If you want to snag commercial real estate leads without burning a hole in your pocket or spending too much time, you need the right tools and strategies to attract and convert clients effectively. From making connections, building your brand, and targeting specific markets to using social media ads, a reliable strategy will help you establish yourself as your community’s commercial real estate guru.
1. Use Commercial Real Estate Data Platforms to Find Leads
If you’re looking to generate commercial real estate leads, consider using data platforms to gather property details, contact information, and listing agent details. CoStar offers predictive analytics, and LoopNet provides valuable demographic insights. It’s important to understand how each platform can be used effectively for lead generation. Some top commercial real estate prospecting tools to consider are:
 | A single platform to prospect, analyze properties, and access ownership data | ||
 | Accurate and efficient source of finding property owners and contact details | ||
 | Custom product to find properties, owners, comparables, or other analytics | ||
 | Budget-conscious agents wanting to browse properties and gather data |
2. Attract Leads With Custom Website & Landing Pages
A professional website is crucial for finding residential and commercial real estate leads without cold calling. Custom landing pages are one of the top ways to get commercial real estate leads. These essential tools make you stand out as a pro and help you snag those commercial real estate leads. Your website could have a landing page for all commercial leads or a bunch of landing pages:
- Different types of commercial real estate leads: Remember to create separate landing pages for investors, buyers, current property owners, and business owners, such as restaurant, retail, and industrial clients.
- Leads from different sources: Customize pages for website visitors who click on your website from different sources, like online real estate ads, in-person meetings, or referrals
- Individual property landing pages: Create a property website for each of your listings
It’s a great idea to have a personalized message for every visitor on your landing pages. Offering a freebie is a fantastic way to turn website visitors into leads by getting their contact info. A valuable freebie could be a comparative market analysis (CMA) report or a downloadable e-book on a relevant topic for commercial property leads. Once prospects share their email or contact info to get your offer, you can start building a relationship with them and increase your chances of turning them into clients.
Looking to save time and energy on coding or designing real estate landing pages and websites? Check out Placester. They offer fantastic, customizable website templates that are ready to use. Choose a template and tweak it yourself, or have a Placester expert do it for you. They can also help with tasks like setting up a chatbot or crafting your realtor bio. Placester is a top-notch commercial real estate marketing software that supports custom website creation. Give it a shot with a free 30-day trial.
3. Add Your Profile to Commercial Real Estate Databases
Like residential agents who use Zillow profiles, commercial agents can gain exposure by listing their commercial properties on commercial real estate databases. For example, LoopNet, the most popular commercial real estate network with around 13 million unique monthly visitors, prominently displays your profile and contact details on all your listings, making it easier for clients to find you. It’s a simple and free way to start marketing in commercial real estate—all you need to do is complete your profile.
Spruce up your real estate bio on your profile by highlighting the types of leads you’re looking for and showing off your expertise, successes, and strengths tailored to commercial clients.
4. Market to Niche Commercial Real Estate Clients
When dealing with commercial real estate, it’s important to tailor your marketing strategies. Focusing on specific clients, like restaurants or corporate offices, can make your efforts more effective. This helps you use your resources wisely and generate more targeted leads. For instance, a restaurant owner is more likely to pay attention to customized marketing materials that address finding a larger kitchen space or being in a popular location. This approach makes marketing commercial properties more effective for potential clients.
Using these various marketing materials to showcase commercial real estate content and specialized solutions can attract specific clientele and increase conversions. Some other types of marketing materials you can use to target niche commercial real estate leads include:
- Targeted flyers
- Brochures
- Postcards
- Email campaigns
- Newspaper or magazine ads
- Direct mail
- Yard signs
- Social media ads
Direct mail is an affordable and effective way to learn commercial real estate lead generation. ProspectsPLUS! has a vast library of real estate mailer designs and templates with many excellent topics and designs. Pick and customize a mailer that matches what your potential clients are into. People are more likely to notice these targeted mailers, reach out for more info, or hang on to them for later.
5. Buy Commercial Real Estate Leads
Creating a successful real estate funnel takes time and effort. If you need a quick boost, purchasing leads can teach you how to attract commercial real estate clients. Here are a couple of reasons why buying commercial leads can help your business:
- The fastest way to collect leads and create lists of potential clients
- Cost-effective option for new agents
- Supplements referral business
- Increases your sphere of influence and experience
One of the best places to buy real estate leads is Market Leader. It has a solid reputation and a proven track record for generating leads. It’s best for agents with a good budget who have worked out their conversion rates. These agents know how to purchase real estate leads and how many leads they need each month to make paid lead generation worthwhile. Market Leader makes that possible with its lead guarantee, ensuring agents get the expected results.
6. Generate Commercial Real Estate Leads From Expired Listings
Another great way to find potential clients in commercial real estate is to target expired listings. Approach these leads using a script for phone calls or a well-crafted letter to reach out without cold calling. This helps you start a conversation and prove your value as an agent. Acting quickly when dealing with expired listings is crucial for outperforming other agents.
With a tool like REDX, find and contact leads before your competitors. REDX gives you the most accurate contact information and lets you be the first agent to reach out to an expired lead. By being kind and strategic, you’ll make a good impression. Start using REDX to reach expired listings right away.
7. Be Active in the Community & With Local Businesses
To grow your business and income as a commercial real estate agent, it’s crucial to establish authority and make a name for yourself. By becoming the top expert in your field, you won’t have to spend as much time, money, and effort finding new leads. Instead, you’ll consistently provide value to your leads, clients, and other professionals. Attend events and join local business groups to expand your network. Also, use platforms like Meetup.com to connect with nearby business owners.
Maximize your networking game even if you can’t meet people in person much. Get active on LinkedIn. Join groups of real estate folks or local investors, restaurant owners, and retailers. Connect with buyers and business owners looking to rent or buy commercial properties now or in the future. These connections help you find leads and build your referral network to get new real estate clients.
8. Post & Advertise on Social Media
Social media is a powerful way to connect with people and get your name, brand, and expertise to commercial real estate clients and professionals. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), about 52% of real estate agents said social media has brought them the most high-quality leads in the past year.
If you’re starting online, creating a social media marketing plan for your real estate business is essential. Defining your brand, objectives, and target audience will help you create content that appeals to the right people and drives business growth. It will also help you decide which social media platforms to focus on, as each has its audience and content style. For real estate professionals, some of the top social media platforms to consider are:
- Facebook: 43.2% of Facebook users are between 25 and 44, making it an ideal platform for generating real estate leads and promoting services to potential clients.
- Instagram: Highlight stunning photos of newly constructed commercial space, beautiful views, and commercial listings, and share video walk-throughs and educational tips.
- LinkedIn: Connect easily with local business owners and other real estate professionals on LinkedIn. Increase your reach by posting engaging content and using messaging tools for prospecting.
- TikTok: Successful TikTok videos are typically short and don’t require extensive production or even planning to acquire leads from TikTok.
- YouTube: showcase commercial properties, offer virtual tours, and share insightful tips for business owners and real estate professionals.
9. Nurture Prospects & Past Clients With a CRM
A CRM is valuable for real estate agents as it helps with client follow-ups, lead generation, organizing leads and clients, optimizing marketing efforts, and providing reports for better financial understanding. It’s also important to keep in touch with previous real estate clients to increase chances of getting future listings and clients. In commercial real estate, past clients often have ongoing questions about property supply and demand, relocation costs, and property value. Be proactive in addressing their concerns and anticipating their business’s next move.
Maintaining all these client communications is easy with a relationship manager like LionDesk. It’s great for keeping in touch with current and past leads through text, email, phone, social media, and even direct mail. Plus, it takes care of follow-ups and keeps your clients happy and engaged. There’s even a mobile app to manage tasks on the go.
10. Use Crowdfunding Sites to Find Startups
Reach out to new business owners and startups to keep your business ahead. Check out top crowdfunding sites for investors, like Groundfloor or Fundrise, to find startups in your area. As startups expand, they’ll probably need physical space, so it’s a good idea to connect with the owners and key employees and build relationships.
Just start by introducing yourself and letting them know you’re available to help with any real estate questions or ideas they have. Think about your real estate elevator pitch and how to adjust it to generate leads in commercial real estate.
11. Join Commercial Real Estate Associations & Team
In addition to getting involved in your community, joining an association is an easy way to meet people in your industry. Making these connections is like expanding your network, leading to more real estate referral opportunities. A few of the top commercial real estate associations include:
- The Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP)
- Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW)
- Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA)
- Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM Institute)
- Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR)
- International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
Another way to level up your skills is by partnering with a brokerage focusing on commercial real estate. Like joining an association, being part of a real estate team connects you with like-minded pros. Plus, you’ll have the chance to learn from seasoned brokers and agents. By forming strategic partnerships with other commercial agents inside and outside your team, you can build a network where leads can be shared.
12. Reach Prospects With Google Ads Campaigns
Looking to reach more people and generate commercial real estate leads? Consider using Google ads. With pay-per-click campaigns, you can target specific locations and property-related keywords like “New York office space” to expand your reach and drive traffic to your website or landing page. This will help you turn visitors into valuable leads.
13. Optimize & Research Leads on LinkedIn
Use LinkedIn’s people search to find potential clients based on their location, industry, current company, and how closely connected they are to you. Then, send direct messages to start reaching out and making connections. If you’re serious about finding new leads, you should definitely check out LinkedIn’s Sales Navigator tool. It’s an effective platform for real estate professionals who want to connect with brokers, tenants, and investors on a larger scale.
FAQs
How do I get more leads in commercial real estate?
Connect with fellow industry pros like brokers, lenders, and attorneys to score more commercial real estate leads. Attend networking events and join local groups to grow your circle. Also, beef up your online presence with social media and a professional website to reel in leads searching for properties or services on the web. Try offering specialized services in a specific niche to stand out and attract clients looking for those specific services.
How do I market myself as a commercial real estate agent?
Building your brand and showing off your skills is essential if you want to promote yourself as a commercial real estate agent. Set up a slick website to highlight what you’re good at and your services. Get on social media to connect with potential clients and share your industry know-how. Don’t forget to network and make friends with local businesses and other pros in your line of work. And think about giving away free stuff like e-books, webinars, or market reports to attract new clients and establish yourself as a top expert in your niche.
Is it worth paying for real estate leads?
Whether or not it’s worth paying for real estate leads depends on factors like budget, target audience, and personal preferences. Some agents find that purchasing leads can be a cost-effective way to get their foot in the door, while others prefer to focus on building relationships and online marketing. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your business goals and budget. If you opt for paid leads, research and choose a reputable provider with a track record of success in your market.
Bringing It All Together
Thinking about diving into commercial real estate lead generation? It might seem a bit overwhelming at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll start seeing the benefits with regular clients, deals, and income. It’s all about experimenting with different lead generation techniques to find what works best for you. Whether expanding your network, purchasing leads, or using online marketing tools, the key is setting yourself up for success with organic and paid methods.
Have more tips for commercial real estate lead generation? Feel free to share them in the comments below!
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