In today’s day and age if you don’t have a presence on social media you almost aren’t in business. Both current and potential customers want to feel connected to the brands and individuals they do Read more...
In today’s day and age if you don’t have a presence on social media you almost aren’t in business. Both current and potential customers want to feel connected to the brands and individuals they do business with - what better way to foster community than social media?
Promoting positive engagement is a must for a successful social media marketing strategy as a Realtor. Here are a few best practices to bear in mind:
Do’s of Social Media Posting
1. Try to combine posts and content across multiple platforms
Because of the sheer volume of social media posts, you will get lost in the noise of these platforms if you aren’t aggressive in your approach. Post often and recycle your posts across many social media platforms. You don’t need to be selective with the social media platforms you join - the goal is to be omnipresent.
Because busy real estate agents can’t always come up with content daily, consider scheduling a “content day” to write, film and edit a bunch of posts all at one time to be released over the next week or so.
A recent study done by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) found that 97% of Realtors chose Facebook as their preferred network. Facebook was followed by LinkedIn (59%), and Instagram (39%). Roughly one-third choose Twitter.
The lesson really is that content can be recycled and reposted over many platforms to get the widest reach possible.
I understand that your focus now is probably passing the real estate exam but planning out your content strategy while you are in real estate school is a good way to spend your time while also prepping for your exam.
2. Be active
There have been many studies about when and how often you should be putting content out there. Consider posting daily on at least one platform but be careful to not overly focus on self-promotion. Make sure that your content is relatable, and [as a Realtor] concentrate on being part of the online community on which you are posting.
Share posts, make comments, ask thoughtful questions, and give shoutouts to connections. Bottom line, be consistent in terms of activity and be responsive to others.
3. Use visibility strategies
When posting or sharing others' posts, be sure to use visibility strategies to gain traction. Good methods include using keywords with hashtags and tagging others in your network to give them call-outs.
Don’ts of real estate social media posting
Just one blunder can soil your professional standing, but a series of bad practices can really hurt your reputation if not careful. Here are the top don’ts when it comes to social media marketing for real estate agents.
1. Don't be overly promotional
This is #1 on the list of things NOT to do. Don’t try to oversell on your page, but use social media to share interesting news, customer interests, how-to’s, or relatable and interesting aspects of your personal life. By using your page strictly as a personal listing mechanism, people will disconnect from you or scroll through your posts without even looking. Always follow the 80/20 rule when using social media.
2. Use your own photos
Photos are a critical aspect of promoting properties. Ideally, you want to use your own photos to highlight listings you promote. (20% of your posts!) If using others' photos, be sure to first ask permission first and then publicly give credit to the photo’s owner.
3. Don’t post nonsense just to “post”
The trick to social media marketing success is balance. You need to find the “Goldilocks” level of posting. In other words, don’t post so frequently it becomes “noise”, or worse, social media’s version of unsolicited robocalls. Then again, you don’t want to post so infrequently that you become irrelevant. Focus on timely, thoughtful, and interesting posts, spread out. Determine what your audience likes and deliver it.
Savvy real estate agents know how to skillfully use social media to gain the trust of potential clients and maintain strong relationships with existing ones. Focus on good social media practices, avoid bad ones, and you’ll create a standout online presence.
Love,
Kartik
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As you prepare for your real estate exam you’ll no doubt take at least one of our crash courses. These lectures and online tools can be done in the comfort of your own home and are based on individual Read more...
As you prepare for your real estate exam you’ll no doubt take at least one of our crash courses. These lectures and online tools can be done in the comfort of your own home and are based on individual self-study.
But what if you aren’t quite ready for a real estate crash course yet? What if you still need to complete Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice and the elective course in real estate school?
While we offer an amazing self-study program to help you finish the required courses there are some students who don’t do well left to their own devices. Does this sound like you?
What if you wanted a professional instructor who walked you through the course material, but didn’t need to drive to a physical location? A plus with gas prices being $7 a gallon.
To bridge the gap between total self-study and a physical real estate school we offer an amazing Zoom-based option.
I made a list of seven benefits of this program to prepare and qualify for the California real estate exam.
1. Eliminate procrastination
By coming to our scheduled Zoom calls, you’ll be less inclined to put off studying the material to qualify for the exam. When working independently, it’s easy to procrastinate, but when you make a commitment to meet with our study group you’ll be more motivated to press on and prepare so you’re ready to cover the material with other group members.
2. You’ll Probably Learn Faster
Members of study groups like those on our Zoom calls tend to learn faster than individuals who work independently. With any type of learning, it’s common to get stuck on a concept and have difficulty getting over the proverbial learning hump. With fellow students and an instructor to talk out concepts with, it can clarify some of the drier material.
3. Fill in Gaps in Notes
While you might prepare for class by watching some of the videos on our YouTube channel questions might arise as you watch the videos or read the textbooks.
Bring you questions to class and the instructor will answer them and encourage you to deep-dive into the course material. You can read the book on your own first, knowing that if you do have a question you’ll be able to ask it to the instructor and bounce ideas off other students in the process.
As a result, fewer gaps exist, when it’s time to take the real estate exam you’ll be better prepared.
4. Sharpen Your Study Skills
Everyone has their own techniques they use to study. However, working with a diverse group of other hopeful real estate agents empowers you to sharpen your own study skills. You’ll be able to learn from the strengths of others and maybe even share your own with them.
5. Break Up Monotony of Studying Alone
Studying alone is very monotonous and it could lead to feelings of isolation, frustration, and loneliness. On the other hand, working with a group pursuing the same goals not only adds socialization, it gives you something to look forward to nearly daily. Check out our schedule of Zoom classes here! <hyperlink to https://www.adhischools.com/schedule >
6. Hone Your People Skills
Working as a real estate agent means you’ll need to hone your people skills if you don’t already possess them. Success in our industry is based on your ability to work with other people. In study groups, you’ll encounter a variety of personalities and this will strengthen your ability to communicate with different people - a must in real estate!
7. Get a Jump on Networking
In a sense, a study group can be your first step into developing your professional network. In any industry, it’s not what you know, but who you know. Often, those on our Zoom calls have built a sense of camaraderie – the perfect seed to grow a professional network. Remember, not only can you connect with members of your group, but they can introduce you and vice versa to other people. Knowing you have friends in real estate upon passing your exam is a great feeling - It’s never too soon to build a professional network!
In order to pass California’s licensing exam you’ll need to gain a full understanding of the topics and concepts used in everyday real estate business. Joining our Zoom calls can put you on a solid path.
If you are interested in getting a free guest pass to check out one of our Zoom study sessions, click here and pick a day and time that works for you. I look forward to seeing you on an upcoming real estate Zoom call!
Love,
Kartik
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Imagine you have completed all the required classes at our real estate school <Hyperlink to https://www.adhischools.com > and now you are in the process of studying for your real estate exam. You’re Read more...
Imagine you have completed all the required classes at our real estate school <Hyperlink to https://www.adhischools.com > and now you are in the process of studying for your real estate exam. You’re probably taking our real estate crash course <Hyperlink to https://www.crashcourseonline.com > and are focused on prepping for the test.
You can probably tell from our hundreds of 5 star reviews <Hyperlink to https://www.yelp.com/biz/adhi-schools-newport-beach > that we know a thing or two about getting students to pass their real estate exam <Hyperlink to https://www.adhischools.com/real-estate-exam-app >. Still,I wanted to write a quick blog outlining a few things that can actually make it harder to pass your test so you know what not to do.
I’ve read some other articles from folks that incorrectly say that the real estate test is purposely and unnecessarily difficult. This isn’t really the case. If you understand the concepts and study you should have no problem passing.
I’ve read some other articles from folks that incorrectly say that the real estate test is purposely and unnecessarily difficult. This isn’t really the case. If you understand the concepts and study you should have no problem passing.
Consider the below list as you do:
Bad Prep Materials or a Bad Exam Prep Program
Call me a little biased, but I think that our real estate crash course <Hyperlink to https:// www.crashcourseonline.com > is the best way to study for the real estate test out there. There are alternative products in the marketplace that aren’t California specific or that are written by people who have never even taken the real estate exam.
Obviously, the purpose of real estate exam prep material is to increase comprehension of the subject matter.Understanding that most people are on their mobile devices the majority of the time, our team developed an app <hyperlink to https://www.https://www.adhischools.com/real-estate-exam-app > for Android and iOS devices that is second to none. If you don’t have this yet, get it!
In the end, prep materials that do not play to your strengths decrease your chances of passing the real estate exam.
2. Too Much Study Time on What’s Not Important
One of the common mistakes real estate examinees make is focusing on items not likely to be on the exam. What too often occurs is that folks can get bogged down in the minutia and lose focus on critical concepts and facts. Some call this not “seeing the forest through the trees.”
I cringe when students send me articles about how to study for the “math portion” of the real estate test or 50 questions on the history of California. The truth is that there is very little actual arithmetic on the real estate test so spending 15 hours studying how to calculate capitalization rates isn’t going to do much good when there are other topics that appear far more frequently on the exam.
The good news about our crash course system <hyperlink to https://www.crashcourseonline.com > is that questions are weighted in the same ratio that the actual real estate exam is. Our system is organized in a fashion that emphasizes primary concepts and focuses your study time in ways that actually matter.
The point is that investing too much of your limited time in minutia might not be a good decision.
3. Procrastination
Procrastinators of the World Unite! Tomorrow.”
People from all walks of life come up with seemingly good reasons to put off studying. These rank among the common reasons people procrastinate.
Feeling Overwhelmed
Lack of Urgency
Lack of Discipline
Don’t Like to Study
Can’t Choose a Starting Point
Giving in to these and other inclinations puts potential real estate professionals behind the knowledge curve. The sooner you crack open the materials and begin learning at a deeper level, the better your chances of passing the test.
I would recommend doing all the questions in the training mode of our real estate crash course <hyperlink to https://www.adhischools.com/real-estate-crash-course/california > at least twice before attempting a mock exam. Focusing on our training mode will expose you to all the questions in our system and eliminate any false confidence from a high score on a random mock exam.
4. Failing to Follow a Study Plan
Possessing an actionable study guide and plan cures some of the reasons to procrastinate. Of course, potential real estate professionals will need to leverage a study plan in a timely and orderly fashion. Common missteps involve jumping around and prioritizing topics you feel comfortable studying. Such practices are more a lack of discipline than an attempt to gain high-level knowledge.
It’s essential to use a study plan designed to build one concept on another. Like many other industries and disciplines, real estate knowledge tasks people with possessing a broad understanding of how things intersect. Rifling through study materials and jumping ahead typically results in fragmented ideas that don’t translate to sound professional skills.
Remember to set aside plenty of time before the test to ensure that you don’t feel overwhelmed - This leads me to my final point.
5. Test Anxiety and Last Minute Cramming
When I was in high school and college, I would love the adrenaline rush of studying for an exam at the absolute last minute and leaving with a good score. While exhilarating, it’s important to realize that the real estate exam should not be approached in this manner. There is far too much material to only study the night before. A study schedule at least two weeks before the test will help you stay focused and ensure you have ample time to review and understand the material.
It’s totally normal to feel a little on edge before the exam starts. Issues such as self-doubt or fear of failure can derail efforts to pass the real estate exam. The good news is that test anxiety does not have to stop you from beginning a new career.
TLDR:
Learn to Study Effectively
Establish a Study Routine
Practice Relaxation Strategies
Exercise, Eat Well, Hydrate, and Get Restful Sleep
Reach out to our office at 888 768 5285 or shoot us a message if you’re having a hard time passing the test.
Love
Kartik
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One of my early real estate sales managers passed away a few years ago. When I think back on our interactions, one thing that stands out is his advice that an agent isn’t going to make money sitting Read more...
One of my early real estate sales managers passed away a few years ago. When I think back on our interactions, one thing that stands out is his advice that an agent isn’t going to make money sitting in the office behind a desk. You’ve got to get out there, pound the pavement and understand the local market.
Previewing property is something that should be a non-negotiable for a real estate professional, especially a newer licensee. Even if you are just starting in our real estate license course you can still play around on websites like realtor.com or other IDX sites to sort of “arm chair” quarterback and see what’s going on in the market.
Once you get your real estate license you’ll want to start physically entering as many properties as possible so you can keep a pulse on what’s happening in the marketplace. By the way, this shouldn’t seem like too much of a chore as most people that take our real estate classes have at least some interest in viewing homes and property for sale. I can’t tell you how many students I have spoken with that say “I love going to open houses! I want my license!” Now get out there and do it!
What is involved in previewing property?
Previewing property involves searching the MLS for homes and then scheduling times to physically walk the properties. As an additional prospecting method, some agents even knock on the doors of nearby homes to let neighbors know of the home that’s for sale. This can be particularly valuable in the event there isn’t a For Sale sign on the property you are previewing. When knocking, a good script could be to ask nearby owners if they know a friend, family member or co-worker that might be interested in the home for sale, it’s a great opportunity to “pick their new neighbor”. This is an easy and natural way of networking with nearby owners.
It’s free for you to do
One of the biggest benefits of previewing properties is the fact it’s an absolutely free method of gaining local market knowledge. The only investment is your time - and most new agents have more time than money. Savvy real estate agents who preview properties on a routine basis find they get more listings, obtain valuable market knowledge in the areas they work in and grow their businesses faster.
You can obtain valuable knowledge about the market
When you follow the strategy of previewing property you will gain a stronger understanding of the local inventory. This will empower you to rapidly identify properties for interested buyers. For instance, knowing a geographical area intimately means you’ll be armed with the ability to quickly answer questions clients have about inventory in the area. This boosts your professional reputation and people will start to see you as an expert.
Agents who have previewed properties may also have earned access to unpublished or not widely publicized information. Additionally you’ll learn what homes are on the market and the routine of previewing property will force you to dig into the local inventory daily.
You’ll have the ability to generate more leads
Physically going out to look at homes in a specific market means you’re also actively meeting people and expanding your professional network. While you could just view Matterport tours from your home or office there really isn’ta substitute to getting out in the field and touching the inventory. An added bonus is that you never know who you’ll meet that wants to hire you.
Buyers will be impressed with your proactive approach to understanding the market and know you’ll be equipped to help them find their dream home.
Sellers will appreciate that you have your pulse on the market and are more inclined to list with you because they’ll have faith you can help them present a solid marketing strategy.
Agents may also find as they preview homes, they stumble across properties not listed on the MLS, such as pocket listings, FSBOs, expired listings, and owners who want to sell but temporarily removed their homes from the market.
Networking is an important activity for any industry but has a special place in a direct sales business like real estate.
You gain information to have a powerful listing presentation
When you are on a listing presentation, rest assured that the seller is looking to hire an agent who knows the neighborhood, knows the street and knows their home.Previewing 3-5 properties daily will aid in your listing presentations because you’ll be able to demonstrate to your seller that you intimately know the market having seen all the inventory in the local marketplace. This is a non-negotiable as you don’t want to be seen as an agent who knows less than the client.
The net-net bottom line is that previewing properties will give you a reason to get out of the office – you just never know where it’ll bring you or what clients you’ll land next.
Remember what that sales manager told me so long ago - the money in real estate isn’t made sitting in the office.
Love,
Kartik
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