Can You Become a Successful Realtor by Being Present Only Online?

Posted by Beni Restea on December 22nd, 2022

In the 21st century, agents must expand their presence to as many platforms and fields of life as possible. Undeniably, gone are the days when neighborhood word of mouth and a carefully crafted gift basket did the trick. 

With the advent of the Internet, a new chapter opened to reach a new cluster of potential clients. So which is more worthy of your time, online or offline presence? And this inquiry applies to any commercial industry and service provider. Still, for convenience’s sake, we will scrutinize it from the real estate perspective.

Many inexperienced and indifferent realtors “commit the cardinal sin” of neglecting one or the other. However, suppose you ask professional local real estate agents. In that case, they will confirm that a healthy combination of these two effective marketing strategies is paramount in 2022 and the years to follow. 

What are your chances of becoming a success story only through an online presence?

Our original assumption is that you can become a successful agent online. Let’s consider which conditions this theory entails. Firstly, you might be fresh off the hook, meaning you’ve just obtained your real estate license and haven’t accumulated much industry experience. 

Since you entertain the idea of launching your career only online, it’s safe to assume that you don’t consider yourself a people person particularly. Once you’ve decided to go with the online route, you cut yourself off from virtually any real-life experience, such as interacting with more established real estate agents. Being close to and learning from a veteran will teach you how to become a good realtor. 

Staying indoors and undertaking business exclusively online.

You may also consider staying indoors, in your convenient home office, and conducting business from there. Let us highlight why this is an utter absurdity. Fundamentally, you won’t have any meaningful connection with the outside world, meet clients, or get authentic property presentations. As a result, you will rely on online sources and listings that you will re-post with slight modifications.

Working solo from home resembles iBuyers’ policy of conducting business. 

Would you do business with a ‘faceless’ realtor who keeps their identity hidden?

Under no circumstances will solely online presence inspire confidence! Still, there are exceptions. Are you familiar with iBuyers in real estate? 

Instant buyers are companies who conduct business exclusively online. They have eliminated realtors as intermediates. Property sellers favor their services because they make an instant bid. However, they end up with a lesser one than sellers traditionally’ would (i.e., working with realtors.) 

What are the disadvantages of non-personal client representation?

Reducing human interaction to a minimum, buyers and sellers won’t get first-hand experience and assistance with the property. Secondly, they won’t have access to critical information, such as neighborhood and community details. Essentially, they’ll buy a pig in a poke. And did we mention that there’s no room for bargaining or cutting a better deal? 

By assuming only an online presence, you will much resemble an iBuyer. However, you won’t be able to offer unique details on the property you represent. Unable to provide individual and insider information is a career-killing move in the long run. So, don’t choose this path! 

High-quality real estate content comes first!

We know that advertising like a pro online is paramount. Still, the quality of your content is even more significant. Become an expert in your domain by discovering your neighborhood from the inside out!

Posting fancy pictures and boring property descriptions (a synonym for second-class laziness) might bring you some online traffic. Yet, you risk tarnishing your reputation and career entirely. Our point is that you can obtain premium-quality and original content only if you collect, record, edit, and write it yourself. 

Create a healthy ‘marriage’ of online advertising and offline outreach!

Suppose you have followed our guidelines and invested your time and energy in acquiring premium real estate material. In that case, we recommend you advertise your services and property listings (presented originally) on as many channels as possible.

Online representation and what does it imply?

We have so much ground to cover here. A top-tier realtor, up-to-date with all the modern-day digital achievements, has already created a professional website. A site is still the ideal means to host original content, blog entries, articles, videos, and property listings. 

Make running a professional real estate website your priority!

The written and visual content should expand to many real estate-related domains, such as home design, regional market trends, finances, home buying, selling, etc. Therefore, your online readers will believe that you’re an expert in many fields and can offer them precious advice. 

Be present and always topical digitally!

Secondly, you have joined a top real estate directory to increase your leads and boost your sales. Then, you’re present on many social media platforms designed to get the word out there. There’s a new sheriff in town, and they mean business. 

YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Pinterest (to a lesser degree) are the trendiest social media tools widely embraced by agents. A small piece of advice; don’t post tedious content. Instead, jazz up your posts with funny pics, memes, and videos. Show up as a genuine and pet-friendly realtor!

Offline real estate representation and what lies behind it.

Offline marketing is a collection of old-fashioned and non-digital practices. It implies that realtors are more physically present in real everyday life.

There’s a unique potential in networking.

Networking comes first in mind, defining a conscious outreach to your community. You can attend social events and public debates addressing topical issues, such as the need for affordable housing. You can distribute handouts, business brochures, and call cards. 

You can advertise your services in TV commercials, magazine articles, and radio ads. Then you can undertake a direct mailing campaign to personally address community members. Besides, you can post billboards to create a more lasting impact.

About the perks and downsides of offline marketing

Offline marketing can help you reach out to an older demographic or those growing weary of technology. Secondly, everyone is exposed to such public ads. They can unconsciously store the idea of doing business with you until they know it’s time for them to buy or sell a home.

Many doubt that offline marketing strategies can be efficient. Most of the criticism is addressed to the fact that it’s way too expensive while the conversion rate is low. 

Conclusion

Undeniably, we represent a more traditional school of thought. We believe in going out there, networking, and establishing personal connections with people. If you offer valuable assistance, your leads will think of you as the ideal realtor to work with. Listening to their stories, hopes, and dreams will make one a model client-oriented agent. 

Besides networking, branding is the other keyword here. Strive to build your reputation by collecting 100 percent authentic information on the properties for sale and your buyers; housing needs. Also, you must know the pros and cons of living in the area you represent by heart!

Don’t get us wrong, though! We are all in for the blessings of modern online representation till it showcases original and informative content. With an online presence, there is a real fear that agents won’t get access to authentic material.

Furthermore, they might push customer-friendly representation aside and become a profit-oriented enterprise like iBuyers. 

Therefore, we suggest advertising your content via offline and online channels. That’s the way to boost your real estate brand and grow the number of your leads and, ultimately, sales. As a result, you’d be only a few steps away from accomplishing your real estate empire.