9 Marketing Tips crucial for new Louisville real estate agents

Real estate is a lucrative industry. The housing market makes up 16.4% of the yearly US economy. It’s a stimulating career path with plenty of work/ life balance. This appeal causes the industry to be highly saturated. There are 5,340 active real estate agents in the greater Louisville area. With this much competition, it’s crucial to have a strong plan to differentiate yourself. The majority of your workload as a new agent will focus on marketing.

A study by the National Association of Realtors revealed 73% of buyers only interview one real estate agent before choosing their representation. That means their mind is mostly made up when you schedule a phone call. First impressions are everything to a real estate agent. How will you put your best foot forward?

At Collier Title, we work closely with real estate agents. We witness firsthand the type of agent that brings in the most clients. Through conversations and long-term exposure, here is everything we’ve learned about beginner marketing plans that set new agents up for success.

Create a custom website and branding

As a new agent, you will join a brokerage. Most brokerages provide you with resources to access their branding packages and template websites. They may urge* you to use their nationally recognized logos as you promote yourself. While you may be part of this larger entity, ultimately you’re in the business of YOU. It’s important to set yourself apart from other agents. Creating a custom brand kit with a custom color palette, logo, and font is paramount for standing out from the crowd. Take it a step further and create a custom website.

The majority of agents don’t take the time to do this. They’ll use the brokerage branding because it’s quick and easy. But when you make an effort to create your custom branding you differentiate yourself. Will you be a high-class, elegant agent? Someone who makes the journey fun and enjoyable? A fierce negotiator who is all business? All this can be conveyed through your branding. It helps you attract the right kind of client.

*Many brokerages require you to use their logo. If this is the case, you can always display their logo alongside your custom logo. Here’s an example of a local real estate agent who did a great job of this.

Splurge on quality photos and virtual tours

Buyers easily dismiss any listings that don’t look polished. When listing a home, hire a professional real estate photographer.

HDR photography with a wide-angle lens capture the best lighting and angles. Hire a drone photographer to create a video tour of the home. Promote the footage across multiple platforms.

Work on your SEO immediately

SEO (search engine optimization) is the science behind increasing your website’s Google rank. Be warned- as a new business owner you’re likely to be flooded with emails from SEO agencies who claim they can guarantee you a spot on the first page of google. Anyone who promises you a spot on the front page can’t be trusted. Google is highly secretive about its algorithm, and no one can guarantee a front-page spot.

However, there is a whole field of people who study SEO as a career. There are some surefire ways you can put your best foot forward.

Naturally infuse low competition/ highly searched keywords into your website copy and meta descriptions.
Post regular blogs (a minimum of twice per month). Choose relevant topics that locals are searching. Infuse your posts with keywords.
Build links to your website.
Make sure your website is user-friendly and easy to navigate.

SEO is extremely important, but it takes time to be effective. Start working on your SEO strategy immediately and be consistent.

Create a thorough Google My Business Page

Ever noticed the business profiles that appear when you click on Google Maps? That’s called a Google My Business page, and it’s extremely important. Luckily, it’s easy to set up.

Follow these instructions. Be sure to fill out every section. Don’t skip anything! The more informative your profile is, the higher you’ll appear on search results.

Print business cards

Print a stack of good-looking business cards. Use your custom brand kit to make sure they stand out. Make sure there’s a QR code on the back so people can reach your website. Pass these business cards out like candy. It may sound like an antiquated practice, but it’s a viable way to grow your brand recognition.

Join a local networking community

Louisville has a thriving business network. Attend local networking events and meetings. Shake hands and make plans to meet for lunch or cocktails. Reciprocity in the business community is valuable. If you can become the go-to recommended real estate agent for a networking group, it’s a great way to bring in more clients.

Collect and display testimonials

Collect testimonials from everyone you work with. A polite ask, incentives, and follow-up are acceptable. Provide them with a link so they don’t have to track you down. Display these testimonials readily on your site.

Promote yourself across multiple social platforms

An active social media presence is crucial for successful real estate agents. Promote yourself and your listings across multiple platforms: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Youtube, and LinkedIn. Tools like Hootsuite and Later make it easy to cross-post your social media. Don’t forget to use plenty of hashtags and engage with your audience.

Find your vendors and spread the word

As a real estate agent, you’ll be directing your clients to a handful of vendors—mortgage brokers, title companies, contractors, home inspectors, stagers, and more. Take the time to thoroughly vet your contractors. Once you have your go-to vendor list, promote this as a selling point for working with you.