There is no doubt that 2024 will have its share of challenges for the real estate industry. But the general consensus by those in the know is that 2024 holds a lot of promise. Interest rates have already come down a bit, and are expected to come down more as inflation holds steady or drops. Lower interest rates will motivate more sellers to come on market, which will help inventory and buyer affordability. The job market continues to be a bright spot. These factors combined promise a more vibrant real estate market than we saw in 2023. Don’t waste another moment–now is the time to make 2024 amazing with these 7 proven strategies:
Double Down on Your YouTube Channel
YouTube is one of your best bets for “inbound” marketing – which is the opposite of cold calling or door knocking. Inbound means leads come to you because you offer something they want. It’s also an easy way to drive SEO, partly because it’s owned by Google and their search bots favor video and organic search results. And it’s easy to embed your YouTube videos in your blog and other social media, which makes your video efforts scalable. Highlighting listings, community events, and area attractions are perfect places to start. Learn more about YouTube marketing to up your game in real estate.
Commit to Your Geo Farming
Geographical farming is an old-school method that works. It relies on direct mail campaigns done consistently over time. As a result, you will need to commit to a budget and a timeframe and not give up. Steps to take: (1) Single out the area or neighborhood you want to rule; (2) Focus on quality rather than quantity; (3) Commit to a dollar amount and a timeline, say $1.25 per mailer for 6 months. Get started by checking out this step-by-step guide to geo farming.
Stay in Touch with Past Clients
People who have already worked with you and like and trust you are more likely to refer you to friends and family. One of the biggest mistakes agents make is not following-up and keeping in touch with past clients. This should be done automatically, for example, making sure they receive your monthly newsletters. And it certainly should be done to celebrate a closing anniversary. Make sure you set up an automated method of acknowledging closing anniversaries with each client. One easy way to do this is with a home warranty. Home warranties make perfect closing gifts and Fidelity sends each agent who’s ordered a home warranty an anniversary reminder. The point is to show appreciation. Here are more ideas for client appreciation gifts that are sure to set the law of reciprocity in motion.
Market Your Listings in a Big Way
Whether you realize it or not, the way you market your listings says everything about you. When you market your listings, you market yourself. Make sure you’re making the most of this opportunity. Use the momentum of listings to create YouTube video, social media posts, and Just Listed/Open House/Just Sold mailers. Make sure your signage is visible and perfect. Add a QR code. Take advantage of all the free marketing materials that your home warranty provider offers. Order a food truck for your open house. Not only will these efforts help sell your listings in record time but other potential sellers will notice, too. And guess who they’re going to call? You. Take your listing marketing to another level and be ready to reap the rewards.
Get a Great Coach
Find the right coach and use this as an investment in yourself. Coaching can bring your real estate skills to the next level and also help to motivate you to stay on course. Reflect on what you want to get better at–getting more listings, creating better video content, or staying motivated–and then find the right coach for the job.
Attend More Conferences
One of the golden rules of success is to hang out with successful people. Conferences are a great place to do just that. In addition to rubbing elbows with other highly successful agents, you will learn new things that will make you better at your craft. The energy and momentum that comes from attending a great conference is invaluable. Make sure you dedicate a portion of your budget each year to attending industry real estate conferences.
Be Your Best Self
At the end of the day, the success of your real estate business depends on you and only you. That leaves little room for error. You are it and everything is riding on your ability to perform and make a difference. Almost anything feels possible when you are healthy and feel good. A strong, healthy body will fuel bright ideas and a passion to get things done. Make sure you take care of you with clean eating, good sleep hygiene, and regular exercise. Make health and positive social interactions top priorities and watch your real estate business flourish.