Having a network to tap into for leads is one of the biggest sources of income for realtors. But how do you reach key people? How can you leverage social media to build your brand? How long does it take? On this episode, Sarah Johnston shares how she used Instagram to get the connections she needed to increase her sales.
If I look right now, 50% of my sales are from people I either know or referred to me on Instagram. -Sarah Johnston
Three Things We Learned
Branding opens doors
Realtors are often limited by the connections they have and the local market.
When you’re just starting out, it’s hard to present yourself as a trustworthy persona. This is exactly what branding does. It puts you in front of people. Instead of handing your prospects your business card, social media allows you to give them some far more important. They receive little bits about your life and work ethic that they otherwise wouldn’t know about. These types of interactions are far more memorable than anything else, and often times they’re client sources.
Practice patience
In the real estate industry,vanity metrics don't count. The interactions do. Don’t follow people for the sake of creating an impressing friend list. Instead, search for people who might need your help and start interacting with them. Social media marketing done this way requires some time to take off. But when it does, the people in your list become the hidden helpers behind your business.
Don’t leave anything to chance
Motivation is wonderful but fleeting. Instead of trying to keep yourself motivated, make a schedule that involves discipline. There will always be uncomfortable tasks that need to be done. There’s no way around that. After a while, you will be on autopilot and won’t need to search for motivation to get things done.
Philanthropy is one of the best ways to get in line with your audience’s beliefs. Volunteering and giving back to your community say a lot about your character and who you are as a person. Not everyone will agree with your actions. But those who do will respect you even more simply because you stand for what they stand for.
Guest Bio
Sarah Johnston is the director of Calgary Real Estate Board, speaker, and a realtor at MaxWell Realty Canada for over 10 years. She shares her experiences and stories online on her website at http://www.maxwellrealty.ca/agents/sarah-johnston/ and on her Instagram at @adventuresinrealestateyyc