Be mindful of solicitation rules

As a business person, you sometimes engage in solicitation as part of your brokerage activities in order to find new clients. It is crucial that you be very mindful of the words you choose and the way in which you communicate with potential clients. Never forget that the image you project can have an impact on the credibility of our profession in the eyes of the public. In order to have a positive impact, make sure you are familiar with the rules governing solicitation.

Here is a broad outline:

• You must always, in all our communications, identify yourself as a broker so that the consumer knows who he is dealing with. The use of ruses to find new clients creates a negative perception of your services and will have the opposite effect to what you intended (section 1 of the Regulation respecting brokerage requirements, professional conduct of brokers and advertising).
   
• You must use fair solicitation practices, which means that you must not insist that someone use your professional services if the person tells you they are not interested or do not want to pursue (sections 72 and 91 of the Regulation respecting brokerage requirements, professional conduct of brokers and advertising).
   
• You must also make sure that the person you want to reach is not listed on the National Do Not Call List (DNCL). If someone’s number is on the DNCL, you may not solicit this person unless exceptions apply. As for solicitation by email, we encourage you to read the following article : Canada's Anti-Spam Law: requirements for sending commercial electronic messages, which explains the solicitation rules governing this method.

Keep in mind that a courteous and attentive attitude is always more effective than an aggressive or harassing approach. Acting properly benefits our entire profession!