Real estate agents are constantly looking for new leads. When you’re not helping your clients, you’re searching for the next ones. A large part of what determines the success of real estate agents is how hard they work. How much effort, thought, and creativity you put into to marketing yourself as a real estate agent determines how many clients you have, the deals you close, and the commissions you earn.
There’s not just one way to go about it. You have to implement and maintain a multi-pronged marketing strategy to develop leads.
Know Your Audience and Your Market
The type of properties you specialize in and the customers you cater to will inform a lot of your marketing. Use the available tools to gather information about your target audience and use that data to effectively tailor your advertising efforts. Who are these people who might be future clients: what’s their style, where do they hang out, what do they do for fun, which neighborhoods do they like. Marrying your knowledge of the market with information about prospective clients helps you shape content that will appeal to your audience and inspire them to call you when they need an agent.
Get Involved
Generating leads involves lots of leg work, even in this digital age. Prospecting involves meeting people in the towns and neighborhoods you work and attending seminars, joining groups, and going to local meetups. Get involved with local business groups, volunteer with charities, and co-sponsor cultural events and festivals. Let everyone know you’re a real estate agent.
Give Free Stuff
Who doesn’t love free stuff? Get creative and design some eye-catching information materials on real estate transactions and the local market. Try some of these ideas or use them to spark ideas of your own:
- Buyers’ and sellers’ guides and checklists
- Staging web tutorials
- Colorful postcards offering a free dinner at a local restaurant
- Fun infographics
- Podcasts
- Video or slide show spotlighting local neighborhoods
- Periodic analysis of the local market
- Quick explainers illuminating a part of the real estate industry
Open Houses
Agents sometimes say that open houses are more helpful for agents than clients. It’s a way to have real estate customers come to you. Take any opportunity to do and attend open houses; you may find lots of unrepresented buyers.
Get Testimonials
You’ve probably heard that customer reviews and word of mouth is one of the most effective marketing methods. People are more likely to believe a former client who says you’re great than a commercial. Ask happy clients to write or film a brief testimonial and then feature it prominently on your website and in your marketing materials.
Invest in Email Marketing
Email marketing has a huge return on investment, and it is a direct connection to customers, clients, and leads. Former clients are great resources for repeat business and referrals, which account for a large chunk of an agent’s business. Gather email addresses and maintain a list of contacts in one location. Use the list to send out offers, deals, follow-up inquires, and a regular email newsletter with tips, news, and photos.
Clarify Your Brand
What is your brand? The personality or style of your business? Your specialty? This is how you can stand out from the competition. Sketch out the personality of your brand, focusing on a few keywords, phrases, and images, and then use them throughout all your marketing materials and social media accounts.
Start Blogging
Show, don’t tell. An informative, helpful real estate blog is an excellent way to show off your real estate knowledge, develop a following, establish trust in your expertise, and illustrate your personality. People prefer working with people they like.
Emphasize Visuals
People love photos and videos because they’re easy to digest. Now, with easy-to-use apps like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat, sharing beautiful, engaging photos is quick and effortless. Include lots of photos and clips of local hot spots, attractions, and the hot new listings, and more customers will follow you to see what you’ll post next.
Be a Local Real Estate Rock Star
Real estate is local, so you have to get your name and face out there in the local community. Become the go-to expert for local real estate. Emphasize the local angle and play up your knowledge and experience in the community. Buyers and sellers will want an agent who knows the local market and the real estate community.
As you can see, successful real estate agents are always busy cultivating leads, creating clients, and providing excellent service. That requires always learning new things too. One of the best ways to do that is enrolling in online real estate courses from 360training.com and Txrealestatelicense.com. Online training is so easy you can complete it while you’re working full time. It’s that convenient. Enroll today!
