Top 10 Most Popular Articles of August

September is here, and for all intents and purposes, summer is pretty much over. Buy before we say our final goodbye to school-free days and warm weather, let's take a look at what RE Technology members were reading in August.

Even though September is Realtor Safety Month, we got a headstart on things with August with a video series on how to safely show a home. You can see the first part of this series at #6 on the list below.

What else was on the minds of agents and brokers in August? Refreshing your headshot (#2), FSBOs (#5), and a multitude of ways to drum up new business (#3, #7, #8, #10). You can check out the rest on the list below.

***

1. What Traits Home Buyers Look for Most in Real Estate Agents
While every consumer out there has their own taste, personality and priorities, there are certain things all home buyers look for when it comes to choosing their real estate agent. If you're looking for more ways to attract more clients, make sure you're working on improving these essential traits. And if you've ever wondered what made a client pick you over someone else, these could very well be why.

2. Realtor Headshot Photo: Why They Matter and How to Get Your Best One Yet
Ah, the dreaded headshot photo. Some love it, most hate it. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a headshot photo that leads to a property sale could be worth several thousand dollars. Headshots will also make you appear more honest to potential clients searching the web for potential Realtor candidates. They're important in building your personal brand. Get your best headshot yet with these picture perfect tips.

3. 8 Unique and Simple Ways to Get Real Estate Leads
Traditional methods of lead generation may be simple, but they may not be very effective, and they surely aren't very much fun. What follows is a list of simple, creative, outside-the-box methods for lead generation. Not only are they simple, but they cost little to no money, and you might even have some fun with them.

4. Five Website Features for Real Estate Agents and Brokers
Did you know that only 5 percent of real estate firms do not have a website? This means you need a website to showcase your real estate knowledge and persuade them you are the best agent to work with. These five website features are must haves designed for individual agents, new agents, experienced agents, agent teams and small brokerages.

5. Combating FSBO: 3 Reasons Why Agents Rule
While real estate practitioners are aware of everything that goes into a home sale, it's not always easy to convince a consumer that the FSBO model is much more involved than posting a yard sign and sharing their listing on Facebook. The following suggestions can help you drive home the importance of using a listing agent instead of trying to navigate this complicated market without a rudder.

6. Showing Safety: Where to Stand During a Home Tour
If you tuned in last week, you know just how to prepare a home in order to stay safe during a showing. But there's still one last thing you need to do before your prospects arrive. It's called "blocking," or planning where you're going to stand during a home tour. In this week's agent safety video, you'll learn how to position yourself in a way that doesn't make you vulnerable to potential predators.

7. 5 Ways to Win More Business in a Low Inventory Market
The battle for business got tougher this summer after Facebook's decision to discontinue ads that let agents target "likely to move" consumers. Today, we'll introduce you to an alternative way to target real estate consumers on Facebook, as well as strategies that will take your marketing campaign well beyond the confines of the world's most popular social network.

8. How to Leverage Public Records for Business Intelligence
Colleagues Nikki Morgan and Danielle Longdue have spent years speaking with Realtors about how to leverage public records--and how easy it is to upgrade your lead generation game with this powerful tool. Here are their suggestions for using public records for prospecting and acquiring business intelligence.

9. Detailed Guide to Hiring an Assistant for Your Real Estate Business
Ever wonder how other agents manage to get it all done? Well...they get help. An assistant can handle many of the day-to-day tasks that are weighing you down. But hiring an assistant is confusing. What do you need to do? Where do you start? Can you afford to hire someone? If you've ever wondered if an assistant is right for you, what kind of help you need, or how to find and hire the right person, we've got you covered.

10. 10 Tips for Networking Your Way to More Referrals
We're in the throes of prime networking season. Summer parties and industry events all provide real estate agents with opportunities to make connections and generate more business. Just like anything else, networking is a skill — one that many of us are uncomfortable practicing. Here are 10 tips to help you network and garner more referral business like a pro.