The Top 10 Most Popular Articles of January

We've rounded up our most popular articles of last month--which, being January, you know what that means. That's right, plenty of advice on how to take on the new year! Check out articles #3 and #6 on the list below for tips on giving your 2020 a jumpstart.

If your resolutions involve building crucial skills, see #4. Considering joining a real estate team? Article #2 will help you weigh the pros and cons. If you just want to market more consistently, scroll down to #7 for a year's worth of real estate newsletter ideas.

What else were agents and brokers reading in the first month of 2020? Check out the full top 10 list below to find out!

1. Read This If You Use a Mac, iPad or iPhone
The moment I experienced the seamless integration between the iPhone and the MacBook for the first time, my life changed for the better. Today I run a MacBook Pro, an iPad Pro, and an iPhone 11 Pro. I started using a few pieces of native Apple software that work beautifully for project management across these three devices that you may not have tried yet in this context. Here they are.

2. Should I Join a Real Estate Team?
One of the things real estate agents should no doubt put some time into considering is joining a real estate team. While it's not for everyone, there are some pretty good perks to joining a real estate team. There are also several factors to consider if you think it might be the right fit for you.

3. Friday Freebie: Business Planning Checklist for 2020
Today, we're highlighting a free business planning checklist that agents can use to make sure their business is prime, commission-earning shape for the year ahead. Read on to learn how you can end the first month of 2020 poised for success.

4. 4 Skills That Will Catapult You to Success
Would you like to make 2020 your best year ever? It is a time to leap, yes 2020 is a leap year, and your opportunity to leap into spectacular performance in all areas of your life. Make the first year of the decade one worth remembering. Here are the top skills that will greatly enhance you in every area of your life.

5. Repurposing Your Listing Photos: 3 Timeless Shots that Live on Beyond the Sale
Real estate is a hyper-local business, and your photos should help you sell your expertise in your market. Repurposing your listing photography investment can save you money on an independent lifestyle shoot. Ask for these three shots from your real estate photographer to use on social media, your website and print marketing materials.

6. 5 Ways Real Estate Agents Can Hit the Ground Running in 2020
Real estate agents know there's no such thing as a slow season for them. During the winter months when most markets are quieter, agents need to be ramping up their marketing and prospecting efforts so they have a deep well of leads going into the busy spring season. While the season is slow for your clients, move fast to hit the ground running in 2020 with these five real estate tips.

7. 51 Content Ideas for Your Real Estate Newsletter
A real estate newsletter is a great way to generate leads and develop brand identity. But you need to fill these newsletters with content that is unique and valuable to your readers. To get you started, here are 51 content ideas for your real estate newsletter.

8. Instagram's Latest Change: What It Means for Your Business
A recent announcement from Instagram's CEO shared that the platform would be removing public likes. In a follow-up tweet, the company said they wanted users to "focus on the photos and videos you share, not how many likes they get." Their main focus is to make users' well-being and mental health a priority, rather than popularity. Here's what you need to know.

9. Is Your Listing Description Turning Consumers Off?
Imagine if you had a magic power to know exactly how readers would react to the description text that you write about your new listing. According to research, the word "fixer-upper" is a horrible term. Here are other phrases to avoid (and include!) in your listing descriptions.

10. How to Actually Generate Good Quality Leads on Facebook
Other industries have been very successfully using Facebook to generate leads, but for some reason, the real estate industry has lagged behind. Up until now, many agents have been using the 'shotgun' approach, which in the context of marketing, is a strategy where a promotional campaign for services or products targets as large of an area or population as possible. It's time to shake things up!