It doesn't matter how you enter the real estate game, whether you are a broker, agent, or investor, the two keys to success are the same. You need to be able to market yourself both online and offline. So let me give you the basics of both.
Becoming Successful in Online Real Estate
I've found that many agents out there simply aren't able to make it because they don't have enough leads to work. Nowadays, there are some 82% of people looking for new property online as a first initiative, not calling a real estate professional first.
So the key to effective online promotion is more than having a website, you need to have one that has a vast selection of properties, as well as any easy way for users to find those listings. Using IDX technology can give you an easy way to include this information online. But make sure that you give your visitors an easy way to search through this information, or you will lose them quickly.
Now that you have a site with lots of available properties, you need to focus on real estate internet marketing. The easiest way to start is to get a Facebook and twitter account, and begin make friends and publishing helpful articles to your website. Then, start reaching out to other websites in this niche, and offer to write great content for them. Include a link back to your site, and you will start getting traffic and building authority.
Success in Offline Real Estate Marketing
The second key to success in this market is taking leads that you get from your internet and other marketing campaigns and converting them into sales. That job isn't so easy, but the key to it is to give your prospects what they want - ask them about their dream house, and then do everything in your power to deliver that to them.
Don't try to convince them to compromise, but rather give them the closest listings that match their desired home. The bottom line is, if you can be helpful to them, and they believe that you will deliver to them their desired benefit, the odds of you closing a deal with them goes up exponentially.
So to sum it up, you need to focus on two things, building up your presence online, and then working hard to give your prospects what they want. If you can master those two things, you'll be primed for maximum results.
