I think the single most important thing to prospecting is to get your mindset right before doing any of it.  If you don't think there is much of a fall market, you won't get much business.  If you do believe in the power of the fall market, or the holiday market, just talking about the positives of those markets in your blog posts and conversations can uncover buyers.

Andy,

Chris Ann Cleland expressed brilliantly.  And then Susan Emo added her wisdom on top of it.  My advice is get out and become part of your community, and become the Google of your marketplace.  A

Do what Debbie Gartner does. Plant yourself at a Starbucks with a skin on your computer identifying yourself as a Real Estate agent and enjoy a coffee, conversation and ask for referrals.

Prospecting on a daily basis and the market will not cool off.

I agree with Chris Ann Cleland here ... mindset is everything and carry a positive mental attitude along with it. 

because the weather cools off does not mean the market cools.... if you have good inventory that's priced properly, you'll have calls all year ...

I am sure if you knocked on every door you came across, odds are something will happen. This is the broad approach. Sellers often think quite a bit about selling before they do. On buyers, renters think about buyer long before they do so. Any large apartment complex may offer up some opportunities

I echo what Chris Ann Cleland says.  In this day and age, at least in my market, there is no one selling season.  We have 4 full seasons and people buy and sell in each of them.  I met with a Seller on the weekend who thought they'd like to hire me next spring to sell their home.  I showed them how busy we are in the Autumn months after the kids go back to school and people are out of vacation mode.  The sales I've had in the Autumn and Winter months shock many a Seller!  This morning they let me know they will be listing with me after Labour Day!  What you think about, you bring about.

Check out this recent article from Beth Atalay It's August and you have no business in the pipeline.  What's a realtro to do?

http://activerain.com/blogsview/4933201/it-s-august-and-you-have-no-business-in-the-pipeline--what-s-a-realtor--to-do-

Some excellent suggestions.

cools off? where is that?

I keep in touch with my past and present database all year long. However, I also have a annual Gingerbread House Decorating Party for the children of my Clients.  They also bring friends over, so I do get referrals from that too.

Blogging.

I like what Chris Ann Cleland  has to say! The law of attraction is powerful!

Chris Ann Cleland nailed this one!

The same methods used in the spring and summer work in the fall and winter. You have to connect with people and that means meeting them, creating mail campaigns, planning events and being involved in social and community activities. It is about connecting.

Hehehe, here in South Florida, especially here in Wellington, our high season starts in October and goes through March or April sometimes. Many equestrian people who come here leasing year after year, end up buying. Many snowbirds end up buying a second home while they are here during season. 

The best method for you where it slows down is to refer those snowbirds to us here so you can make those nice referral checks and not have to go out in the snow:) We have plenty of sunshine for your referrals! 

I prefer professionals that just concentrate on the important things like buying and selling homes and what it takes, and leave all the shopping gimmick events to walmart.

Andy -- if you can find a method(s) that work for you -- replicate it year-round.   Good luck.   

I am actually comning into my busy season. September-February has been very profitable for me. More serious buyers, sellers looking to make a deal before they have to shovel and plow the driveway again, interest rates are still low and who doesn't want a new house for the holidays? Singles and newly weds are great for this time of year since they go to family for the holidays. I do use a paid lead gen that has been lucky for me as well as open houses, expireds. Listings bring buyers.

 I've never heard of a "client appreciation" event.  Great thinking.

I can sit in a coffee shop typing away with my firm's folder in clear view of anyone walking/sitting nearby (which identifies me as an agent)- and people will inquire. Real Estate in NYC is everyone's favorite topic.

Market to your Past Clients.  Set the table for next year with a Thanksgiving and Chirstmas/New Years mail out.  Call, stop buy, bring a CMA and a token of some kind.

I simply do not think of it being any different from the rest of the year. Perhaps that is naive, but it keeps me positive and that is a big part of the game.

Then prospect your socks off!

Keep doing the same things that generate business for you all year round.

This is the sort of question that makes me so happy I live in South Florida because the market never really cools off.  However, if I lived up north, one of the ways I might consider looking for buyer and seller leads is keeping up with the business section of the paper to find out what companies may be relocating to or out of my area, then contact their HR department to try to sell my services.  To do that, you do have to plan it out well and go prepared if you can get your foot in the door.

Go back to expireds and lead generate - believe it all works and get going

Out here if it's a day that ends in "Y" it's a good day to list.  You might do some "want to be in a new home for the holidays" type marketing, but that's as far as I'd pander to the holidays.

From the studies I've seen, it seems like Fall is a good time for homebuyers to start with their research, which can take up to nearly 3 months on average.  So, most of the time, they don't start the actual search until late winter/early spring.  They seem to mix their research with driving around neighborhoods and internet.  This is why it's good to have a presence in your neighborhood via internet and listings, which they'll see your signs while they're driving around and possibly visiting Open Houses.  I don't know, if a "theme" type event is necessarily needed, but you could use that downtime to plant your seeds for the late winter/early spring; and possibly show your appreciation to your clients with some sort of gathering.  The gathering can be a reminder to you clients that you're their realtor and you appreciate them, and once they know somebody whom may need your services, then they'll pass along your information with great support.  Not sure, if this really helped.

I see so many in our industry market .. advertise .. only when their pipelines are slowing or empty, Andy Fulton ... and that's just plain crazy.  I believe that our marketing must refresh itself ... and perhaps reflect the seasons, new trends, but still be conducted year-round and consistently.  That's sound wise action to take ... and continuously catches the eye of potential clients.  

Gene

Stay in contact with past clients and keep your internet marketing up to date.  When it is slower for you - work on your blog posts because consumers are always looking on line for the next great agent.   They don't usually pick an agent who is constantly just adding listings, but someone who talks about community events and helpful tips that help them.  Just read some of the great blogs here on Active Rain for ideas.   Good Luck and stay prosperous year round with positive thinking and good service!

Your sphere and past clients are always the best source of leads. Depending on your area, you may want to consider what sells that time of year. We see an uptick in people retiring to our area.

I would advise to send out postcards to out of state owners.

Barbara Todaro sums it up. Maintain a good inventory level and they will come!

Face to face contacts and networking.

No matter what season "What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create."-Buddha
There are buyers and seller in every market, every month of the year. It's up to us to go out and find them. Whatever you decide to do, don't do it just for one month but throughout the year. 

Continue prospecting, networking and keep yourself from believing the market will slow down.  If you notice a slower time - try new techniques.  Different situations cause people to move year round.  

Andy Fulton - makes sense to throw a Halloween Pumpkin Reverse Pop-by and ask for referrals! 

 Prospect like hell ...

FOOTBALL, baby!!  Seriously, we host a football party for our clients for a game when our Carolina Panthers are out of town playing during the fall and winter months.  

Keep on keepin' on - don't change a thing but, add the football!  

January and February are really our only slow months. I use that time to get rested up for the rest of the year. 

Call people you know for one thing.

Your iPhone is your friend!  Make schmooze calls to your base.  And I throw a party over the holidays.  So I mail invitations, follow up with phone calls, and always wind up with business and referrals.

I don't think themes associated with any season really make a difference except to provide a reason to send a periodic email to our list. Get out and meet people, keep working your SOI and look for more networking opportunities.

I use the same effective techniques as I do in the other seasons of the year.

You just need to keep on marketing, reaching out to your present/past and pottential clients in any way . The more touches, the more chances they will remember you when they need to sell/buy.