Real estate agents constantly need marketing strategies to help them succeed and attract clients. To be more competitive, successful agents have adopted a wide variety of proven practical techniques. This article will list some marketing strategies utilized by top real estate agents.
When conducting your research into these various techniques, it is essential to focus on the outcomes commonly provided by each system in question. The following marketing strategies are broken down into three basic categories: direct mail campaigns, internet marketing, and print media advertising.
Direct mail campaigns are the bread and butter of every successful real estate agent. As such, they are a great place to start when trying to develop a comprehensive list of marketing strategies.
Online Marketing
When utilized appropriately, internet marketing can be a highly effective way of reaching potential clients. Agents can target prospective buyers specifically by providing detailed information about their listings online. This information can come in property sheets, virtual tours, and short videos.
As with all marketing strategies, it is essential to take the time to find a marketing partner who will provide you with these tools at an affordable price. Fee-based brokerages are an excellent option for Internet marketing, especially when searching for your following listing.
Brokerages that charge market-based fees typically have more resources than those that charge commissions only. This makes them the ideal option for streamlining how you market your listings online.
Print Media Advertising
Despite what some people may claim, print media advertising can still be a very effective form of marketing for real estate agents in today's volatile economic climate. This allows agents to target potential buyers interested in a given neighborhood or specific property type.
One of the most significant benefits of print media advertising is relatively cost-effective. If you can successfully integrate the principles of direct mail, internet marketing, and print media advertising into your marketing strategy, the positive effects will be seen within just a few months.
This is especially true if you are using these marketing strategies to attract customers who have shown interest in specific properties on your market list. This marketing strategy has significantly impacted virtually every industry over the past half-century.
It can also be an extremely effective method for attracting new clients and retaining current ones. While most of the information on this list is already known to most real estate agents, it is essential to highlight them to ensure they are not forgotten.
Digital/Social marketing
Social media marketing is an enormous part of this generation's marketing strategy. A recent survey showed that 95% of real estate agents have blogs. Social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook offer countless options for real estate agents to post and promote their listings.
As with all other things, it is essential to ensure that your posts are updated regularly to attract the attention of potential buyers who seek out the services you provide. As a general rule, it is a good idea to post at least once or twice a week when using social networking sites.
Another recent study showed that real estate agents use social media more than before. According to this study, 78% of agents have their blogs, while 89% utilize Twitter. In light of the information above, it is clear that social media is quickly becoming a significant component of every marketing strategy.
It is essential for an agent to thoroughly investigate all of the different platforms available when developing a marketing strategy for their real estate business.
Aside from gaining access to customer feedback and contact information, your use of social media will significantly increase the amount of exposure you have on local news stations and blogs. This can dramatically impact how your agency gets noticed by potential customers.
Word of mouth and everything that entails like remembering birthdays with a card or gift for your clients and providing excellent service. Word of mouth is one of the most effective ways of developing a successful real estate agency.
It allows both current and prospective clients to respond quickly to inquiries from family and friends about your services. However, countless other factors can help turn potential clients into customers in today's innovative world.
Volunteering and Giving to Charity
The concept of volunteering, community involvement, and philanthropy is becoming increasingly relevant as time goes on. Agents should learn how to speak at community events, fundraisers, and charity events to build trust and generate interest with the public.
This can be done by simply asking people you know who are trustworthy if they know anyone who would be interested in hiring you. Even if a potential client does not hire you as an agent, they will remain a strong advocate for your company by sharing information with their friends and family.
In addition to being a part of community events, it is also essential for agents to provide the public with excellent customer service when making appointments and taking calls. This can be done by being patient and showing interest in the person on the other end of the line.
As mentioned earlier, your willingness to help others will come across as being very genuine in a world that is becoming increasingly artificial. Joining local business groups, e.g., chamber of commerce, B and I.
Some real estate agents can feel uncomfortable getting involved with the Chamber of Commerce and other business groups. However, this is not a sign of weakness on your part. It simply means that you are wary of how you conduct your business to avoid conflicts and possible corruption.
These concerns should be addressed by being open and upfront with the officials at these organizations. They should also be discussed within your marketing plan to help secure new clients.
Sending Postcards
An effective way to build a relationship with people looking for a new agent is by sending postcards in the mail. While this may seem like a simple and easy marketing method, it is also one of the most effective when used correctly.
In addition to being cost-effective and highly personal, postcards can effectively communicate the type of work you do and the type of opportunities that you provide. This helps your potential clients feel more comfortable when making their hiring decision.
This method has proven itself time and time again to be one of the best ways to start building solid relationships with buyers and sellers who are currently or once have been clients. Starting on friendly footing helps explain why you are an appropriate choice for them.
Importance of sending postcards to a neighborhood
Attract Prospective Sellers
Postcards are inexpensive and can be delivered to multiple neighborhoods. Real estate postcards can be sent out affordable to their desired areas, and they have the opportunity to send their postcards to someone looking for a real estate agent.
Keep Potential Sellers Up-to-Date
Postcards are also an excellent way for agents to keep their buyers informed of any events happening in the neighborhood. They can ask buyers if they would like information on upcoming home sales or if they would be interested in future open houses. Knowing what is going on in your neighborhood also helps guide decisions on improvements users may want to make to their homes.
Affordable and Easy to Scale
Similar to newspaper ads, postcards are cheap and effective. Agents can send a postcard out every month to their target neighborhoods but only pay a few cents per every hundred postcards they buy. They can send out their card without breaking the bank on printing costs.
Obtain Information of Potential Buyers or Sellers
Postcards are an excellent way for agents to get the names and addresses of potential clients who may become future buyers or sellers.
If the buyer has a positive experience with your agent during the buying or selling process, there is a big chance that they will recommend your services to others in the future. This helps secure your future as an agent and provides you with new contacts for new business opportunities.
Here are a few additional tips for generating listings:
Hold Open Houses
The open house is one of the best tools for getting listings. It is an excellent time for agents to get anyone interested in selling their home to meet the agent in person.
This allows them to explain all of the benefits of listing their house, and if they cannot make it to the open house, they can always be invited to other events that are constantly happening around town.
Web-Based Listings and Marketing
If you have the right tools at your disposal, listing on the internet is highly effective for agents to generate new business based on their name. Many websites provide services for real estate agents, such as promoting their business on websites like yelp, google maps, or business directories.
Hosting Client Events
Doing business anywhere is more effective when agents host events for their clients. Hosting an open house in a local neighborhood gives individuals the chance to meet the agent and learn about their services. This will also help increase the number of potential listings from this event.
Conclusion
Whatever marketing strategies you employ, remember to be professional, courteous, and helpful at all times. You can increase your sales and grow your real estate business by following these simple tips.
Aidan has been writing about personal finance for over 6 years. Prior to this, he worked as a Corporate Finance Analyst where he specialized in Due Diligence, Company Valuations and more. He is a CFA charterholder.
