If there’s one thing real estate agents need to prioritize, it’s lead generation.
A lead is a prospect that shows an interest in what you have to offer, in this case, real estate. Stimulating that interest is the main purpose of lead generation.
Lead generation is vital in ensuring you have a healthy pipeline of potential clients that will enable your career to flourish. You can’t just wait for buyers to come to you; you need to be proactive in seeking ways to reach out to them.
So how do you get real estate leads effectively?
To help you get started on your path to success, we’ve listed 5 foolproof ways to get real estate leads. Read on and you might just find the best tactics that will work for you.
The 5 Foolproof Ways to Get Real Estate Leads
These are the 5 foolproof ways to get real estate leads:
- Work on your branding strategies
- Explore inbound marketing
- Connect with people
- Watch out for expired listings and FSBOs
- Get referrals
Let’s look at each one more closely.
1. Work on your branding strategies
Promoting brand awareness is one of the tried methods of generating real estate leads. Building name recognition helps real estate agents find and connect with potential clients.
Buyers prefer to do business with people they can trust. So creating a brand that has a market presence can help attract leads that you can later convert into clients.
Listed below are some of the best branding strategies in 2023:
Creating a website
A well-designed website is the best alternative to a physical office. One click and the lead has access to your profile, contact details, and your current listings.
Make sure your website has everything your client needs to know about you and your brand. They won’t want to reach out to you separately for simple things, such as FAQs. You can also add an option for site visitors to sign up for regular newsletters, emailed new listings, or useful buyer’s guide articles to keep them engaged.
Leveraging social media
Building a social media website is another one of the best ways to increase your reach and find real estate leads.
Over 200 million people in the US use social media. If you use the right strategies and the proper channels, social media can become a powerful tool that will help you find and get leads.
Facebook is perhaps the most popular social media platform among real estate agents. Not only does it help them connect with people from all walks of life, but it also offers a variety of features that will let you make the most out of your social media presence.
2. Explore inbound marketing
Unlike outbound marketing, inbound marketing focuses on creating useful content that draws people to your website. It is an organic way of promoting your brand without seeming too direct.
Inbound marketing gets you real leads. Instead of proactively reaching out to potential clients, you let them come to you, whereas outbound marketing requires you to focus your efforts on a target audience.
Search Engine Optimization/Content Marketing
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of the most popular examples of inbound marketing. You get free online traffic by creating quality content, strategically placing keywords most buyers use, and answering common questions.
SEO may not have an immediate effect and can be challenging at first, but it is one of the best long-term ways to get real estate leads without incurring much cost.
Facebook ads
Facebook ads’ potential to generate real estate leads through inbound marketing is often overlooked. Most real estate agents who use Facebook ads typically focus their efforts on outbound marketing. Clearly, they are missing out on a huge opportunity.
Facebook ads shouldn’t only be used to promote listings. Boosting Facebook posts and video content that focus on sharing information to users rather than selling properties allows you to improve engagement. This will potentially convert leads into clients.
3. Connect with people
Networking is a non-negotiable aspect of the real estate industry. You cannot generate leads, let alone be successful, without forming and maintaining good relationships.
Apart from engaging with people online, you need to connect with them on a personal level.
Go to events
Events such as art shows, volunteer drives, fundraisers, and other social gatherings are some of the best places where you can get real estate leads. You might not be able to close a deal on the spot, but you get the opportunity to meet people who could very well be your next client. You can ask for their contact information, and who knows, maybe one of them reaches out to you one day regarding one of your listings.
Host an open house
Hosting an open house is a simple yet effective way to get real estate leads. Anyone who comes is a prospect, and you can be one conversation away from meeting your next buyer.
The best way to increase your chances of getting a lead is by simply talking. You can never tell which one is the right buyer, so engage in as much conversation as you can. However, don’t just talk, listen.
Know what the buyer wants. Maybe you’ll get the chance to recommend another listed property that meets their preferences.
4. Watch out for expired listings and FSBOs
You can also check the MLS (multiple listing service) for expired listings and FSBOs (For Sale by Owner).
In case of expired listings, the seller may feel pressured to sell. They may be disheartened, under a lot of stress, or disappointed with their current agent, so remember to be sensitive when you pitch to them. Explain how you can help.
FSBOs typically don’t sell within the seller’s desired time. They usually sell at a price lower than listings with agents normally would. Open up a conversation with the owner, and let them know how working with you can be beneficial to them.
5. Get referrals
Finally, the most rewarding long-term way to generate leads is through referrals. They are priceless and cost nothing.
Research suggests that more than 90% of buyers prefer to work with their agents again or refer them to friends. Plus, around 40% of buyers engage the services of an agent who was recommended to them by a relative or a friend.
Ask for customer reviews
One way to get referrals is to ask for reviews from past buyers and satisfied clients. Remember to be polite, and thank them properly.
Partner with other businesses
Apart from client reviews, you can generate referrals from relationships with other businesses. They could be lenders, contractors, or even professionals from other industries who also serve your potential buyers.
Conclusion
As a recap, here are the 5 foolproof ways to get real estate leads:
- Work on your branding
- Explore inbound marketing
- Connect with people
- Explore expired listings and FSBOs
- Get referrals
Know this. There is no easy way to get real estate leads.
All of the strategies that we laid out for you will require time, patience, and effort. Remember to be consistent, and focus on your long-term goals.
Good luck!