One of the first words that Realtors hear during the first few months of starting their business is branding. Often the idea itself is followed by a slew of questions: “What is branding?,” “Why do I need my own brand instead of simply using the one for the Brokerage?, and finally “How do I develop my brand?”
Thankfully, AGENTC has been on the frontlines of helping our clients with their branding for over 10 years, and so our team of professionals have the insight on all the information that you need to know:
An Overview of Branding
A brand is really just a simple way of saying “reputation”. The term comes from the actual burning of something permanent onto an object or animal. Long ago, you would see the craftsman’s signature on the wooden violin, or iron branding on a leather coat; this is how people began recognizing brands and it was often used as a mark of distinction and craftsmanship. Essentially the reputation we form is our brand, but in marketing you can also try to influence how you’re perceived by building a brand. This is what you currently see multi-billion dollar companies doing. They spend millions influencing how they are perceived by the public, even if the brand experience is poor, the constant flooding of marketing stating that this is top quality will have consumers believe it is better, even if it is not.
Either you brand yourself, or you will be branded. Simple as that!
Branding isn’t just a status symbol because it speaks to those who interact with it.
Your website, your business card, how your phone is answered, what you wear, and what you drive are all things that speak, even when you’re silent. People who invest in taking care of themselves, their appearance, and their website demonstrate that they’re on top of everything. It’s a clear mark of striving for excellence, attention to detail and not settling for less.
When Realtors invest the time and money needed to create a brand and manage their client’s perceptions, it demonstrates that they really care about their business. It means they work hard at creating a higher level of service, and that they want to be known for that distinction.
Developing Your Brand in Real Estate
- Development of personal branding in Real Estate is essential.
- Getting licensed is easy.
- Selling to family and friends is easy.
- But building a business selling to strangers is tough.
Your brand will become a calling card for those who live and work by a different standard. The reality is that those who can’t generate enough clients will always be afraid of investing in their business. However, those who believe in what they do – even if they don’t have enough clients yet – will always invest in their business.
It’s human nature to be attracted to businesses’ that have beautifully designed brands because it’s a mark of success, and we want part of it.
Unfortunately, branding is not easy to pull off. It requires that you thoroughly think about all the touchpoints your business has with a customer, and how you will consistently deliver the same level of service across all touchpoints. It’s hard work, requires dedication, and it’s often expensive.
For example, branding doesn’t mean a logo. Some people will pay for a logo and slap it everywhere, but that’s not branding. Branding is an entire exercise of reflecting upon your business: it’s direction and it’s intended message to your consumers.
Getting to know your brand can be exciting, so own it. Spend the time to understand who you are and how you want your clients to experience business with you.
Building a brand does require expertise. AGENTC™ has our own unique formula for why our marketing and branding works! Between talent, experience, a keen eye, and empathy, we’re consistently creating unique brands that represent a business owner’s vision and mission.
We know our method works because it repeatedly brings back repeat clients as well as referrals. It takes a team of 5 people to be involved in branding and building a website, so it requires a lot of talent and synergy.
And we’ve built that team just for that. We offer it to a select few because we don’t compete with low-grade marketing options. If you are looking to invest in a new brand, or furthering your brand-development, contact us today!
