Be a Stand-Out Agent by Building Your Personal Brand

It's not that easy being a real estate sales associate these days.

The big challenge that sales associates face can be summed up in a single idea:

Real estate pros are widely agreed to be the most active professionals on social media; however, many times, people simply tune out what their local real estate expert has to say. And the problem goes beyond Twitter and Facebook to other parts of the digital world.

In an increasingly crowded, fast-paced online sphere, everyone is looking for better ways to stand out. But technology is only one part of the equation: The way you approach your work also helps you to differentiate yourself from everybody else.

What's the best way to communicate your big difference to online leads?

In a few words, it's the personal touch.

Technology has a strange effect on communication. Use a little technology – like, say, just email or text – and it makes your message seem impersonal. But go to the next level, fully embrace what technology has to offer, and those online interactions can be as personal and memorable as a face-to-face conversation.

But technology is the only vehicle. You, the sales associate, are the driver.

Before you can figure out the best use of technology to grow your practice, figure out what you want.  What do you want your clients' experience to be? What do you want your experience in real estate to be?

These answers will help you see how you can Be Different.

To "Be Different," You Have to Learn to Be Yourself

In some lines of work, the tension between who you are and what you do is thick enough to cut with a knife. Some have called it the worksona – the idea that you need to "smooth out" your personality, passions, and connections with others to optimize your work results.

Real estate is different: Who you are often dictates your results.

Successful sales associates put their authentic selves into everything they do throughout the day. Their personality is one of their most powerful selling points. It draws the right clients in. It influences decision-making, negotiations, and every stage of the process.

Your personality isn't a liability. It's one of your greatest assets. But "be yourself" is a tall order – one that can take a lifetime to master.

To get your mind around it, try asking yourself these questions:

1. Who Do You Want to Help?
   Every client has unique needs, worries, goals, and desires. Millennials moving into a first home are different from Baby Boomers downsizing for retirement. On top of thinking about whether you want to be buy-side or sell-side, think about who you most enjoy working with. When you feel motivated to spend time with your clients, you'll be more effective in seeking them out.
2. What Are Your Core Values?
   Everyone has values – and big businesses are finally keying into the idea that they matter. Values are what people look at when the cost and "features" that two options offer look the same to them. Defining your values helps you really resonate with all the people having trouble deciding which sales associate is best for them. What three values matter most to you and how can you make your work reflect them?
3. What Do You Want Your Work-Life Balance to Be?
   Many sales associates launch their careers in a constant scramble to find the next referral. While this can motivate you to go above and beyond on customer experience, it isn't sustainable in the long run: Eventually, even the most energetic of us will burn out. Technology makes a healthy work-life balance possible by helping leads find you and automating ordinary day to day tasks.

Once you've thought about these three questions, you are ready to start designing the real estate business that will work for you.

Defining your customer base will help you find your market, knowing what you value will make your brand more compelling, and putting work-life balance at the forefront will help you prioritize the things that move your business forward.

Once You've Got the Big Picture, Technology Helps You Connect the Dots

After you've got a solid vision, technology is what gets you there faster.

Think about this: You can't build a house with just a toolbox and some wooden boards. But once you've defined exactly how the house should look and where everything should go, better tools (used according to the right processes) would get you there faster.

So it is with your real estate business – and helping you Be Different from the rest.

Let's look at the biggest ways technology fills out the picture:

Use Your Real Estate Website as the Cornerstone of Your Brand

1. Responsive real estate websites are crucial to getting people interested and excited about what you can do. A responsive site is one that automatically adjusts to the display size and input of any device, so leads can easily navigate on a smartphone. Your site should introduce you and your area – show your visitors why they should feel good about moving into your community!
   
   
2. Answer Questions and Assuage Fears with Content Marketing
   What do you know more about than anyone else? Your clients want to find out! Real estate content marketing is how you build a relationship and establish yourself as a trusted authority in the weeks it takes leads to move forward. Answer their burning questions about real estate in a way only you can – with your genuine voice and hard-won knowledge.
   
   
3. Use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to Your Advantage
   SEO is a combination of techniques that makes your website content attractive to Google and raises your odds of ranking higher in search results. Good SEO consistently increases your visibility by giving you detailed, accurate knowledge of the questions your leads want to be answered when they go online. Delta Media Group offers second-to-none SEO to our clients.
   
   
4. Do Social Media Marketing for Real Estate the Right Way
   If social media marketing for REALTORS® isn't hitting the mark most of the time, then how do you do it right? The answer is the 80/20 Rule. 80% of what you share should be interesting, helpful, or informative. Share insights about your city or the latest market research. Only 20% of your feed should directly promote your listings or open house events.
   
   
5. Use Customer Relationship Management to Be Where You're Needed
   Tracking dozens of leads and clients through their transactions can consume hours a week. CRM simplifies it by giving you total visibility into who's out there, how you met, what they're up to – and, perhaps most importantly, when it's time for you to reach out by phone, email, or social media. At Delta Media Group, our CRM software includes automated client emails and more.

Are You Ready to Excel? Be Different with Delta Media Group

Digital marketing for REALTORS® isn't getting any simpler, but you don't have to do it all alone. Delta Media Group's team of digital marketing experts helps real estate associates stand out. We combine cutting-edge technologies and time-proven processes – an unexpected combination that helps your unique personality produce more value in real estate. Contact us to learn more.