5 ways to stand out as a Realtor: It's easier than you think
Last Updated: March 17th 2025 by Andrew McGrath
Despite what many "real estate gurus" and coaches might tell you, being in the top 5-10% of agents is well within your reach. You don't need a huge budget, years of experience or even a expensive CRM full of past customers - many agents are dismissed by sellers simply for not doing a few very basic things (and no, discounting your comission is not one of them).
It shocks me how many agents are not meeting the minimum standard.
There's a minimum standard when it comes to real estate marketing, and in my experience, 9 out of 10 agents aren't meeting it.
Have some respect for yourself, and your clients. Selling a home is likely one of the largest transactions your clients will ever make. They naturally expect you to meet some basic criteria, and if you don't, you're making it easy for another agent to take the listing.
The bar for being in the top tier is lower than you think. By implementing these 5 strategies, you'll immediately stand out from 90% of agents in your market when sellers are comparing their options.
— Andrew McGrath, Founder of ListingAI
What We'll Cover
In this article, we'll explore five proven strategies that will immediately elevate your real estate marketing and help you stand out from the competition. These aren't complicated techniques that require special skills or huge budgets - they're simple, effective approaches that any agent can implement right away. Plus, we'll wrap up with some key takeaways to help you put these strategies into action.
Write clean, accurate, and professional Listing Descriptions
The Problem: Clients Expect Correct Grammar and Spelling
The foundation of any great listing is a well-written description. Proper spelling, grammar, and structure aren't just nice-to-haves - they're essential for making a professional impression.
The Hotmail Test
"If their resume has a hotmail address on it, put them in the no pile." - A simple rule one of my past business partners employed to filter resumes
While the "hotmail test" was arguably removing qualified candidates, we were working at a tech company, and using hotmail was something that hinted the candidate was not not up to date, and likely not an adopter of modern tools (something we valued). While initially I laughed at this suggestion, after paying closer attention during interviews, I was convinced he was onto something.
Pivot this thinking into real estate listings, suddenly it's clear: if your listings contain obvious errors or just looks ugly, it tells your clients you either can't do the job properly, or you just don't care. Either way, this is an issue and you're making it easy for another agent to stand out.
The Solution: Professional Descriptions That Show You Care
What Makes a Great Listing:
- ✓ Use descriptive language that creates an emotional connection
- ✓ Carefully spell words and structure sentences for readability
- ✓ Focus on key features that will get buyers to visit
- ✗ Avoid generic, bland descriptions with minimal detail
- ✗ Never use incorrect grammar or spelling
- ✗ Don't WRITE IN ALL CAPS or use unprofessional formatting
Remove Writers Block: Just Use ListingAI
Let ListingAI create professional, error-free descriptions that highlight a listing's best features in seconds.
Learn more about this featureLeverage Social Media Marketing
The Problem: Most Agents Cannot Be Found or Have an Inactive Social Media Presence
In today's market, your social media presence serves as your public resume. It showcases your past listings, demonstrates your activity level, and tells potential clients whether you're actively engaged in real estate. An inactive social profile can cost you listings before you even know they exist.
Are they still in business?
I recently had an agent tell me they lost a listing from a past buyer because after checking the agents social media, they saw their last post was over a year ago. The seller assumed they'd stopped working in real estate and never even called to verify. They just moved on to another agent. The agent only found out because they saw the listing and called the seller for feedback on why they decided to go with another agent.
Potential clients are vetting you silently through your online presence. If your social media shows inactivity, outdated listings, or unprofessional content, sellers may cross you off their list without ever giving you the chance to make your pitch.
Your social media timeline is essentially a visual portfolio of your work history. When sellers see regular posts of new listings, sold properties, and client testimonials, they gain confidence that you're actively working in the market and successfully closing deals.
What The Data Says
According to Zillow's 2025 Consumer Housing Trends Report, while only 7% of those surveyed found their agent directly through social media, a whopping 44% of prospects are more likely to hire an agent based on their social media activity. This number jumps to 51% for millennials, though even 18% of Baby Boomers say social media influences their decision. With millennials and Gen Z becoming the dominant market, your online presence is becoming increasingly critical.
The Solution: Maintain an Active, Professional Social Presence
Your Social Media Resume Should:
- ✓ Goal: activity of any kind (at least monthly, ideally weekly)
- ✓ Minimum: Post your listings and re-post when their status changes
- ✓ Bonus: make posts that demonstrate local market knowledge
- ✗ Avoid long periods of inactivity (the "are they still in business?" effect)
- ✗ Don't mix too much personal content with your professional brand
- ✗ Never post content that could undermine client confidence
- ✗ Avoid political content, but do highlight impacts of a policy changes
Let ListingAI Automate Your Social Media
ListingAI creates professional social media content for every stage of your listing - new listings, price changes, status updates, and sold announcements - for both posts and stories on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Learn more about this featureUse Video (Without Breaking the Bank)
The Problem: Video Marketing is No Longer Optional
Video marketing dramatically increases engagement, but many agents avoid it due to perceived complexity and cost. In today's digital-first market, listings without video content are at a significant disadvantage.
The Numbers Don't Lie
According to NAR's Real Estate in a Digital Age Report, properties with video receive 4x more inquiries than those without. Additionally, 73% of homeowners say they're more likely to list with an agent who uses video marketing. Despite this, fewer than 10% of agents regularly create video content for their listings, creating a massive opportunity for those who do.
Many agents believe creating professional property videos requires expensive equipment, technical skills, or hiring videographers. This misconception leads them to skip video entirely, missing out on a powerful marketing tool that buyers increasingly expect.
Social Media Impact
A study by HubSpot and Mention analyzing over 48 million Instagram posts found that video content gets 2x higher engagement than other content types. Video posts received significantly more comments than image posts, making them ideal for real estate marketing where engagement leads to inquiries.
The impact of video is undeniable. One agent reported having two similar listings in the same neighborhood - the one with a video tour received 3x more inquiries and sold two weeks faster. The difference in effort? About 20 minutes using an AI video tool instead of just posting photos.
When buyers are scrolling through dozens of listings, video content captures attention and creates an emotional connection that static images simply can't match. Properties with video tours receive significantly more inquiries than those without, making video a crucial component of effective listing marketing.
The Solution: Leverage AI-Powered Video Creation
Effective Property Videos Should:
- ✓ Ideally run for 25-45 seconds
- ✓ Include your branding and contact information
- ✓ Be optimized for different platforms (vertical for stories, 4:5 or square for posts, horizontal for YouTube)
- ✓ Maintain consistent, professional styling
- ✗ Misrepresent the property in any way
- ✗ Be self recorded in a style that feels cheap
- ✗ Longer than 60 seconds
Let ListingAI Create Your Videos
ListingAI's Video Generator transforms your regular listing photos into professional property videos in minutes. Choose from multiple styles, customize transitions, and add your branding - no video editing experience required, and best of all you probably spend more money per month on coffee than you will with our tools.
Learn more about this featureBuild Your Own Professional Website
The Problem: Not Having a Professional Website is a Disadvantage
In today's market, not having a professional website is like not having business cards 20 years ago. It's a basic expectation that signals your professionalism and commitment to your real estate business.
What The Numbers Say
According to industry research, 66% of real estate agents have their own website. This means that if you don't have one, you're immediately at a disadvantage compared to two-thirds of your competition. Furthermore, 70% of sellers list their home through an agent who has a professional website.
Many agents believe creating and maintaining a professional website is expensive, time-consuming, or requires technical skills. This misconception leads them to either go without a website entirely or settle for outdated, unprofessional templates that can actually harm their reputation rather than enhance it. Nothing looks worse than a broken link, or free GoDaddy template.
The Silent Screening
"In our research, we found that 55% of consumers said they would be less likely to work with a real estate agent who has an outdated or poorly designed website. Additionally, 48% reported they eliminated at least one agent from consideration based solely on their online presence before making any contact." - From the National Association of Realtors Digital Age Report
Your website is often the first impression potential clients have of your business. It's where they go to verify your credibility, check your past listings, and decide whether you're worth contacting. Without a professional website, you're missing crucial opportunities to convert leads and establish your brand.
The Solution: Create a Professional Website in Minutes, Not Months
Your Professional Website Should:
- ✓ Showcase your listings and past sales
- ✓ Include client testimonials that build trust
- ✓ Feature your team and services
- ✓ Have clear contact information and lead capture forms
- ✗ Look outdated or unprofessional
- ✗ Contain broken links or outdated information
- ✗ Be difficult to navigate or slow to load
ListingAI Comes With a Website
ListingAI creates professional real estate websites in minutes, not months. Our AI-powered platform builds a complete website with your branding, listings, and team information - no technical skills required. You could have your site up and running in as little as 15 minutes.
Learn more about this featureCreate Dedicated Landing Pages for Each Listing
The Problem: MLS Listings Send Buyers to Other Agents
Relying solely on MLS listings means you're missing valuable marketing opportunities and lead generation potential. Without dedicated landing pages, you're sending potential buyers to generic platforms where they can easily get distracted andfind other agents and listings.
While the landing page is really for you and designed to help you capture leads, consider that sellers expect you to do everything you can to market their home effectively. By creating a dedicated landing page for each listing, you signal that you're serious about marketing their home and that you're willing to put in the effort to do it right.
The Missed Opportunity
According to the National Association of Realtors, properties with dedicated landing pages receive an average of 49% more views than those with only MLS listings. Additionally, agents who create custom property websites report a 37% higher inquiry-to-showing conversion rate, as these pages allow potential buyers to engage more deeply with the property before scheduling a visit.
Standard MLS listings provide basic information but lack personalization and branding. They don't capture leads for you specifically, and they don't showcase your unique marketing approach. Without dedicated landing pages, you're missing a crucial opportunity to demonstrate your marketing expertise to both buyers and sellers.
We Apply The Science of Lead Generation For You
According to Gartner research, reducing the number of form fields from 11 to 4 can result in a 120% increase in conversions. For real estate landing pages, this means keeping your lead capture forms simple and focused on essential information can dramatically improve your lead generation results. We have done the research and applied the science to create the best landing pages for your listings.
For sellers, seeing that you create custom websites for each property is a powerful differentiator. It demonstrates your commitment to marketing their home effectively and positions you as a tech-savvy, marketing-focused agent.
The Solution: Automated Listing Websites with Lead Capture
Effective Listing Landing Pages Should:
- ✓ Feature high-quality images and videos
- ✓ Include detailed property information and neighborhood highlights
- ✓ Have clear call-to-action buttons and lead capture forms
- ✓ Easily shared on social media without leading to other listings
- ✓ Include your branding and contact information
- ✓ Link to your main website
- ✓ Work on mobile devices, tablets and desktop computers
Let ListingAI Create Your Landing Pages
ListingAI automatically creates a dedicated website for each of your listings in seconds. Each site includes professional photos, property details, neighborhood information, and lead capture forms. We even generate QR codes for your property brochures and yard signs.
Learn more about this featureConclusion
I've noticed many forward-thinking agents have started using ChatGPT to write listing descriptions or emails. This is a great first step into AI adoption, but it's important to understand that using general-purpose AI is quickly becoming the new bare minimum.
While ChatGPT can help with text-based tasks, it can't create your website, generate your social media posts with images, build landing pages, or produce listing videos. These specialized tasks require purpose-built tools designed specifically for real estate marketing.
That's why ListingAI includes Coach - our real estate-specific AI assistant that's included with all accounts (even our free plan). Coach combines the flexibility of ChatGPT with deep real estate knowledge to help with everything from market analysis to client communications. Learn more about Coach.
Even if you don't sign up for ListingAI, I hope you're convinced that embracing technology is essential to stand out in today's market. The gap between tech-savvy agents and those struggling with digital tools grows wider every day. I regularly meet agents who blame market conditions for their challenges, when in reality, their tech literacy is the real barrier. The good news? You don't need to be a programmer or digital marketing expert - you just need the right tools and a willingness to adapt.
I hope you found value in this blog post. If you have questions about implementing any of these strategies for yourself, your team or at a brokerage, please reach out to me. Find me on LinkedIn or email andrew@listingai.co.
The Bottom Line: It's Easier Than You Think
When used together, these five simple strategies put you in an exclusive group of real estate professionals in your market. The best part? You don't need special skills or a huge budget - just the right tools.
Most agents are doing the bare minimum. By implementing these modern approaches, you're giving yourself the best chance of success in a crowded market.