We can picture it now: you’re fresh out of real estate school, eager and ready to build your very own multi-million-dollar business – but you aren’t exactly sure where to start. That’s okay! We’ve been there too. Unlike you, however, we didn’t have a killer resource like The Real Tea on Realty (humble brag) to give us the guidance we wanted and so badly needed on creating healthy habits as a real estate agent.

Instead, we had to stumble around for the first few years and figure out what worked, what didn’t, and learn the skills we needed to be successful in the industry.

Because nobody will hand you a guidebook on how to be a successful agent, we’re going to help you out. Below we’ve laid out the three  most important habits that new real estate agents need to develop if they want to build a multi-million-dollar business.

Never Stop Learning

We’re putting this one right at the top, because we believe that this is the most important thing for ALL real estate agents, but especially new ones. We understand that you just may have just finished  school and you’re ready for a break from education. But while you’re taking a break, your competition still has their nose to the ground and is looking for ways they can rise to the top.. That’s the real tea.

We highly recommend pursuing additional real estate certifications and designations. They will make you more credible and knowledgeable than those who only have their real estate license. To get started, check out my free Masterclass for new agents. This class is a great place to start to learn how to avoid common mistakes new real estate agents make, and start developing healthy habits.

Here are 6 certifications that you can start pursuing today, how much they cost, and how you can go about getting them. The best options for you will depend on your goals, experience and budget. We believe that it’s important that you at least know what is available to you so you can pursue these when you’re ready.

• Certified Residential Specialist
  • Offered by Residential Real Estate Council
  • $99 application fee, $195 annual dues

• Seller Representative Specialist
  • Offered by Real Estate Business Institute
  • $99 annual fee after the first year

• Accredited Buyer’s Representative
  • Offered by The Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council
  • $100 annual fee after the first year

• Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager
  • Offered by Real Estate Business Institute
  • $150 designation fee, $210 annual fee after the first year

• Certified Real Estate Team Specialist
  • Offered by Real Estate Business Institute
  • $159 application fee

• Certified Commercial Investment Member
  • Offered by Certified Commercial Investment Member Institute
  • $650 annual fee for U.S.-based members, $175 submission fee, $810 for the concepts review course, and $380 exam fee

Consistent Blogging

Every real estate agent needs to understand how important a blog is to their business. Here are the basics to create a real estate blog:

Set up a website with a blog tab

These days, it’s so incredibly easy to build a website. You can use a hosting platform like Wix, GoDaddy, WordPress, or Kajabi. There are  hundreds of templates for you to use to make it as easy as possible.

We recommend paying for a personalized domain name that makes it very clear to visitors that they’re on YOUR website. You will have to first purchase the domain name and then pay monthly or annually for your hosting platform to run that domain name for you.

Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)It helps search engines like Google scan the world wide web for keywords that people are looking for – the words they type in the search bar when they’re looking for more information on something. The more often those keywords show up on your website, the higher your chances are of getting on the first page of Google results.Blogging allows you  to pack your website with all the keywords relevant to  your business while offering your audience free, valuable information that proves you’re an expert in your field.

Let’s look at a little example:

You’re a real estate agent in Los Angeles – a huge city with a huge real estate market. How are people going to find you?

Blogging with specific keywords such as…

• The best real estate agent in [neighborhood]
• Available listings in [neighborhood]
• Top realtors in [neighborhood]
• Tips for home buying/selling in [neighborhood]
• Best affordable homes in [neighborhood]
• Best LA Neighborhoods to live in

…will help search engines direct people to your site.

If you need more help with deciding what keywords to use, you can use the free Google Keyword Planner within Google Ads. This will show you how often people are searching for the keywords that you’re planning on using in blogs. Note that you want to use keywords with low to medium competition, so you have a better chance of standing out.

Post regularly

It’s very important to  get into the habit of churning out content on your website regularly. This will help in a multitude of ways:

• Active websites prove to be more reliabl
• More content = more keywords = more traffic
• You will establish yourself as an expert by sharing all of your knowledge
• Your audience will stay up to date on real estate happenings

It’s recommended to post AT LEAST one new blog a week.

Interacting on Social Media

A habit that new real estate agents need to cultivate  is interacting on social media regularly. Social media is a great way to connect with your audience, promote yourself, improve your SEO rankings, and network with other professionals.

Here are our best tips for running successful social media accounts as a real estate agent:

Take great photos

Newer iPhones have high-tech  cameras, so you should be able to curate a decent feed without a fancy DSLR. However, if you’re working with a smartphone camera that isn’t up to snuff, we recommend upgrading, hiring a professional, or investing in a DSLR.

For photo inspiration, check out the accounts of real estate agents that you admire.

Post regularly

Just like blogging, staying active on social media will make you more credible and keep your audience up-to-date with what’s happening in their areas. It’s recommended to make at least one photo post a day and always share something on your “story.”

Take advantage of  every avenue

There are tons of social media platforms out there, but the best platforms for for business marketing are Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and Twitter. Within each platform, there are various ways of posting, and they all have different purposes:

• Photos with captions – share something awesome with your audience and tell a short story
• Stories – give insight into what a day in the life of a realtor is like
• IGTV or Facebook Live – conduct interviews, do a Q & A with your audience, or create a video blog post (vlog)
• Instagram Reels – create quick, visually appealing videos with actionable advice
• Pinterest home inspiration boards – offer home buyers and sellers inspiration for decorating, renovations, DIY tips, and more

Automate your posts

It may seem like publishing on every platform daily is a lot to keep up with, but you can make it really easy for yourself by utilizing content planning software like Hootsuite. Once you’ve linked your accounts within the content planner, you can create as many posts as you’d like and schedule them to be posted at a certain time on a certain day, automatically.

Have fun with it!

Social media is often the first time a potential client will interact with you. Really show your personality and let them get to know who you are. This will help them to feel comfortable with you before they ever meet you in person and remind them that they’re working with someone who is just like them.

Final Thoughts

Becoming a successful real estate agent takes hard work, patience, and determination. If you start developing these 3 habits right now, you’ll be in great shape to develop the real estate career of your dreams.

If you’re curious about other habits of successful real estate agents, head back over to our main blog page and check out the post Things You Should Do Daily as A Realtor for more actionable advice.