We've talked recently about how important branding yourself and business is when you are a real estate agent
. Your reputation is a crucial element in how you are perceived in your community and by your clients, both current and potential. Your brand will continue to develop whether you manage that process or not. If you aren't the one directing the development of you brand, think about who is doing it.
Once you've developed the core of your brand and decided how you plan to build it, you will need to implement that strategy. There are a number of tools at hand to do just that. In many cases, the assistance of a professional is needed to create the image you want and need to create. Here are of few of the tools a professional can offer that you may not be able to secure on your own.
Graphic Design
Your logos, letterhead and signage are a huge part of your business' public face. Sloppy or amateurish graphics will not help you build a brand centered on excellence. Your clients notice the little things like attention-getting business cards and slick proposals. A professional graphic designer can help you create those touches that show the world who you are as an agent.
Web Design
Many, if not most, of your clients will spend more time with a real estate agent's web site than they will with the actual agent. You can't afford to have a site that is hard to navigate, unattractive or uninformative. Think of your site as a virtual representation of you. It should be smart and professional, helpful and friendly. Those attributes are tough to find in the average template. Real estate sites are rich with photos and descriptions; they are complex digital creations. This is one facet of your branding strategy that truly needs a professional touch.
We are living in a visual world. Images are often more important than text and the real estate business is a prime example of this fact. It is one thing to list the square footage or a home alongside the number of bedrooms and baths but quite another to show these features in a slideshow or a virtual tour. Technology offers some amazing ways to present digital images and multi-media presentations to your clients. If you aren't using this powerful tool to implement your branding strategy you are throwing away an incredible opportunity.
It's time to take control of your brand and your business. Let a professional show you how you can harness the tools to implement your branding strategy.