The one thing few new real estate agents are prepared for is to hit the ground running the minute they hand over their license to a broker.
Sure, you’ll find lots of information on how to get a license, but zilch about how to productively use that time when you aren’t taking classes or studying for the exam.
That’s time wasted and commission checks pushed into the future.
Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to prepare yourself to enter the world of real estate, ready to take it on as a new real estate agent.
Research and shop for a CRM
Customer relation management will be an ongoing and critical aspect of your business. To make it easier and more efficient, you’ll need CRM software.
Some of the larger brokerages offer in-house CRM software, but most don’t.
The selection of brands is mind-boggling and, without knowing the business and what your future requirements will be, selecting one may be challenging.
If you have real estate friends, pick their brains about what they use, and what they do and don’t like about it.
Surf the internet to find reviews of real estate CRMs. We found a couple of reviews that might help:
Then, learn how to use the software. Once you have that done, start loading it with the names, addresses, email addresses, phone and any other information you have about everyone you know.
Yup, everyone old enough to buy or sell a home.
Later, you can get deeper into the process by segmenting your prospects according to age, gender, hobbies, home seller or buyer – whatever.
Getting this task out of the way up front will streamline your entry into the real estate business and you’ll be forever grateful that you did it.
The first email campaign for new real estate agents
Take all those email addresses in your CRM and send each one an announcement of your pending licensure.
A strictly text email isn’t going to cut it now that you’re on the threshold of owning your own business. Put on your marketer’s hat and create an email postcard just for this ocassion.
You can make them free at Canva.com. Here’s one we cooked up in about 10 minutes.
As long as you keep the width of the image to 600 pixels, it should show well on any device, including mobile. Resize your image free at WebResizer.com.
To make the email appear more personal, hide the addresses of the other recipients. Learn how at SmallBusiness.chron.com.
Hit send, and you’ve just completed your first marketing campaign.
NOTE: From here on out, get as much detail as possible on everyone that you meet:
- What they do for a living
- Single or married?
- Children?
- How do they spend their spare time? Golf, gardening, volunteering, traveling, etc.
These are all conversation topics new real estate agents can use in future “touches,” so load that info into your CRM.
Set up a Facebook business page
Yes, there are other social media platforms and some that you may prefer over Facebook. But Facebook is, hands down, the best of them for marketing your real estate business.
So, start with Facebook and work on the others later.
This is a task you can actually begin on your personal page. Post the image included in your email blast for starters. Then, when you get your Facebook business page set up, invite your personal page friends to join you there.
Start engaging with others by responding to their posts.
Join Facebook groups. They don’t have to be real estate-related as long as you’re active and engaging, they will help build your follower list.
New real estate agents should start thinking about the website design you prefer
No, you won’t want to rely solely on your broker’s website. Every agent needs their own, branded website.
And that’s something we are really good at and quite happy to help you with.
Follow real estate website best practices, which you can learn here and here.
To learn more about how we can help you with your website, click here.
Learn basic business marketing techniques
There are tons of websites that cater to learning the basics of marketing and some are geared to real estate agents specifically.
It’s important to get those basics down – such as getting a clear idea of your audience, targeting, etc. – before diving in to more advanced marketing knowledge.
While you’re brushing up on marketing, here are some tips for Real Estate Marketing on a Shoestring.
Finally, think about the type of broker you want to hang your license with. We can help you with some tips here.
We wish you much success!
Need help generating real estate leads? Here are some tips for beginners!