Every connection is an opportunity. The top 5 ways to grow your contacts

When you focus on the 5 top ways to grow your list of contacts, you will quickly build a valuable database of future buying and selling clients.

Here’s an undisputed fact that no successful real estate professional, coach or trainer will disagree with: The more contacts you have and keep in touch with, the more listings and sales you will make.

Growing your database of potential new clients is essential to your real estate success. Here are the top 5 ways to find and attract potential clients to your CRM, with step-by-step instructions for each:

1. Leverage Referrals from Current and Past Clients

How it works: Your past buying and selling clients are one of the most valuable sources for generating new leads. By actively asking for referrals and offering incentives, you can tap into their networks and quickly grow your contact list.

Steps:

• Follow up with past clients: After closing a sale, send a thank-you note and ask for referrals. Make it easy by providing a template or link they can share with friends or family.

• Offer an incentive: Give clients a reason to refer others to you. For example, offer a gift card, a free home consultation, or entry into a raffle for every successful referral.

• Create a referral program: Set up a formal referral program where clients are rewarded when someone they refer buys or sells a home with you.

• Use social media: Ask satisfied clients to write testimonials or post about their experience with you on their social media, tagging you in their posts. This will increase visibility to their networks.

• Stay in touch: Regularly check in with past clients through email, phone calls, or social media. A simple “How are things with your new home?” keeps you top of mind when they or someone they know needs a real estate agent.

Tip: Build strong relationships with your clients so they naturally want to refer you to others.

This will be a much more natural and sustainable way to grow your client base.

2. Optimize Social Media Marketing (Paid and Organic)

How it works:

Use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to create engaging content (both free and paid ads) that encourages interaction and drives people to sign up for newsletters, market updates, or contact forms.

Steps:

- Set up your profiles: Ensure your social media profiles are professionally branded and include contact forms or sign-up links (like “Join my newsletter for selling and buying tips”).

- Create engaging content: Share market updates, home-buying tips, success stories, and client testimonials. Encourage followers to interact by asking questions or running contests (e.g., "Share this post and enter for a chance to win a free home consultation").

- Use paid ads: Run targeted ads promoting specific content (like an eBook or home value calculator) that require viewers to provide their email before accessing it. Talk to us about setting up a customized Ad Machine account so you can explode your marketing reach using AI and save a TON of $ in the process!

- Utilize lead capture forms: Facebook and Instagram allow you to create lead capture forms directly within the ad, making it easier for users to give you their contact info.

Tip: Focus on building trust and providing value so people are more likely to follow you and share their info.

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3. Network with Local Businesses and Influencers

How it works:

Form partnerships with local businesses, influencers, and service providers (e.g., mortgage brokers, home stagers) who can refer potential clients to you in exchange for mutual promotion.

Steps:

- Identify key partners: Look for businesses and individuals who have overlapping audiences with real estate (e.g., interior designers, local restaurants, small business owners).

- Approach them with value: Offer to cross-promote their business in exchange for them promoting yours, or work together on joint events or giveaways.

- Leverage their network: If they agree, ask them to share your content or referrals, and vice versa.

- Create co-branded offers: For example, offer a free home evaluation, and the local partner provides a discount on their service for anyone who signs up.

Tip: Send co-branded email campaigns, where you both can collect leads.

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4. Utilize Open Houses and Community Events

How it works:

Open houses and local events give you direct access to potential clients, allowing you to collect contact details and build rapport.

Steps:

- Host regular open houses: For every listing, make it an event and invite neighbors, not just interested buyers. Have sign-in sheets where visitors must provide their contact info before entering.

- Offer a unique experience: Serve refreshments or giveaways (like a “homeowner’s guide”) to encourage visitors to leave their contact details.

- Attend community events: Be present at local fairs, festivals, or farmer’s markets with a branded booth. Offer a raffle or free real estate consultation in exchange for email addresses.

- Follow up immediately: After each event or open house, reach out to attendees and invite them to subscribe to your newsletter or receive personalized home search alerts.

Tip: Be approachable and focus on building a relationship rather than being overly sales-driven.

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5. Create a Value-Driven Website with Lead Magnets**

How it works:

Your website should be optimized to capture leads by offering something valuable (e.g., market reports, eBooks) in exchange for their contact info.

Steps:

- Build or refine your website: Ensure it looks professional, loads quickly, and is user-friendly. Add clear CTAs (Calls to Action) like “Get a free home valuation” or “Download our free first-time buyer guide.”

- Offer lead magnets: Create downloadable content such as an “Ultimate Guide to Selling Your Home” or “Top 10 Mistakes Buyers Make,” and make it accessible only after users fill out a form with their email address.

- Use pop-ups or banners: Have exit-intent pop-ups offering a free market report or a subscription to your newsletter in exchange for their email.

- Promote your website: Direct traffic to your website through social media posts, ads, email signatures, and business cards.

Tip: Make the lead magnet highly specific and targeted to a pain point your audience has.

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Final Tips for Ongoing Success:

1. Follow up consistently: After capturing a lead, ensure they receive a series of follow-up emails with useful information, preferably links to relevant blog articles on your website.

2. Segment your contacts: Use your CRM to tag leads by their interest (e.g., buyer, seller, investor) to send targeted communications.

3. Automate and nurture: Set up automated email campaigns to stay top-of-mind and nurture leads over time.

By implementing these strategies, you'll build a growing, engaged database of potential clients in no time.

“We’re now in our fourth month using Real Easy Ads and we’ve dropped most of our other marketing because NOTHING compares with AI-powered ads.  Now we drive traffic to our own website not the big real estate portals. Our local brand visibility, profile, and authority are through the roof”
Andrew Clark Barfoot + Thompson Waiuku NZ

“This platform is amazing! I’m getting at least 7x more click-throughs for the money invested, and it’s direct to my website, not some third-party landing page. My clients love it and since we started leveraging AI and running paid ads for our new listings, the surge in comments and positive feedback has been phenomenal. Real Easy Ads is the next generation in social media advertising and has increased my brand awareness immensely!” 
Matt Morton Morton + Co NZ