Being a new real estate agent in a saturated field can be overwhelming, and you might feel a little lost on how to market yourself and acquire leads. When it comes to real estate, lead generation is the name of the game. There can be expensive and inexpensive strategies to generate leads. For new realtors, we often encourage agents to lean toward inexpensive or free strategies for acquiring leads. A good place for agents to start is by using email marketing to grow their presence and nurture their audience.

So, what is email marketing, then?

It is a type of marketing where you use emails to inform, engage and build relationships with your leads and past clients. Through emails, you can send market updates, listings, tips and tricks and other relevant information to your email list.

And you know what? Even though email marketing is one of the oldest forms of online communication, it remains one of the best and most effective ways of acquiring leads and gaining clients today.

But before we delve deeper into email marketing, you must first build your email list. You need to master the art of convincing people to give you their email addresses. In another blog, we'll show you an in-depth walkthrough on how to quickly build your email list like a pro.

Below is a quick glance at some ways to build an email list:

• Collect email addresses during in-person events

• Create personalized landing pages with CTAs (call-to-actions)

• Have pop-up or opt-in forms on your website

• Offer a free newsletter subscription

• Add an email list signup button to your social media

Why is Email Marketing Important for Real Estate Agents?

Did you know that for every $1 spent on email, it generates $42 in return? Imagine pulling this off for a subscriber list of 1,000 members.

What if you had more than that? It's mind-blowing, right?

For real estate agents like you, this powerful tool can bring you a five to six-figure income by the end of the year. When you know how to use and maximize email marketing to its full potential, you'll definitely become a serious competitor in no time.

In fact, email is nearly 40 times more effective at gaining new clients than Facebook and Twitter combined. This jaw-dropping and surprising statistic proves that email marketing is an excellent choice for new realtors to jumpstart their careers.

How Email Marketing Works

One must know how to leverage technology and other tools to stand out in this competitive industry. As client expectations and behavior have changed over time, your way of emailing should also evolve along with them. 

Here's the secret sauce to doing email marketing the right way:

• Segment your email list into specific groups based on demographics, interests and position in your pipeline. This way, you can send personalized messages that resonate well with each group.

• Create a content strategy that aligns with your goals as well as the needs of the target audience. For example, you can send newsletters, listings, market updates, infographics, promotional emails, tips and other relevant information regarding the buying and selling process.

• Pay attention to the design and branding. An email that is visually appealing and consistent in design helps build your image and credibility. It sends a message of professionalism which builds trust. Remember that people always want to work with a professional.

• Create a catchy subject line. It increases the chances of getting your emails opened and read.

• Enjoy the perks of automation. Automation saves you time and energy since you can set up automated email drip campaigns to nurture your leads.

• Measure and analyze the performance of your emails. It helps you determine which campaigns work and which ones need more improvement.

What to Look For in an Email Marketing Software

Automation makes everything more accessible and convenient for email marketing, especially for busy real estate agents. You don't have to rack your brain and spend hours thinking about the content of your emails.

It's cost-effective, time-efficient and super convenient. That's why most real estate agents invest in an all-around software platform that can help take their business to the next level.

Other features you should be looking for in an email marketing software:

• Client segmentation - this allows you to segment your leads and clients into various groups based on criteria such as demographics, location, price range, and others.

• Email templates and design - using beautiful templates and branded designs can save time and effort. All you need to do is customize your message for your intended recipients.

• Reporting and analytics - you can see which types of email, subject lines and message body are most effective. Getting the data about who is opening your emails and their deliverability are important key factors in your email marketing strategy.

• Integration - this lets you use your email alongside other tools and services. By leveraging the right integrations, your data can be synced directly with other tools that you use and eliminate additional work.

• Excellent customer support - look for software with great client support, tutorials and resources to walk you through the platform.

Now that you know the basics of email marketing, you are closer to establishing your name in the real estate industry.