1. After Closing

This thank-you note from realtor to buyer after closing is from Zoe Kasiske and Marny Maslon, Douglas Elliman, Los Angeles.

copy to clipboard

Hi [client’s first name]!

We want you to know how much we appreciate your trust by allowing us to guide you through the often up-and-down process of finding, buying, and closing escrow on your new home. We know this was a longer journey than anticipated, and we are so grateful for your continued trust in our ability to get you across the finish line.

Although the transaction is behind you, we prefer not to be out of sight and mind. So please keep our numbers and emails at your fingertips for vendor referrals (should you need a painter, for example), questions about the real estate market, or just to say hello.

Lastly, if you have a minute, please fill out this form so we can continue celebrating all the exciting milestones in the years to come!

Thanks so much,
[your name, phone number, and email address]

2. From Listing Agent to Homeowner

From Beverly Ruffner, real estate coach, The Close contributor

copy to clipboard

Mr./Mrs. [client’s last name]

[client’s address]

Congratulations on selling your home! It was an absolute pleasure working with you. I greatly appreciate your business and am honored that you trusted me with the sale of your home. I would like to offer you my continued service, so please don’t hesitate to call should there be anything that I can do for you.

And remember, your referrals are the greatest compliment you can extend. I highly value all clients who refer friends and family to me and strive to ensure they experience only the utmost excellence!

Thank you,
[your information]
[your signature]

3. Handwritten Note With Closing Gift

From Tika Van Den Hurk, Douglas Elliman in Fort Lauderdale

copy to clipboard

Dear [client’s first name],

Congratulations on purchasing your new home. I am honored to have had the opportunity to represent you in this transition. Wishing you and your family many years of enjoyment, good health, peace, and prosperity in your new home.

Warmest regards,
[your name]

4. After Closing From Buyer’s Agent to Buyer

copy to clipboard

Dear [client’s first name],

I just wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know how thrilled I am that we found a home for you and [spouse’s name, kid’s name, or pet’s name]. I hope you will be happy in it for many years to come. Seeing the big smiles on your faces after closing is the best part of my job! It truly makes it all worthwhile.

I also want to let you know that I am available to you as your real estate insider from now on. If you have any questions about the market, even if they sound silly, call or text anytime.

Congrats!
[your information]
[your signature]

Agents should consider using a service like VistaPrint to help design, print, and mail thank-you notes. Its easy-to-use design editor lets you personalize premade thank-you note templates for postcards, flyers, posters, and other real estate marketing collaterals. VistaPrint also offers design services, a logo maker, and a free QR code generator.

5. Buyer’s Agent After a Difficult Closing

copy to clipboard

Hi [client’s first name],

Thank you for choosing me from all the agents in [your farm area]. It was truly a pleasure helping you navigate this deal, even with [something that made it difficult].

Once you’re settled in, we should grab lunch sometime, on me.

Congratulations, and best of luck with your new home.

[your information]
[your signature]

6. After Receiving a Closing Gift From a Buyer

copy to clipboard

[Client’s first name],

Thanks so much for the [gift they gave you]! Working with kind, thoughtful people like you reminds me of why I got into real estate in the first place.

If you or anyone you know ever needs real estate advice or wants to chat about the market (trust me—I can talk their ear off!), text or call anytime.

[your information]
[your signature]

7. After Finding a Buyer an Amazing Deal

copy to clipboard

Hello [client’s first name],

Congratulations on scoring such an amazing deal in this market! I would love to take all the credit here, but the truth is, sometimes the real estate gods just smile on you. I know you and [spouse’s name, kid’s name, or pet’s name] will spend many happy years there.

If you ever need any real estate advice or just want to chat about the market, call or text anytime.

Congrats!

[your information]
[your signature]

8. Homeowner After Not Getting the Listing

copy to clipboard

[Homeowner’s address]

Dear Mr./Mrs. [last name],

I wanted to thank you for meeting with me last week and offer my best wishes on the sale of your home. If you ever need unbiased market advice in the future, please don’t hesitate to text or call. My door is always open.

Thank you,

[your information]
[your signature]

9. Former Client After They Give You a Referral

copy to clipboard

Hi [former client’s first name],

It’s hard to express how grateful I am that you gave [name of referral lead they sent you] my number. We had a long call yesterday, and [s/he] is excited to start [hunting for a home/putting their home on the market].

The next time you’re in [the neighborhood where your office is], let’s get lunch at [nice restaurant]. On me, of course!

Thanks again,

[your information]
[your signature]

10. After Making Initial Contact With a New Lead

copy to clipboard

I’m delighted you contacted me [mention how they contacted you] about [specific aspects of real estate]. Thank you!

I’m genuinely excited to be a part of people’s lives as they start their buying or selling journey. I’m here to express my gratitude and let you know that I’m here to help in any way I can.

Whether it’s answering your questions, providing advice, or helping with property searches, I’d be honored to be your go-to resource for all things real estate. Please feel free to contact me at [contact information] for any further assistance. Thanks again!

[your information]
[your signature]

11. After Initial Appointment or Phone Conversation

copy to clipboard

Thank you for taking the time to chat with me about [specific topic]!

I truly enjoyed our conversation and am genuinely excited to assist you. From property research to negotiations and beyond, I’m committed to ensuring your [buying/selling] experience is not just smooth but also successful. Your success is my priority.

Remember, you can always contact me via text, call, or email if any other questions arise. I’m here for you and eagerly await our next conversation!

[your information]
[your signature]

12. ‘Thanks Anyway’

copy to clipboard

Thank you for considering me among the agents you could choose to work with and for taking the time to chat. It was great getting to know you, and I’m genuinely excited about the next steps you will take in your real estate journey.

If you ever need a second perspective or insight regarding the [your area] housing market, know you can always contact me. I’d be happy to help. I can’t wait for our paths to cross again and hopefully collaborate together! Until then, I wish you the very best on your real estate journey!

[your information]
[your signature]

13. During the Holiday Season

copy to clipboard

The holiday season is nostalgic. As I was thinking about all of the great clients I got to work with this year, you came to mind. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for being part of your [buying/selling] journey.

I hope you and yours have a joyous, refreshing, and delightful holiday season together. If you have any real estate questions or needs, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you!

[your information]
[your signature]

Tips for Writing Effective Real Estate Thank-you Notes

Looking to express gratitude in real estate? Effective thank-you notes can go a long way. Mastering impactful thank-you notes can improve professional relationships and help you stand out in the competitive real estate market. Here are some valuable tips for writing real estate thank-you notes to buyers and sellers that leave an impression.

• Handwrite your realtor thank-you notes: When sending real estate thank-you notes, consider handwriting them to convey a personal touch and commitment to superior customer service. But if you prefer, you can use email, text, or realistic handwriting generators to save time. Keep the design simple to maintain a personal feel.
• Use the right tone: Remember to use a professional, warm, and sincere tone in your real estate thank-you cards. Being too casual can make you seem less competent and trustworthy, while insincerity may come across as a marketing ploy.
• Timing is important: Follow up with leads quickly to show professionalism. Send realtor thank-you notes to buyers, sellers, and current and past clients within a week or two to avoid seeming insincere or too busy.
• Keep it simple: A small message can have a significant impact. A simple “thank you” can speak volumes, especially handwritten. Keep it short to avoid hand cramps. Don’t overdo it by sending too many thank-you notes to the same person or family—one or two within a year will likely be enough. More than three in a year may seem pesky or desperate.

Benefits of Writing & Sending Thank-you Notes

Writing and sending thank-you notes in real estate is a simple yet powerful practice that can yield long-term benefits for agents and their clients. Here are some of the benefits of thank-you notes:

• Establishes a personal connection with clients
• Builds trust and rapport with buyers and sellers
• Shows appreciation for their business
• Reinforces a positive image of the real estate agent
• Maintains enduring client relationships
• Keeps lines of communication open
• Demonstrates that the agent values the client’s business beyond the transaction
• Leads to repeat business and referrals
• Assists you in standing out in a competitive real estate market
• Allows you to leave a lasting impression on clients

Ways to Send Thank-you Notes

There are several different ways to send real estate thank-you note from realtors to buyers or sellers:

• Handwritten notes: These carry a personal touch that can leave a lasting impression on clients, fostering a sense of warmth and connection.
• Email: This is a quick and convenient method for sending thank-you notes, especially for clients who prefer digital communication. It provides ease and efficiency, allowing you to maintain a productive workflow while still showing appreciation.
• Thank-you cards/Direct mail: Sending thank-you cards through traditional mail can also positively impact clients. It’s a tangible way to show your care and consideration, making your clients feel valued and appreciated.
• Personalized gifts: Sending a small, personalized gift and a thank-you note to buyers or sellers after closing can further show appreciation for the client’s business. This could be a branded item, a gift card to a local business, or something that aligns with the client’s interests.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you say ‘thank you’ to real estate clients?

Why should real estate agents bother writing thank-you notes?

How should I address my thank-you notes?

Bringing It All Together

Sending thoughtful thank-you notes in real estate can significantly impact client relationships. Personalizing your messages and expressing genuine appreciation can create lasting connections and foster a strong network of satisfied clients. Whether you use templates or craft your own messages, the key is to make each note heartfelt and tailored to the recipient. Do you have any great tips for sending real estate thank-you notes that you think our readers will love? Let us know in the comments!

The post 13 Real Estate Thank-you Notes That Create Clients for Life (+ Templates) appeared first on The Close.

What Is a Real Estate Mastermind Group?

A real estate mastermind group is peer-to-peer mentoring among agents and investors looking to share knowledge, strategies, and support. These mastermind agent groups of realtors and investors meet in person or online at specific periods to review trends, fix problems, or simply set goals. The synergy of the group, through their composite expertise and experience, maximizes both individual and group potential.

Mastermind groups are resourceful and different from the usual networking groups where members only exchange business cards and socialize. In a mastermind group, members commit to each other’s success by offering constructive feedback and sharing resources. Such synergy created in these groups can provide a breakthrough, which one would not get by working alone.

Be it increasing the knowledge base, solving specific problems, or seeking motivational fuel, real estate mastermind groups are game-changers for real estate careers.

How to Join Real Estate Mastermind Groups

A mastermind real estate group could be a giant step toward developing your professionalism and network. You can find real estate investing mastermind groups by doing a simple search on Google (or continue reading this article, which will give you a bunch of excellent mastermind group choices!) Find those of interest and research them the same way you would any other critical decision. 

The steps to joining a real estate mastermind include the following: 

• Research: Identify groups that align with your professional goals and interests. Look for groups with people who have similar levels of experience and expertise. 
• Apply: Most groups have an application process to ensure a good fit between the group’s objectives and your goals. This application process may be done by filling out a form, participating in an interview, or attending a trial meeting. Most online Facebook groups are free to join but may need group administrator approval before having access. 
• Attend: If accepted, regularly attend meetings or real estate conferences. The more active you are with the group, the more you gain from it. Some groups may have attendance policies.
• Contribute: Offer your knowledge and experience to others within the group to derive value from. The more you contribute, the more you will benefit from the members’ collective wisdom.

How Much Do Real Estate Masterminds Cost?

All the mastermind groups I have shortlisted are free and online via Facebook. Such groups will help agents get important resources and provide the ability to connect with others to share information from expert practitioners at no cost. 

Some other paid mastermind groups can grant advanced features, such as personal coaching and special member-only resources. However, free online groups will still deliver some of the value and support that help agents move their careers forward. The minimum cost for these free groups is your time and involvement, which are returned to you through knowledge networking and professional growth.

Benefits of Joining a Real Estate Mastermind Group

Joining a real estate masterminds group will enhance your career with a bundle of different benefits best suited for your professional growth and success. You’ll share a collaborative environment and have the opportunity to leverage the collective intelligence of participants in the groups. The key benefits of a real estate mastermind group are as follows: 

• Networking opportunities: Connect with like-minded professionals and expand your business network.
• Knowledge sharing: Gain insights and learn from the experiences of others in the industry.
• Accountability: Stay focused on your goals with the support and encouragement of group members.
• Motivation: Be inspired by the successes and strategies of your peers.
• Problem-solving: Find solutions to challenges through collective brainstorming and advice.
• Personal and professional growth: Continuously improve your skills and knowledge.
• Market insights: Stay updated on the latest industry trends and developments.
• Supportive community: Benefit from the encouragement and camaraderie from professionals who understand your challenges

The Close’s Favorite Mastermind Groups

The right mastermind realtor group is key to real estate professionals seeking valuable insight, support, and good networking. With so many options available, finding one that aligns with your goals and professional level is imperative. Therefore, we’ve pulled out a list of the top 10 masterminds real estate groups for you to start with. No two groups are alike, each having varying benefits and focus, so no matter what an agent is looking for to move their career forward, there will be at least one.

1. Real Estate Rockstar Agents

Year Founded: 2014
Group Membership: 47,246
Monthly Posts: Around 200
Private or Public: Private
Self-promotion Allowed? No
Real Estate Agents Only? Yes

Real Estate Rockstar Agents is a dynamic community built for high-performance agents wanting to move their careers to the next level. The group shares advanced strategies, industry secrets, and innovative techniques on how to be the best within a particular market. Its culture of excellence and ambition makes it a perfect fit for those looking to learn from the best and constantly challenging themselves to improve their skill base.

2. Real Estate Memes & Videos

Year Founded: 2016
Group Membership: 52,077
Monthly Posts: Around 150
Private or Public: Private
Self-promotion Allowed? No
Real Estate Agents Only? Yes

A unique mastermind group with an extremely unique blend of humor and education that refreshes your professional network is Real Estate Memes & Videos. The content provided is the most entertaining way to draw on industry trends, common challenges, and real estate tips. This group is an excellent place to keep yourself light-hearted while still learning from fellow agents.

3. LabCoat Agents

Year Founded: 2014
Group Membership: 165,704
Monthly Posts: Around 2,000
Private or Public: Private
Self-promotion Allowed? On approval of admins
Real Estate Agents Only? No

As one of the largest and most active real estate communities, LabCoat Agents offers a wealth of resources for agents at all levels. It’s known for highly detailed content regarding real estate matters, from marketing and technology to lead generation and personal development. With regular webinars, expert interviews, and collaborative discussions, LabCoat Agents is a must-join for those serious about excelling in real estate.

4. Empowering Women in Real Estate

Year Founded: 2014
Group Membership: 38,235
Monthly Posts: Around 170
Private or Public: Private
Self-promotion Allowed? No
Real Estate Agents Only? No, lenders, title companies, and real estate support teams, too!

Founded by agent Karen W. Cooper, the mission of Empowering Women in Real Estate is to help and encourage women in real estate. This mastermind real estate group provides a safe space where women can empower each other through sharing experiences, struggles, and triumphs. By focusing on mentorship, networking, and personal development, the idea is to allow women to reach their potential within the real estate industry.

5. New Real Estate Agents Facebook Group

Year Founded: 2017
Group Membership: 76,655
Monthly Posts: Around 200
Private or Public: Private
Self-promotion Allowed? No
Real Estate Agents Only? No, mortgage brokers, too!

The New Real Estate Agents Facebook Group is a great forum and support group for those entering the business. You can ask questions, ask for advice, or share personal experiences regarding entering the real estate business. This group would be a good fit for any new agent looking for mentorship, real-life practice tips, and motivation from people who recently walked a similar path.

6. Real Estate Mastermind

Year Founded: 2016
Group Membership: 304,243
Monthly Posts: Around 3,500
Private or Public: Private
Self-promotion Allowed? No
Real Estate Agents Only? Yes

Join Real Estate Mastermind if you are seeking a high-level, peer-to-peer group. It’s the perfect group if you’re an experienced agent or industry leader ready to dive into advanced strategies and insights. This mastermind group consists of people who like to get things done, keep their members responsible, collaborate, and help set real estate goals. It is excellent for learning subtle skills and keeping updated on market trends.

7. Real Estate Happy Hour

Year Founded: 2015
Group Membership: 15,578Monthly Posts: Around 50
Private or Public: Private
Self-promotion Allowed? No
Real Estate Agents Only? No, lenders can join, too.

The Real Estate Happy Hour mastermind group brings professional development into a social setting, allowing agents to network and discuss ideas in a relaxed atmosphere. Though it’s not the most active group on our list, it provides an opportunity for its membership base to discuss industry topics and best practices and offers relevant networking. It’s great for those looking to mix business with a sprinkle of humor while growing a professional network.

8. Facebook Ad Support Group for New Real Estate Agents

Year Founded: 2018
Group Membership: 30,419Monthly Posts: Around 10
Private or Public: Private
Self-promotion Allowed? No
Real Estate Agents Only? Yes

While not a group you might actively participate in, The New Real Estate Agent Facebook Support Group is a place to become proficient in online ads. The group shares real and practical tips and advice on troubleshooting and success stories related to running Facebook ads. These resources are invaluable for agents leveraging social media marketing to generate leads and grow their businesses.

9. Real Estate Agents Referral Group

Year Founded: 2000
Group Membership: 11,062
Monthly Posts: Around 10Private or Public: Private
Self-promotion Allowed? No
Real Estate Agents Only? Yes

The Real Estate Agents Referral Group is a forum for exchanging referrals among agents nationwide. Members can grow their businesses through this group by networking with fellow agents around various other demographic areas. This forum is suitable for finding someone to partner with, sharing leads, and giving your clients superior service with a network of trusted professionals who can help take your business to the next level.

10. The Close Real Estate Community

Year Founded: 2019
Group Membership: 8,979Monthly Posts: 15
Private or Public: Private
Self-promotion Allowed? No
Real Estate Agents Only? No, it is open to other industry professionals, too.

The Close Real Estate Community is our specially curated group with top-level access to real estate industry insights, practical advice, and highly attainable community members. We bring forward collaboration in this environment that empowers members to share their experiences or ask for guidance from our team. Be it a seasoned agent or a new entry into the business, The Close Real Estate Community is equipped with the tools and support needed for agents to be successful in their chosen careers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why join a real estate mastermind group?

How can I identify the right mastermind group that fits all my needs in real estate?

What do I get from participating in the mastermind group within Real Estate?

Bringing It All Together

The real estate mastermind groups are valuable because they provide a robust platform where agents can establish a faster and more tangible pace of personal and professional growth. Agents will access a helpful and friendly network of similar-minded career professionals who can offer valuable industry insights and actionable strategies to apply directly to their businesses. These groups present opportunities for continual learning, accountability, and motivation.

Do you belong to a mastermind group? Tell us which one and how it has helped you!

The post 10 Real Estate Mastermind Groups Every Agent Should Join Today appeared first on The Close.

Why Building Client Relationships Is Important

In real estate, the relationships between the professional and the client are crucial to growing a successful business. Developing and maintaining client relationships helps agents:

• Fill their sales funnel 
• Convert leads to clients 
• Ensure former clients become repeat clients
• Make sure clients refer you to others

Other than doing actual real estate (and paying taxes), client relationship management is the most important part of your job. The big question is how to do it well. You might know how to network, and you are pretty good at getting leads and nurturing them, but how do you build client relationships that are lasting and unshakable? It takes time, it takes strategy, and, above all, it takes a genuine desire to serve your clients with respect and care. 

How to Build Client Relationships: Our Top Five Tips

These five crucial tips will help you drive your business forward as you focus on building (and maintaining) client relationships. 

1. Get to Know Your Client

This is the first step and perhaps the most essential one. How can you build client relationships if you don’t really know your client? It’s crucial to understand your client’s needs, challenges, preferences, and personalities so that you can exceed their expectations. Here are some questions to ask yourself about your clients that will go a long way in helping you build a solid foundation for your professional relationship. 

• What is your client’s preferred method of communication?
• How frequently does your client want to hear from you?
• What is their style (formal or more informal)?
• What are their real estate needs?
• Are their expectations aligned with their finances?
• How can you best guide them?
• Do they have other considerations (pets, kids, aging parents)?
• What are their long- and short-term goals?
• What are your clients’ values? 
• How can you build trust with your clients? 

Getting to know your buyers and sellers is the first step in serving them as a real estate agent and establishing a long-term client relationship.  

2. Provide Unparalleled Customer Service

You can’t control the market, the inventory, or the interest rates. You can’t ensure your client’s mortgage approval matches their dreams. You certainly can’t control their emotions or frustrations. Really, the only thing you can control is … you. You can provide excellent customer service no matter what the circumstances might be. 

Good customer service is: 

• Doing what you say you’ll do 
• Answering calls 
• Responding to texts and emails promptly
• Offering helpful information and advice 
• Handholding 
• Listening 
• Being empathetic
• Being honest
• Anticipating needs
• Understanding challenges
• Offering solutions

The difference between good customer service and the best customer service of any other agent in the area is how you make your clients feel. Do they feel like the most important part of your business? Do they feel listened to and understood? Do they feel respected? If your clients feel this way, you’re well ahead of your competition in creating lasting client relationships. 

3. Keep Communication Lines Open

I know an agent who calls every contact on her phone once a quarter. She’ll go on a long walk and check in with former clients, old friends, and cool and warm leads, which is an excellent strategy for building client relationships. Being in touch is a chance to open the door to business and keep tabs on what’s happening in people’s lives. You never know when a casual chat leads to a conversation about a possible job change or a baby on the way, which might mean a new real estate need. 

Here are my top tips for successful communication in client relationship building:

• Create a cadence for your contacts that makes sense: It might not be the same for everyone—some might need more touchpoints than others. But with all the sophisticated CRMs, it should be easy to set custom automations for your many contacts. 
• Make communication personal: Use their name and personalize your outreach for each contact. Is there anything worse than getting an email that says, “Dear {first name, last name}, I was just thinking about you!”?
• Keep communications clean and clear: Be sure you’re editing and looking for typos, as any communication you send out reflects you and your brand. Not sure what to say or don’t have the time to write? Try out ChatGPT or other artificial intelligence (AI) writing tools. Be sure to take out any fluff and remain professional and warm. 

4. Be Present on Social Media

I would argue that social media is as important as being present in person. Plus, it’s a way to make yourself available, connected to clients, and show off your professional bona fides—all in one place. It can also give you a chance to post about your personal life so that clients think of you as a friend, not just a professional. But, while you post photos of listings, congratulate new owners on closing day and offer tips for living in your farm area, don’t forget to interact with your audience.

Most agents focus on creating content for social media, which is undoubtedly important. But when you focus on how to build client relationships, you need to engage with your contacts. That means:

• Liking and commenting on their posts. 
• Updating your CRM to reflect their big announcements, e.g., new babies, new jobs, vacations. These are all great things to ask about when you reach out. 
• Offering testimonials on LinkedIn. 
• Reviews of their businesses. 
• Even engage with them in a Facebook group about your town’s history. 

It’s all about creating that sense of community, trust, and loyalty. 

5. Build Trust With Expertise

When you’re thinking about how to build relationships with clients, the word trust should be at the top of your mind. The best way to build trust is to show that you’re the expert. You know your market, community, and clients, so you’re the best one who can guide them through real estate’s tough ins and outs and make their dreams come true. Honesty and expertise are the keys to establishing that you are the expert. 

Ways to demonstrate your expertise and build trust when building client relationships: 

• Send relevant property searches
• Offer market reports
• Prepare comparative market analyses (CMAs)
• Educate yourself on every property
• Prepare your clients for the selling/buying process
• Provide referrals
• Be able to speak about the neighborhood
• Stay up to date on zoning and development plans
• Line up necessary appointments
• Send print mail that offers value and shows you as a local expert (e.g., local high school basketball schedule or a holiday recipe)
• Remain honest and work with integrity at all times

Essential Tools for Relationship Marketing

The good news is that client relationship marketing and management is highly cost-effective. It costs my agent friend nothing to call all her contacts except time and a phone plan. However, an excellent CRM is the most valuable tool in the agent’s arsenal. A stellar CRM is one that you’ll use, as they say. 

We’ve rounded up our top CRMs and our favorite free CRMs (click these links to check them out for yourself!). We value CRMs that make communications easy to personalize, make it possible to keep detailed notes on your contacts, and even allow you to interact with clients on social media through the platform.

Bringing It All Together

When you’re thinking about how to build relationships with clients, I bet you already do many of the things required. But these tips will help you elevate your networking and nurturing game to build meaningful client relationships that will last a lifetime. Creating a real estate business ensures clients like, trust, and value you. A big part of that client relationship is your clients knowing that you like, trust, and value them right back.

The post Building Client Relationships: A Complete Guide for Agents appeared first on The Close.

So grab a coffee, turn off your notifications, and dig into our 23 best real estate marketing ideas for 2024.

Branding & Engagement Marketing Ideas

One of the most important steps in establishing authority In your market area is creating your brand story. Your brand should reflect who you are authentically to give your target audience away and make an emotional connection to you.

1. Create Your Brand Story

Start your real estate journey by creating a compelling personal brand story that resonates with your target audience. A solid personal brand does something that a website or glossy headshot never will—it helps you build a unique selling proposition that separates you from your competitors. That is more important than ever in 2024 because every agent in your farm area can access the same marketing tools—including gorg templates, artificial intelligence (AI), and intuitive nurturing systems.

The way to create a brand that elevates you is to first focus on your clients’ needs. Spend time uncovering what you bring to the table for them that no one else does. Start by creating a mission, vision, and values statement to guide your marketing strategy. 

2. Focus on Values

Your marketing needs to reflect your values, aligning with your lead’s values. So think about why you got into real estate (besides making gobs of money). Maybe you want to help people create wealth or feel a connection with a specific group of people. As a military spouse turned real estate agent, I felt compelled to work with military families to help them through their permanent change of station (PCS) transitions because I know what that feels like. It’s essential to identify your tribe and figure out how to best connect with them.

Now that you’ve figured out your unique value proposition, merge it with your unique personality. One key thing to remember is don’t try to be something you’re not. Be honest and authentic. You are not a perfect fit for everyone, so don’t try to be. Your vibe attracts your tribe. The people who resonate with you will be drawn to you, like bees to spring flowers.

3. Create a Compelling Slogan

You should clearly know what you have to offer once you’ve created your mission, vision, and values and established your unique brand. The next key element of your marketing identity is a slogan—a short, memorable phrase that summarizes your value proposition. Think of it as a one-sentence elevator pitch.

Summing up your value prop in one short sentence isn’t easy, but the benefits for your brand and marketing materials can be enormous. A compelling slogan in your marketing quickly makes a personal connection with your audience.

The best slogans are short, meaningful, and inspiring. I like to use the word “sticky.” If you don’t already have one or think yours needs work, check out our list of the 107 best real estate slogans for inspo. If you’re still not inspired, try using the free real estate slogan generator embedded in the strategy guide.

4. Generate Referrals From Local Businesses 

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

You’re probably already working with several businesses right now (photographers, movers, staging companies, home inspectors, insurance companies, etc.) that know you well. You might consider hosting an event together. Try some of these ideas:

• Host a workshop with a qualified home inspector to educate potential military homebuyers about the VA inspection process.
• Invite a lender to a first-time homebuyers event to help boost the prospecting potential. They can help answer questions about how to get started. I worked with my favorite lender on multiple workshops, including real estate investing strategies, first-time homebuyers, and military VA loans. 

By the way, these work equally well as in-person events or online webinars. Hosting an informational event around a specific real estate topic is easy. You just have to market it well to get a good turnout. Use Facebook Events as well as print marketing to get the word out.

Looking for a free referral network to boost your lead gen efforts? Sold.com delivers high-quality buyer and seller leads that convert easily. And you don’t pay for any leads until they close!

Real Estate Marketing Ideas for Social Media

There’s no denying that you must have an online presence for people to build trust. Use some of these creative real estate marketing strategies to help save time, stress, and frustration.

5. Use Templates to Scale Facebook & Instagram

If you want to scale your social media accounts to generate leads, you need to increase the number of times you post per week or even daily. Coffee & Contracts suggests posting daily, but only if you share high-quality content. While that might sound like a lot, it’s what the Instagram (IG) algorithm rewards. So, to build your social media accounts to market your brand, you must start posting more.

One of the best ways to tackle this real estate marketing idea is to use templates from marketing companies like Coffee & Contracts, LabCoat Agents Marketing Center, and Agent Crate. Unlike Canva templates, these templates are real estate-specific and created by real estate professionals. 

These companies create beautifully designed and prewritten posts providing first-time buyer education, market updates, home maintenance tips, and staging advice. They even include templates for Stories and Reels.

Here is a quick rundown of my take on the best social media template providers. You can go deeper with our deep-dive reviews to get more info.

Edit

Template Platform	Best For	The Close Score	Deep-dive Review
Coffee & Contracts	Agents focused on increasing engagement on Instagram	4.7	Read full review
LabCoat Agents Marketing Center	Teams and brokerages	4.6	Read full review
Agent Crate	Agents on a budget who want automated social media posting	4.6	Read full review

6. Adopt Social Media Strategies From Top Influencers

If you want your social media accounts to help you generate leads and market your brand, learn from the best and copy what they’re doing, like Taya DiCarlo does on her Instagram. Tony Robbins stated it best: “If you want to be successful, find someone who has achieved the results you want and copy what they do, and you’ll achieve the same results.” Just make sure to put your personality and spin on their strategies. Copying their content verbatim is unethical and might turn off your followers if they follow the same influencers as you.

Start following a few real estate influencers you resonate with and see which topics get the most views and engagement for their Reels, Stories, and posts. Create your versions of the same type of content and add them to your marketing calendar. The key, though, is consistency. Once you start your social media marketing, you must stay with it for the algorithm to reward your efforts.

Here are five excellent real estate influencers to follow:

For more social media tips from top influencers, check out our guide to the best social media strategy tips.

7. Create Engaging Vertical Videos

Vertical videos are videos viewed in vertical mode on a phone or PC. The skyrocketing success of vertical video platforms like TikTok over the last few years is a crucial trend you must pay attention to. Instagram, Facebook, and even YouTube have all taken note and are now pushing quick-hit vertical videos in a major way. So, if you want a chance of getting your content in front of your followers on any platform in 2024, you need to learn how to make compelling vertical videos.

While there are opportunities for Realtors on TikTok, focusing your vertical video efforts on Instagram Stories and Reels will be much easier and more effective than starting a whole new account on a different social media platform. The cool thing is you don’t have to look polished in your vertical videos. Your audience wants to get to know you in real life, so you’re free just to be you.

Don’t worry—they’re easier to make than you think. Here are some tips to help you get started:

• Use your smartphone to shoot a close-up video of your face, taking up most of the screen. 
• Introduce your listing, share tips, or discuss the market—any topic you choose. You can also add your listing footage from your professional photographer. Easy-peasy! 

Once you start making vertical videos, you will quickly learn that engagement, not views, prompts Instagram to show your content to more people. While there are many ways to get engagement on Instagram, contests, polls, and Q&A stickers layered on your videos are what most influencers use to make their posts go viral. They’re especially effective in Stories.

For more inspo, check out our list of 31 real estate social media ideas. It’s chock-full of vertical video ideas you can try.

8. Outsource Your Social Media Marketing

If you’re a busy agent, spending hours each day creating content for social media is probably not the best use of your time. Hiring a virtual assistant or social media marketing company can save time and money. Or outsource to a service like Coffee & Contracts.

In 2024, savvy agents use services like Coffee & Contracts to simplify social media. Unlike some social media marketing platforms, Coffee & Contracts doesn’t just offer templates for Instagram and Facebook posts. They also provide monthly content strategies and done-for-you real estate marketing tools so you can get the benefits of social media marketing without the hassle.

Pro tip: When it comes to tools like social media automation or marketing-focused customer relationship managers, you must do your homework before diving in. Check out our article, The Best Real Estate CRM: In-depth Reviews & Pricing, to find one that fits your needs and budget.

9. Use Facebook Messenger Ads to Boost Open Rates

If you’re not getting the results you want from Facebook advertising or email marketing, Facebook Messenger ads can be an excellent addition to your marketing tool kit. Your potential customers probably get dozens of emails and see hundreds of Facebook posts per day. But they only get a handful of private Facebook messages.

According to the latest research from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the median age of homesellers in 2022 was 60 years old, and more than 35% of Facebook Messenger users are over 45. If you’re trying to connect with your potential clients, your chances are pretty decent that you can reach them through Facebook Messenger.

Set up an Ads Manager account in Meta to get started. Once you’ve created your account, click Create to build your ad.

Here are six steps to get you started:

1. Choose the engagement objective.
2. Name your campaign and set your budget.
3. Set the engagement option to Messaging apps and select Messenger or Instagram.
4. Set your ad duration, designate your audience, and choose your ad format. 
5. Customize the greeting people see after clicking on your ad.
6. Edit your ad and hit Publish.

Marketing Ideas for More Referrals

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

10. Build Social Proof With Video Testimonials

A few years ago, the only social proof Realtors needed was a few 5-star reviews on Zillow. And while Zillow reviews are still a crucial part of your online presence, they are not enough. With so many fake reviews on sites like Amazon, people are starting to feel skeptical of written client testimonials. They are just too easy to fake.

Video testimonials, on the other hand, naturally feel more authentic and are nearly impossible to fake. As a bonus, they can be used in your realtor marketing across Instagram, Facebook, landing pages, websites, and even YouTube. Here are a few quick best practices to help your video testimonials shine this year: 

• Keep them short: Shorter videos are more likely to be watched to the end, an important engagement signal for most social media platforms. 
• Consider shooting vertical videos: This will make them easier to share on Instagram Stories, Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts.
• Send questions in advance: This will make it easier for your clients to think of responses, and they will be less nervous the day of the shoot.
• Done is better than perfect: You don’t need to make a big production out of your testimonial videos. Sometimes, candid videos shot on your phone work better.

Check out our testimonial video strategy guide for more tips and inspo for shooting testimonials.

11. Automate Your Review Collecting Process 

You leave money on the table if you don’t ask for client reviews and testimonials. However, agents get busy and may forget or feel awkward asking for a review. And once some time has passed, it’s more challenging to reconnect with past clients for the ask.

Instead of manually chasing down past clients to leave reviews on multiple websites, 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. This strategy reduces the friction (and awkwardness) of asking for reviews on multiple platforms, so you get more reviews on more websites with less work.

12. Engage Past Clients With Experiential Marketing

As any seasoned agent will tell you, five minutes of in-person engagement is worth hours of engagement online. That’s why many top-producing agents offer their former clients exclusive offline experiences like dinners, wine tastings, educational seminars, and charity drives. This strategy is called experiential marketing, one of the hottest trends in marketing right now.

At my brokerage, we host an annual holiday party where we invite our past and current clients, family, friends, and our favorite vendors. We give away tons of prizes, including a vacation package, throughout the event. Everyone loves attending and talks about it for months afterward, and we generally shake out around one to two new transactions per agent after each event. That’s a pretty impressive number for simply hosting a party.

Even more, one study showed that a whopping 74% of consumers said they were more likely to purchase after attending a brand’s event or experience. Learn how to pull it off in our experiential marketing deep-dive guide.

13. Give Memorable Closing Gifts

While closing gifts are an excellent way to boost referrals, most Realtors focus too much on promoting themselves instead of learning what clients actually want. Savvy agents get to know their clients during the process and choose gifts that match what their clients really want or need. If you give them a gift they will actually use instead of that cutting board with your brokerage logo,  you’ll have a much greater chance of staying top of mind.

I love to give my clients things they can use. I’ve been known to gift baskets of goodies, including any combination of the following:

• Pasta and sauce with a pasta spoon 
• A bottle of champagne with flutes 
• Kitchen towels
• An Amazon Echo Dot 
• Assorted cooking tools 
• Cutting boards 
• Popcorn or candy
• DVDs
• A small set of tools
• Pancake mix
• Laundry basket with towels
• Decor and towels for a half-bathroom

I think about how difficult it is to move into a house while everything is still in boxes. I want my clients’ first night or two in their new home to be fun and easy. If I can think of things that help facilitate that, I’ll throw it in a gift basket and give it to them after they close. 

If you need more inspo for fun closing gifts, check out our buyer’s guide with 32 examples of gifts that stand out and keep you top of mind.

Real Estate Marketing Ideas for Listings

If you can’t list, you can’t last. At least, that’s what I was taught. Use some of these realty marketing ideas to score more listings in your real estate business.

14. Improve Curb Appeal on a Shoestring Budget

Many listing agents I know ignore curb appeal. But you owe it to your sellers to learn how to improve it—even if you only have a tiny budget to work with. Curb appeal is essential for attracting prospective buyers. It’s the first and last thing they see when driving to the home. Great curb appeal also attracts those who drive by. You never know when Aunt Jane lives a block away and is looking for neighborhood homes for her nephew and his fam.

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

• Create an inviting seating area on the porch
• Perk up drab brown grass with lawn paint
• 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, including the drive and sidewalks

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

15. Leverage AI to Write Better Listing Descriptions

The real estate industry may be shifting, but 2024 could be the easiest year to market your listings ever. Artificial intelligence (AI) apps like ChatGPT are finally starting to deliver on their promises and could become a goldmine for savvy Realtors. You just need to find the right picks and shovels.

My only caveat is that these tools are much better at improving existing copy or helping you brainstorm and write outlines rather than writing from scratch. I like to get ideas from ChatGPT first and then brainstorm how to improve my copy after I write. I also use Grammarly while I write to avoid simple syntax errors or misspelled words. Think of AI apps as the editors you never had. Here are four AI tools you can use to write better real estate marketing copy this year:

Of course, you need to know the basics of compelling listing descriptions to get the most from these tools. Check out our guide full of examples of creative listing descriptions to learn more.

16. Create a Detailed Listing Marketing Plan

“Those who list, last” is a well-worn real estate cliche, but for good reason, because most long-term 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 to land listings. Marketing skills are probably the main reason most homeowners hire an agent. So before you pitch your next homeowner, ensure you have a comprehensive marketing plan to show them during your listing presentation. 

Here are some essential features of an effective marketing plan:

• Create a listing presentation and prepare, prepare, prepare
• As part of your presentation, have a strategy for overcoming common objections
• Identify unique selling features of your new listing
• Research the area to create a thorough and accurate comparative market analysis (CMA)
• Make sure the home is prepared for showings and photography
• Hire a professional for visual assets, including high-resolution pictures, video walk-throughs, aerial footage, and a 3D tour
• Use highly descriptive words in your listing description
• Reach out to your sphere of influence to announce your listing
• Post on social media and place ads on Facebook and Google to get the word out  

17. Virtually Stage Listings With Different Themes 

If you have an empty listing to sell, spending a few bucks to have it virtually staged with a few different options is a great way to increase interest and show buyers what it might look like in different contexts.

For example, a spare bedroom might look great virtually staged as a kid’s room with bunk beds or as a home office. Whether you’re showing a listing to a young family or someone who works from home, you’ll have a picture ready to help either buyer imagine how the home could meet their needs. Check out our virtual staging software buyer’s guide to find the best fit for you.

18. Leverage Virtual Reality Home Tours

The latest virtual reality technology allows potential buyers to immerse themselves in a property. So many tools are available today to create interactive virtual tours where potential buyers feel they’re walking through your listings. This is essential since 74% of buyer’s agents see having video tours and 42% see virtual home tours as some of the most important features for selling a home to their buyer-clients.

A unique way to capture prospective buyers is to start with a 3D video and virtual reality headset. Some agents gift headsets to buyer clients who don’t live locally after signing the buyer’s agreement. The buyers can use the headsets to have an immersive virtual experience, whether it’s of a listing on Zillow or listings you send directly from your MLS. The headsets also work with 3D walk-through video, like Matterport.

Imagine you have homebuyer clients overseas looking in your area, and you’re the agent who gives away virtual reality headsets. If you share this strategy in your marketing, you can potentially corner the buyer’s market outside your local area. It makes you stand out as unique and willing to give your prospective clients an excellent experience. Oh, and did I mention you can buy virtual reality headsets on Amazon for around $25 a pair? As an agent who specializes in military moves, I use this with my clients and find this tool essential.

19. Get Real Results From Freelance Designers

Unless you want your graphics to look like every other Realtor’s, taking the time to learn how to hire freelance designers—and, more importantly, get the best results—is becoming an essential marketing skill for agents.

Here are four of my best tips for getting the most out of your consultation with design professionals:

1. Prepare and share your mission, vision, and values statement first so they know what you’re about
2. Decide on fonts, brand colors, and style before you hire a designer
3. Shop around for a designer who will meet your needs and budget
4. Don’t share feedback on revisions right away—take some time to absorb the work so you can identify the parts that need to be reworked and, more importantly, why 

If you have the patience and a dash of artistic talent, you can download do-it-yourself (DIY) design apps like Canva or Adobe Express and use templates from Envato Marketplace or Etsy to create fresh designs. But you will want to work with a design professional at some point in your career. Even if you’re just using companies like Tailor Brands that create your logo for you, you need to know what you want and how to get it.

Check out our strategy guide to learn more about the best DIY graphic design apps and working with freelance designers.

Creative Realtor Marketing Ideas

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.

20. Create a Buyer Presentation

While many agents work hard on listing presentations, most just wing it with buyers. But in the wake of multiple lawsuits, it’s essential for you to make the extra effort with your buyer clients to go through a proper buyer presentation. Today’s buyers are better informed and savvier and take more time to research agents than ever before. That’s why creating and practicing an informative buyer presentation is the key to getting more buyers this year and beyond.

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—make sure they understand the commission structure and their responsibilities along with yours
• Let your buyer do most of the talking
• Role-play your presentation with another agent before doing it live

You can download our 15-minute buyer presentation template for free and learn how to create your own here.

21. Write Scripts & Pre-record Videos for Text Messaging

Some research over the past few years shows that over 80% of consumers open text messages within five minutes of receiving them. That’s 10x the number who respond to emails in that same time frame. And that stat is trending up. So, if you use this rapid-fire communications tool in your real estate agent marketing campaign, you must be ready to answer prospects’ questions faster.

Most customer relationship managers (CRMs) will let you save frequently used texts as templates, and others—such as Wise Agent or BombBomb—will let you save and send video messages. Your text messaging scripts don’t have to be Shakespeare, either. Just ensure they are clear and friendly and get straight to the point. 

For example:

copy to clipboard

“Hi {lead first name}, this is {your name} with {brokerage name}, and I am looking forward to talking with you about your home search. I will try calling as soon as possible, but in the meantime, are there any homes you want to look at? {auto-login link}.”

I saved several videos in my BombBomb account that I could easily shoot off to my leads and clients whenever situations arose. But I also had videos that go through each step of the homebuying process that I sent out in a drip for all my buyers. Some videos dealt with living in Florida (hello, strange bugs and high humidity!), and others covered the next steps. The best part is that I also built rapport through the videos while informing my clients about their new hometown.

Learn more in our related strategy guide: 11 Best Real Estate Text Message Scripts for Agents Who Don’t Like Calling Leads.

22. Launch a Real Estate Podcast

Starting a podcast is a simple 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. You won’t take long to build up your authority and establish credibility in your area.

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. They can help promote you and your listings to their followers to boost visibility in your local market. Consider being a guest on their podcast, where you answer questions about your area’s current real estate market.

You can also be a guest on other relevant podcasts to cultivate listeners. If you want a little podcast inspo, check out this article on the best real estate podcasts.

23. Create Neighborhood Spotlight Videos

Make videos highlighting specific neighborhoods or communities in your market area. 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.

Example of a neighborhood spotlight video (Source: YouTube)

These videos are easy to make, and you can do them in either long or short form. I created tons of these videos in long form and posted them to my YouTube channel. Then, I took small sections of each video and repurposed them for my social media outlets. I used hashtags and geotags so my audience could find my videos. It worked exceedingly well and kept a constant flow of leads funneling my way. 

Your Take

With the endless variety of marketing tools out there claiming to do everything except wash your dishes, staying up to date takes 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 tools you spend time learning.

Have any killer realtor marketing ideas that you think our readers need to know about? Let us know in the comments.

The post 23 Clever Real Estate Marketing Ideas appeared first on The Close.

I spent some time hunting down the hottest trends in sold signs to give you some creative inspiration. I hope these gorg custom sold signs will inspire and motivate you to find the perfect signs that make the right statement for you and help you get more listings.

There are tons of cute sold signs out there that can deliver the right marketing message along with some flair and a touch of your individual personality. Here are a dozen I picked out in order for you to find the right one for your business.

1. Say Yes to This Design

• Pricing: $80-$160
• Where to find it: RealEstateStoreCom

This lovely sign comes from a crafty seller on Etsy called RealEstateStoreCom. They make several variations of this sign, shaped like a key, that you can customize with all of your deets. I love that this one says, “Said yes to the address.” It’s so today.

2. This Real Estate Sold Sign Feels Like Rock & Roll

• Pricing: $480-$700
• Where to find it: Brittany Michelle Designs

These wood and resin sold signs are ah-ma-zing. Of course, the key shape is very in right now, but this resin finish makes this version truly unique. The price is a little higher for these signs, but the investment is worth it. Your clients will definitely think “luxury” when you show them this sign. The competition won’t stand a chance.

3. Stained Wood Real Estate Signs Feel Like Home

• Pricing: $60-$110
• Where to find it: Moonlight Mill

This stunning beauty is from Moonlight Mill, another seller on Etsy. I love the wood grain and the red stain on this work of art. I see so much potential for customization on a sign like this one, but it’s lovely just the way it is.

4. Metal Real Estate Rider Signs Make a Statement

• Pricing: $32-$64
• Where to find it: Real Estate Creations

Those small rider signs on top of your for sale yard sign that signify the property is either pending or sold can add to your branding. Check out this adorable metal rider with a sweet script font. Add this rider to your for sale sign to announce your amazing agent skills as well as your impeccable taste.

5. Shiny Signs That Stand Out

• Pricing: $250-$300
• Where to find it: RealEstateStoreCom

Check out these beautiful epoxy-coated signs that sparkle in the sunshine. They’re similar to the ones mentioned above, but a lot smaller in size—and price! I especially love the stone details in the three corners of this gorg sign. These are customizable and made to order. Use this in your next email blast with your smiling clients for a little extra shimmer.

6. Stencil Real Estate Sold Signs Are All the Rage

• Pricing: $33-$125
• Where to find it: Woodland Shanty

I love the simplicity of this beautiful sign from Woodland Shanty on Etsy. It’s simple, elegant, and gets right to the point. The wood grain frame and flower art add a rustic feel so it feels like home. You can use this sign with your listings, but it would also look stunning on your office wall.

7. Unique Sold Signs Will Add Punch to Your Social Media

• Pricing: $33-$125
• Where to find it: Salty Charm Gift Co

This unique real estate sold sign is stunning. It’s bold. It’s fabulous. It makes a simple statement. What’s not to love? This sign, as well as several other gorgeous variations, are created at Salty Charm Gift Co, which you can find on Etsy. The bright, colorful statement has the ability to generate some eye-catching social media images if you use them with your clients.

8. Bold Signs Make Amazing Marketing Pieces

• Pricing: $100-$125
• Where to find it: Salty Charm Gift Co

While we’re talking about Salty Charm Gift Co., this amazing sign is another option you can choose from their site. Right now, I’m wishing my name was Faith because that hashtag is brilliant. With bold lines and a simple message, this sign stands out. Also, the company offers several different iterations of this style for inspiration.

9. Intricate Designs Make a Subtle Statement

• Pricing: $70-$125
• Where to find it: LifeInGrain

Something about detailed carving makes me think of success. And these signs certainly embody that feeling. What’s especially cool about these wood-carved designs created by Etsy seller LifeInGrain is that the engraved portion of the key is a city skyline that you can customize for your own city. One reviewer shared a picture of this sign matted, framed, and hanging in her office, and it looks magnificent.

10. Everyone Loves Sparkly Signs

• Pricing: $68-$215
• Where to find it: Engraved Happyism

I couldn’t resist including this just sold sign in my list. I’m completely in love with all the shiny, sparkly features, from the golden picket fence to the metallic flecks in the white acrylic. This sign from Etsy creator Engraved Happyism really makes a lustrous statement. The best part? You can customize the colors—sub out the gold for your brand hues—to really add punch to an already awesome sign. 

11. Use Your Sold Sign as an Announcement of Your Client’s Awesomeness

• Pricing: $75-$84
• Where to find it: NGO Creations

Check out this beautiful sign’s clean lines, modern and trendy feel, and simplicity. Not to mention the message exudes excitement and joy at having completed your client’s real estate transaction. It makes you want to shout, “Congratulations!” This real estate sold sign, by NGO Creations, makes an exquisite closing gift to boot. 

12. Don’t See What You Want? Maybe You Need a DIY Real Estate Sold Sign

• Pricing: Varies
• Where to find it: Megan Plus Five

If you’re feeling a bit crafty, you might try a custom DIY sold sign. This free stencil and tutorial from Megan Plus Five will enable you to create these adorable real estate sold signs yourself using your own colors and personality. The DIY approach might be what you need to explore all the possibilities when adding just the right amount of flare. I personally have never been that crafty, but I think I could pull this one off.

Your Take

Sure, you want to add sold riders to your yard signs to let the neighbors know how awesome you are. But don’t stop there! Grab one of these custom real estate sold signs and take some pics of your grateful clients holding them. 

Real estate sold signs are a fantastic way to market your prowess as an agent. Use them as photo props on closing day, as closing gifts, in social media posts, and your farming to generate leads from your recent closings. 

Have you seen any amazing signs you want to share or do you have some of your own? Post them in the comment section. I can’t wait to see your creativity sparkle.

The post 12 Gorgeous Real Estate Sold Signs That Will Level Up Your Referral Business appeared first on The Close.

Fall is typically a great time to focus on a few marketing strategies to refill your pipeline after the busy summer rush. And Halloween presents a bone-chilling opportunity to scare up clients with some creepy-crawly fun.

Worried you won’t get your scream-tastic marketing done in time? Fear not! We created some boo-tiful, fully customizable door hanger templates in Canva for you to use this season.

14 Fun Halloween Real Estate Marketing Ideas

1. Haunted Open House

One of the most ghoulish Halloween events I ever participated in was opening a listing on Halloween. We had so many people come through the home and got tons of leads. 

We hired a DJ to spin in the driveway, blasting half the neighborhood with monster-themed tunes. We also decorated the whole front yard in Halloween style with spooky lights and some scary sounds. In addition, we had bales of hay set up around so people could sit and just hang out.

We invited everyone in to tour the open house. Tons of people stopped, looked through the home, and asked questions about the listing and selling their own homes. We coupled the open house with a fall basket giveaway, which included samples from a local spa, and some coffee with accouterments from our favorite coffee shop, encouraging people to fill out one of our forms to be entered into the drawing.

Get Boo-tiful Social Templates From AgentCrate

2. Pumpkin Count or Weight Contest

You can tackle this idea in one of two ways: Stack several pumpkins (or get one giant pumpkin) and have everyone guess the weight. Or you can place a bunch of smaller pumpkins in a large container and have everyone guess how many there are. Either way, it’s fun for the community, and someone walks away with a prize.

This is a great way to make sure everyone knows where your office is. Keep the pumpkins on display in your office so people can see them when they come in. When people come in to guess, it’s a great opportunity to start up a conversation.

Most of the people who come in will be past clients, current clients, or people in your sphere. Some may be renters, if your brokerage manages rental properties. Take advantage of the fact they’re stopping in. This is your chance to offer your expertise and your services.

3. Give Out Branded Candies to Trick-or-Treaters

When the kiddos come knockin’, make sure you have plenty of candy with your name and contact information all over it. You can get candy with your info printed on it if you order early enough. But if you run out of time, you can do it the old-fashioned way—attach your business card to the wrapper. (I did this three years in a row! ) Either way gets your name in front of the parents of those trick-or-treaters.

4. Host a Trunk-or-Treat Event

How much fun are trunk-or-treat events? Everyone pulls into a big parking lot in their own car or truck and decorates the backs of their vehicles. Kids come around trick-or-treating to each person’s trunk, and the owners of the vehicles hand out candy. The kiddos love them, and they’re really a lot of fun.

You can partner with another group, like your local church or a school, and get as many people involved as possible to participate. Get all of your agents to bring their own cars and hand out branded candy or little gift bags with their business cards inside.

5. Scary Door Hangers With Candy

If you want to focus on your farm, there’s almost no easier way to make a connection than with door hangers. You can easily create some fun Halloween-themed door hangers, attach some candy to them, and tag your entire neighborhood. The best part is it won’t take long to hit several homes with your ghostly goodies.

We’ve taken some of the hard work out of this project. Grab our fully customizable Canva templates to make frightfully delightful door hangers. We created a few for you to choose from. Use one or use them all!

6. ‘Spooky’ Homebuyer Event

Homebuyer seminars are popular and always a great way to scare up new business. But at this time of the year, make it Halloween-themed to make it more memorable. You can use copy like, “Don’t get spooked,” “No need to be scared,” “Let’s find your boo-tiful home,” “Don’t let deadlines creep up on you,” and so many more. You can probably come up with your own real estate Halloween marketing copy if you give it some thought.

7. Fall Fire Pit Homebuyer Event

If you’d rather not have a spooky homebuyer event, make it a campfire instead. Invite would-be homebuyers to enjoy a fall fire pit, roast marshmallows, and make s’mores together while you alleviate your future clients’ fears around homebuying.

This idea works just as well for sellers if you tweak the content. You can host a fireside chat about investing or downsizing in a chill, marshmallow-laden conversational setting.

8. Have a Hayride in Your Farm

If you know someone with a truck and trailer, get some hay and let everyone in your area know that you’re giving free hayrides on Halloween night. You can use the door hangers from tip #5 to let everyone know you’re providing some chills and thrills for the whole family. 

Make stops at every corner during the entire trick-or-treating window (it’s typically two hours in most places), allowing people to get on or get off wherever they choose. Keep a cooler in the back filled with drinks on ice that everyone can enjoy. (These small custom labels on bottles and cans work great, and make sure to keep a bucket for trash and recyclables handy for empties.)

Your neighbors will have spirited memories of the gesture. And when they get ready to choose a bewitched and crafty Realtor, they will remember that you live in their neighborhood.

9. Costume Networking Event

I don’t know about you, but I love dressing up! Halloween is the perfect opportunity to get out your best costume, use your imagination, and try to impress your friends with your frightful dress-up game. 

Organize a networking event at a local business, like a restaurant or a bar and grill, encouraging everyone to come in their best costume. You can even partner with the business to share in the marketing efforts. At the event, have everyone vote for their favorite costume and reward the winner with a gift basket. 

Silent auctions are great for these events too. Use them to get contact information from everyone who bids on items in the auction. Get donations from people in the community to build multiple gift baskets for your guests to bid on. 

Use your imagination. There are so many different ways you can go with a networking event like this one.

10. Costume Drive for Underprivileged Families

Sadly, many kids don’t get the opportunity to dress up in fancy new costumes. So, host a costume drive! Talk to a school in your community to find out what specific needs their students have in this season and ask if you can partner with them. They will almost certainly say “yes” to a costume drive. 

Ask friends in your community to bring new or unworn costumes to your office. Offer a drawing for them to enter while they’re there. Have the drawing after Halloween and announce the winner on social media. In fact, do a live video to draw the name. 

This is great for multiple reasons. First, you’re doing something awesome for kids who can’t afford to get their own costumes. Second, you’re doing something in the community that’s positive. Whenever you do anything for your community, whether you think so or not, people take notice. The more good you put into your community, the more positive things come back to you.

11. Hire a Food Truck for Your Neighborhood on Halloween Night

If you have kiddos, you know that trick-or-treating can be utter chaos. Parents are dealing with a lot while kids run around, scaring each other, eating candy, screaming, crying, and pretty much acting like little demons. 

You can be the good witch of the evening by hiring a food truck (with or without adult beverages) and providing food and drink to anyone who wants it. Hot cocoa is usually a big hit. Make sure to hand out your information to everyone who comes to the truck for a respite. You can also put a big sign in your yard announcing your treats. (No tricks here!)

This, like the neighborhood hayride, will stick in people’s memories like a sticky, bloody abscess. When they are ready to hire a Realtor, they’ll remember where you live. Win-win.

12. Host a Costume-making Event

There’s a special kind of magic in creating a unique and original costume for Halloween. So, tap into that wicked energy and host a workshop to create costumes that really scream. You can check out the fangnificent tutorials and kits on Etsy, like the stilt spirit costume in the photo above, and have everyone make their own version of it. Or you can run to your local craft store and load up on a cryptful of different costume pieces so everyone can create their own designs.

Ask some of your favorite vendors to sponsor the event to raise funds and provide supplies. And put the event on somewhere with a lot of open space, like the local high school, a church activity center, or even the local chamber of commerce. Invite locals of all ages to join in to make eerily cool costumes either for themselves or their little demons. 

This is the kind of event that’s meant to be enjoyed by the whole family, so invite as many as you can accommodate. But make sure your name is visible. And, of course, make sure to break up the cryptic creativity from time to time to thank your vendors for sponsoring, and encourage cauldrons of sinister laughter. Maybe you can even do some giveaways during the event. Take tons of pictures and post them on social media.

13. Haunted House Tour

I love this next idea, and if you’re the type of person who likes to have the bejesus scared out of you, you’ll love it too. If your brokerage has a few vacant houses in your database of listings, why not turn them into haunted houses—with your sellers’ permission, of course—and offer a tour of them caravan-style? Brilliant, right? 

Offer these tours the week of Halloween, showcasing the houses and community features in a fun and twisted way. Invite the entire community to join in the tour. You never know how many people are in the early stages of homebuying. And this is one spooktacular way to stay top of mind with those people. 

This marketing idea might catch on so well that your neighbors come to expect it from you year after year. You’ll definitely solidify your place in your community. 

14. Ghoulish Social Media Photos & Videos

If you’re already decorating your vacant listings (or occupied ones, as long as you have permission), why not have a little ghastly fun with your photos and social media videos? Take some photos of your decorated house to add to your MLS listing. And make some fun videos too, like this one from Shawn King! Have fun with this and let your creativity drive you. Spin some spine-tingling stories for TikTok or Instagram Reels, or try creating parodies of your favorite scary movies to get curiosity piqued and make things wickedly fun.

Your Take on Real Estate Halloween Marketing

These are just a few of the many Halloween real estate marketing ideas you can use this year and beyond. But I’m sure there are many more. Halloween is so much fun to plan around. It’s a ghoulishly good time to do extra marketing that incorporates mischief and mayhem.  

I know I’m only scratching the surface. What kind of fun Halloween marketing ideas have you tried in the past, or are planning on doing this year? I would love to hear about them. Maybe I’ll update this list next year to include your ideas!

Happy Halloween!

The post 14 Spine-chilling Halloween Real Estate Marketing Ideas 👻 appeared first on The Close.

Does this mean top agents just suck it up and feel dirty to get ahead? Or are they all extroverts who love to schmooze? The answer to these questions, of course, is no. They just learned smarter ways to build and maintain their spheres. To get you started, we put together a list of eight creative ways to build your sphere of influence in real estate. But first, let’s take a look at what we mean when we talk about your sphere of influence.

What Is a Sphere of Influence in Real Estate?

A real estate agent’s sphere of influence (SOI) is made up of the people they’re personally connected with and have a reasonable chance of influencing with their real estate expertise. People in your sphere include your friends, family, former clients, and their contacts. In other words, a friend of a friend or a family member of a friend is also in your sphere of influence.

How Do I Build My Real Estate Sphere of Influence? 

We’ve put together this simple checklist to help you get started. Once you’ve got these strategies in place, you can use our top tips below to level up your sphere!

What do you need to get started?

Gather contact info. Start with their phone number, email, home address, and birthday (Facebook can be great for that last piece of data).

Set your budget. Once you know what you have to spend per month, you can work backward on figuring out the best bang for your buck.

Launch your strategy. Are you planning to call your sphere once per quarter? Send out magnets featuring local sports schedules? Handwritten letters? Remember, you should aim for at least one touch per month.

Execute and follow up. If you want to boost attendance at your next SOI event, for example, reach out to your sphere with a phone call after you’ve invited them. This double-tap method will increase your attendance and help you stand out.

8 Tips for Expanding Your Sphere of Influence

1. Write a Great Pitch Email for Your List (Script)

While having someone in your sphere follow you on social media is great, getting into their inbox is better. Convincing someone to opt in to your email newsletter list isn’t easy, but it is much, much easier if you already have a connection with them—even just on social media. Here’s a template for a persuasive email to ask them to sign up:

copy to clipboard

Hey {first name},

This is {your name}, from {how you know them}. I just wanted to let you know that I run an exclusive real estate insiders email list and I wanted to invite you to join. I really think you’ll find it useful and enjoyable.

I keep my network updated with a monthly email on trends in the industry, fun local activities, and a local market report. I also do office hours every Wednesday, where I answer questions from people on my mailing list.

Can I count you in?

{Your name}

2. Recognize the Power of Positive Reviews to Snag Leads Before They Go to Zillow

If you’re still only getting reviews on Zillow, you might be in for a rude awakening in 2023. No, Zillow’s not going away, even if half the agents we know wish it would. But there’s a bigger shift happening that most agents aren’t ready for: According to the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) 2022 profile of homebuyers and sellers, 73% of buyers start their home search on a search engine like Google, not Zillow.

That means agents who put in the time and effort to rank on Google are going to start snapping up the best leads before they get to Zillow. The problem? Ranking on Google is hard for individual agents.

If you want to make it easier, a reputation management platform like Birdeye can help. Birdeye makes it easy to get more reviews on more websites with less work. On average, agents using Birdeye saw a 420% increase in reviews.

3. Not an Extrovert? Focus on Learning, Not Selling

While some agents take to networking events like fish to water, others would rather get a root canal than schmooze in a room full of strangers. Luckily, a simple shift in mindset can make networking much easier.

All you need to do is focus on what you can learn from the people you will meet rather than the potential business you can get. So instead of saying to yourself, “I am going to promote myself and get 10 leads tonight!” say something like, “Maybe I will meet people who can help me become a better agent and better person tonight.” 

Remember, it’s all about mindset. As Dale Carnegie once wrote: “To be interesting, be interested.”

4. Dig Deep Into Every Contact & Connection

While networking may not be your speed, keep in mind how many people you encounter in a given week. I’m talking your dentist, your babysitter, your neighbors, and parents you see at kids’ events. Aunts, grandparents, and even old coworkers are great potential clients. 

Start by making a list of every person in your phone that you’ve spoken with in the last two years. Get them loaded into your customer relationship manager (CRM) or even just a spreadsheet to start compiling your list. Ask yourself: Who did you see at an event recently? Are you a regular at a small business? What about your spouse or significant other’s mutual friends? 

Focus on people you know and continue to grow your connections. Facebook and social media groups are another great way to jog your memory on your potential reach.

5. Volunteer in Your Local Community

Volunteering at your local church, synagogue, mosque, school, or food kitchen is another great way to build your sphere of influence. As a bonus, even if you strike out making new contacts, you will end up helping the people in your community who need it most.

Even better, studies show that 72% of wealthy people volunteer at least five hours per week. That means your fellow volunteers will have a better-than-average chance of owning a home and possibly needing your real estate services. Many friendly conversations with strangers eventually turn to work—focus on the relationships and the real estate conversations will come.

6. Center Your Brand’s Mission, Vision & Values

Another simple mindset shift that can make networking to build your sphere less awful is to center your mission, vision, and values. For this to work, you’ll need to have a mission that’s a little deeper than “I want to make more money.”

For example, top agent and Close contributor Sean Moudry’s mission is “to help people in Boulder, Colorado, build generational wealth through real estate.” So when Sean heads out to a networking event or a dinner party, he is not trying to sell himself, get more clients, or even build his sphere. He is trying to help people in Boulder, Colorado, build generational wealth through real estate. It’s a subtle difference—but a powerful one.

7. Join Local Subreddits

With more than 52 million active daily users, Reddit is a sleeping giant for real estate agents who want to expand their sphere. Reddit’s communities, called subreddits, are organized around millions of topics, many of them focused on cities and towns. Chances are, there is a subreddit for your town and maybe even your farm area. Even better, getting noticed on these subreddits can be much easier than getting seen on Facebook Groups.

For example, the subreddit /r/NYC has 862,000 members, but some posts make it to the front page with fewer than 30 upvotes. That means you only need to get a handful of people to like your post in order to get in front of thousands of New York City residents. The subreddit for Portland, Maine, /r/portlandme, has 35,000 members, and you can get onto the front page with less than a dozen upvotes.

Just keep in mind that the hard sell is not going to work on Reddit. You need to build trust first. The only way to build your sphere on Reddit is to genuinely engage with the community and only offer to help solve people’s problems when they ask. Eventually, you will become a trusted resource in the community.

8. Add Personal Information About Your Sphere to Your CRM

If you want to get business from your sphere, you can’t just blast out real estate facts all day. If you do, you’ll get ignored, then abandoned. Instead, you need to make—and more importantly, nurture—personal connections. To do this successfully, share things they care about. As Close contributor Beverly Ruffner often says, “Don’t give steak to a vegetarian.”

Adding personal information about hobbies, pets, family, or other interests to the contacts in your customer relationship manager (CRM) helps you deliver appropriate narratives to them. Want to share news about a new dog run being built in your town? Filter your CRM to create a mailing list of the contacts who love dogs. Got tickets to a baseball game to give away? Use your filter to find former clients who love baseball.

Bonus Tip: Keep Your Sphere a Manageable Size

Most new agents think that they need hundreds or even thousands of people in their sphere of influence to get new business and referrals. They’ve been taught that real estate is a numbers game, and the more people they can influence, the more money they will make. This is not realistic or practical for most agents.

Most social scientists today rely on Dunbar’s number, which says the average person cannot maintain relationships with more than 150 people at any given time. Since your sphere of influence will include second-order connections (friends of friends), a healthy size for your sphere of influence should be around 300 people.

Thousands of people in your database is just a vanity metric. It won’t help your business. If you have people on your email list who never open emails or respond to texts or calls, delete them and use the other tips in this article to replace them with people who will engage with you.

Why Is a Real Estate Sphere of Influence Important? 

At this point, you probably understand that your sphere should be a key pillar of your business. However, it’s important to note that referral business keeps growing. NAR noted that in 2022, 51% of agent business came from repeat business and referrals. Keep your clients engaged and you’ll be rewarded.

Still not convinced that your sphere of influence matters? Check out this anecdote from The Close writer and coach Trevor James.

Over to You

Have a great tip to help expand your sphere of influence in real estate? Let us know in the comment section.

The post 8 Tips for Building Your Sphere of Influence in Real Estate (+ Script) appeared first on The Close.