First, find a really, really good broker who offers training in both prospecting and in helping you learn what to do with a prospect once you find one!

Great question and great answers. 

You got all great answers. 

I second Nina Hollander  You have great answers here.

Just be yourself. You can't force-feed prospects; they will run from you.

Prospect every day.  Call everyone you know ask if they are looking to buy or sell.  If they say no ask if they know anyone who is looking to buy or sell.

Welcome to Active Rain Mick Hall .  I too was raised in London (took a look at your profile)!  One place to meet Buyers is to sit an Open House for a listing of another agent at your brokerage.  I did those in the early days as we were just getting started...

You've received a lot of good options in the answers. Not much I can add to them.

Launch a marketing campaign and get out and network. Ask your broker what resources the company offers to help you get started and use them. If possible, find an agent in your office to mentor you.

The best strategy I've found for making appointments is to ask for them Mick Hall .  I once took a CE class of marketing to your sphere of influence, it was great and I'd highly recommend it to you to help you get going on your new career.

Find a Need and Fill it!  Be a good listener and offer suggestions to help the buyer.  When they see your value. they will have no problem hiring you!

I am very fortunate that when I talk to a Buyer, they don't want anyone else. I listen to what they say, I explain why they only want one agent, not the listing agent and then I suggest they pick me.  They always do. I am very good one on one, not so much in front of a group.

Here is a strategy for getting buyers quickly that really works - stop into the nearest bank and ask to meet the mortgage loan officer, the bigger the bank the better, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Chase etc., tell the MLO that you are a very good buyers agent and looking for more buyers and ask them if they have any approved buyers that he can work with. You may have to go into a few before they hand you a client but id does work.

I had an agent walk in to a bank with this strategy and he walked out with a $400K buyer, showed them homes the next day and had them under contract two days later.

Good Luck and let me know if you try it.

If you strike up a casual conversation with just about anyone, either they or someone they know wants or dreams of buying something. Start socializing

Use effective marketing or join a team as a buyer agent.

Honestly, come from contribution. Show them you care. It's not about the deal to you, it's about them. Make them feel it.

Asking for the appointment is a good first step. You'd be surprised at how many agents simply do not ask for the appointment.

Do you have a website?  Is it set up properly?  Are your Meta Tags correct? Don't pay out a lot of money to learn = go to Active Rain University.

Buyers want to work with agents they know and trust so you need to connect and meet prospective buyers. You will get your share of them.

When meeting someone new and they ask what you do, talk about your real estate business.  This just happened to me this morning while talking to the nurse about my sinus infection.  Great way to start the weekend  with sinus issues, but now the nurse and front desk gal knows I sell real estate!

Get to know your neighborhoods, and like everyone else, be sure you have a great broker to guide you in the right direction.

1) There are many training opportunities available. Align yourself with a brokerage that offers training or find independent training for prospecting. 2) Learn to prospect and not just rely on a brokerage to hand you business or for buyers to come to you. There are buyers everywhere right now. I'm often amazed that buyers will work with the first agent who picks up the phone. However, it won't always be this way. Real Estate has its ups and downs. Learn how to prospect even in the up times so you can survive during the down times. Many agents get in when the business is good and out when it isn't because they don't know how to find the business. 

3) Act Confident - If buyers don't perceive you as confident, they won't have confidence in you and will look for another agent.

Good evening Mick,

You've got a bunch of great answers here!

Of course ActiveRain is an excellent way to connect with buyers, if you get the RainMaker account so consumers can read what you post.

Did you notice the comments in this thread?

http://activerain.com/questions/show/47804/what-is-the-one-social-network-you-find-the-most-success-in-using- 

Start doing open houses, you will meet some buyers.

Or post a series of blogs, how tos for buyers, neighborhood posts, etc.

Open houses, socializing, networking, social media about your area and ask your family and friends to carry your cards for referrals. When all else fails, join an active team in your office to get referrals as part of an established team.

Always have your Business Cards on hand at all times and do your best to work around what is convenient for them, on their time what's best for them. Advertisement broadly. and if you want to, ask to set an appointment.

I started out with little Real Estate industry experience ( I leased apartments in college but that was long ago!) and I sold 12 houses my first 5 months in the business! I worked my sphere of influence....I wore my badge to everything they had and asked people " where do you live?" ....This was a great conversation starter because people love to talk about themselves! During the conversation you let them know you are a realtor and hand them a card....They will start calling you because they like to work with someone who has the same interests as them!!! 

Open houses win for me! Yes, they are a pain, but buyers come to you. You just have to know how to work it.

By getting the word out that you are read, willing and able to assist buyers.

Buyers work with agents that they like and trust...honesty is paramount.

Eve

Ask for the appointment.

Folks want to work with someone they like and feel is competent. Do something everyday related to real estate...go visit properties in your area so you develop a feel for value and are aware of what is available. Visit agents' open houses, watch what they do and say, what they bring to the open house...from this you may get ideas of what might work for you or what you would never want to do. People buy and sell real real estate so at some point you have to get in front of people. Hopefully, after visiting properties and open houses, you have something to bring to the table.

Know your market! When you happen to speak to a prospect and find out what they're looking for, you'll be able to speak to their needs from the perspective of what's available at the time, or recommend appropriate properties.

you have all of the answers here....I can't add to it...

Start networking and reaching out to your sphere of influence. People need to know you are in business, start with those you know and those you already do business with, host open houses and maybe join your local chamber of commerce.

Best strategy.

Hosting a quailed 'get more buyers' open house for the type of real estate your business plan has specified. This is not your grandmothers open house but a purposed open house that incorporates self-selection and requires a team.

No business plan!

That means you are practicing accidental real estate so just get out there until someone runs into you.

The best way to attract buyers is to get a listing. When starting out with no listings, you need to reach out to those you know first, then start marketing yoursef to attract them. 

Others have given you good advice.

Mick Hall - of course it is worth! Though people say, listing is the name of the game.