The real estate industry is very competitive, so learning how to get clients in real estate is a game-changer. Whether you’re just starting or a seasoned pro, obtaining new clients and keeping them will help your business thrive. While it’s essential to acquire clients, you must have the ability to build trust, provide value, and create lasting relationships for repeat business. Let’s dive into 11 proven ways for you to win and retain clients in real estate.
1. Make Professional Connections
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Best for:
Buyer and seller leads
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Time to get clients:
Weeks to months
Forming professional connections is the beginning of learning how to gain clients in real estate. Partner with accountants, lawyers, and mortgage lenders in your transactions. Connecting with these professionals is crucial to building a sphere of influence and referral network. These professionals often interact with people who will eventually need real estate services, and you want to be at the top of their minds when the opportunity arises.
2. Collaborate With Other Businesses
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Best for:
Buyer and seller leads
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Time to get clients:
Weeks to months
Getting involved with local businesses to help with cross-promotion is another excellent way to obtain new clients. It’s also a great strategy to boost your visibility and credibility among the local community. Companies to partner with would be moving companies, local coffee shops, and even the local tax accountant.
Collaborate through hosting events, offering discounts, or agreeing to recommend each other’s businesses. Over time, these relationships will lead to a steady stream of income with little financial investment on your part.
3. Buy Real Estate Leads
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Best for:
Buyer and seller leads
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Time to get clients:
Immediately
Investing in lead generation sources is another effective way to receive buyer and seller leads. Agents can quickly get their businesses up and running by buying real estate leads from reputable companies. This method does save a lot of time compared to other organic methods of getting new client leads. Buying leads will significantly boost your client base and accelerate your business growth.
Market Leader allows real estate agents to connect with new clients quickly. Leads received through this real estate lead generator are exclusive and never distributed to other competitors. Agents can select their desired target market to become local experts while taking advantage of the lead volume commitment provided through the platform. Coupled with its CRM, agents can execute automated lead nurturing and marketing.
4. Learn How to Cold-call & Door Knock
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Best for:
Obtaining new exclusive listings
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Time to get clients:
Weeks to months
A proactive strategy for getting new clients in real estate is to cold-call and door-knock. Door-knocking is prospecting for clients by physically visiting a home and introducing yourself and your services. Many agents will block off a specific time in their week to select a neighborhood or street and just go door to door. It’s an effective way to learn if clients want to sell or move soon and for agents to distribute their contact information.
Cold-calling is a lead gen strategy many agents veer away from because they’re intimidated by it. However, the more you practice cold-calling prospective clients and pitching your services, the easier it will become. Learning how to get clients as a real estate agent through cold-calling will take a lot of perseverance and commitment to get new leads. As you cultivate relationships through these methods, you’ll see an increase in short-term leads and long-term client loyalty.
5. Find Your Niche
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Best for:
Seller and buyer leads
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Time to get clients:
Weeks to months
Finding your real estate niche will help you differentiate yourself from your competition and attract clients looking for your specialty. Whether you want to select your niche based on demographics, property type, or types of buyers or sellers, you can tailor your marketing efforts to attract clients within those niches.
To find a niche, agents should find a sector of the real estate market that interests them and has high demand. Then, focus efforts on becoming the best agent within that niche. You can even find additional training or designations that help boost your marketability. As a result, you will begin attracting more targeted clients to sustain your business growth.
6. Leverage the Power of Social Media
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Best for:
Buyer and seller leads
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Time to get clients:
Days to weeks
If you’re new to real estate, you might wonder how real estate agents get clients. Many use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for real estate marketing. These platforms offer access to vast audiences and sophisticated targeting options to reach potential clients where they spend their time.
Agents should be on all these social media platforms and regularly post high-quality content such as property listings, market updates, and client testimonials to help engage their audience. Social media advertising options are also available to help your posts target specific demographics and promote your services.
CINC helps agents generate high-quality leads with targeted campaigns on platforms like Google and Facebook. Its hyperlocal approach focuses on specific communities, delivering leads tailored to your preferences. CINC simplifies lead management with its advanced CRM and nurturing tools.
7. Invest in a Professional Website
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Best for:
Buyer and seller leads
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Time to get clients:
Days to weeks
A website is fundamental to establishing an online presence and is essential for learning how to get clients as a real estate agent. Websites also provide a sense of credibility to your business and should act as a lead generation tool. Your website should be user-friendly, mobile-optimized, and feature interesting content like property listings, blog posts, and market reports.
Update your real estate agent website regularly with fresh content and ensure it is optimized for search engines to attract organic traffic. Your contact information must also be readily available on your site so prospective clients can easily reach you.
Agent Image allows agents to build robust, user-friendly websites quickly. The platform offers customizable themes, IDX websites, and pay-per-click solutions so an agent’s website stands out and attracts organic traffic. Using Agent Image for website creation can enhance agents’ online visibility and engage potential new clients.
8. Prioritize Networking Effectively
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Best for:
Buyer and seller leads
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Time to get clients:
Weeks to months
Initially, networking may seem like a daunting task. However, like any muscle, the more you use it, the easier it gets. The better you are at networking, the more successful your business will be. Finding real estate clients through networking will require you to attend local events, join real estate associations, and participate in community activities to expand your contacts and increase your visibility.
Face-to-face interactions with other professionals will help you build trust and allow you to showcase your knowledge and personality. This will make it easier for them to vouch for your services and refer your business.
9. Offer Free Knowledge to the Public
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Best for:
Buyer and seller leads
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Time to get clients:
Months
Offering free knowledge to the public is an excellent way to establish yourself as a trusted authority in real estate. If your content and information are valuable to the public, there is a higher likelihood that they’ll reach out to you for your services or share within their networks. This can include sharing market reports, homebuying guides, and educational webinars.
10. Create a Strong Referral System
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Best for:
Buyer and seller leads
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Time to get clients:
Weeks to months
Developing a strong referral program is key to getting real estate clients. Encourage satisfied clients to refer their friends and family through word-of-mouth. Offer incentives such as gift cards, discounts, or charity donations to motivate clients to refer others. Promote your referral program on your website, social media, and during client interactions. A well-structured referral program will feed your business without costing you much.
11. Invest in Online Advertising
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Best for:
Buyer and seller leads
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Time to get clients:
Days to weeks
Advertising is a very effective way to obtain new clients who wouldn’t otherwise find your contact information. However, online advertising for real estate leads requires a significant financial investment and a targeted approach. Agents can advertise on Google, Zillow, Realtor.com, or third-party lead generation sites. Set your budget, track your ad performance, and tailor your ads to maximize return on investment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can I effectively balance multiple lead generation strategies?
Balancing multiple lead generation strategies involves careful planning and time management. Prioritize the most effective methods, such as CRM tools, to track interactions and automate tasks. Focus on mastering a few strategies, allocate weekly time, and stay consistent.
How do I measure the success of my lead generation efforts?
Measuring the success of your lead generation efforts involves tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) such as the number of leads generated, conversion rates, and the cost per lead. Use tools like Google Analytics to track social media engagement. Client feedback and the quality of leads are also important indicators.
What should I do if I'm not generating new real estate clients?
If you’re not generating new real estate clients, reassess your strategies and seek feedback from past clients and colleagues. Consider finding a mentor or joining a team, especially if you’re new to real estate, to learn effective lead generation methods.
Can you be a successful realtor without social media?
Bringing It All Together
A multifaceted approach to how to get clients in real estate ensures long-term growth. Each method complements the others and keeps your business visible, credible, and competitive in the fast-paced market.
What’s your sure-fire way of getting real estate clients? Share your experience in the comments!
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