REAL ESTATE
July 25

Revive Your Real Estate Lead Generation Results in 2022

Chief Editor

The Real Estate Market is Growing, Why Isn’t Your Business?

The real estate market is still incredibly hot in many states. Why doesn’t growth in the overall market result in easier real estate lead generation for you? For starters, there are 3 million real estate agents in the U.S. each competing for listings.
 
New tools, techniques, and data sources have changed the way the agents practice and think about how to generate real estate leads. 
 
Although some old-fashioned techniques still work, many agents are finding that they have be more creative and scrappier than ever.
 
How will this article help you improve your real estate lead generation in 2022? 
 
We’ll discuss how to create a foundation for real estate lead generation success and review the top real estate lead generation ideas. Our team will also offer expert perspective on the pros and cons of each lead generation approach.
 
By the time you’ve finished this article we hope that you’ll have an actionable plan and a notepad filled with real estate lead generation ideas to start trying today.  
 
Table of contents:
 
Building a Foundation for Real Estate Lead Generation Success
Real Estate Lead Generation Funnel/Process
Understanding the Buying Time Frame
Paid Free Real Estate Lead Generation Ideas
Free Real Estate Lead Generation Ideas 
 
building a foundation for real estate lead generation.
 

Building a Foundation for Real Estate Lead Generation Success

Finding success in real estate lead generation is all about persistence, timing, and the quality of your data. Creating simple habits and systems to keep you focused on the tasks that matter will pay off significantly over time. While online project management tools are a good fit for some, there’s nothing wrong with using a physical calendar and notepad – it's all about what works best for you. 
 
Practicing the principles below will help you create an effective lead generation process, build a trusted brand, and become a partner that clients are proud to refer.
 
Persistence is key. Results can take time, even with advanced technology or aggressive lead development strategies. While the exact statistic varies based on the region, experienced real estate agents know that it can take months or even years to nurture some clients to conversion. A seller’s timeline and decision-making process can change quickly due to personal circumstances.
 
Always add value. Perhaps you’ve heard the old sales adage “always be closing.” In reality, people want to work with a real estate agent that demonstrates knowledge and serves as a partner without being pushy. After making a great first impression, how can you continue to make your client’s life easier, even if they haven’t chosen to exclusively work with you yet? This approach will make people want to work with and refer you (making future lead generation efforts much easier).
 
Know yourself. Make sure that you pick marketing methods that align with your skills, values, experience, and personality. Lead generation techniques that feel out of character or require an inordinate amount of time most likely won’t produce good results. Your sales and marketing practices should support and augment your skill set, and generally feel within your “zone” of capabilities.
 
real estate agent reviewing a home with clients.
 

How to go from “Hello” to “You’re Closed!”

How does a potential lead go from a total stranger to a satisfied client? 

While people don’t always act rationally or predictably, they usually make a series of small choices in a somewhat predictable progression, which marketers call a “funnel.”

Essentially, the funnel process is used to describe the sum of all interactions someone has with you, from the first time they become aware of your business to eventually hiring you to sell their house. These interactions might include a web search, phone call, emails, referrals, and other touch points. 

This path is called a funnel because there are more people in the first stages of the buying process (i.e., becoming aware of you) then there are at the bottom (i.e., choosing to work with you).
 
Image Credit: FunnelTops
 
 
 
Here are a few tips for managing a productive lead funnel.
 
Use a customer relationship manager (CRM) to keep track of your contacts. Measure which marketing activities are bringing in new prospects. Accurate tracking and reporting will allow you to focus time, efforts, and budget on the marketing tactics with best return on investment. 
 
Stay in touch over time. You can’t see it, but your prospect is likely having discussions with several other agents, working on house projects, looking at new homes, and talking about the decision with friends and family. We’ll discuss specific nurturing tactics later, but the top performing real estate agents often use a mixture of personal and automated touch points to remain in front of top prospects via email, phone calls, texts, and more.
 
Track your conversion ratio. You need to understand how many leads eventually turn into clients, otherwise you won’t know how likely you are to earn new listings based on how many prospects you’re currently nurturing. A common ratio is for 100 leads to result in 3-4 listings. This means that the industry standard conversion rate is about 3-4%. With some simple math you can work backward from your desired number of idea listings to the total number of leads you should have at any given time.
 
The timeline for a buyer’s journey through this funnel can vary greatly. A highly incentivized seller could agree to work with you after just one or two meetings, while another prospect might need several months to make a decision.  
 
Regardless of the differences between seller’s timelines, as a real estate agent you need to be continuously filling the top of your funnel with new people and fresh contact information. 
Before we dive into a complete list of real estate lead generation ideas, let’s quickly review the buying time frame for most residential real estate transactions. 
 
If you know when to conduct outreach to someone based on their ideal listing window, then your success will go up. 
 
Way up.
 
 
Home listed for sale.
Image Credit: USA Today 
 

How to Strike When the Iron is Hot

What if you could market only to people who are highly likely to list their home? 
 
How would it impact your business if you could predict the exact right time to follow up with a real estate listing lead? 
 
The full answer to both of those questions requires a detour into predictive analytics; but we’ll cover that topic in detail later. For now, you can manually use some of the qualifying questions below to help determine if you’re generating and nurturing the right leads.
 
There are two primary windows of opportunity for real estate agents. The first is when someone decides to buy or sell but has not yet chosen an agent.
 
The second window of opportunity occurs after a specific length of time has passed since someone purchased a home and research shows that they are likely to be interested in moving again. Indicators that a home owner is ready to sell soon include the following:
 
They’ve requested a formal (or informal) home value assessment to see the market price.
 
The current owners previously tried FSBO and took the house off the market (or it has been listed FSBO for months with little activity).
 
Nearby homes have recently sold above the asking price and demand for homes in their neighborhood remains high (with low inventory). 
 
The seller listing has expired without an offer being accepted.
 
You’ve learned from a referral source that a homeowner has purchased another home already, or started renovations and cleanup for their property in anticipation of listing soon.
 
Getting some of the information described above can be the result of hard work, smart questions, and trusted relationships built over time - or it can be dumb luck. 
 
To remove luck from the equation as much as possible, we recommend adding consistent lead generation activities to your routine prospecting. Picking and performing even of few of the following tactics will increase your chances of finding motivated sellers that are ready to move. 
 
Ready to get more listings?
 
 

Free Real Estate Lead Generation Ideas

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being on a budget. To help agents that are looking for low or no-cost marketing approaches that can be started today, we’ve compiled a list of the top free real estate lead generation ideas that can still produce excellent results if executed with a smart plan and consistent approach.
 

Man making cold calls on the phone.

Image credit: Matt Crabbs 

Direct Outreach

Cold calling. Good old-fashioned dialing is still a great way to make genuine connections, and good agents can convert 1-2% of their calls into genuine leads. The right script and a friendly demeanor can actually make cold calling a pleasant experience. If you’re at a total loss for how to get started, this guide on real estate cold calling from Pipedrive has tons of great recommendations and pre-written scripts to help you get started.  
 
Cold knocking. Face-to-face selling is perhaps the most daunting of all sales methods. Door-to-door sales makes most people nervous, but it gets easier over time and it’s a great way to build genuine rapport with interested prospects. Pick a neighborhood where you know there is a lot of interest and activity. This tactic is particularly effective if you’ve recently helped another seller in the area because homeowners have had time to see your signs (and they probably snooped on Zillow to see the estimated sale price). The Close has collated professional insight and talking scripts if your knees are knocking at the thought of going door-to-door. 
 
Offer to teach workshops on topics that would be relevant to your ideal listing leads. These free workshops could incur some cost (e.g., printed materials) or you could distribute a digital copy of the presentation for free. As a local small business or sole proprietor, you can likely use a classroom or conference room at your local chamber of commerce, library, or co-working space. Examples of relevant topics could include:
 
o Secrets to Getting the Highest Price for Your Home.
o 7 Essential Steps to Prepare Your Home for Listing.
o Expert Tips for First Time Home Buying and Selling.
o How to Buy Your Dream Home and Sell at the Same Time.   
 
Pros: 
Quickly vet potential prospects and walk away with a firm “no” or contact info for a warm lead. 
Face-to-face time helps you remain top of mind for the prospect. 
Direct outreach requires little or no budget, making it attractive to new agents. 
 
Cons: 
Cold calling and door-to-door sales is not scalable. You’re limited by how many numbers you can dial and homes you can visit. 
Cold outreach does not “passively” produce leads in the same way that a website or social media presence does. 
You probably don’t know who to target.  
 
Learn more: 
 
Check out these resources from The Close and HubSpot to learn more about effective real estate cold calling and door-to-door sales tactics
 

Thoughtfully Nurture Your Leads to Win More Listings

How do you helpfully and thoughtfully remain in touch with a prospect after your first meeting? Any of the recommendations below will set you apart from busybody agents that move on if they don’t sense an immediate opportunity. 
 
Handwritten notes. If you have 10-20 leads that are most likely to work with you (“hot,” in sales jargon), try putting a handwritten letter in the mail wishing your prospect well and referencing personal highlights from your initial meeting.
  
Email. Most agents will automate a regular email that sends listings they think will be of interest to the seller. This does work well, and it’s a good idea. However, people also like human touch points. They like personal outreach from a real email account with specific questions and concerns. Even once monthly direct (not mass) outreach will go a long way toward making you the preferred agent once they decide to list, as these stats on email marketing show. 
 
In-person visits. Ask your top prospects to coffee or if you can stop by and chat. Personalized attention is sorely missed in the modern sales era, and it will help you stand out and earn future referrals. 
 
Texting has become a preferred method of communication for many agents and clients. A meaningful text after helping your client sell and find their next home is wonderful way to show that you actually care about them and weren’t focused solely on the sale. 
 
Pros: 
Be memorable to prospects.
Earn more referrals.
 
Cons:
Befriending prospects can make it hard for them to say “no thanks” even if they don’t intend to work with you. 
It’s time consuming, meaning you can only focus on a few leads each day.
 
Learn more: 
 
This article from HomeSnap provides helpful insight into effective nurturing tactics for real estate leads.
 

Collect Testimonials & Promote Word-of-Mouth Referrals

In 2020, 67% of clients chose their realtor based on the recommendation of a friend or family member. This number has increased in recent years, indicating that replacing the advice of a trusted referral source is only getting harder.
 
Generate word-of-mouth buyer referrals by reaching out to other people in the neighborhood where you have a listing and encouraging them to refer family and friends that they would love to bring to the vicinity. 
 
Ask for and feature client reviews on your website, social media, and Google My Business page. These types of reviews act as social proof and the also bolster your online legitimacy, which supports local SEO. 
 
Pros:
Testimonials are more meaningful to prospects than your pitch.
Word of mouth is the single biggest deciding factor for many clients.
 
Cons:
It takes time and effort to consistently follow up with clients when asking for referrals and testimonials – though it’s highly worthwhile. 
 
Learn more: 
 
Study up on best practices for collecting and using client testimonials as a free word-of-mouth promotional tool. Tools like Reach150 will make this process much easier.
 
 

Real estate branding.

Image credit: hero0fwar 

Solidify Your Brand & Spread the Word

Brand awareness is critical, but it’s not sufficient to ensure brand preference. Remember that your brand includes both tangible elements (e.g., colors, logos, copy, etc.) and intangible qualities (e.g., value, service, mission). Small adjustments like the ones recommended below cost little or nothing to make:  
 
Review your messaging to ensure that it communicates your differentiators and value propositions to leads. Most importantly, does it make people trust and prefer your services? A few small brand tweaks could help you connect with more prospects and win more business. 
 
Build brand awareness through multiple marketing channels. Today, brand awareness means a lot more than cool business cards and a nice logo. You have to establish an online presence. According to a 2019 article from SproutSocial, 44% of home buyers now start their real estate search online. Can you use free business directory listings or social media to increase potential seller touch points?
 
Market to an underserved niche. If you’re having issues gaining traction as a “generalist,” research how you can develop expertise in a specific type of real estate. Do this by looking at the demographics of a neighborhood or and identifying common characteristics among sellers or the types of properties currently listed. How can you specialize in meeting the needs of specific sellers, properties, regions, financial situations, etc.? Read more from Fit Small Business on the top 10 most lucrative real estate niches.  
 
Brand your signage and leave behinds. There can a long period of time – often a month or more – during which the buyers and sellers are moving, giving you incredibly valuable advertising in the neighborhood. Adding unique and personal touches to your leave behinds will make you much more recognizable.
 
Vehicle wraps & stickers. There is an initial cost to purchase decals, magnets, or stickers. However, you don’t need to pay anything for the hundreds or thousands of eyes that might see the ads every way while you’re commuting or the car is parked on a busy street. Featuring your areas of specialty and a phone number or email address is a great way to generate business while you’re on the move. 
 
Leave your business card at local coffee shops or small businesses and give leads a reason to contact you, like: “call me to chat about your dream house over a free coffee.”
 
Pros:
Generating brand awareness organically will give you more credibility.
Focusing on a niche makes your messaging clearer and helps prospects quickly understand what you do.
 
Cons:
Building brand awareness takes time if you’re not paying for advertising. 
If you make changes to your brands, you need to reprint and redesign each asset. 
 
Learn more: 
 
Dottie Herman explains the importance of branding for real estate professionals in her full article
 

Create Mutually Beneficial Referral Partnerships to Capture Listings

Professional relationships can be reliable long term lead sources. Developing personal connections can be done with essentially no budget if you’re willing to attend networking events or conduct outreach to potential referral partners.
 
Typically, a referral source is someone who has the trust of the seller but does not compete directly with your services. Referral partners often expect that you will also recommend their services, if needed by the client. Common examples of real estate referral sources include:
 
Personal bankers
Contractors
CPAs
Real estate attorneys
Interior designers and decorators
 
Pros:
Good referral sources can be as trusted and effective as client word-of-mouth referrals.
Once established, these relationships can last well into the future. 
 
Cons:
Staying in touch with various referral sources requires time.
You’re not guaranteed that referral sources will consistently (or ever) send business to you.
 
Learn more: 
 
Here are 7 ways to increase your real estate referrals, according to The Close. 
 
 

Hosting an open house.

Image Credit: Homes.com 

Host an Open House

Open houses can attract interested sellers from the surrounding community. This is particularly effective if you have a listing in an area that you'd like to cultivate further. 
 
Although these visitors might only be curious at first, they’ll remember meeting you and will take note of how quickly you are able to help their neighbor sell. 
 
Use the open house to distribute branded or value-added resources that demonstrate your knowledge of the local market. 
 
Pros:
Open houses can require little or no cost to host.
Increased signage and foot traffic might spark new conversations. 
 
Cons:
Open houses can attract unqualified buyers or nosey attendees that aren’t serious about next steps. 
 
Learn more: 
 
The Rochester Real Estate blog shares at length about pros, cons, and recommended strategies to consider for using open houses to generate business. 
 

Email Newsletters

Create an email newsletter and share valuable information; even if it’s only once a month. The tools required to draft and send mass emails are often free. Here are a few simple examples of topics you could cover in your newsletter to help prospects on their real estate journey:
 
Client testimonials.
Local real estate data.
Listings that you recently sold.
Tips on how to list a home.
 
Pros:
Prospects will save and recall good emails, helping you stay at the forefront of their mind.
You can encourage prospect to join your list directly from your website or social media, improving your lead generation funnel.
 
Cons:
Designing and copywriting emails could feel out of your wheelhouse. 
Using email campaign software requires a bit of technical knowledge and practice.
 
Learn more: 
 
Email services provider Campaign Monitor has written a comprehensive guide to email marketing for realtors to help jumpstart your email newsletter campaigns. 

 

Man liking posts on social media.

Image Credit: Yevbel 

Social Media

Social media provides realtors with access to an enormous market of potential leads. Actively managing your accounts does require an investment of time, but it’s still one of the best ways to earn brand recognition and generate new prospects. 
 
Even without paying for advertising, most social media platforms will help you reach sellers if you’re willing to spend time consistently connecting and posting helpful content.
 
LinkedIn
 
LinkedIn is primarily a professional networking platform. If you don’t currently have a LinkedIn, or if it’s been a few years since you last checked it, here are a few advantages of maintaining an active profile: 
 
Easily network and connect with potential referral partners. 
Target higher earning buyers or sellers with direct messages.
Build your brand by getting marketing materials directly in front of potential clients.
 
Any of these tactics can be done for free. This article on 9 ways that realtors can use LinkedIn to grow their business might be the inspiration that you need to start today. 
 
Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest
 
Direct networking and relationship building on social media is incredibly powerful. Not only does social media provide free access to an enormous community of leads, it often results in higher quality prospects when compared to other online sources. 
Focus on these simple tactics if you want to improve lead generation through social media:
 
Continually grow your network through outbound connection requests. Think of this like a “data cost,” though it’s not going to be as targeted as other methods of purchasing lists.
 
Create closed groups on social media to provide valuable information to members.
 
Consistently post branded content that is relevant to your ideal clients, even if you’re not technically savvy or experienced with design. Websites like Fiverr and Upwork can help you find low-cost freelance support, if needed.
 
Periodically conduct research on competitors to evaluate what methods might be working for them. 
  • Are they using Facebook events for their open house? 
  • Do they frequently post video testimonials? 
  • What content gets a good response?
  • Do they participate in neighborhood or community-specific groups?
Pros: 
You can quickly reach thousands of people with good content or interesting listings.
Respond immediately to and speak directly with clients who contact you through social media platforms.
 
Cons: 
Organic postings require you to create attractive media assets like video, pictures, and infographics to stand out. 
Social media platforms are also crowded with competitors, some of whom have spent years perfecting their brand online. 
 
Learn more: 
 
SmartZip has written a full article on how realtors can use social media as an integral part of their marketing strategy.  
_____________________________________________________________
 
Paid real estate lead generation ideas.
 

Paid Real Estate Lead Generation Ideas

Paying for lead lists or Google advertising can increase your potential for rapid growth. However, not all paid real estate lead generation activities are created equal. Marketing budgets can easily disappear on advertising and data costs if you don’t carefully plan, test, and measure your results. 
 
The remaining recommendations in this article vary in their effectiveness and in the quality of data used for campaigns. Some of the paid tactics listed below require you to manage the operations, while others are mostly done for you (depending on the provider). Each of these factors should be considered when building the right marketing plan for your budget, needs, capabilities, and preferences. 
 
If you have budget ready to unleash in 2022, let’s get started!
 

Paid Networking Groups

Networking groups that are closed to the general public can be gold mines of valuable connections and leads. Because they are vetted and pay (sometimes a lot) for access, members take the commitment and quality of each relationship seriously. Real estate industry veterans recommend groups like the following:
 
Chambers of commerce.
Business networking international (BNI). 
Local after-hours networking groups.
Rotary organizations.
Trade associations.
 
Pros: 
Meet referral sources and prospects while building brand awareness.
Hyper-focused members support each other, and you can have exclusive industry representation (in some groups).
 
Cons:
Some organizations can be saturated with competitors if they don’t control membership.
 
Learn more: 
 
Here’s some helpful guidance from Rocket Pro on local networking for real estate agents.
 

Geographic Farming

No, real estate farming doesn’t require you to get your shoes dirty. In real estate, the concept of farming is used to describe the gradual cultivation of a geographically-defined market that has been selected due to specific demographics. 
 
Other key data to consider when selecting a farming territory includes the historical turnover rates, price trends, and absorption rate
 
Real estate farming involves both paid and free marketing tactics, but it will require an investment of time and resources to return the highest yield. To effectively farm a territory, try an approach like the following:
 
Select the territory that you want to develop.
Set your goals – how will you know if you’ve been successful?
Develop an outreach plan that includes multiple touch points over time.
Execute your outreach plan and monitor the results.
Nurture new leads toward close.
Rinse and repeat to stay top of mind for new prospects.
 
Pros:
Become the go-to agent in a specific neighborhood.
Generate highly trusted word-of-mouth referrals. 
Earn repeat business.
 
Cons:
Without predictive analytics, only time will tell if you’ve picked the right area and use the right farming techniques.
Competitors might be targeting the same region.
You might be missing a better opportunity nearby with a higher likelihood of listings. 
 
Learn more: 
 
Get our perspective on how real estate farming works in this blog article, or take a deep dive in our full eBook: Real Estate Farming: How to Become the Go-to Agent in Your Neighborhood.
 

Real Estate Lead Generation Companies

You can buy real estate leads from providers like BoldLeads, SmartZip, Offrs, and Market Leader, among others. These companies use different methods of capturing leads and gauging their intent to buy or sell a home. Some lead generation companies will provide data and a CRM or other tools used for outreach.
 
Pros: 
Other than paying for the service, there’s virtually no additional work involved to receive leads.
Once a strategy has been dialed in, lead flow can become fairly consistent.
 
Cons: 
The quality and results will vary based on how the provider sources their data.
Lead volume can ebb and flow, though you may not know why. 
 
Learn More: 
 
The Close shares their review of the top 6 real estate lead generation companies to help you decide which option is best. 
 

Predictive analytics.

Image Credit: Marketing Evolution 

Targeted Real Estate Lead Generation with Predictive Analytics

Companies like SmartZip use a proprietary form of predictive analytics to target leads that are the most likely to sell soon. By analyzing multiple historical data points and applying machine learning, SmartZip is able to accurately estimate the degree of interest for specific listing leads.
 
This means that rather than focusing your efforts on a specific neighborhood you’re focused on specific sellers
 
After helping you narrow down the data to only high-value leads, SmartZip also provides a suite of digital and traditional marketing tools to help you reach, engage, and convert more listings. 
 
The results speak for themselves:
 

“The SmartTargeting program is the most profitable program I am working with right now.” 

- Steve Johnstone | Keller Williams Infinity
 

“38 closed listings in her second year. The best listing generation program I have ever used.”

- Dana Hall-Bradley | Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Fine Living

 

How Does Predictive Analytics Compare to Other Types of Lead Generation?

Lead Generation Tactic

Multi-Channel

Audience Targeting

Listing Intent Known

Traditional advertising

X

 

 

Digital advertising

X

X

 

SmartZip predictive analytics

X

X

X

Predictive analytics lead generation comparison.
 
Pros: 
Target leads that are the most likely to list.
Concentrate your lead generation efforts.
Get the highest ROI for your budget.
Consistent lead flow.
 
Cons:
Even good leads can take time to nurture and convert.
Results can take time to produce. 
 
Learn more:
 
Discover SmartZip’s predictive analytics and see exactly how you can generate leads on a no-pressure demo today.  
 

Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest

The organic reach of most social media platforms is already huge. Advertising on social media can make your reach exponential. In fact, 44% of realtors report getting at least one new client through social media. 
 
There are multiple approaches to paid lead generation tactics on social media, including the following:
 
Paid advertisements focusing on your services or results. 
Promoted offers to provide a free home valuation or consultation.
Promoted posts highlighting success from a current client testimonial.
Set up an automated chat flow on your company page using tools like ManyChat. These tools can qualify leads and answer basic questions before connecting them with you.
 
Pros: 
Reach younger buyers (a significant majority of FSBO listers are older).
Expand your audience or easily reach a new geography.
 
Cons:
Lots of competitors use social media advertising.
Users are getting better at tuning out advertisements.
You’re not guaranteed that clicks and activity will result in new listings.
 
Learn more: 
 
Here’s expert advice from realtors who used social media to connect with prospects, build their brand, and win new business. 
 
 
Sending direct mail.

Image credit: Crestline 

Traditional Advertising

Many local small businesses still use traditional tactics like billboards, radio, TV, and direct mail. These are a costly but quick way to build brand recognition and potentially secure listing leads. 
 
Similar options include neighborhood canvassing with flyers or placing ads for current properties in local print publications. 
 
While these “blitz” tactics can be effective, we recommend focusing efforts on the leads that are most likely to respond positively. This can be done by using better data, which is the most effective way to get your message in front of the right potential buyers and sellers. 
 
Pros:
Traditional advertising can reach tens of thousands of people, increasing your brand awareness.
Methods like direct mail are effective if you know who to target.
 
Cons:
There are fewer ways to target specific audiences with most traditional advertising.
It can be hard to track precise results and ROI.
 
Learn more about this topic: 
 
Gina Baker wrote an excellent piece for Fit Small Business that explores creative real estate advertising ideas for including both traditional and digital mediums.
 

Google Ads

When you use Google and other search engines to find local businesses, you’ll notice results at the top of most searches that are clearly labeled as an advertisement. Those businesses pay for every click that goes to their website.
 
Realtors can use Google ads to target leads that are conducting a basic search for buying and selling a home in their area. 
 
Pros: 
Google ads can immediately convert qualified leads.
Keeping your company in the top search results helps grow brand awareness.
 
Cons: 
Recent research has shown that in some industries as many as 25% of clicks on Google ads can be fraudulent. 
Ads are highly competitive. 
There is no guarantee that leads who click on your ad will end up calling or asking for more information (even though you were charged for the click). 
Successfully running ads requires a baseline of technical experience with creating and managing campaigns on the ad network. 
 
Learn more: 
 
Real estate digital marketing expert Kyle Handy offers guidance on tackling Google ads for realtors
 

Websites & SEO 

Today, setting up your own website is an essential part of starting a new business. According to NAR, 69% of real estate agents have a website.
 
Organically ranking at the top of search results is a great method of generating real estate leads if enough people are searching for your services. 
 
Most real estate agents generate business by focusing on local SEO. If you’re going to undertake some basic SEO, focus on the parts of your brand that stand out and be sure to emphasize your value proposition. For example:
 
Do you specialize in a particular kind of real estate? 
Are you a top-rated provider?
Do you have more experience than the competitors? 
Do you have a high-value listing with unique qualities that deserves a separate page on your website?
 
With an investment of only a few hours you could provide an excellent source of information on these topics.
 
Pros: 
Showing up in search results on Google builds credibility and significantly increases your chance of converting leads.
 
Cons:
Local SEO is highly competitive.
SEO requires significant technical competency to execute.
Hiring an SEO firm can be cost prohibitive.
Results take time to produce.
 
Learn more: 
 
We’ve written a Complete Guide to Real Estate SEO to help you better understand SEO and kickstart your efforts. 
 
Summary
 
All of these real estate lead generation ideas might feel overwhelming. 
 
Where should you focus your limited time and budget? If you’re on a budget, or if you need to carefully measure and prove your ROI then it’s best to focus on data where the intent of the sellers can be predicted. 
 
If you’re looking for quick takeaway advice on how to generate real estate leads then remember the following: 
 
Be present where your ideal clients spend time (online and in-person).
Use good data.
Have a memorable and unique brand.
Add value to your personal relationships.
Be consistent in your real estate lead generation efforts. 

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Seller Leads in Real Estate

Here’s How to Snag Unlisted Properties

The best deals aren't published. As any smart investor knows, you have to go below the surface to find off-market opportunities that make it possible to close without competition. What is an off-market listing? Off-market real estate refers to any property that is being sold outside of the conventional "listing" process.

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Seller Leads in Real Estate

Real Estate Investor FAQs

This Real Estate Investor FAQ blog covers questions on How to: get started in real estate investing, Types of real estate investors, Real estate wholesaler, short-term rental income, reducing your tax liability, types of financing, and hard money loan.

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Seller Leads in Real Estate

Start Your House Flipping Business the Right Way

Many who are interested in real estate investing want to get into the house-flipping business. It looks fun, and if you watch all the flipping shows on television, you might even think that it’s easy.

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Seller Leads in Real Estate

What You Need to Know About Short-Term Rentals

Are you considering turning a property you already own into a short-term rental? Perhaps you are a real estate investor actively looking for properties that would fit well in this niche. Regardless, you will need to make sure you know the ins and outs of these types of rental properties before getting started.

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Seller Leads in Real Estate

What Is Wholesaling in Real Estate and Is It Right for Me?

Anyone interested in real estate investment has probably come across multiple ways to get started. Some people flip houses, while others rent out properties. Another method to make money with real estate is through wholesaling.

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Seller Leads in Real Estate

Maximizing Your Potential: 10 Effective Strategies for Real Estate Lead Generation and Conversion to Reach 6 Figures

Real estate lead generation and conversion is a crucial aspect of building a successful real estate business. In today's competitive market, it is essential to have a strategic plan to generate and convert leads effectively.

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Seller Leads in Real Estate

Revolutionizing Real Estate Marketing: How SmartZip's Predictive Platform Gives Agents and Teams a Competitive Edge

Real estate is a highly competitive industry, and it can be challenging for agents and teams to stand out from the crowd. That's why many real estate professionals turn to SmartZip, a leading provider of predictive marketing solutions, to help them boost their visibility, generate more leads, and close more deals.

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Seller Leads in Real Estate

Boosting Your Real Estate Business with Reach150: The Benefits of Online Reviews and Testimonials

Real estate agents face a challenging and highly competitive market. With so many options available to homebuyers and sellers, it can be difficult for agents to differentiate themselves from the crowd. One way to do this is by leveraging online reviews and testimonials. This is where Reach150 comes in.

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Seller Leads in Real Estate

Maximizing Email Response Rates in Real Estate: Tips and Best Practices

The real estate industry is highly competitive, and it can be challenging to capture the attention of potential clients. However, email marketing is a cost-effective and efficient way to reach out to prospects, establish relationships, and promote your business.

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Seller Leads in Real Estate

10 Powerful Real Estate Marketing Ideas to Attract More Clients

Real estate marketing is a vital component of any successful real estate business. The industry is constantly evolving, so it's important to stay up-to-date with the latest marketing strategies to ensure you're reaching potential clients effectively.

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Seller Leads in Real Estate

5 Steps to Nurturing Your Past Clients and Sphere of Influence in Real Estate

Real estate is a highly competitive industry, and building long-term relationships with past clients and sphere of influence can help you stand out from the competition.

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Seller Leads in Real Estate

Unlocking Real Estate Lead Generation: Proven Strategies for Success

Real estate lead generation is the process of finding potential buyers or sellers who may be interested in your services. As a real estate agent or broker, it is essential to generate leads consistently to keep your business thriving.

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Seller Leads in Real Estate

Sphere of Influence Real Estate Marketing: Building Relationships for Lasting Success

Sphere of Influence (SOI) real estate marketing is a strategy used by real estate agents to grow their business by tapping into their existing networks. The SOI refers to the people in an agent's personal and professional circles, such as friends, family, colleagues, and past clients.

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Seller Leads in Real Estate

Digital Trust: How Real Estate Agents Can Build a Positive Reputation Online

The real estate industry has undergone significant changes in the past decade, particularly with the advent of digital technology. The internet has provided agents with a wealth of information and tools to streamline their work and reach a wider audience.

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Seller Leads in Real Estate

Maximizing Your LinkedIn Presence: Best Practices for Real Estate Agents

LinkedIn is a valuable social media platform for real estate agents to connect with potential clients, build their personal brand, and showcase their expertise. With over 700 million users, LinkedIn offers a vast network of professionals that can help agents grow their business.

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