Research consistently shows most past clients would use their agent again, but many can't remember who it was a few years later.
Agent play · Sphere of influence
Sphere of influence marketing that keeps you top of mind for every referral.
Past clients and friends are an agent's best source of business, but most agents fall out of touch within a year. Spur turns your contact list into a steady rhythm of personal mail, like home anniversaries, value updates, and seasonal notes, so they think of you first.
Free forever plan · No card · 20 property searches a month
USPSFirst-Class
Ben & Sara Kim1005 Rutland StHouston, TX 77008Scan for your home value update
Ben K. viewed his home value update · 1 hr ago
AI-written for this owner · Mailed in 2 days
Anniversarycards on each client's closing date
Valueupdates past clients actually open
Year-roundtouches on autopilot
The problem
Most agents lose touch with the people who'd refer them.
Generic email newsletters are easy to delete. Nothing in them is about the reader.
Remembering anniversaries and writing personal notes falls apart during busy seasons.
How it works
From list to mailbox in one workflow.
Five steps from contact list to steady referrals.
app.usespur.com
See it in Spur
A sphere of influence program in Spur
Sample past clients and friends with their next scheduled touch. Names are partly masked.
Past clients + sphereUploaded from CRMMonthly touches
- Ben & Sara K.1005 Rutland StClosed 2023Anniversary next week
- Hector & Ruth A.640 Columbia StClosed 2021Scanned twice
- Lisa M.1415 Columbia StFriendHoliday card
- Tom & Ellen R.1409 Harvard StClosed 2019Value update
- Nina P.2210 Ella BlvdReferral sourceThank-you note
AI draft for Ben & Sara K. · 1005 Rutland St
Hi Ben and Sara,
Happy home anniversary! It's been three years since you got the keys to 1005 Rutland Street, and I still remember how excited you were about the backyard.
Homes on your street have appreciated quite a bit since then. If you're curious, scan the code for a free update on your home's value. It's just for your records, with no strings attached.
And if anyone you know is thinking about buying or selling, I'd be honored to help them the way I helped you.
Angela Kim · Heights Realty · (713) 555-0176
Sample data for illustration. Your results depend on your market and filters.
Playbook
How to build a referral business from your sphere
Your sphere of influence is everyone who knows you: past clients, friends, family, neighbors, and professional contacts. For many successful agents, it's the largest source of business, through repeat clients and referrals. The challenge isn't goodwill; it's staying memorable over years.
Personal beats frequent. A home anniversary card that names their street, a value update for their specific home, or a note about something you remember from their purchase does more than a monthly newsletter. Plan 6–12 touches a year, mixing mail with occasional personal calls.
Make it easy to raise a hand. A home value QR code gives past clients a low-pressure reason to engage, and tells you who might be thinking about a move. A past client who checks their value twice in a quarter deserves a call.
Respect consent for digital channels. Mail doesn't require opt-in, but marketing texts generally require prior written consent, and email must follow CAN-SPAM rules, including an unsubscribe link. Keep SMS for contacts who've agreed to it.
17×return on a year of Spur Team from one referral closing
One referral pays for the whole program.
- Spur Team: $588/yr billed annually
- 200 contacts × 6 cards a year = 1,200 postcards at $1.09 = $1,308
- One referral at a $10,000 commission = 17× your subscription, and covers the mail
Commission based on a typical side on a $400,000 home. Your split may differ. Run your own numbers →
One tool, not four
Spur vs. the usual sphere workflow
What you needThe usual waySpur
Contact listCRM nobody updates✓ Built in
Anniversary remindersSticky notes✓ Built in
Personal cardsGeneric newsletter✓ Built in
Know who's thinking of movingNo signal✓ Built in
Year-round cadenceHoliday cards only✓ Built in
From Agents using Spur
Results from the mailbox.
“I was spending $280/month across three tools just to do what Spur does out of the box. Switched in January. I've had my best two quarters ever.”
FAQ
Sphere of influence questions
What is a sphere of influence in real estate?
Everyone who knows you: past clients, friends, family, neighbors, and professional contacts. It's often an agent's biggest source of referrals.
How often should I contact my sphere?
6–12 personal touches a year works well, mixing mail, occasional calls, and email where appropriate.
Can I upload my CRM contacts?
Yes. Import from your CRM or a spreadsheet, including closing dates, and Spur schedules anniversary cards automatically.
Can I text my sphere?
Only contacts who've given consent. Marketing texts generally require prior written consent; mail does not.
What should past-client mail include?
Home anniversaries, value updates for their home, seasonal notes, and thank-yous for referrals. Make each one about them.
Keep exploring
Related plays and guides
Start in minutes. No card required.
Be the agent your past clients remember.
Upload your sphere and schedule your first home anniversary cards today. Free to start.
Mail my sphere — freeFree forever plan · No card · 20 property searches a month
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