Plus, they have gone through a listing cycle and may be anxious to get on with their lives. But, as you know, or will soon learn, all listings aren't worth having.

As for me, I initially listed every property that I could; vacant land, single family homes, condo's, triplexes, mobile home parks, mobile homes, homes in top notch condition, fixer uppers, whatever.

And I got to feeling pretty darn good (and just a little smug) as my listing portfolio grew to more listings than I could manage.

So, I first hired a part time clerk/assistant to help me market my listings, then took on a newly licensed salesperson as a partner and split listing fees 50/50. Pretty soon my listing system was humming and I was averaging 1-2 listings a week.

I then had an army of agents working for me day and night, as almost all of my listings were in Multiple Listing System. Working to get me paid, even when I was chaperoning field trips, getting a haircut, or just taking a day off!

That's what a good real estate listing system can do for you!

So, if you don't have a good listing system you should get one. After all, if real estate listings are lifeblood of industry then how successful can you be without them?

So, what can you do about it? Lots actually, but for now I'll focus on one thing; farming prospects.

Why? Because when done right you can easily put hundreds of business cards, letters and other marketing materials in hands of known sellers and potential buyers every month.

Simply stated, more people you contact sooner you brand yourself as an agent worthy of consideration. Anything short of this is whistling in wind.

Take a moment and honestly assess your situation. How many contacts are you presently averaging - daily, weekly, monthly?

Are they random contacts (shotgun approach) of people who might be interested in your services, or with real prospects known to need services right now (laser beam approach)?

A good real estate listing system can help put you on a fast track to gaining name recognition within your community in months, instead of years. And it won't cost you thousands of dollars to implement.

Let me suggest, though, that you avoid systems that appear complicated, or that are hundreds of pages long. If it takes days to read and weeks to comprehend whose really going to read it and follow through to boring completion, anyway? Not me!

Also, consider following before committing to a particular listing system.

1. Does it come with a satisfaction money back guarantee?

2. If you're buying on line is a contact name and phone number readily available on website?

3. Can you reach anybody or get a response to a message when you call before buying?

If answers to any of above are a resounding "no" then I suggest that you put your credit card back in your pocket and continue looking.

Proceed with caution, but do proceed, as you need a system that'll give you a competitive advantage.

Summarily, a good real estate listing system can help you brand yourself relatively quickly. So, get one as soon as you can and start claiming your share of market!