultant.  She now devotes herself full-time to educating others on what she’s learned.  She is lauded as the top female Internet speaker on applying new communication tools to the real estate industry, as she instructs real estate agents of all levels how to integrate the world's emerging technology and information into their sales lives. Her last book, "E-Listing and E-Selling Secrets for the Technologically Clueless," is available online. Additionally, she serves as the NAR Chairperson for the Business Technology Forum, and has a regular column in Real Estate Professional magazine, Realty Times, and other periodicals.

Every Wednesday the RIS Media/iSucceed Business Development and Training Call presents profitable real estate strategies and introduces agents across the country to the full 30-minute iSucceed Weekly Counseling Call, available only at www.iSucceed.com - the most comprehensive online provider of real estate tips, tools, secrets and success strategies, directly from North America’s 175 most successful real estate professionals.