18 Clever Real Estate Marketing Ideas in 2026

It’s 2026, and the strategies in real estate marketing are evolving faster than ever. What worked last year might not cut it today, so staying ahead of the curve is key. The good news is you don’t have to reinvent the wheel — you’ll only have to tweak your approach and focus on what works. 

I’ve updated our list of strategies to improve your marketing. So, grab your coffee, sit back, and dig into our best real estate marketing ideas.

Brand and engagement marketing ideas

Creating your brand story is one of the most important steps in establishing authority in your market area. Your brand should reflect who you are authentically to give your target audience a way to make an emotional connection to you.

1. Create a personal brand rooted in your values

Start your real estate journey by creating a personal brand that resonates with your target audience. Your personal brand is not just a logo or color palette – it’s what your clients expect from you before you’re even in front of them.  Every agent has access to the same marketing tools, from artificial intelligence (AI) to gorgeous templates, so what sets you apart? Your brand.

First step: define your brand. What do you want your clients to know about you? What do you bring to the table that other agents don’t? Define your brokerage’s mission, vision, and core values to guide your marketing strategy. A strong personal brand speaks directly to a specific person you are aiming to attract. For instance, luxury clients or first-time buyers. Remember, don’t try to be something you’re not. The right client will connect with you for the right reasons.

Visit Agent Image

2. Create a compelling slogan

Once you’ve defined your personal brand, the next step is creating a memorable slogan summarizing your value proposition. A slogan is not just a catchphrase; it’s a window into understanding what it will be like to work with you.

Creating a simple, one short sentence, real estate slogan is not easy, but it is fundamentally important. The best slogans are client-focused, align with your personal brand, and create clarity, differentiating you from other agents.

3. Generate referrals from local businesses

Who’s more plugged into your community than your local salon owner, restaurateur, or florist? Experienced agents know that local business owners can be a sweet referral source. They know when people are getting married, growing their family, getting divorced, or making other life changes that might lead to a transaction. So, if you want to generate motivated referrals, you can’t go wrong building these relationships.

Work on forging relationships with several types of businesses, like photographers, movers, contractors, staging companies, home inspectors, attorneys, insurance agents, etc. I have found great success hosting events together. Try some of these ideas:

• Host a workshop with a local home inspector, allowing home buyers to ask questions about the inspection process and what to look for when purchasing a home.
• Team up with a local bakery or cafe to cater a first-time homebuyers seminar.
• Host a happy hour at a local restaurant for residents to become educated about the current market and how home values in town have changed.

Events can be held in-person or as online webinars. Creating an informational event around a specific real estate topic is easy, but you need a strategic marketing strategy to get a good turnout. Use Facebook Events, print marketing, organic social media posts, and emails to get the word out.

4. Get real results from freelance designers

Create playbooks that show your strategy — not just talk about it. A physical buyer or seller playbook is a secret weapon; I never attend a first meeting without one. These playbooks can be in the style of a folder, a bound book, a pamphlet, or a few sheets of paper. The importance of the playbook lies in its content, providing clients with a tangible roadmap for how you’ll guide them through one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. I would recommend having two different versions: one tailored to buyers and one for sellers.

What to include in your playbooks: 

• Strategy overview: Explain your approach to pricing, offers, and negotiations.

• Step-by-step roadmap: Breakdown the steps leading to a completed purchase or sale.

• FAQs: Anticipate and answer the questions clients often ask.

• Value adds: Include tips, market insights, or anecdotes that highlight your experience.

• Contact & resources: Provide contact information for yourself and resources that your client will need throughout the transaction, such as lenders or inspectors.

A thoughtfully crafted playbook does more than educate; it reinforces your brand, engages clients, and positions you as a professional who’s organized, strategic, and trustworthy.

Looking to elevate your real estate branding? Fiverr connects you with freelance designers who can create custom logos, business cards, social media posts, and other real estate marketing materials tailored to your style. With so many budget-friendly options, you can get quality designs without breaking the bank!

Marketing real estate ideas for social media

There’s no question that a strong online presence is essential for building trust with today’s buyers and sellers. These creative real estate marketing strategies can help you streamline your social media efforts– saving time, reducing stress, and delivering more consistent results.

5. Master social media content creation

When it comes to growing your social media presence and generating leads, posting often is important, but quality matters just as much as quantity. It is essential that your content fits in with your branding and is high-value.

An easy way to stay consistent is to use real estate templates from companies like Coffee & Contracts, LabCoat Agents Marketing Center, Canva, Wix, and Agent Crate. These providers offer social media content, unique real estate marketing ideas, and professionally designed templates.

Here’s my take on the best resources for social media content creation, plus links to our in-depth reviews if you want to dive deeper:

6. Adopt social media strategies from top influencers

Don’t reinvent the wheel. To generate more leads through social media marketing, learn from the most successful real estate influencers and marketers and adapt their strategies to fit your style. Tony Robbins says, “If you want to be successful, find someone who has achieved the results you want and copy what they do.”

Follow real estate influencers you resonate with and see which topics get the most engagement. Share your perspective on those topics, add them to your marketing calendar, and stay consistent. Make sure to put your personality and unique ideas on their strategies, and don’t copy them directly. Not only is copying exact content unethical, but it won’t be authentic to your brand.

A go-to social post for me is telling the story behind a client’s success, like helping a single mother find a home after just three showings, following two years of searching unsuccessfully on her own. It highlights how I work and how deeply I care about my clients’ outcomes.

Related Articles

• 30 Real Estate Social Media Content Ideas
• 19 Real Estate Social Media Marketing Tips to Generate Leads
• The 24 Best Real Estate Social Media Templates
• 28 Real Estate Instagram Posts That Attract Clients

The more consistent you are, the more the algorithm works in your favor. Here are five real estate influencers to follow on Instagram:

• Taya DiCarlo (@tayadicarlo) for fun and educational reels
• Leigh Brown (@leighthomasbrown) for humor and actionable advice for buyers
• Glennda Baker (@glenndabaker) for no-nonsense advice for buyers and sellers
• The Broke Agent (@thebrokeagent) for real estate humor and viral memes
• Katie Lance (@katielance) for real estate social media education

7. Use Facebook Messenger ads to boost open rates

Looking for a smarter real estate marketing tactic? Facebook Messenger ads cut through the noise of crowded feeds and create a more personal connection. These ads are especially effective for reaching Facebook users over 45 — a key demographic for home sellers.

Here are six steps to get you started:

• Create a Meta Ads Manager Account.
• Choose the engagement objective.
• Set the engagement option to “Messaging apps” and select Messenger or Instagram.
• Set your ad duration, designate your audience, and choose your ad format. 
• Customize the greeting people see after clicking on your ad.
• Review, edit, and publish your ad.

Visit Follow Up Boss

Marketing ideas for more real estate referrals

Well-established real estate agents know the secret to success is getting referrals. Use some of these real estate agent marketing ideas to help generate more referrals and grow your business exponentially.

8. Automate your review-collecting process 

If you don’t ask for client reviews, you leave money on the table. But let’s be honest — agents get busy, forget, or feel awkward bringing it up. The longer you wait, the more challenging it is to reconnect with past clients. My recommendation is to ask right after the closing or when delivering the closing gift. Happy clients leave the best reviews.

Instead of manually chasing down past clients, savvy agents automate their review-gathering process with reputation management platforms like Birdeye. These platforms have tools that reach out to your clients to ask for testimonials. There is less friction and awkwardness, so you get more reviews on more websites.

Visit Birdeye

9. Build social proof with video testimonials

Turn every closing into an opportunity to grow your business. A buyer purchasing a new home is something to celebrate. Invite the neighbors to join in on the celebration. Purchase a card or gift for the new homeowners, and go door-to-door inviting neighbors to sign and welcome them to the community. Use the moment to introduce yourself and leave your business card. This simple gesture makes the new homeowners feel celebrated while giving you a natural way to connect with the people around them.

By engaging neighbors in the celebration, you position yourself as a friendly, approachable local expert and build connections that can lead to future referrals. Every closing becomes an opportunity to expand your network and grow your business.

10. Engage past clients with experiential marketing

Ask any seasoned agent, and they’ll tell you: five minutes of face-to-face interaction is often more powerful than hours of online engagement. That’s why many top-producing agents invest in experiential marketing — exclusive client events like dinners, wine tastings, educational seminars, and charity drives.

Take annual holiday parties, for example. These events bring past clients, friends, and referral partners together in one room, creating connections that last well beyond the night itself. And yes, I’ve talked business while wearing a costume at a Halloween party. The best part? Conversations sparked at these gatherings often lead to future referrals and transactions.

11. Give memorable closing gifts

If you want client referrals, make sure your closing gift game is on point. Many agents miss the mark by prioritizing self-promotion over what clients actually want. The best gifts should feel personal and useful — not just another mug with your brokerage logo.

Instead, think about what would make your clients’ first day in their new home easier. Moving in while everything is still in boxes can be overwhelming, so practical touches go a long way. A thoughtfully curated gift basket with kitchen towels, a bottle of champagne with flutes, an Echo Dot, or even pancake mix for an easy first breakfast can make a meaningful impression. Thoughtful, practical gifts can show clients that you truly care, while naturally keeping you top of mind.

One of my personal favorite closing gifts is a custom painting of the home my clients just bought or sold. Many have told me it was the first piece of art they hung on their walls after closing, a keepsake that lasts long after the transaction ends.

Marketing ideas for real estate listings

These ideas, from enhancing curb appeal to crafting creative listing descriptions, will help you market your listings more effectively.

12. Improve curb appeal on a shoestring budget

I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but buyers do judge a home by its exterior. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), most Realtors recommend improving curb appeal before listing a property for sale. Curb appeal is essential for attracting prospective buyers. It’s the first and last thing people see when touring the property, and great curb appeal also attracts those who drive by. A well-kept exterior signals that a home is cared for, making buyers more curious to see what’s inside.

Here are some simple low- or no-cost curb appeal fixes to try with your listing.

• Create an inviting seating area on the porch.
• Replace the mailbox and house numbers.
• Decorate the entrance with potted plants and flowers.
• Upgrade porch lighting.
• Tidy up hedges and replace dead or scraggly ones.
• Add fresh mulch to the flowerbeds.
• Powerwash the exterior of the home.
• Paint or refresh the front door.

For more ideas, check out our curb appeal strategy guide.

13. Create effective listing marketing plans with AI

“Those who list, last” is a well-worn real estate cliche because most successful agents regularly list properties rather than exclusively represent buyers. Whether you’re a seasoned listing agent or still working on getting your first seller client, a detailed marketing plan is your key to success.

Your marketing plan is one of the most powerful tools you have for winning listings. Homeowners don’t just hire agents to list their homes; they hire them for their marketing expertise. Walking into a listing presentation with a clear, detailed plan shows sellers exactly how you’ll position their home, attract buyers, and maximize value.

A strong marketing plan should include:

• A strategy for overcoming common objections
• Unique selling features of the new listing
• A thorough and accurate comparative market analysis (CMA)
• High-quality visuals — photos, video walkthroughs, aerial footage, and a 3D tour
• A compelling listing description
• A multi-channel promotion strategy

While your marketing plan sets the foundation, artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT and Grammarly can take your listing descriptions (my personal kryptonite) to the next level. These apps help agents create listing descriptions, refine marketing copy, and brainstorm topics. Think of it as the editor you never had. However, keep in mind that AI shouldn’t replace your expertise.

Here are four AI tools you can use to write better real estate marketing copy this year:

14. Enhance listings with virtual staging & VR tours

When staring at an empty room, it can be hard for buyers to picture the possibilities. An empty space can be a kid’s room, a home office, or a movie theater; consider virtual staging to help buyers visualize its potential. Virtual staging is one of the simplest yet most powerful real estate marketing ideas. Besides that, using virtual reality (VR) in real estate can enhance listings further by letting buyers explore properties remotely through immersive 3D tours. Many tools, like Zillow, are available today to create interactive virtual tours that make potential buyers feel they’re walking through your listings.

Visit Zillow

Real estate marketing ideas to boost visibility and communication

The more accessible you are online, the easier it is for your audience to connect with you and develop trust. Try implementing some of these additional realtor marketing techniques to increase your exposure.

15. Create a buyer presentation

Successful agents know that buyer presentations are just as important as listing presentations. Especially in the wake of the NAR settlements, you must go through a proper buyer presentation with your leads to successfully get them to sign a buyer’s agreement.

Here are tips for delivering the perfect buyer presentation:

• Break the ice with small talk.
• Tell them exactly how long the presentation will take.
• Ask specific and open-ended questions to build a buyer profile.
• Don’t mislead your clients — ensure they understand the commission structure and their responsibilities, along with yours.
• Allow your buyer to ask questions and make sure they understand the process.
• Role-play your presentation with another agent before doing it live (never practice on a client: master the presentation through roleplaying).

Before meeting buyers in person, I often start with a Zoom or Google Meet call. Sharing a short presentation online lets me explain how I work, respect their schedule, and build familiarity, so when we meet face-to-face, it already feels like we have a relationship.

16. Write scripts & pre-record videos for text messaging

Text messaging is one of the fastest ways to connect with leads. Most people open text messages within five minutes, which is way faster than an email. If you’re using it in your real estate marketing, you need to be ready to respond quickly.

The good news? Many CRMs, like Wise Agent, let you save text templates and send pre-recorded video messages. I’ve used video texts consistently to lock in clients because they put a face to a name and create a connection before we ever meet in person. When it comes to your text messaging scripts, they don’t need to be perfect — just ensure they are clear, friendly, and to the point, much like our recommended text messaging scripts.

Visit Wise Agent

17. Launch a real estate podcast

Starting a real estate podcast is an incredibly effective way to showcase your communication skills, personality, and local area knowledge. Use your podcast to spotlight local businesses, interview other adjacent business owners (think vendors, like local lenders or photographers), or spew some of your market wizardry and real estate expertise.

Invite expert guests on your podcast to boost your credibility and build your audience quickly. If you’re lucky enough to have a local influencer with a decent following in your area, seek them out and offer to work with them. You can also accelerate your growth by appearing on other podcasts, allowing you to share your insights on your local market and connect with a new audience.

For some inspiration, check out our roundup of the best podcasts for real estate agents — these could give some structure on how to approach creating yours.

Need podcast inspiration? Real Estate Rookie is a great example of how to deliver real estate education in a clear, engaging, and exciting way.

Listen to Real Estate Rookie

18. Create neighborhood spotlight videos

Highlight your knowledge of specific neighborhoods or communities in your market area through video. Showcase any unique features, amenities, schools, and local businesses that stand out to give your potential buyers a wide-lens view of what it’s like to live in the neighborhood. This positions you as the expert and the go-to source for information.

Neighborhood videos can be simple and made in either long or short form. A great strategy is to post long-form YouTube videos and break them into shorter clips for your social media pages. Using real estate hashtags and geotags can help boost visibility and attract more leads.

Need video ideas? Showcase local highlights like the best dog-walking spots, the local playground, the town’s top bagel shop, or take viewers on a neighborhood walk while explaining the different housing styles.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Your take

With the endless variety of marketing tools out there claiming to do everything except wash your dishes, figuring out what works for your business can take a lot of work. Worse, many agents chase the latest fads and waste time learning the ins and outs of the latest shiny object. If you want to make real gains in marketing this year, you need to think strategically about the marketing strategies you use for your business, which will actually show results.

Do you have any killer marketing ideas for real estate that our readers should know about? Let us know in the comments.

---

You may also like…

• 19 Real Estate Social Media Marketing Tips to Generate Leads
• The 8 Best Real Estate Marketing Companies
• The Complete Guide for Effective Listing Presentations (+Template)
• The Buyer Presentation: A Step-by-Step Guide to Convert Clients