Volunteering helps you, your community and potential clients

Besides the good feeling you get from helping others, there are many business benefits to volunteering in your community. It can provide networking opportunities and name recognition, improve your communication skills, maximize your visibility and it shows clients and prospects that you care about your town and its citizens.

If you're not sure what kind of volunteer opportunity you would like to participate in, just think about causes that are important to you and what you like to do in your spare time. For example, if you like animals, you might find working at your local animal shelter or humane society rewarding. If you enjoy spending time with kids, you might consider becoming a member of Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

Here are a few other ways to get involved in your community that you may not have thought of yet:

• Host a first time home buyers seminar or give a lecture on how to prepare your home for a sale.
• Volunteer with your community's Meals on Wheels program, which provides nutritious meal services to men and women who are elderly, homebound, disabled, frail, or at risk.
• Speak at community clubs or schools about career opportunities in real estate.
• Have your company host a community golf outing to raise money for charity in your area.
• Become a sponsor or a volunteer for a 5K or Marathon, such as the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
• Sponsor an American Red Cross blood drive at your office.
• Participate in a charity project such as Habitat for Humanity.
• Offer to be a source or advisor for your local newspaper on real estate and housing topics.
• If your town has an annual festival or fair, volunteer to help out.

You also may want to create a page on your XSite that describes the causes and charities in which you participate. Not only does it allow your clients get to know you better, it may also encourage them to get involved as well!