How to Market Yourself This Summer

Real estate professionals want to grow their businesses just like companies in any other industry do, and for most, that means a better marketing plan. A recent National Association of Realtors study found that 87% of people turn to a real estate agent to buy their home, so reaching prospects is more important than ever, particularly in today’s crowded marketplace. What real estate marketing tips can you use this summer to help enhance your brand and keep your sales pipeline full? Take a look. 

Be Online: 

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in this industry; marketing online today is an absolute must. Whether you’re new to the world of real estate or you’ve had a firm since well before the Internet became important, being present in the online space is the only way to attract clients today.

Create a beautiful website where people can look at your brand new listings and learn more about you. Create social media profiles in the spaces where your clients are most likely to be and maintain them by posting regularly. Blog early and often. Use other online tools like YouTube, email marketing, and Zoom to enhance your overall presence online.

Make Certain You’re Available:

Ensuring people can reach you promptly is the single best way to market your real estate firm. While you certainly need to keep a fairly strict schedule that ensures you can make it through your to-do list day after day, being more available for your clients and any potential buyer will be the key to your success. Remember, too, that being available doesn’t just mean making phone calls these days. Instead, it means accepting text messages, responding to emails, and setting up virtual conferences for those who don’t feel quite ready to leave their homes yet. 

Get More Referrals:

Many of the clients you’ve worked with are willing and ready to refer you to friends and family members who might need a real estate professional in the future, so don’t hesitate to ask them to do so. Ask for a testimonial you can place on your website, or ask if they might be willing to serve as a reference for other potential clients. Moreover, if they refer others to you, consider offering them a reward. Some real estate agents go as far as to write a handwritten note and include a small gift card as a token of their appreciation. 

Use Open Houses to Your Advantage:

Many real estate professionals have a running debate about whether open houses still work. Even if you may not sell that listing at the open house, you can still use it as a lead generation source if you do it well. It’s an excellent chance to meet buyers and sellers alike. It’s also a way to connect with plenty of people that might turn to you later. Don’t forget to plan refreshments and distribute standard real estate agent marketing materials while you’re holding the open house to help potential buyers and sellers further connect with you. 

Add a Personal Touch: 

What are you doing to reach out to buyers and sellers on a more personal level? If you’re not hand-writing thank you notes, sending little gifts here and there, and adding that personal touch to your services, you may be losing some buyers. People are looking to do business with other people, not a company or firm. Be the person on the other end of the phone and make sure they remember all of your personal touches by continually creating unique ways to reach out. 

Get Involved In Your Community: 

When was the last time you considered sponsoring the local festival or little league team? If you haven’t considered this option in the past, there’s never been a better time to get involved. Consider volunteering, sponsorships, and holding clothing or canned food drives to help people associate your brand with one that works hard for the community around you. 

Advertise:

This one seems simple, but it’s often overlooked. Gather as much data as you can about the home sellers who come to you, then advertise where they are. Whether that means local television ads, radio spots, or the best online marketing campaign possible, don’t overlook the power of traditional advertising. 

Stay Connected:

After your relationship with a client ends, don’t walk away. Reach out to clients with whom you’ve worked with in the past. Sometimes something as simple as an email newsletter to help keep them in the loop is a great way to remain connected to previous clients so that should they ever need your services in the future, they’ll turn to you. 

Build a Local Network:

How well do you know local service professionals buyers and sellers alike may need? From building relationships with plumbers, electricians, and general contractors to creating a solid connection to local finance professionals, creating your own local network matters when you’re trying to market your agency. More than good service to your clients, though, it creates an entire range of professionals who will know you’re the real estate agent to turn to. 

Offer Knowledge-Based Events:

Summer is a great time to hold seminars on the benefits of buying a home, how to sell your home and other key topics that may benefit those in your community. There are all kinds of seminars you could hold, maybe even with other professionals in your local network, that will provide critical information for those who attend and help them see you as a valuable professional contact in the field. 

Summer is here, and the time to market your agency is right now. These tips can help you ensure your sales pipeline stays full well past the summer months.