Having a successful real estate agent career is not just about passing a licensing test. Yes, there are quite a number of agents in the US housing market that are millionaires, but that doesn’t mean that anyone with a license will start making money as a real estate agent. In fact, According to the National Association of Realtors®, 87% of agents fail within 5 years and end up changing careers.
How do experienced real estate agents manage to stay on top and succeed? The truth is, there’s no one secret to succeeding in the real estate business – whether as an agent or property investor. However, there are some tactics that could put you on the right path. So, if you’re looking to boost your real estate agent career, here are 5 things you need to start doing.
1) Have an Online Presence
The internet has changed almost every aspect of life, including real estate. In today’s housing market, the majority of real estate investors and home buyers (82% according to NAR) begin their property search online. Even if you’ve been in the business for a while, your former clients and referrals are more than likely using the internet to search for properties for sale. If you want to be a top real estate agent, you need to be online in order for your property listings to show up in search results.
Furthermore, paying a developer to build you a website that ranks high in search results is very cost-efficient and will make a huge difference in the long run. Remember, real estate investment agents who don’t have an online presence are basically invisible to 82% of home buyers. The fastest way to gain new clients and keep your old ones is through having a website. Therefore, having an online presence is definitely effective for your real estate agent career.
To increase your visibility to real estate investors and homebuyers, click here.
2) Use Innovative Marketing Tools
There are numerous ways for a real estate investment agent to market him/herself. However, to become a successful real estate agent and boost your career, you need to differentiate yourself from the rest with marketing strategies that are unique, creative, and keep you on top of the game in today’s competitive real estate business. Some of the best real estate marketing strategies to boost your real estate agent career include using social media platforms, video marketing and 3D virtual tours, online lead generation tools, and more.
Related: These Are the Tools Successful Real Estate Agents Are Using in 2018
Using the right tools helps real estate agents for marketing themselves and their listings, but that’s not all. It’ll also maximize their impact, save their time, allows them to stay in touch with past clients, monitor current ones, and generate leads to find future clients. So, if you don’t use any innovative marketing tools, our advice is to start doing so now!
3) Find Qualified Leads
One of the hardest parts of becoming one of the best real estate agents is getting consistent leads. And we don’t mean just any type of lead – we’re talking qualified leads. Some real estate investment agents start off relying on their contacts, such as family and friends, to get referrals. Others are relying too much on their broker’s advertisements. However, leads from family and friends will soon dry up, and you can’t expect leads to come in every week from a mention on your broker’s website or printed ad.
Instead, to boost your real estate agent career, you need to familiarize yourself with lead generation tools. As we said, the best real estate agents get qualified leads – this is exactly what this tool provides. Mashvisor, for example, works with property investors looking for real estate agents. With our Lead Generation Program, we find investors who are seriously considering buying an investment property and connect them with investment agents in their city.
So, when you sign up with Mashvisor, we will pass along a certain amount of quality leads in a specified time period. This way, you’ll save time and have a better chance of finding potential clients interested in buying real estate.
To learn more about our tool, read “Lead Generation Program: The Unique Approach of Mashvisor.”
4) Keep Up with the Industry
As a real estate investment agent, you can’t educate your clients if you’re not educating yourself. The best buyer’s agents don’t tell home buyers “it’s a good time to buy” without explaining to them why. The same goes for seller’s agents. So, you need to be up to date with the current housing market trends and issues to have a successful real estate agent career. That way you’ll stay competitive and give your clients a reason to trust you.
Furthermore, top real estate agents typically have a degree in some area of business, marketing, or sales. In fact, analysis from the NAR shows that investment agents with a Bachelor’s degree or higher earn 5% more money than those without degrees. So, another piece of advice for you to boost your real estate agent career is to get a degree – if you don’t already have one. Everyone has room to grow, and continuing your education in the real estate field is associated with a higher salary.
5) Focus on a Niche
One common trait you’ll find among the best real estate investment agents is they focus on something very targeted. This is why you need to create a niche for yourself to push your real estate agent career. For example, you can focus on single-family homes in a specific neighborhood in your city and work with property investors or home buyers searching for real estate for sale in that neighborhood.
When you’re focusing on a niche, you won’t be just another face in the crowd. This also means you’ll have a deeper knowledge, giving property investors or home buyers a reason to work with you over another agent. You’ll know more about the crime rates, school rates, the ins and outs of the local community, appreciation rate, where to find more affordable properties for sale, etc. Standing out in a particular area will definitely boost your real estate agent career.
Related: How to Become the Best Real Estate Agent in Your Location
The Bottom Line
These are the top 5 things you need to start doing right now to join the best real estate agents’ club. One last piece of advice is to be patient and consistent! Successful real estate agents don’t cut corners, and it may take a few weeks or months to actually see your return on investment. These are just a few of the many ways that you can generate more qualified leads and turn them into clients. Don’t forget to sign up with Mashvisor to give your real estate agent career a boost with our Lead Generation Program.
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