Start building your database so you can stay away from wasting money on buying leads, start networking and attending MeetUps, etc. to help build that database and start assisting top producers with their open houses and other duties they'll trust you with so you can learn in the trenches. Not much happens at your desk unless you are prospecting or writing contracts. Good Luck and welcome to the funny farm.

Start with one catefory of real estate and get it down cold. Doesn't mean you can do more than one type but you need something about you that is special.

The secret is hard work.  Calling everyone you know many times over.

Don't buy leads, very very seldom does it pay.  Put that money into marketin gyourself and you will have people calling on that marketing for years to come.

     Build your sphere of influence. 

      Establish an internet presence (for yourself, not for the company that you work for).

#1 List your sphere - create a database

#2 Get out there and meet more people

#3 Choose a farm and get involved in that neighborhood

GOOD LUCK and welcome to ActiveRain...and real estate!  You're going to love it - both the business and this wonderful group of talented professionals!

Debbie Reynolds just wrote a good post on this that I reblogged last night.

Check that out along with about a thousand other blog posts that will help you in this area.

Meagan,

Congratulations and we wish you continued success. Both Teri Pacitto and Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor, CRS have given you superb advice.  Start reading posts on Active Rain, there are so many great writers and so much great information.  A

You have some good information below from Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor, CRS and Teri Pacitto . Be careful about your spending - track all your expenses closely at least every month. Be sure to network here egularly - you will learn a ton from all the members who are also happy to help with questions. Good luck!

Congrats and there are going to be many shiny new things coming at you and they will start looking like shooting stars.  Don't get caught up in buying things but focus on building a database of everyone you know and letting everyone know what you do.  If you chose a good brokerage to,hang your license you should start taking every training class you can.  There will be a lot coming at you so hopefully this is a full time career for you and it's going to take laser focus attention and your job is to learn everything you can.  As Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor, CRS said, welcome to the funny farm.  He's got a point but I'd say welcome to the zoo. 

One more thing...get a business pic...blue is not becoming on you

Fred Griffin nailed this one!

Don't waste money chasing rabbit trails! Build leads by talking to people, asking for referrals, shaking hands, volunteering in the community, etc. And be prepared for it to take two years to build a good clientele.

So excited for you..congratulations on choosing real estate as your career! Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor, CRS gave you some excellent advice as well as Teri Pacitto ! Good luck!!

listen to everything your broker tells you to do

Avoid spending money on things until you have commission checks to help you pay for it. Take business cards with you everywhere, and take to everyone you know. Other than that I have read many of the other advice here so I won't repeat it all

Open house to pay the bills. Then follow a top producer. Take him or her out for coffee and pick their brains.

Take business cards with you everywhere, and take to everyone you know.

Welcome to real estate and welcome to the active Rain community!

All the best! 

p.s. Come here often, I'm sure, you'll learn a lot by using Search or asking specific questions and make a lot of good friends. 

Take a CRS Business Building course......excellent education for new and more seasoned agents.

Make sure that they mentor you weekly

I wrote a post on Saturday about Words of Wisdom for New Agents that comes from years of experience. Check it out if you like.

I second Thomas Nelson's answer.

Internet is a huge piece of my business.  You have many great comments here ... most of which I agree with.  Build your own WP site.  I am not a fan of buying a cookie cutter site and paying month over month to use it.  It's your business ... build it for you and own it. 

Finish what you start and remain open and pliable on the learning curves..

learn to market and make your phone ring....every ring is potential business....learn to answer the phone and close for an appointment.... just close for the appointment to meet the caller, whether it's a buyer or a homeowner.... 

The key is:  It's YOUR business.  Not your brokers.  Not your franchise's. YOURS.  Build it.  Have your own website and email address.  Oh and work your tail off providing the best service ever and never let a past client forget you or where you are.

Do not waste money on buying leads, generate your own throgh blogging, social media and thse you meet through yor business dealings. 

The best lead generation system is face-to-face encounters with real people.

Assumptions ARE dangerous, but your question and actions you have already taken requires the following assumptions to be made:

1. You are a real small business owner and prepared a business plan before entering real estate school.

2. You selected your brokerage based on objective, not subjective criteria

3. The broker committed to assisting in implementing YOUR business plan.

4. The broker committed to getting you engaged in a transaction within 30 days.

Four YESs we're good to GO!

I. Start today to create your story. Pick something. ANYTHING! That gives you something to talk about. It does not need to be unique, but must be clear. As an example, my message is EMPOWERMENT! The collateral behind it is the outcome of being in the trenches many years. People LIKE to be empowered, I lead them to the resource.

II. List your 'LISTS." That is who do you know.

I am not ad advocate of newbies burning bridges to family and friends. Although they are more tolerant of goof-ups, I just wouldn't do that.

That leaves, work mates, associations, volunteer groups, church, Christmas card list, met and haven't met email addresses AND/or a full blown commitment to online marketing. Online works best when you have a story.

III. What do you have the most of, Time or MONEY.

Nothing advances your career in both maturity and substance like putting yourself in from of strangers Immediate conformation of you really have a story.

IV. Your business plan identified your ideal client. Mine the MLS to identify where this client is located and project your presence and person into the community(s).

Closing: You should know at this time for you, there is only one game in town. That is to separate you from $12,000 of your hard earned dollars. The temptation to buy your way to success will result in never acquiring the essential skills and never seeing your 2nd year anniversary.

Megan, you have come to the right place to get stared correctly.

Persistence and have enough money set aside to survive at least 6 months!

Welcome to the crazy train :)

I would ask your broker.

Build you database every day and provide the informaton that will bring results.

Focus, hard, Continuing efforts pay off in time.

Good luck in achieving your goals.

Hard work, learning the market and building your data base.

Be Honest in all your dealing !!

There is no single key to success.  You're starting in the right place by asking questions of other pros.  Find a successful mentor and learn everything you can from them.  Network for professional contacts as well as leads.

Make sure you make a profit and don't spend money on unnecessary expenses.

Meagan Husted - first of all - you are at the best place!

And next, you'll find so many tips here on how to become the best at what you do.

Welcome to ActiveRain.

This is The Best place to learn, share and build relationships with like-minded professionals.

Work on your sphere of influence. Volunteer for any floor opportunities and open houses you can sit. Listen to veterans and if your brokerage offers internet lead opportunities, take advantage of these. Congratulations on your new career. Real estate can be a fabulous profession if you treat it like your full time job.  It cannot be done part time successfully.

Congratulations! In addition to the answers already given, I would add enrolling in the Brian Buffini's Peak Producers training program.

Be open to learn everything you should have been taught before you got your license. You will learn more your whole career.

Meagan Husted Work for a broker who has a good mentoring and training program.