How Do Online Reviews And Social Media Leverage Branding?

Kornhauser says simply “A happy client makes a happy Realtor.” If an agent is good at what they do, then their reviews should not be bad. But, a bad review could mean bad news for the agent.

“Well, you hope you get good reviews. Buyers talk and sellers talk, and if you’re good at what you do and service your clients properly, you hope you’re getting satisfactory reviews,” says Kornhauser. “And that’s what everyone is doing now on the Internet, reading and looking up reviews. If you’re slacking and not servicing your clients, your business will falter.”

Pye uses social media sites such as Facebook as a way to relate to her clients on a more personal level. When she meets a new client, she will invite them to be her friend on her personal Facebook page. She has found that if she doesn’t bring up her business but instead posts pictures of activities she participates in like gardening, then she will notice more people becoming interested in listing their homes with her because they also have a garden, and they think she must know people who love to garden that are looking for homes. In a sense, it’s all about relating to people.

How Much Should New Agents Invest in a Marketing Campaign?

Kornhauser suggests that new agents shouldn’t rely on the fact that because the Houston market is so strong, that they won’t need marketing in order to be successful as a Realtor.

“You have to spend the time getting out there and advertise. You have to make your own business, it doesn’t just come to you because the market is strong,” says Kornhauser. I work 24 hours around the clock, the phone is next to my bed, and I’m up at midnight emailing people. Because in this market, homes can go so quickly, and we are fighting for responses. You can’t slack. You have to get out there and spend the time on marketing. You have to spend money to make money.”