Basic information on marketing is available from many sources: books, websites, seminars, and many more. You may, if you wish, take some of the general tips. There are some strategies that can be applied to many different markets. However, you might want to dig some more for marketing tips that are very relevant to the very special service you are offering.

Speaking of service, that is one very important factor for your marketing strategies. Understand that you are offering a service, and market your office accordingly. You should show yourself to be an office that is willing to cater to the needs and convenience of the people who would wish for your help. One strategy is to think outside of the box when it comes to working hours. Conventional office hours might not be the best idea. After all, such hours are exactly the ones when your potential clients would be working, too, and would be unable to meet you. You might want to remain open very late, and on weekends and holidays. If such hours are too strenuous, you might prefer to shut the office during some of the “usual” hours, in order to focus more energy on “odd” hours. You might then want to ensure that your convenient schedule features prominently on your advertisements.

Now to find your niche. You can decide on your specialization according to multiple criteria. If you want, you might prefer to concentrate on a specific geographic area, defined by a city, province, or zip code. Or you might decide to market yourself as a group of experts in a certain kind of real estate: residences, office property, raw land, etc.

Also, take care to project a competent, legitimate image at all times. Given the current state of the real estate market, many inexperienced individuals attempt to become real estate agents. Some of these people do end up being very good at what they do, while many others soon drop out of the market, after having done very little to help their clients. You want to set yourself apart from these relative greenhorns. Your advertising and office information should be designed to look professional. Overly flashy or gaudy premises might be a turn-off to clients who are on their guard. Of course, being a real estate professional, make sure that your office is itself a good piece of real estate. Pick a building (or part of a building) in a part of town with a good reputation. Make sure people can easily get to it from the road, as well. The location of your office is itself a marketing tool, and proof that you, as a real estate professional, know how to get a good piece of real estate for yourself. Do not be tempted to buy overly cheap office space, if the facility is not working and it is in a very low-end area.

You should take the initiative in the beginning, when you are still new. Try holding an open house, for instance. After all, a great real estate office will not do well if people are not even aware that it is open.

Use your marketing skills to get your office into great shape!

Beverly Manago is a freelance writer focused on the real estate industry. She is also a consultant for My Single Property Websites, a web 2.0 marketing tool that lets real estate agents create stunning virtual tours and single property sites easily, with a free version available for listing presentations. She also contributes to the iPhone Real Estate Apps there.