Starting your new career as a real estate agent is no walk in the park. When new agents are getting started, they often focus on raising brand awareness and networking – but there’s so much more to consider. Whether you’re about to get your real estate license or you’ve just begun your career, reviewing these tips will help you build confidence and better understand this industry. Read on as we explore what makes a good agent and share 10 tips for new realtors to succeed!
Market yourself locally
Familiarize yourself with your area by engaging with home owners. Discover potential real estate opportunities, know the neighborhoods, schools and local businesses inside and out. Market yourself in this area by mailing flyers and postcards that advertise your personal brand and your services, knocking on doors to introduce yourself in person and putting up yard signs. This will help increase your visibility, generate leads and develop consistent real estate work. It can also help you understand what properties may become available in the future and get an idea of what your competition is doing to market themselves.
Develop a marketing plan
As you begin your new career as a real estate agent, it’s important to allocate part of your budget toward marketing expenses. Your marketing plan can include a professional website, email marketing, newsletter, strong social media presence, flyers, brochures and networking events. You may also explore the possibility of using television and radio ads, billboards and other marketing materials. By diversifying your approach, you can reach more potential buyers and sellers, which will help you grow your client base more rapidly.
Manage your time
Effective time management is one of the top tips for new realtors to succeed. It can help you prevent stress, accomplish tasks more efficiently and become successful. Start each day with a plan and try to complete those less desirable tasks first to minimize procrastination. If it helps, use a planner, to-do list or task management software to organize your day and prompt you to spend your time wisely. Make sure to limit distractions during your workday by setting boundaries between your personal and professional life.
Grow your network
Success in the real estate industry requires strong networking skills. Real estate networking is aimed toward generating leads and growing your business. The more people you know, the more houses you sell, of course. But in this saturated field, how can you manage to have an edge over the competition, who is also networking? It’s important to consider that you already have a built-in network – likely larger than you realize. Just think of how many people you interact with on a regular basis… from family and friends, to neighbors, community groups, social media followers and more. Once you’ve counted that existing group, you’re ready to implement some new networking strategies so you can expand your reach. Here are 5 ideas for better real estate networking!
Have your own website
In today’s digital era, there are many reasons why every real estate agent needs their own website. Having a well-designed, useful and informative website is an even more essential element to an agent’s online presence than their social media accounts. A great real estate website serves to generate new leads, educate buyers and sellers, and draw more traffic to your current listings. As 97% of buyers use the internet to find their homes, agents without websites risk missing out on major sales, gaining new leads and growing their businesses. Is building a real estate website still on your to-do list? You’re in the right place! There’s no need for a web designer with WinningAgent’s collection of ready-to-go real estate website themes!
Get involved in your community
The best way to gain recognition as a hyperlocal agent is to engage with your local community. Prospective clients want to hire real estate agents who know the area well, so you’re adding to your credibility when you are actively involved in your community. Plus, each event is a chance for you to interact with local residents and market your business. There are so many ways to get involved – volunteering at schools, donating to local shelters and sponsoring community sports teams just to name a few. You can also command attention and bond with the community by hosting your own events. Ideas include hosting a party, charity dinner or concert. Large, small, extravagant or intimate… as long as you’re reaching out to prospects and mingling, you’re doing it right.
Focus on customer service
Working directly with clients and providing services is an especially tough landscape to navigate. Real estate agents must do double duty to both manage expectations and be trusted advisors. They have to help clients see what could be possible and console them when their expectations are out of reach. For so many reasons, customer service is the most important element of our jobs. Provide better support to your clients by being transparent, empathetic and setting expectations early. You can also use real estate CRM to connect with clients through emails, social media campaigns, and other communications.
Find a mentor
One of the greatest tips for new realtors to succeed is to find a mentor. This is someone who can help you navigate the real estate industry, offer you advice and make you feel more confident. Set your sights on a more experienced real estate agent within your brokerage or area. You can ask your mentor questions such as what challenges to expect in this market and what strategies turn leads into clients. Get tips on things like client management and marketing tactics. Find out what resources you should be taking advantage of. You’ll be grateful to have your real estate mentor when times get tough or you’re in need of inspiration.
Partner with a professional photographer
Using quality photos and videos in your home listings and marketing materials can help you sell properties faster and even increase the number of potential buyers. Humans are visual beings, so the more effectively you can represent a property on your website, the greater your odds are of making the sale. Working with a professional photographer and videographer can also save you time and make your listings feel more unique than other homes for sale. Over time, you can use these photos to build a portfolio and enhance your advertising materials, which may also increase the number of sellers who choose you as their real estate agent. Aerial videos can also be a great way to share content online and generate interest on social media.
Invest in yourself
Don’t forget to invest in yourself. Take the time to attend seminars and continue your education along the way – even if you think you know it all. Some online courses that may help you succeed as a real estate agent include social media marketing, finance and business classes. If you’re a member of the National Association of Realtors, take advantage of the association’s research and articles by setting aside time to read them.
Do our tips for new realtors to succeed resonate with you as an agent? Are there some that you have to offer beginners that we may have left out? Leave us a comment in the thread below!
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