You’ll need to set yourself apart from your peers.
By Jules Romero | November 12, 2020
As a real estate agent, you likely earn on a commission basis. So, the more transactions you put together, the more money you make.
Unfortunately, clients don’t fall out of the sky, nor do they grow on trees. Since real estate involves big-ticket purchases, buyers and sellers want only the best agent they can find. So, promoting yourself is integral for your success in the long run. Today, there are dozens of ways to market yourself. To find out how to market yourself, read on below.
Publish a Website
Nowadays, consumers scour the internet for products and services before buying. So, setting up a website for your business will show potential clients what you can offer them.
Be sure to include listings on your website and update them regularly. This will encourage prospects to visit your site regularly as they search for properties. Also, feel free to add something unexpected to set your website apart. For example, you may add a mortgage calculator to your site to add value for visitors.
Start Blogging
Besides setting up a standard website, you can add a section on your site for your blog posts. If you’re not sure what type of blog posts your target market is searching for, tools like Google Analytics and Ahrefs can help.
If possible, don’t forget to add attractive images to your blog posts. If your blog post is heavy on data, consider supplementing the post with an infographic to make it easier for readers to crunch the numbers.
Be Active on Social Media
Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn are fantastic for highlighting beautiful listings and promoting your closings. You can also use Twitter to stay up to date with the latest happenings in your vicinity and engage with active buyers and sellers.
You can also take your social media game up a notch by using paid ads. Ads let you advertise directly to your target audience, focusing your marketing efforts.
Partner With Your Community
Team up with a local organization for community-based projects. Attending special events and volunteering helps you build relationships and network with people. Furthermore, these events are great photo opportunities for your next post on social media.
Maximize Open Houses
It would be best if you were looking at open houses as opportunities. So, it’s best to make the most out of these open houses.
Start by hosting as many open houses as possible. Your primary goal, of course, is to sell. But aside from selling, open houses are prime opportunities to exchange business cards and get contact information from potential clients. Think of the open house as a “party for you.” Highlight your services and offer refreshments, if possible. Engage with potential buyers.
Once you’ve obtained contact information from the open house attendees, send out thank you emails or messages to these attendees. These emails will serve as the door in which you can enter to pitch your services.
Network, Network, Network
You already know that networking is essential. But it’s such a key point that’s often overlooked that we decided to focus on it in this section.
Build a network of professionals. Appraisers, lenders, contractors, and even other real estate agents are all fantastic sources of new leads.
Do your best to set up a referral network with real estate brokers around the nation. When your sellers relocate, help them find a broker to meet their needs.
If you’re a member of the National Association of Realtors, you can access nationwide agent and broker information. And as the referring agent, you’re due a commission when your sellers buy through the broker you referred.
Use Drone Photography
Take breathtaking pictures of the home’s exterior and surrounding landscape using drone photography. You can buy a drone or make use of a drone service like HouseLens or Sold by Air.
Upload these photos on your listings, social media accounts, and website to add some excitement. You can use drone videos to supplement virtual tours or walkthroughs.
Create a Zillow Profile
If you don’t already have a Zillow profile, you need to create one right now.
With nearly 190 million monthly visitors, Zillow allows you to get your business in front of literally thousands of new prospects. So, take the time to set up a Zillow profile. Your profile will let you share listings and connect with potential clients.
Co-Host a Webinar
If you want to make it easy for potential clients in your area to understand the state of the market, partner with someone and host a webinar on a topic that’s interesting to those thinking of making a real estate move. You can partner with a title company, local lender, or even your favorite staging company.
For instance, you could team up with a local home improvement company and conduct an online seminar on the most valuable improvements sellers can make to their property to increase sales prices. Things like these change and can differ per state, so it’s good to host webinars on topics that aren’t touched on often online.
Ask for Referrals
Studies show that 39% of sellers using a real estate agent found that agent through a friend or family member’s referral. If you’re not actively asking for referrals, you should be.
A few months after a buyer settled into their new home, follow up with them, and ask how they’re doing. Be sure to include a referral request when you reach out to them.
Build a Mailing List
It would be best if you actively create and update a list of contacts who want to stay connected to you through email. Remember that under US law, it’s illegal to send an unsolicited email that receivers may view as spam. So, you need consent.
Once you’ve got a beefy list set up, make it a priority to stay connected. Send out a newsletter consistently. You don’t have to send out an email daily. You can opt for weekly or twice a month; the important thing is staying consistent.
In your newsletter, share relevant information with your subscribers. Remember, you shouldn’t be hard selling. You should be providing value to your subscribers and should be nurturing positive relationships with prospective leads.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a new real estate agent or have been in the industry for a while now, you can apply one, two, or all the tips and tricks we discussed today. By doing so, you significantly increase your reach, and it’ll be much easier for you to find clients willing to hire you in the future.
For more on this topic, check out the video on our YouTube channel. Consider checking out the other articles on our site for practical and actionable tips you can apply today to help you grow your business.
References
Freedom Trail Realty School, Inc. (2018, January 15). How to Market Yourself as a Real Estate Agent | FTRS. https://www.bostonrealestateclass.com/posts/how-to-market-yourself-as-a-real-estate-agent/
Hart, M. (2019). 12 Insanely Successful Real Estate Marketing Ideas from Top Agents. HubSpot. https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/real-estate-marketing
Keenan, M. (2020, August 19). 10 Best Marketing Strategies for Real Estate Agents. ManyChat Blog. https://manychat.com/blog/marketing-strategies-for-real-estate-agents/
Kokemuller, N. (2016, November 9). What Are the Duties of a Real Estate Salesperson? Work – Chron.Com. https://work.chron.com/duties-real-estate-salesperson-15313.html
