Don't Be "That Guy"! Build Credibility And Get Noticed!

There are so many people who get into real estate investing for the quick buck after they learn "the secret" from a coach or talking head. I recently spoke with a closing agent who refused to work with me because a wholesaler ghosted a buyer and seller on a deal as they sat at the closing table... With this in mind, I'm writing this article for those of you who are serious and are looking for ways to become an expert in your real estate sector of choice. Keep in mind that these concepts you're about to learn can be used for any business in any industry! So let's learn four ways you can bolster your credibility and avoid being "That Guy"!

Write Blog Posts/Articles

This one is time-consuming, but get over it and get writing! Blog posts are a fantastic way to show that you're an expert in your field and show you're an authority in your area of expertise! Write about challenges that your clients may come across or questions that you get regularly. Make sure your articles are 300 words or more because Google gives more SEO juice for them and it can help you rank faster in search if that's a part of your strategy. Topics also need to be evergreen, which means that someone could read your article in 50 years, and it will still be relevant.

If you're just starting out, you may find yourself hunting for articles that can give you ideas on what to write about, but as you gain experience just start writing based on your experiences (which is what I'm doing right now). Also, when I feel lazy I use dictation on my Mac, so I don't have to type. Just pop it into Grammarly and get it posted!

Be A Local Celebrity With Video

Get in front of the freaking camera! It's only uncomfortable for the first 20 videos, and then you'll be on a roll! Everything is moving toward video because it feels personal and people connect with it far better. And who can blame them?! Discuss the same topics that you're writing your articles on or bring someone in for an interview! You don't need a lot of equipment. I use my iPhone and, as long as I'm near the phone, the microphone picks up great and the video quality is awesome! You can also get a lapel mic that plugs into the bottom of your phone so you can stand farther away and still get great sounds quality.

Start posting these on TikTok, Insta, Facebook, & Youtube. Post videos regularly (at least twice a week) and just keep going. Sometimes you may feel like it's not worth it, but soon enough you'll have people coming up to you saying, "Hey! I saw your video!" It's also an amazing way to market to your sphere of influence without actually marketing to them.

Speaking of which... Have you ever had someone you're friends with sell their house and not think to ask you for help?! Don't get mad, you just didn't do a good job of communicating what you do to them and the value you bring. Instead of calling, texting, writing, or spending marketing dollars on them just post videos! That keeps them engaged in your content and you'll stay on the top of their mind when they're looking to buy or sell property!

Work Within The Letter Of The Law

When I first started wholesaling, I was taught to work in the shadows. Find blighted properties, call the owners, make an offer, and disappear if they didn't want the deal. The dominant paradigm with wholesalers in our area was that Realtors thought we were stealing their commission, so we needed to keep a low profile. While I was developing our business, I decided to test this theory and started bringing Realtors into our office who had buyers they were helping find deals. What's funny is that our instructor approached me one day and said, "Hey, man. You've got to stop bringing brokers into this office."

The concept was put to the test when a seller (who was a broker) got irritated that we backed out on a deal (we over-offered like crazy) and reported us to the NC Real Estate Commission. After hiring an attorney and some back and forth with the commission, they confirmed that we were fine to continue assigning contracts, we just needed to put more down when we are making offers. Since then I've made it a point to educate myself on the laws as they relate to wholesaling and regularly call the Real Estate Commission to confirm we're doing things in the correct manner. There's far too much money to be made by staying outside of the gray area. Why take the chance of getting in trouble?

How can this bolster your credibility? Make videos, posts, and other content that illustrate your values and how you operate! Be totally upfront in your dealings! People will flock to you!

Never Say A Negative Word About Competition

Short and sweet. We've all talked to someone who talks down about their competition because they want you to do business with them instead. While it may seem reasonable, it's not. Talking down about your competition only makes you look bad.

Take another Realtor for example. I got a motivated seller lead on a motivated seller website we subscribe to, and I gave him a call. We pay $75.00 for each of these leads. The seller was certainly motivated, but he'd just purchased his property 6 months earlier, so his best option was to list it (given the market at the time of this writing). When I asked if he'd considered listing, he told me that he'd spoken to a Realtor, of whom I know. In fact, that broker had helped him buy that very house six months earlier. I don't know that Realtor very well, but I talked him up like I did. I told that prospect to work with that Realtor if they have a good relationship, and if something changed and he needed help to let me know.

Talk about your competition like they're top tier. If people bring up concerns about them, respond by saying that you'd only heard good things about them, but that you can assist the client and avoid repeating the mistake your competitor made.

Conclusion

Credibility has always been king, but now it's easier than ever to make yourself known and develop that authority. Take action on these steps today and start laying your foundation!