By Victoria Kennedy
I am no stranger to the determination it takes to grow a real estate business. As a teacher turned Realtor®, I knew from the very beginning that I had to forge my own path.
When I first obtained my license in 2001, I was brand new to the industry with no one to show me the ropes. It was a time of unpredictable growth in northern California’s market, but with a little hard work and a lot of passion, I learned the ins and outs of the industry.
I have faced numerous challenges throughout my years as an agent, including recessions that affected not just me, but the entire nation. As many agents were exasperated with endless foreclosures and short sales, I decided to do something about it and obtained my Certified Distressed Property Expert in order to better serve my client’s needs as I continued to grow my business to the empire it is today, selling an average of 100 plus homes a year with a career total of more than 2,200.
It all goes to show that in this industry, you have to be willing to adapt, have an exceptional work ethic, a knack for marketing and a devotion to your clients. The educator still in me from the years I spent as a third-grade teacher drives my desire to teach others, and I have decided to combine my two passions to educate other realtors how they, too, can grow their real estate business to 8-figures.
Keep learning.
Even if you have been in the business for years, there is always something learn from other real estate agents, articles or even seminars. None of us should ever be too proud to continue broadening our minds as a way to better help the people who are entrusting us with one of the biggest decisions of their life: selling or buying their home.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
I realize my background in education makes me a bit more passionate about learning than the typical Realtor®, but it is a tool that has served me well. I have been able to hone my marketing skills, learn more about the tools available to me, discovered the ins and outs of the real estate market and how to best connect with others.
Understand marketing.
Marketing is the key to success for any industry, but it is such an important component to real estate. It is the way we generate solid leads that turn to business. Of course, social media and online marketing has become the driving force behind much of today’s marketing. Did you know 99 percent of millennials begin their home search online? Think of the multitude of customers you are missing by not taking advantage of social media platforms.
Any Realtor® needs to have a concrete marketing plan in place. A Google My Business listing is a must. This is the sidebar that appears on the page when you Google a business or service. How are the thousands searching for agents in your area going to know you exist if they can’t see you on the biggest search engine available?
From Facebook to Instagram to LinkedIn, there are a number of platforms out there ready to help you expand your business. You just have to do your research to determine which fits your company the best, or if it is a combination of several.
Facebook continues to be the most used by agents as its demographics tend to represent the target audience for many agents across the country.
Image by Pixelkult from Pixabay
Instagram is on the rise as one of the best ways to reach potential clients as stunning home photos can capture a wide audience. LinkedIn might not be the best use of your time for finding potential home buyers or sellers, but it is a great way to connect with other agents.
Make sure to use local hashtags with your industry to help reach people in your area looking to purchase their next home.
Another part of marketing is to never underestimate the little things, such as staging and a professional photographer – particularly on platforms like Instagram where a visual representation is everything. Videographers and done photographers also make for great additions to your real estate team.
Don’t forget to combine your social media marketing with a mixture of local resources, such as your community newspaper or area billboard companies.
Engage the audience.
While picturesque photos and informational posts are great tools, I have discovered videos are crucial to engaging the audience. Video posts are 12 times more likely to be shared than those without. When you share a video, people are connecting with you. They are getting to know your voice, your face, and what you stand for. You can establish yourself as a professional as you interact with the audience on a wide variety of real estate topics, from tips on purchasing a home to the latest trends in countertops to the hottest neighborhoods in the area.
Image by StockSnap from Pixabay
The more videos you publish, the bigger your audience will become. When one of those viewers is ready to buy their home, they are going to want the professional they have come to know and trust to walk them through the process.
Build relationships.
Many agents are so focused on new clients, they underestimate the power of keeping existing ones. It costs a Realtor® a whopping seven times more to land a new client than it does to keep one who previously bought or sold a home with them. Do you know how you keep those customers and increase your profits from a possible 25 to 100 percent? By building relationships.
It does not matter if your customer is buying a $200,000 home or a $1 million dollar home. That couple searching for their starter home might have built an incredible life that affords them a luxury home in a few years. You just never know. By treating everyone with kindness and respect, you will be treated the same in return.
Another way to develop relationships is through making connections in your community. This is another way social media comes in handy. Search for businesses, nonprofits and groups in the area. Make sure to follow them and engage in their posts by liking and commenting.
Image by Werner Moser from Pixabay
Agents often overlook the importance of helping out the community. Doing so is a great way to portray the integrity you want to run your business with while creating trust. For example, education remains dear to my heart, so I enjoy being involved with programs and scholarships at the local schools. Find what your passion is and help out your community.
Continuing to always expand upon your skills while creating a network in the community around you will always be a step in the right direction. However, if you find yourself ready to grow your digital footprint and become an authority in your industry, we host monthly Accelerator programs for FREE to help you take your business to new heights.
Krista Mashore has an exclusive coaching program that teaches professionals how to become the go-to authority in their communities. She has spoken on the Inman stage and has been featured in Yahoo Finance, Wall Street Journal, Authority Magazine among other publications and has been a guest at numerous podcasts including Conscious Millionaire.
Click here (https://kristamashore.com/2DaysLive) to join the 2-day Live Coaching Event with Krista and transform your Real Estate Business. Learn more from Krista at her next event, HOW TO CLOSE 100+ HOMES A YEAR (kristamashore.com), March 23-24.
