Want to build a real estate career that lasts? Mastering the art (and science) of real estate marketing is a crucial first step. The key to effective real estate marketing is finding that Goldilocks mix of strategies that work for your personal brand, resonate with your market niche and don’t send you to the poor house. Not easy.
To help, we updated our list of proven real estate marketing ideas to include innovative new ideas for 2025 and beyond — including fresh new ways to leverage AI in your marketing. After the ideas, we walk you through how to integrate them into your marketing plan so you can reach your goals faster.
Online real estate marketing ideas
A well-planned mix of online marketing strategies to reach buyers and sellers remains one of the fastest ways to grow your business in 2025. According to the latest National Association of Realtors (NAR) consumer housing trends report, 51% of millennials said they were more likely to hire an agent with a social media presence. Additionally, more sellers found their agent online than through a referral in 2024.
So what are you waiting for? Here are our best online marketing strategies:
1. Run AI-powered ad campaigns
Online advertising is a game of inches. Even small tweaks to your ads and targeting can lead to big changes in your bottom line. AI tools help you make small changes that get you more bang for your real estate marketing bucks. They analyze browsing behavior and ad performance to help you get the right ad to the right lead at the right time. Magic!
Not sure where to start? For Facebook and Instagram, Meta’s Advantage+ AI tool is already helping some businesses lower their ad costs by 19%. If you’re running home valuation ads on Google, their Performance Max tool can help you drive more leads for a lower price. Still on the fence about using AI in your marketing? Your competitors aren’t. One study showed that real estate companies are already increasing net income by 10% using AI.
Related article
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2. Send interactive buyer & listing presentations
Want your marketing to stand out in a post-NAR settlement market? You need to step up your presentation game. PDFs are out. Interactive presentations that measure results are in:
Highnote helps you create engaging, trackable interactive presentations to give you that crucial edge with buyer and seller leads. You’ll get dozens of interactive templates for buyer presentations, pre-listing presentations, listing presentations and more — all created and tested by top-producing agents to win more clients. Need something special? Their team of marketing experts can create a custom interactive listing presentation just for you. You can sign up for a free trial here:
Visit Highnote
3. Send personalized video text messages
With an open rate of 82%, text messages are still one of the most effective ways to market your business. Quick-hit videos that answer common buyer questions or, better yet, answer a specific client question get the best results. You can pre-record your answers to send them faster or take a few minutes to record them on the fly for important clients.
Here are a few tips for sending better video text messages:
- Write scripts for your videos that include a verbal CTA: End every video text with a quick “call me at 555-555-5555 with any questions.”
- Keep your videos short — around 30 to 60 seconds.
- Write a text telling them about the video: “Hi Jennifer, this is a pretty complicated subject, so I recorded this quick video to answer your question. Call me if you have any questions!”
- You can send video texts to segments in your database using CRMs like CINC or through apps like BombBomb or Dubb.
4. Use AI to virtually stage listings for picky buyers
Have picky buyers who “just can’t picture themselves” living in the homes you show them? Pull up an AI staging app like Collov AI on your tablet, and transform that dreary second bedroom with the stained carpet into the home office of their dreams. Collov removes furniture and creates Zillow-ready staged images in just 30 seconds — for less than 25 cents each. See our example above. It’s like magic.
Already know what your buyers want? Virtually stage each listing before your showing and send it to your buyers in a follow-up email. When you’re done, email the virtually staged images to the listing agent to score brownie points. It’s an easy way to integrate the latest AI technology into your real estate marketing as a buyer’s agent.
Visit Collov AI
5. Gift your clients memorable experiences, not cheap swag with your logo on it
Giving better closing gifts is an easy way to elevate your real estate marketing game in 2025. Here’s why: Most agents make the mistake of using their closing gifts for self-promotion. That might have worked in 2021 when homes were flying off the market, but in 2025, you need to take gifting seriously. It’s the cherry on top of your warm, competent service and will be the last impression they have of you before your first follow-up. You need to make it count.
Savvy real estate marketers gift memorable experiences, not cheap swag. Giftory makes it easy. Using their app, you can gift your clients something they will actually remember fondly instead of shoving into a kitchen cabinet. They offer everything from cocktail-making classes to helicopter rides to wow even your most jaded clients.
Visit Giftory
6. Create or share viral memes on Instagram and Facebook
Today, even giant brands like Chipotle use memes to market their businesses. They inject a bit of much-needed levity into your real estate marketing mix. Why is humor so important for real estate marketing? Simple. It helps convince people that spending a Sunday afternoon with you might actually be, god forbid, fun.
Luckily, you don’t have to go to art school to create memes that make your audience chuckle. Most viral memes are simple, short videos that use trending audio. Find trending audio in your Instagram app in the professional dashboard. Make a habit of checking it daily so you can jump on viral trends. Here’s an example meme from an agent in Tampa that’s just 30 seconds long:
A post shared by AUTUMN ETHEREDGE | 𝙏𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙖 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙤𝙧 (@tampaliving)
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7. Post educational videos on Instagram Reels
Short educational videos are one of the best ways to market yourself as a trusted advisor on social media. Here’s why: Instagram and Facebook prioritize quick-hit videos since they increase their ad revenue. That means your content will be shown to more people more often — the holy grail of social media marketing.
Of course, not everyone is a social media whiz. Luckily, you don’t have to be. Coffee & Contracts’ marketing platform gives you viral-worthy social media templates and educational video scripts — all created by top-producing agents and real estate marketers. It’s like hiring a social media manager for less than you spend on coffee every morning.
Visit Coffee & Contracts
8. Create buzzworthy polls
Interactive polls market your business in a fun way. People love sharing their opinions, and the engagement will help get your content in front of more viewers. Create polls about almost anything, but “this or that” polls that ask people to choose between, say, a Malibu beach house or a lofty mountain retreat work best. Kitchens are another popular topic for polls. People have surprisingly strong opinions on cabinet choices and kitchen islands. We definitely do.
9. Leverage reviews to get more (and better) referrals
The social proof you get from reviews is critical for getting leads to know, like and trust you. Asking for a referral at the same time (and following up regularly) builds your client base faster. Why? It’s basic psychology. People are far more likely to want to help you after you ask them for something else.
Reach150 is an easy way to get more referrals from the glowing reviews you worked so hard to get. Here’s how it works: They send review and referral requests automatically, then follow up for up to six months to keep you top of mind. Their app can also help tease our referrals from your database — even if you haven’t talked to them in years.
Visit Reach150
10. Post neighborhood tour videos on YouTube
Posting deep-dive neighborhood tours on your YouTube channel is an excellent way to market your services to people moving to your farm area. The first step people take before looking at homes is finding a new neighborhood, which is stressful. By posting neighborhood tour videos, you’ll reach leads early in their buying journey and start marketing to them before other agents.
Even better, it’s one of the few marketing strategies where long videos outperform short ones — perfect for boosting your watch time on YouTube. Make sure to include lots of useful information about school districts, the best blocks to live on, and anything else someone considering the neighborhood might want to know.
For the best results, embed your neighborhood tour videos on your website. They might help you rank better on search engines. Need some inspiration? Check out the neighborhood tour videos on Melissa Terizs’ DC Real Estate Mama blog.
11. Stay top of mind with an email newsletter
A strategic email newsletter keeps you top-of-mind with your sphere to drum up referrals and even new business. Offer them something of value and keep them entertained, and you’ll build a loyal audience. Hyper-local market reports and home valuation updates are perfect newsletter fodder. They’re like catnip for new homeowners. Who doesn’t want to know when the value of their largest asset goes up?
Get free market reports from tools like our own Altos Research, and CRMs like CINC let you send automated home valuation reports to past clients. Add a dash of fun to your newsletter with quirky or drool-worthy new listings, restaurant reviews or wry real estate memes to keep your audience from getting bored.
Visit Altos Research
12. Get video testimonials to share on your website and social media
Video testimonials are more believable (and more persuasive) than text-only reviews — even on Zillow. One testimonial video where people can SEE how happy your former clients are can do more for your brand than 20+ text-only reviews. They’re just more trustworthy. Not sure how to format your testimonial videos? Check out how persuasive this video testimonial from Texas Realtor Brian Lott’s former clients is. He starts with B Roll footage from his farm area and then just lets them tell their story. You can see how happy they were with his service.
The key to getting former clients to agree to video reviews is to make it easy. Send them a quick email with 3 or 4 questions to jog their memory so they’re ready to talk as soon as you sit them down to record.
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How to make the most of real estate testimonials to attract new clients
13. Create a professional website
Social media profiles are important for marketing, but a professional website is crucial. After all, you’re a business of one, not just a social media personality. Websites increase trust with buyers and sellers in ways that social media can’t. If you don’t have one, you risk looking less credible than the 73% of agents that do. That can put you at a disadvantage in low inventory markets.
If you’re a newer agent, you don’t need to have all the bells and whistles on your site to market your business. Tell your story, include client testimonials and give visitors a place to search for listings. You can always expand your website as your brand and budget grow.
Want a website that works right out of the box? Check out our guide to website builders below to get started:
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14. Write (and share) educational blog posts
Writing educational blog posts focused on your niche audience is an excellent way to provide value to your potential clients. They will also help you answer thorny questions that you might not have time for in a listing presentation or buyer presentation. Here’s an example: going into the weeds on fair housing laws can be a minefield in person.
Most people won’t have the patience for the depth and nuance the topic deserves. Worse, they might misunderstand what you’re saying! In a blog post, you can really dig into the topic.
Not convinced writing educational content is worth your time? Taya DiCarlo’s wild in-the-trenches stories helped her build 100,000+ followers across her social media channels, but her blog focuses almost entirely on one thing: educational content for buyers and sellers.
Once your posts are written, share them on Facebook and Linkedin to drive more traffic to your website. You can also create videos for your blog posts for people who would rather watch than read.
15. Go live on Facebook or Instagram
Facebook or Instagram Live are both excellent channels to provide value for potential clients. Interview guests like mortgage brokers and attorneys and let your audience ask questions. To attract viewers, schedule and promote your live event by posting about it a few days before. To get a bigger audience, consider paying to boost your post.
Timing is essential when hosting live videos. Studies show that afternoons or evenings are usually the best time since fewer people will be working.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Virtual open houses for hot listings — below-market homes work best!
- First-time buyer seminars
- An “ask me anything” session on the local market
- Interview a mortgage broker and let your audience ask her questions when you’re finished
16. Offer advice in local Facebook groups
Many cities have thriving local Facebook groups. Some, like the Houston group above, have tens of thousands of people on them. If you play your cards right, they are an excellent place to engage with your community and offer useful advice on buying and selling real estate. Some don’t allow self-promotion, but they can still be an excellent place to build your personal brand in your community. Once people know you’re a Realtor (and like your posts!) they will reach out with questions.
Related article
15 Facebook groups every real estate agent & broker should join today
17. Offer advice in local Reddit groups
Reddit isn’t just a platform for conspiracy theories and debates. It can be a sneaky tool for marketing your services — if you know where to post. Create an account, enter your town, city or state and join a subreddit dedicated to your area. Some larger cities also have subreddits dedicated to real estate, similar to the one below.
Once you join, answer questions and offer advice. If you provide a well-thought-out answer to a question, the original poster or commenters may direct message you to connect off the platform, and you can offer your services from there.
Here’s a post in a New York City apartments subreddit that’s perfect for offering your advice and expertise:
18. Share market hot takes or selling advice on Linkedin
LinkedIn is more than a social media platform for finding a job. As an agent, you can use the platform to post content without the hassle of designing your own website. Also, most LinkedIn users are professionals, unlike other social platforms designed for entertainment and engagement. That means your market hot takes won’t have to compete with memes or cute kitten videos like they would on Instagram.
Here’s an example LinkedIn post from Bay Area Realtor Bruno Versaci. In it, he shares his market predictions for the year and backs them up with research and statistics. What did he get in return? Engagement and the chance to position himself as a subject matter expert.
19. Send out email or text drip campaigns
A drip campaign is a series of automated emails used to nurture leads and stay top-of-mind with your sphere and former clients. They’re great for maintaining consistent communication over time. Emails in your drip campaign need to offer value to your readers instead of just advertising your services.
Here are a few content ideas for drip campaigns you can send via text or email:
- Buyer leads: Curated listings, market reports, educational content
- Seller leads: Market reports, tips for homeowners, automated CMAs
- Former clients: Referral requests, market reports, home valuation updates
- Your sphere: Market insights, trending real estate news, referral requests
Need a CRM that has pre-written email and text drip campaigns? Check out our top picks:
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20. Create curated new listing alerts for buyers
The most effective real estate marketing ideas today are all about intelligent, automated lead nurturing. Listing alerts and drip campaigns are game-changers and help you give prospective buyers precisely what they want. Create listing alerts by curating properties yourself in your MLS, or use an automations in your CRM.
These tools send updates on new listings that align with what buyers are looking for — all on autopilot. This means better communication that keeps your leads warm while supplying information they actually care about. For agents, it’s a significant win and a big move toward more innovative, tailored ways of connecting with clients.
Offline real estate marketing ideas
Offline marketing requires the same effort, creativity and strategic planning as online marketing. You will cast a wider net, but in many markets there will be less competition since so many agents focus their marketing efforts online. Here are our top offline marketing strategies for 2025:
21. Offer a free class or new buyer seminar
A great way to position yourself as a trusted advisor is to offer free classes or seminars in your community. Partner with other professionals, like your favorite lender, to defray the overhead costs, like renting a space or advertising your event. Also, partnerships allow you to provide more information from different perspectives in the housing industry. Some examples of classes or seminars that you could offer would be:
- First-time homebuyer seminar: Explain the homebuying process from pre-qualification to closing.
- Downsizing seminars for seniors: Supply seniors or their children with the information they need to navigate downsizing or aging in place.
- First-time seller seminar: Walk new sellers through the process of getting the best price for their home in your market
- Real estate investment seminar: Teach would-be investors the basics of buying investment properties
22. Send handwritten cards to leads and former clients
Who doesn’t love to receive a handwritten card in the mail? We’re so used to receiving junk emails, junk texts and junk mail that a handwritten note feels like a breath of fresh air. They’re also far more likely to be opened and read than a generic postcard or printed letter. They show people you’re an empathetic human — not another soulless marketing robot who sees them as just a dollar sign. Here’s an example:
Don’t have time to write your own or have a doctor’s handwriting? The card above from Handwrytten uses robots and real pens and ink to create authentic “handwritten” cards and letters. They’re perfect for golden letters, referral requests, circle prospecting, home anniversaries or any direct mail marketing that can benefit from a personal touch.
Visit Handwrytten
23. Build referral relationships with local service business owners
People often reach out to contractors, lawyers, landscapers and architects months before they start looking for an agent. Get in good with them by sending them referrals, and they just might return the favor. NAR statistics show that 51% of buyers used an agent who was referred to them, so building relationships with local service business owners can have an excellent ROI.
LinkedIn is an effective place to find them, but in-person or telephone outreach is generally more effective for small contractors. Many still run their businesses on firm handshakes.
Related article
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24. Hand-deliver pop-by gifts
Delivering pop-by gifts is a friendly way to connect with clients. As the name suggests, you just pop by your clients’ homes with small, considerate gifts and a witty note. Pop-bys help you reconnect with previous clients and offer the perfect excuse to talk real estate. It’s rude to refuse to talk to someone who just gave you a thoughtful gift!
Find clever pop-by cards on Etsy or Market Dwellings and order small gifts on Amazon or your local big box store. We especially love the “Thanks a whole latte for your referrals” cards. Who doesn’t love free coffee?
25. Write an elevator pitch that sparks conversations about real estate
A persuasive elevator pitch is one of the most important tools in your marketing arsenal. A good pitch can turn the dreaded “So what do you do?” question into a golden opportunity to talk real estate — without coming across as desperate or salesy. The key is to quickly explain how you help people in your niche and then leave an opening that sparks a conversation.
Here’s an example elevator pitch for an agent that specializes in first-time homebuyers:
I developed a system to help first-time homebuyers learn how to navigate the market and close on a home faster and with less stress. My last clients ended up snagging a house in Riverdale for $10,000 under ask. Do you keep up with the market?
26. Wear your personal brand on your sleeve (literally)
Some Realtors find them a little cheesy, but advertising your real estate services on your T-shirt, water bottle or bag is an excellent way to start conversations about real estate. Combine your swag with a well-honed elevator pitch, and you’ll stay top of mind with people you don’t know — yet. This is a perfect strategy for agents who are regulars at coffee shops – an excellent way to make connections in your community.
We love this customizable tote bag from Etsy. First, it’s enormous enough to get noticed on your table at Starbucks, and second, it has space for your phone number, email and website.
27. Turn your open house into a fun community event
Turning your open house into a community event is an ideal way to get nosy neighbors to see your listing and learn about your services. After all, open houses are a numbers game. More people equals more potential buyers and sellers to work with.
Here are a few ideas for open-house community events:
- Set up contests, giveaways or raffles to promote engagement
- Host an open house party with entertainment and catering
- Rent a food truck and host a block-party-style event
- Rent a bounce house, games or other outdoor activities to encourage clients to bring their kids
Related article
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28. Organize a historic home walk
Working in or near a historic neighborhood? Organizing a tour of historic homes in your area is a great way to build community, showcase your local knowledge and even get listings. Before you host the event, plan and prepare by identifying properties to visit, obtaining permission and creating a route. Try using flyers, brochures or posters to get the word out. Social media is another valuable tool for marketing your event.
To find tour-worthy homes, visit the National Register of Historic Places, which has an official list of historic homes nationwide. From there, reach out to homeowners and ask if you can include them in your tour. Many people who own historic homes are happy to show them off to educate the public. Better yet, you’ll build a relationship with a homeowner that just might turn into a listing.
29. Offer a bird’s eye view with drone photography and videos
OK, hear us out. Drone videos may be trendy, but they also give potential clients a comprehensive view of a property, its surroundings and the neighborhood. It’s one thing to brag about how close the home is to a popular lake or restaurant, and it’s another to actually show them.
This isn’t just about the wow factor; it’s about providing a complete visual experience — crucial in today’s market where online impressions count. Drones capture angles and views that ground-level photography simply can’t, making listings stand out. It’s a powerful way to attract more leads and impress homeowners with your marketing prowess at the same time.
30. Start a postcard campaign
Sending postcards is a classic yet effective real estate agent marketing idea. It’s more than just old-school charm; postcards are tangible reminders of your services in a digital-heavy world. They’re perfect for announcing new listings or recently sold properties, sharing market updates, or staying in touch through the seasons. Postcards can be targeted to specific neighborhoods or demographics. We love these friendly postcards from Wise Pelican:
Sure, postcards aren’t as cost-effective as social media posts, but they can be far more persuasive — especially for older people who still own the lion’s share of homes — 44% of homeowners are 60 or older, and a study from Fannie Mae hints that this number will only grow over the next decade. These are the people that are most likely to not only read your postcard, but put it on their fridge.
If you need proven postcard templates to send, check out Wise Pelican. They offer a one-stop shop where you can customize your cards, build or upload a list, and get them in the mail.
Visit Wise Pelican
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31. Give seasonal gifts
Sending seasonal gifts is a creative, thoughtful strategy for real estate professionals looking to build lasting client relationships. Become known for always giving clients in your Rolodex a gift on their birthday, their home sale anniversary or a holiday. These gifts show your clients they’re valued beyond the transaction, building loyalty and potentially leading to referrals. A well-chosen gift can be a meaningful touchpoint in a business built on trust and personal connections, setting you apart.
You don’t have to get them a Birkin bag. Just be thoughtful. A $20 Starbucks gift card for a coffee lover or heirloom seeds for an avid gardener will show them you value them as people and not just as a source of income.
32. Offer concierge-level service for buyers
Ask any real estate old-timer, and they’ll tell you word of mouth is the best way to market your services. Going above and beyond with concierge-level service with your buyer clients can help you build word-of-mouth marketing that leads to referrals.
Imagine how happy your client would be if you helped them set up their utilities or arranged for a cleaning service to make their new home sparkle before their move-in date. Sure, you’ve helped them close on a new home, but they’re more likely to send referrals your way if you go the extra mile.
Here are four more ideas to get you started:
- Arrange to have someone cut their lawn or shovel the snow from their driveway on move-in day.
- Send over a pizza and a six-pack on their first night in their new home.
- Once they get settled, drop by with an Amazon gift card and a housewarming plant or thoughtful closing gift.
- Send them a curated list of local service businesses with discounts you work out beforehand with the owners.
Add these ideas to your marketing plan
Having great ideas to market your business is helpful, but they won’t do you much good if you can’t integrate them into a structured marketing plan. A plan will help you track your results and measure your ROI from each strategy you try.
Here is a quick guide to getting the most out of your mix of marketing strategies:
- Identify your target audience — Determine who your target clients are. Are they luxury condo buyers, downsizing seniors, Gen Z first-time homebuyers or real estate investors?
- Evaluate your competition — Check out your competitors’ marketing initiatives and evaluate what may or may not be working for them.
- Define your unique value proposition — Dig deep to figure out what makes you and your services and expertise special and unique. What differentiates you from other agents in your area?
- Develop your marketing message — Using the info you’ve gathered in the first three steps, create a core message that describes who you are, what makes you special, and who you would like to serve.
- Establish your budget — The key to marketing is not stretching yourself too thin. Take things slowly. Start small. When you are ready or your system functions well, you can level up to the next activity. Don’t try to do too many things at once — it may dilute your efforts and make you ineffective.
- Select your marketing strategies — Choose small, manageable tasks to start. Once you have an activity that works for you, consider taking it to the next level or adding a different type of activity to target a different portion of your intended audience.
- Implement your plan — Follow your plan. Marketing takes time and does not often yield immediate results. You’re in a long game here. Give it appropriate time to work. If you feel you aren’t getting the results that you’d like, maybe try tweaking your plan or moving to a different marketing activity.
- Measure your results – What gets measured gets improved. After a few months of marketing, you should have enough data to decide whether to delete or double down on each marketing strategy you tried.
For more on building your marketing plan in 2025, including a detailed worksheet and template, check out coach Ashley Hardwood’s article here: Create your real estate marketing plan in 12 steps (+ template)
Real estate marketing: The full picture
The key to successful real estate marketing is to focus on building your personal brand while also putting in the necessary time, money and effort to build lasting connections with your sphere, your farm area and your former clients. Savvy real estate marketers leverage leading-edge technologies such as AI, but balance them out with tried and true methods such as direct mail, handwritten postcards and open houses.
Choose a mix of strategies to try, create a strategic marketing plan, take it slow, remember to continually measure your results and watch your business soar. Planning your marketing is the easy part. The execution is up to you.
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