10 Ways Real Estate Agents Can Build a Strong Personal Brand

Anything you do demonstrates your personal brand. This can include ways in which you represent yourself in front of clients and even how you treat people every day. Creating your personal brand in the real estate market is an integral part of your success.

Check out these ten tips to help you build a strong personal brand:

1. Be true to yourself

Your personal brand is your legacy and your reputation. Don't be a fake version of who you want to be. To be memorable to others, start by living an authentic life. People won't remember what you said but they will remember how you treated them. They'll remember your actions, your expertise and the experience they had with you. What you offer your clients should be unique and something only you can provide.

2. Stand for something

Go back and remind yourself why you wanted to become a real estate professional in the first place. If you are passionate about something, people will begin to recognize this and want to work with you. You may stand out because of your personality, your involvement in your local community or because you are an expert in a specific niche within the real estate market. Whatever you are known for, show everyone your best features to build your personal brand.

3. Consistency matters

If your audience has never even heard of you, it's important to communicate a consistent message to your market. It will require focus and discipline. No matter how you are communicating with your target market, you want to stay consistent with that message. This is one of the most important things you can do and it should start from the first time you make contact with a potential client.

4. Create a signature look

You will want your online presence to really connect your brand to your target audience. So make sure you represent yourself in a way that aligns across all of your social media sites. If one online space isn't consistent with the other, make the necessary changes.

Your social media sites often act as the hubs of your online identity, so make sure that they represent you well. Ask a friend to give you their first impression when they looks at your social media sites, and if it doesn't align with your personal brand, change it up. Communicate your brand and connect with your target audience. Be sure to use the same logo (font), colour, and images. You want to be consistent in showing who you are.

5. Effectively using LinkedIn

Making a positive first impression online is the same as when you meet someone face to face for the first time. When it comes to social media, you want to ensure you are targeting the right group of people at the right time, on the right social media platform.

To ensure you are using LinkedIn to help you build an effective business relationship with your target audience, use the "know, like, and trust" factor. First, you will need to get your LinkedIn presence moving in the right direction.

6. Go viral with Twitter

If you don't already have an account on Twitter, set one up today. It's a great place to share your expertise without holding a doctorate degree! Sharing information with your target audience about the specialty area you focus on or sharing relevant content helps build your brand as an expert or thought leader in what you do. With enough followers interested in what you have to say, it isn't difficult to raise your status to expert rather quickly.

Be sure when posting to Twitter you think about the value you want to provide your target audience (followers). Provide them with links to great articles, blogs and websites that offer useful information.

7. Facebook for business

When building your social presence, people can't help but form opinions about you. So make sure that you act appropriately online. How you treat other people online will impact the way people form opinions about you. To ensure your reputation stays intact, make sure the information you share and the posts you make are relevant to your industry, professional and leave a good impression.

8. Market your materials and business cards

Building a brand identity with your print materials also needs to be carried over across social. Your logo, colours, font and images need to all have one look and feel. Each item should reinforce your brand and the unique offer you bring to the table as a real estate professional. Ensure your brand is consistent in everything that you do.

9. Get involved in your community

One of the best ways to build your brand is to simply volunteer in your community. This is a great opportunity to expand your network as well as serve a greater good. How you volunteer your time, as well as which community you serve, becomes part of your brand.

Be sure to represent yourself professionally and positively as a volunteer. Make sure you follow through on your commitments and become known for your contributions to the community and the causes you support.

10. Live your brand

Personal branding is one of the most important things you can do for yourself in the real estate business. Your customers demand a high level of personal attention. Provide this by staying connected to them on various social media platforms. And, live your brand every day. For example, as a real estate agent you may know all about the condo market in your area. Be sure to post frequent updates about that on Twitter and Facebook. Regularly communicating what makes you different from other agents is part of your brand. Make living your brand a daily practice.

This process will take time and effort but a strong, consistent brand will pay off for years to come. Want to build your personal brand but still aren't sure where to start? Or do you have a brand you want to communicate to your audience but you are having trouble staying on top of it? Click here to learn how we can help you build a strong brand that will serve as the foundation for your sustainable real estate business.

To view the original article, visit the Lone Wolf blog.