Inman

How to stay relevant in 2019

Doing what you did in the past won’t be enough to stay relevant in 2019 as a real estate agent. You need to consistently retool, innovate and develop new strategies to build a customer base bu maintain your current client list as well.

Know where your audience is online

It starts with knowing where your audience is online — and being present there.

You can’t communicate with existing and potential clients if you aren’t putting yourself in positions to connect with them.

Saying things like, “I don’t understand social media,” or “Instagram is for kids,” simply won’t cut it in 2019.

Take the time, research where your demographic is online, and learn those platforms. Ultimately, it will help your bottom line.

Commit to learning

There are countless free resources online that will teach you how to master new skills. Whether it’s learning here on Inman, following influencers or taking online courses — the tactics you learn will help you become a better agent in 2019.

Don’t bite off more than you can chew

New year, new you right?

Well, let’s slow down. Up until this point, I’ve been telling you it’s important to figure out where your audience is online and commit to those platforms.

However, don’t bite off more than you can chew with online marketing. It’s better to do one or two marketing channels well than it is to do 10 poorly.

Commit to video

Since starting to write for Inman in 2014 I’ve been preaching the need for video and getting comfortable on camera. I’m doubling down on it again this year.

The lowest hanging fruit for agents today is sitting in their pocket. Your smartphone is your biggest marketing weapon, allowing you to create, publish and share video very quickly and with minimal barriers.

Ask for help

The last thing I would recommend for agents to stay relevant in 2019 would be to ask for help. This can be from your brokerage, other agents in your office or across the country.

If you don’t know something about a social media platform or need a second opinion on something don’t hesitate to ask for help — the majority of people will be willing and excited to assist you.

Jordan Scheltgen is the founder of Cave Social. You can follow him on Twitter @cavejordans or connect with him on Facebook