Top 10 Most Popular Articles of September

Fall's here, and that means the market--like the weather--is cooling down. But that doesn't mean you have to slow down. In fact, autumn is an ideal time for agents and brokers to assess where they want their business to go from here.

Our list of last month's most read articles can help you do just that. Check out article #7 for an annual business checklist of things you can do in every season to improve your real estate practice. Marketing need a refresh? Check out our #1 article for agent profile photos ideas, or swing down to article #2 for a free report you can send to buyer and seller leads.

On a more serious note, September was Realtor Safety Month, and we published a sobering video inteview of a Realtor who escaped an attack (see #3 below).

What else were your industry peers reading last month? Check out the full list below to find out!

1. Headshot Ideas from the Pros: Stand Out from the Crowd
Nine out of 10 are agent headshots are absolutely identical. The hands are either on the hips or arms are crossed. Is it any wonder that consumers have the notion that all real estate agents are alike? Step away from the pack during your next photo shoot. Here are some ideas from the pros.

2. Friday Freebie: Downloadable Report for Home Buyers and Sellers
If you've heard us say it once, you've heard us say it a thousand times: quality content is one of the most effective ways to reach buyer and seller leads. But rather than putting you through the rigmarole of creating your own content, today we're going to introduce you to a top-notch source of professionally created real estate reports.

3. EXCLUSIVE: Interview with a Realtor Who Escaped an Attack
"It was almost like there was enjoyment watching me squirm." That's what Debbie Morrisette, a North Carolina Realtor, had to say about the predator who tried to attack her last year. In this exclusive video interview, Real Safe Agent CEO Lee Goldstein speaks with Morrisette to learn more about the attack—from the first phone call, to the first meeting, and to the incident itself.

4. The Focused Strategy for Generating Real Estate Listings
How much effort and money are you putting into direct mail marketing to generate real estate listings? Farming a neighborhood is a popular and very productive activity, but for many agents, there could be a more effective approach.

5. The 1-Minute Real Estate Video Strategy that Can Help You Win More Listings
Videos are essential for a real estate business—and to put it simply, if you're not doing videos, you're not making money. Real estate marketing videos don't have to be complicated or fancy. You can look just as good as other top agents in your market, boost your word-of-mouth, and get more clients without hiring contractors or buying expensive equipment—all you need is a phone!

6. Best Real Estate Instagram Accounts to Follow
Channels like HGTV exist for the millions of us who are fascinated by other people's homes. Now, to get your real estate fix on the go, let's explore the best real estate Instagram accounts to follow.

7. Annual Business Checklist for Real Estate Agents
According to Mark Twain, "the secret to getting ahead is getting started." And when you're running your own real estate business, there's a lot of work to do. We've highlighted some important tasks to keep your business running smoothly and the best season to complete them so that you have ample time to grow your business while keeping your tools and systems up to date.

8. Analyzing the Good and Bad of a Property Photo Shoot
Today, we're analyzing a recently completed photoshoot of a property and will highlight what could be improved and what already looks great in the images. The goal of this blog is to give some tips and suggest things to look out for when shooting your next listing.

9. How to Go from New Real Estate Agent to Neighborhood Expert
You may have recently started a real estate career, and find yourself struggling to build momentum. Maybe it's been a few months, and you still haven't landed your first client. Where should you be focusing your energy, time, and resources for the best results? The most effective way to steadily build your real estate business is to specialize in a niche and master it. So, here's your new plan, starting right now.

10. 5 Great Google Docs Tips and Tactics
For real estate agents and brokers, Google Docs helps increase job productivity by saving time. When it comes to collaboration, Google Docs is the undisputed online champ. Google makes it easy to create and then share documents with others, editing together in real-time. Best of all, you can download your finished work as a Word document or a PDF. Here are five ways to get the most out of using Google Docs.