Recently, with the technology boom  and the integration of social media, today’s consumer is marketedly different than they were say, ten- or even- five years ago.  The role of a Realtor has shifted from “Sales Person” to Trusted Advisor & Collaborator.

This is a consumer centric era, and Realtors will need to adapt to what consumers are looking for.  Agents no longer can sit at their desks in their office and wait for prospects to come in.  This is the time that Realtors need to navigate their own way through the market, and take command of the things that you can control.

Of consumers today:

• 84% text from their cell phones
• 78% use some form of social media – and may incorporate more than one form
• 66% utilize mobile web
• 57% download and use mobile apps
• 86% will pay more if they like a product or service

What does this mean for you?   Agents need to embrace the way that business needs to be done today.  We live in a technological word, and you need to stay abreast of advances in technologies and determine which would be most beneficial for you and your business.

Focus on your branding strategy.  Agents need to veer away from generalist marketing and really focus on branding themselves as a Neighborhood or Community Specialist.

Of recent buyers, according to an industry poll:

• They are accustomed and familiar with free technology
• Office Space is no longer important to them.
• They are working with an Agent because of the agent’s reputation, not because of the name of the company they work for.
• They pick companies where Service Excellence is built into the DNA of the company
• Aggressively use Social Media and Social Technology

What does this mean for you, the Realtor?  First, you can be confident in making smart decisions for your Real Estate business.  If you have wanted to switch brokerage companies, but have been afraid of the impact of the change, rest assured the company name means little to the client.  Secondly, going the extra mile for a client is becoming increasingly key.  Business wide (not just industry specific) new marketing campaigns from Fortune 500 companies to Mom and Pop shops, is about surprising and delighting a customer to ensure repeat business.  Third, you must have a social media presence.  Many consumers are searching the internet and doing research long before they ever pick up a phone to call a Realtor.  Be sure that your name is one that they see.

If social media perplexes you, spend down time at open houses between prospects to sit down and scope out the different avenues of social media, and of course, keep checking back to our blog for updates on social media tools.

Post is provided by:  Charles Rutenberg Realty