The below is excerpted from our report, 10 Ways to Set Yourself Apart from the Competition. If you want the entire report, please let me know via e-mail.

Go Electronic. In my "travels" in speaking with commercial real-estate professionals, I'm always amazed by the number of brokerages and agents who do not have any kind of Web presence. In my mind, it's very simple: Your customers are online, so you should be there, too!

A well-produced Web site for a commercial real-estate firm does not have to cost a lot of money. In fact, we can even point you to companies that will build your company a site for a reasonable cost.

As for individual agents, I recommend that they have their own Web site - even if they're with a company that has one. Sometimes a company prohibits their agents from using their own Web sites. But for agents who are not with one of those firms, a site of your own not only promotes your company, but promotes you as well. Which, of course, "promotes" larger commissions!

Think Residential. We know that quite a few brokers and agents in commercial real estate are "refugees" from the residential side. Others, meantime, practice on both sides of this "fence". But one area in which your brothers and sisters in residential real estate really excel (and do much better than you) is in the area of promotion.

That's right - the pictures on their cards, the Web sites (see the above point), the magnets on their cars, the mailings, and so on. They really know how to get the word out about themselves and their offerings. That's exactly why you should be taking notes from them.

Now, few in commercial real estate want to "borrow" certain aspects of residential real estate - especially the hours (although some do). But by looking at what they do to get the word out about themselves, you can do what a vast majority of commercial agents and brokers aren't doing - effectively promoting yourself.

Network Till You Drop. Networking is called a "farming" strategy, because you are cultivating relationships. Also, you're not trying to sell to people you meet while networking. Your Number One goal is to meet people who may know your (hopefully future) customers. And of course, the best kind of relationship is a mutually beneficial one, so be prepared to help those with whom you network.

Whenever I've been at networking mixers, I'm amazed by the lack of commercial real-estate brokers and agents. If you go to one, you'll likely be the only one of your kind there-a very good place to be!

Online social and professional networking is vital nowadays, too.