7 Ways to Get More Real Estate Leads Starting Now

Are you regularly asking yourself why you aren’t generating a regular flow of leads? For real estate agents, leads are bread and butter – and you certainly aren’t alone if the answer is yes. Many real estate agents struggle with finding leads that pan out. Although making a winning pitch to prospects, positioning a house well and negotiating with buyers’ agents are all important skills, none is so important as the ability to bring in viable leads.

Luckily, there are strategies for doing so — you just need to learn what they are. Without further ado, here are seven ideas for generating leads – starting today.

1. Throw a Housewarming Party for New Homeowners

Nothing makes a home feel homey like a good housewarming party. It gives new owners a chance to show off their home, gives guests an opportunity to shower love on old friends or cultivate a connection with the new neighbors, and provides you with the perfect venue to generate new buyer or seller leads.

Here’s how you do it: When you make a big sale to a well-connected buyer, offer to cater a party for them to celebrate. They’ll almost always say yes, giving you a chance to meet their family and friends, and to share your success story with all those neighbors — who have comparably priced homes and wallets.

2. Go to Other Agents’ Open Houses

A common mistake many agents make, especially rookies, is that they’ll hold their own open houses but fail to leverage other agents’ open houses. When a seller holds an open house, though, who is the main clientele they’re bringing in? Buyers, and buyers are looking to buy. Consequently, you can find a wealth of leads here without having to pay for them. Simply pass out your business card to people that walk through the door.

Always check with the seller throwing the open house if this is okay, of course. While they’re not likely to pass out their own business card at such events — most buyers and sellers dislike using the same agent unless they already know one another — they may already have an agreement with another broker. Don’t unintentionally step on any toes by failing to get permission.

3. Frequent the Same Restaurant and Coffee Shop

Many clients and prospective clients want to meet for the first time at a restaurant or coffee shop. Wherever possible, plan your morning and afternoon get-togethers at a nearby café, and your lunch or dinner meetings at a restaurant of your choice.

If you come in frequently, you’ll make friends with the employees and owners of the establishment, which reflects well on you to the client. You’ll also get the best tables, have an easier time getting reservations at popular restaurants, and up your chances of getting referrals from people who also frequent the restaurant – or work there.

Naturally, not all your clients will want to meet at your chosen locations, and in that case, don’t push them. But always offer to meet at your places upfront, before they can suggest another destination, to increase your chances of working on home turf.

4. Advertise on Google and Facebook

Google and Facebook are two of the biggest search and social engines in the world. Guaranteed, anyone who is looking to buy or sell their home will do at least some of their research on one or both of these platforms. They provide the perfect way to catch those leads through quality ads that serve to the right people. More so than any other website, these platforms offer reasonable pricing and allow you to target your ads super specifically, so that when you pay for a lead, that lead is likely to pay off.

Paid search for real estate offers a unique opportunity to reach transaction-ready buyers and sellers. A keyword-driven PPC advertising strategy can be the magic bullet for your business.

5. Advertise Your Business on LinkedIn

Most people don’t know that LinkedIn is one of the largest search engines in the world. It is a more compelling location to promote your business than even real estate-specific sites such as Zillow, Trulia or Realtor.com, and is trusted across the world as the destination for professionals seeking other professionals. That includes people seeking realtors, so if you’re going to take the time to blog, make sure your content ends up on LinkedIn.

6. Customize Your Website for Real Estate Leads

There’s nothing like a good website to help you bring in leads. While prospects will most likely find you through search, they will almost always confirm your expertise on your own website. If you don’t have one, or if it has that 2001-style, straight-down-the-middle-with-huge-margins look, you’ll lose interest fast.

That’s where a highly tailored, SEO-optimized real estate website comes in. Don’t waste time trying to do it yourself, either. While friends and colleagues may tell you otherwise, the best brokers have websites made by knowledgeable designers. It’s always better to take advantage of their expertise and stick to yours: helping buyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals.

7. Call Lead Horse Marketing

The best way to ensure you are doing the right things to market your business is to consult with professionals who have experience in your niche. Plus, you need to spend your time honing your sales craft and marketing the homes you already have in your repertoire – not learning complicated new marketing strategies.

Lead Horse Marketing specializes in paid search for real estate agents. So, if you’re asking yourself how to get more leads for my real estate business, you can stop asking and start calling. We’re here for you.