When speaking to originators and their managers, I hear frequent complaints about how tough origination is now. Many executives lament that their usual marketing efforts aren’t working as they once did. Unfortunately, many are still using a “spray and pray” approach to marketing. This strategy involves distributing mass marketing pieces and hoping that the message […]
Last week at the NY Secondary Market conference, most of the sales executives I met with asked, “What is the most important issue going forward for the industry?” My response I think will be surprising to many. While improving the manufacturing part of the process is important and long overdue, I believe our real challenge […]
Prospecting is more difficult than ever because of all the filtering devices that exist. Yet salespeople still must prospect for new customers if they want to be successful in the long run. Unfortunately, originators who use phone calls or emails to prospect are experiencing record low response rates. Can you blame people for not answering […]
I just watched the Oscar and BAFTA award-winning documentary “Free Solo” which follows Alex Honnold as he climbs Yosemite’s El Capitan, a 3,000-foot granite monolith, without ropes. This is an incredible story as Honnold becomes the first person ever to accomplish the feat. The film is breathtaking and gives viewers the feeling that you are […]
Last week, Macy’s and J.C. Penney announced plans to turn around poor performance for their respective businesses. This is not a new issue for either firm. Both former retail giants have been in a downward spiral for many years. Executive management changes and different strategic directions — from everyday low prices to mobile checkout stations […]
In last week’s blog, I discussed the role of technology in mortgage banking and where the originator position is heading. I believe that in the not-too-distant future, artificial intelligence technology will be integral to the operational side of the business and will usurp functions that originators have traditionally performed. No longer will originators determine product […]
As anyone in the mortgage banking industry knows, loan origination is a hard job. The emotional roller coaster that originators go through on a daily basis is not for the faint of heart. Today, in our more difficult marketplace, this is especially true. Whether it is coming from the company or the individual, the pressure […]
Originators know that their database of closed transactions and referral sources represent a gold mine for future business. Obviously, people with whom you have already done business are easier to sell to than prospects you don’t know. This is not news. In fact, I would argue that originators who have the largest number of people […]
It seems that every time production gets more difficult, originators and their managers request training on how to increase their sales results. While it is reasonable to think that originators simply need to work harder to generate better results, this often isn’t enough to correct a sales slump. In my experience, the real solution is […]
During a recent sales audit for a mortgage lender, I asked originators if they marketed to previous customers. They responded that their company sent out birthday and anniversary cards automatically through a CRM system. Everyone felt this effort was enough to generate referrals. Many of the producers also said they didn’t have time to do […]