If you're a real estate agent, I've got an idea for you.

And the reason I got this idea is because it just happened to me. I'm a rental owner, and I got a letter in the mail from a local real estate agent, but he had partnered with a local property management firm. I thought this was a brilliant strategy.

They co-branded the letter, and the letter said something like this:

“Hey, I'm a local listing agent who specializes in working with investors. If you're in need of real estate services, on the buy side or sell side, I'd love to work with you. And by the way, I partner with a local property management firm who would love to work with you on the property management side.”

And it was a brilliant strategy. On the bottom, they had both the logos.

Now, from each company's perspective, they're ancillary and complementary to each other.

They've taken their mailing costs and cut it in half. Think about that. Instead of it maybe being a dollar 50 or a dollar, now it's half, and they can ...

As a real estate agent, you have something in common with every single business owner in your community. Everybody from carpet cleaners, to candy store operators, to toy store owners, to clothing store owners — every one of you has something in common.

Here’s what you have in common: you all want to do more business.

As a small business operator, what you can do is tap into that. What I would suggest to you is you go through your entire sphere of influence today and you take a yellow highlighter out — maybe print it out — and put a highlight next to all the small business owners that you know. You know more than you think.

When you have that highlighter out and you highlight all those folks, the next step is to call them, reach out to them, text them, or stop by their business if it’s convenient and appropriate, and say this:

“Hey, you know what? I want to support a local business every single week, and I’d love to do a collab with you if you’re interested.”

A collab — what’s a co...