Leveraging your brand to win awards and recognition.
Real estate agents hoping to gain recognition among their peers and their communities can leverage their brands to help them win reputable awards that show others their value and reputability.
One way to gain recognition and win awards in real estate is to be a top producer. Many industry awards come down to sales volume. However, other awards are given based on reputation, community involvement, or marketing strategies. Several years ago, Allen Trammell, a multi-million dollar producer at Trammell & Co. Realtors in Little Rock, Arkansas, was named Arkansas Realtor of the year. He says “branding had something to do with that as that is part of the criteria.”
“There are always opportunities for new agents to get involved and gain recognition,” he adds.
Provide excellent customer service for all.
It goes without saying that one of the best things you can do for your brand is to provide exceptional customer service to all of your clients. Word of mouth goes a long way in attracting new clients, and today “word of web” is also key. Providing excellent customer service and asking for feedback and reviews online can help promote your brand and put you in the rankings for some industry awards.
Word of web is now being taken into account for certain industry awards. Zillow announced its “Best of Zillow” program in October, which will “reward and promote great agents who have a track record of making customers happy.” Zillow will create customer experience reports based on anonymous customer data to provide insights into agents’ performance, and those who provide the greatest customer satisfaction will be designated “Best of Zillow.”
Be a resource and supporter of your peers.
Some industry awards are determined through a voting process, and as such those who have cultivated positive relationships with other agents will likely come out ahead. Real estate is a competitive business, but those who support their colleagues and even competitors stand to benefit. Being responsive, courteous, and informative can go a long way in creating a positive brand that can potentially win you widespread recognition in the industry. Agents who are committed to branding themselves as an industry resource can also mentor other agents and teach seminars and continuing education courses for other agents.
Volunteer in your community and showcase your volunteer activities.
Real estate agents who volunteer in their communities position themselves as caring and relatable. Agents can share their volunteer experiences on their websites, blogs, and social media accounts.
Not only do various industry groups and brokers offer awards to agents for their community involvement, but also local publications and organizations often give awards to active community members and volunteers. You may find that giving back to your community brings you an abundance in return.
Develop a stellar marketing strategy.
While some association awards take marketing and branding into consideration, there are also awards aimed directly at those who have exceptional marketing and branding campaigns. The Real Estate Marketing Awards recognizes (REMA) “the best content marketing projects, agencies and marketers in the real estate industry each year.”
REMA recognizes real estate companies who excel in a variety of marketing areas, including content marketing plan, newsletter or email campaign, public relations strategy, company blog, graphic design, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and overall social media.
Real Trends also recognizes top real estate websites in six distinct categories, including best overall website, best mobile website, best website design, best community, best property detail, and best video.
Apply with enthusiasm.
When filling out applications for real estate awards, agents should be thorough but succinct. Remember that the judges reviewing your application will likely be reading hundreds of applications.
First, make sure you have answered every question and met all the minimum requirements. An application lacking minimum requirements likely will be tossed aside immediately.
Don’t just talk about your success. Demonstrate it. Include statistics about your success, whether sales volume, downloads from your website, or subscribers to your newsletter.
When completing your application, think about what makes you or your team unique. Consider what you do that is above and beyond what your competitors do or what you have to offer that they don’t.
Also, try to ensure your application tells a story. It should reflect your brand, your values, and your personality.
About Author: Krista Franks Brock
Krista Franks Brock is a professional writer and editor who has covered the mortgage banking and default servicing sectors since 2011. Previously, she served as managing editor of DS News and Southern Distinction, a regional lifestyle publication. Her work has appeared in a variety of print and online publications, including Consumers Digest, Dallas Style and Design, DS News and DSNews.com, MReport and theMReport.com. She holds degrees in journalism and art from the University of Georgia.