Agent Marketing: Seven Ways to Connect with Your Community

If you’re a real estate agent, then you know that the past few years have been all about technology and online business. Embracing digital practices to meet consumers expectations of great service and building efficiency into your systems to create better customer experiences has been paramount.

With a new normal in place, people are looking for ways to reconnect when it comes to both business and social activities. It comes as no surprise then that in order to be successful in today’s market as a real estate agent, it’s more important than ever to connect with your community to re-engage with local potential buyers and sellers in your area.

Real estate agents as service professionals have always seen a positive impact on their business when they engage with their community. When you reach out and involve yourself locally with the people who live and work near you, you become a trusted asset and partner. The relationship you build with your community through meaningful personal and work-related interactions is one that people value.

This article offers ideas for becoming a neighbourhood friend and expert, which will lead to more leads and referrals. Here are seven real estate agent marketing tips for connecting with your community.

1. Sponsor Sports Teams, Tournaments, and Carnivals

Real estate agents are wise to become involved in neighbourhood clubs, including youth and adult recreational sports teams.

By sponsoring these organisations, you get your name out there while showing you care about how your people enjoy themselves in their local community.There are usually many events to sponsor during the spring and summer months when families look to buy homes. Take advantage of these opportunities to show support and grow your business.

During the school year, sponsor carnivals and festivals. Consider setting up a booth where you can meet locals and hand out your business card.

Sponsoring a coffee cart at the local sports field during winter is a sure-fire way of making friends with many side-line supporters who are also braving the cold to attend the local sports day out. 

2. Hold a Neighbourhood Garage Sale

Garage sales are fun ways to get a community together, so organise and hold a sale on one of the streets in your area. Introduce yourself to everyone and plan the event from start to finish to showcase your organisational and follow-up skills.

Garage sales will bring traffic to any listings nearby and show potential buyers how engaged the neighbourhood is.

3. Be an active local community Facebook Group member

OK so this one is a digital connection but it is so valuable that we couldn’t not mention it.

Almost every local suburb in Australia has a Facebook community group (+ a buy swap sell + a pay it forward). This is the ultimate free opportunity to connect as the local area trusted community member that people turn to for property advice. You can search for “?” and be a fount of knowledge on everything from recommending local tradies to pricing results of recent auctions. You will know you have established yourself once people tag you in these requests for anything and everything property-related which you have the answers for at your fingertips.

Engage in positive and active ways as an individual – not using a business profile and you will receive significant benefits – all it takes is a time investment.

No Facebook Community Group? Take the lead and set one up.

4. Volunteer

Agents who volunteer with charities and organisations in their communities do good while networking with others who take care of business in their towns.

The people who volunteer locally are often in an ideal position to give back, which means they are good leads for building a high-end real estate business.

But, remember to talk with fellow volunteers sincerely and make an effort to get to know them. Don’t make this outreach based solely on how much money you can earn.

5. Talk to Your Community

Talk to people as you go about your life. Chat about their experiences in your town and any common interests. Inquire about the friends and family of people you meet.

Does anyone know anyone who wants to buy in the neighbourhood? Is someone fed up with a job or other situation and is looking to sell? The more you make yourself available for conversation with those in your community, the better your chance of meeting a potential client or getting a referral.

6. Start a Beautification Project

Smart agents know that cleaning up their streets (literally or by providing funding) is a great way to improve the neighbourhood and stay top of mind. Start a beautification project in your community by sponsoring a gathering place such as a park or organising a local public clean-up of an area that locals are unhappy about – Facebook Community Groups are a great place to source ideas around this.

Need other ideas for spreading beauty and your name around? Pay to cover up graffiti with local art or organise a tree-planting party.

7. Become a Local Public School Partner

Finding ways to help your local public school via donations or your time is another great way to connect. Schools are often under-resourced and appreciate assistance with fundraising for resources, building and other projects. Join the local P&C – after all it stands for Parents and Community.

With your knowledge and expertise you can be a great asset to these organisations as you work alongside other local businesses in the property sphere whose services could also be valuable. By investing and committing a small amount of time every month to attending regular meetings you will also gain great insight into the people active in your local community. This will help you share great first-hand knowledge with potential buyers when they ask about “the locals”. You can be a network multiplier for your area – connecting people through your own involvement.

These are just some real estate marketing tips you can employ to grow your business and career.

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