2024 has been quite a year for the housing industry. Interest rates kept us on our toes, the dust is still settling from the NAR settlement, agents are retooling their buyer and listing systems, we are digging an even greater hole in terms of our inventory, and now we even have insurance issues to bear. This year challenged both new and seasoned real estate professionals. Despite the challenges, there are big opportunities ahead for agents who know where to look.
Highly acclaimed by past attendees, State of the Market includes crucial information about important changes happening in our industry, historical and current market conditions, researched insight and predictions of where our market is going, and opportunities and talking-points for brokers to explore and capitalize upon.
There are very few things I am as passionate about in business as branding. Brand Development is as critical in business as determining your business name, mission statement, your entity (such as S Corp, LLC, etc), and your processes.
However, there seems to be confusion about what your brand really is. Some think it is solely about the client experience - the feeling the client gets once the transaction is closed, the service you provide, etc. In my opinion, that works great for past and current clients, but what about those potential clients who haven't yet completed a transaction or those people you haven’t actually met yet?
That is where building a visual brand comes in. You can think of a visual brand like a promise - a promise of service. A promise of experience. And a little about what makes you or your business model unique.
A visual brand can also stand in for you when you are not there. For example, a new potential buyer or seller may come across your website, Facebook page, an invitation to an open house, or a geographical farm mailer before they ever meet you in person. Good and solid content coupled with a memorable visual brand can begin to build a relationship.
A visual brand contains:
A logo is a great start, but you need a few more elements to build a complete brand. When an agent has a logo they like, we use that as a great starting point for establishing style, colors, and fonts that are used in the complete brand.
Your company has probably invested thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, in their brand. However, in order to have the broadest appeal and be a tool that all the agents in your office would be comfortable using, it is probably more neutral than what we would create for an individual agent - and more neutral brands may be memorable for the company, but not necessarily for the agent. Building a brand for yourself requires standing out from the company at large, with your own signature look as a real estate agent.
Yes, IF you work with a company that can not only build your brand but apply it to all the tools and systems in your business. Your graphic skills are probably not as well-honed as your real estate skills and you don't need to be battling with photo and text boxes when really all you need is to create a house flyer for a new listing. The real estate agents with the most success have branding tools and processes that are at their fingertips, ready for your photos and content.
Consistency with your brand provides the type of confidence that gets you excited about marketing and making connections. Every agent I know who has developed a brand and used it consistently has paid for their investment time and time and time again!
If building a real estate brand has been at the top of your list, we are here to help! Just reach out and we will schedule a time to talk.
To talk to a branding expert and discover how branding can make a difference in your real estate business, call us at (360) 527-8904, email solutions@thelonesgroup.com, or visit our branding info page and schedule a free branding consultation.