When you’re just starting out as a real estate agent, it’s all about getting your name out there and making connections.

In other words, you need to focus on building your brand. Once you do that, you’ll earn the trust of prospects and win listings. From there, you can build lasting relationships and create a business that thrives on word of mouth.

But how do you build a brand when you’re starting out from scratch?

Keep reading for five real estate branding tips that will help you make the most of your rookie year in real estate.

Become a social media rock star

If you’re even a little bit tech-savvy, social media offers you virtually limitless opportunities to grow your real estate brand.

Whoever your ideal client is, they’re bound to be active on one social media platform or another. The key is to cast a wide net by offering valuable, relevant content on multiple platforms, while also being available to (and engaged with) your audience. From there, you can work on creating strong relationships that will benefit your business in a big way.

Need a little help getting started? Check out the following resources to learn how you can grow your brand on different social platforms:

• The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Facebook Marketing
• How to Win at Instagram
• How Real Estate Agents Can Become Pinterest Rock Stars

Shine the light on other businesses

The thing about becoming a rookie real estate sensation is that you can’t do it alone. In your first year, you’ll be depending a lot on your family, friends, and other supportive people to connect you with leads.

The thing is, real estate agents aren’t the only people who benefit from word of mouth. There are plenty of other local businesses in your area that would love to get exposure to the people on your list of contacts.

Bubba Mills, who is the CEO of Corcoran Consulting & Coaching, suggests spotlighting a local business on your brand’s Facebook page. The idea is that the other business will be likely to share the post or do something else that will turn the attention of their customers to you. This is a concept known as the reciprocity effect, and it can be a very powerful way to get your business out there.

Create awareness with your branded magazine

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ReminderMedia customers stay connected with their past clients by sending them a copy of their own personally branded magazine six times per year. Each issue is customized with the sender’s photo and branding, which helps keep agents top of mind with those who matter most to their business.

When you’re just starting out, these magazines make for an amazing branding tool. You can send them to your sphere of influence, or give out promotional copies at local businesses or community events. This helps you stand out from all the other agents trying to build mindshare in your neighborhood.

Get really good at farming

When we say farming, we’re not talking about tilling land, planting crops, and bringing in a harvest.

Not in the literal sense, at least.

Real estate farming is a gradual approach to marketing where agents target large groups consistently over a period of time. It can take place on Facebook, by direct mail, or even through door knocking.

The goal is to build awareness of your brand and instill a sense of trust in your prospects. Eventually, your name will become synonymous with your local market, and your brand will grow exponentially.

ReminderMedia customers who send a print magazine to their clients also have the ability to farm their communities with our selection of top-quality postcards—a content-rich, cost-effective option for agents looking to make it big in their markets. (You can claim a special deal here.)  To learn how our postcards can help you become a farming sensation, download our free success guide.

Start a “rookie year” podcast

This idea is a little outside the box, but think about it: what better way is there to get someone invested in your journey as an agent than by chronicling it with weekly episodes.

The great thing about podcasts—apart from the format being incredibly popular—is that there’s a low bar for entry. Recording equipment is more affordable than ever, and it’s never been easier to get started.

To learn how you can start your own podcast, check out this episode of our podcast, Stay Paid.

Of course, these are just a few of the ways you can brand yourself successfully as a new agent. The key is to be consistent and driven in all you do—seeking out connections with clients and prospects that will drive repeat transactions and referrals in the future.

In order to find long-term success in real estate, you need to be committed to creating (and maintaining) top-of-mind awareness in your market. That way, when someone thinks of real estate, they’ll think of you. This ensures you’ll have plenty of transactions to keep your business thriving for years to come.