How to Get More Real Estate Clients in 2025 | Proven Strategies for Realtors  

The U.S. housing market is heating up again — but competition is fiercer than ever. According to the National Association of Realtors, over 1.5 million agents are now licensed, yet nearly 60% close fewer than five deals a year. 

The truth? Getting clients today isn’t about cold calls or door knocking, it’s about visibility, trust, and speed. 

In 2025, the agents who win are the ones who show up first on Google, collect reviews that build instant credibility, and follow up before anyone else does. 

So, if you’re tired of chasing leads that go nowhere, this guide will walk you through 10 proven strategies to attract serious buyers and sellers — and build a pipeline that never runs dry. 

But first, we need to understand…. 

Why Realtors Struggle to Get Clients? 

Let’s be honest, getting real estate clients today isn’t easy. Even experienced agents face roadblocks in growing their client base. Here are some common challenges I have seen holding realtors back: 

• Inconsistent Lead Flow: Many agents rely on seasonal demand or word-of-mouth referrals that can dry up.  

• Too Few Reviews = Low Trust: Potential clients Google you first – and if they find no reviews, your credibility drops.  

• Slow or Missed Follow-Ups: Studies show 78% of leads go with the first agent who responds. Yet many Realtors take hours or days to follow up with inquiries, meaning hot prospects go cold or choose a faster-responding agent. 

• Outdated Networking Tools: Stacks of paper business cards and static flyers just don’t cut it anymore. Most paper cards get lost or tossed. With no digital backup or tracking, you have no idea if that open house visitor ever saved your info. 

• Overreliance on Zillow/MLS: Some agents depend solely on buying leads from Zillow or waiting for MLS inquiries. This means a lack of personal branding and direct engagement. Plus, leads from big portals are often sent to multiple agents, so you’re competing for the same prospect’s attention. 

• Missed Local SEO Opportunities: Few agents fully optimize for “realtor near me” or city-specific searches. If your name and website don’t show up when someone searches for such keywords, you become invisible to the clients actively looking in your area. 

To overcome these roadblocks, you’ll need to embrace modern, tech-driven strategies that blend visibility, trust, and speed. Now, lets look at 10 proven ways which have helped hundreds of realtors to get more clients: 

10 Proven Ways to Get More Real Estate Clients in 2025 

Each strategy below is focused on helping you attract and convert more clients. I have tried my best to tailor these tips for realtors in the current modern market. 

1. Optimize Your Google Business Profile for Local SEO 

For any Realtor, Google is the new business card.  I would start by claiming my Google Business Profile if I haven’t already. Then I would fully optimize it to rank in local searches and catch those “near me” leads. This means: 

• Accurate NAP (name, address, and phone number) across all sites 

• Set your primary category as “Real Estate Agent” (and secondary categories like “Buyer’s Agent” or “Listing Agent” if applicable) 

• Geotag images or add captions mentioning your city/neighborhood to boost local relevance 

• Fill out your hours, service areas, bio, and add city-specific keywords in your introduction 

• Collect Google Reviews to shoot up the local rankings and build instant trust 

Here is an example of how a realtor has optimized their Google Business Profile: 

2. Build Trust with Client Reviews and Testimonials 

A glowing testimonial from a past client can do the persuading for you, before you even speak to a prospect. Make it a priority to gather and showcase reviews across all major platforms: 

• Google and Zillow: Encourage satisfied clients to review you on Google and popular real estate sites like Zillow or Realtor.com. 

• Krofile: Instead of scattering your reputation across sites, Krofile helps you collect and display reviews in one place.  

• Leverage QR Codes for Reviews: Consider placing a QR code on your closing documents or business card that links directly to a review form.  

• Share Testimonials Everywhere: Don’t be shy – turn your best reviews into marketing content. Screenshot a Zillow review and share it on your Instagram Story (tag the client if appropriate). Make a short Facebook post quoting a client testimonial about how you sold their home. Video testimonials are powerful too: a 30-second clip of a happy family you helped can make a difference 

3. Replace Paper Business Cards with a Digital NFC Card 

Is your wallet stuffed with old paper business cards? It might be time to go digital. Traditional business cards mostly end up in a desk drawer or the trash. To truly connect with modern clients, consider using a digital business card for Realtors that works via QR code or NFC (Near Field Communication). 

NFC-enabled cards and QR codes instantly pull up your profile, complete with your photo, listings, and links. Unlike old paper cards, which often get lost or outdated, a digital card stays up-to-date and even provides analytics (so you know how often it’s viewed or shared). 

Going digital not only impresses tech-oriented clients at open houses and networking events, but also ensures you’re never “out of cards” when an opportunity arises. Plus, you’ll never hear “Sorry, I lost your card” again! 

4. Use Social Media to Build Your Personal Brand & Local Authority 

Love it or hate it, social media marketing for real estate agents is no longer optional in 2025. The good news: it’s one of the most cost-effective ways to attract clients if you do it right. The key is to focus on the platforms and content that generate real engagement (and showcase your expertise). 

Here’s how to turn your social media presence into a client magnet: 

• Pick the Right Platforms: Many agents find success with Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts for showcasing properties and personality.  

• Show Your Face & Expertise: People work with agents they feel they know. Use social media to let clients virtually meet you. Post short videos touring a new listing or a quick market update. 

• Engage and Be Consistent: Don’t just broadcast – engage. Reply to comments, congratulate new homeowners, and answer questions. Consistency is crucial: aim to post a few times a week at a minimum. 

• Use Local Hashtags and Geotags: To attract local clients, include city/neighborhood hashtags in your posts (#AustinRealtor, #DallasHomes, #SanDiegoRealEstate). Tag your location on Instagram posts or Facebook check-ins. This helps people in your area discover you. 

• CTA: Link in Bio = Your Digital Card: Make it super easy for social media viewers to contact you. Always have a clear call-to-action.  

5. Leverage Referrals and Past Clients 

Many realtors find that once they’ve been in business for a few years, most of their new clients come via referral. I tend to agree with this because I’ve seen home buyers using an agent who was referred by friends or family. The lesson? Don’t neglect the people who already trust you – nurture those relationships, and referrals will follow. 

The big picture: real estate is a relationship business. Every past buyer or seller is an ambassador for you in the world. By staying in touch, providing value, and expressing gratitude, you encourage them to sing your praises to others.  

6. Host Local Open Houses & Community Events 

There’s reason “old-school” tactics like open houses and community events are still around – they work (especially when infused with some modern tech). Meeting people face-to-face in your community builds trust much faster than a cold online lead.  

I understand that hosting events does take effort – planning, promoting, and showing up consistently. But it can pay off big. You might meet a neighbor who’s thinking of selling next spring, or a couple who needs a buyer’s agent but wasn’t sure where to find one. By being present in your community, you become the natural person they turn to. 

I know of one realtor who successfully leverages open houses and community events to connect with people. I’ll use pictures to show you how Lokal Homes has done this: 

7. Partner with Lenders, Title Companies, and Local Businesses 

You don’t have to generate all your clients alone – strategic partnerships can amplify your reach. In real estate, some of your best lead sources might be the professionals you work with in each transaction. 

Think about lenders (mortgage brokers), title or escrow officers, home inspectors, contractors, and even local businesses like moving companies or interior designers.  

By forming a referral network with complementary services, everyone wins more business. Clients might come referred from a mortgage broker or after reading your quote in the local newspaper.  

8. Create Hyper-Local, SEO-Friendly Content 

If you want more clients, especially listings, become a content creator for your local area. This doesn’t mean you have to blog daily or be a Pulitzer-winning writer. It means producing useful, hyper-local content that attracts your target clients via Google searches and establishes you as the local authority.  

The bottom line: Don’t be afraid to give away valuable information. You’re not “losing” business by sharing knowledge; you’re attracting it. Sellers will see that you deeply understand the community and trust you with their listing. Buyers will learn from your resources and reach out. 

9. Speed Up Your Lead Follow-Up with Automation 

We’ve touched on the importance of fast follow-up, but it cannot be overstated: speed-to-lead can make or break your client acquisition. In this instant-gratification age, home shoppers expect a quick response – usually within minutes. Zillow and other platforms even measure how fast agents respond.  

If you’re not first, you’re likely last. The good news is you don’t have to sit by the phone 24/7. Smart automation and systems can help you respond to leads within minutes without sacrificing personal touch. 

Strategies to speed up your follow-up: 

• Set up an automated email or text that goes out within 1-5 minutes of a new lead inquiry 

• Use an online booking calendar 

• Integrate an SMS automation 

• Aim to call new leads within 5 minutes 

• Personalize your outreach (even if automated) 

One more tip: once you make contact, try to schedule an appointment or meeting as soon as possible. A fast response followed by, say, a next-day buyer consultation means that the lead is now firmly in your pipeline. 

10. Track Results and Refine Your Strategy Using Analytics 

Finally, remember the saying: “What gets measured, gets improved.” To consistently grow your client base, you need to know which of your efforts are paying off and which aren’t. 

Key metrics and how to track them: 

• Website and Profile Analytics: Check out your website’s Google Analytics or the analytics provided by your digital business profile. 

• Lead Source Tracking: Always ask new clients, “How did you find me?” and log it. 

• CRM Pipeline Metrics: Use a CRM to track leads through stages: new lead → contacted → meeting → client → closed. Look at your conversion ratios.  

• Review and Referral Growth: Track your review counts and referral sources over time. Set goals like “Gain 5 new Google reviews this quarter” and monitor progress. Similarly, track referrals: did implementing that monthly newsletter increase the number of referral leads? If you can quantify it, you’ll know your relationship nurturing is working. 

• Ad and Campaign ROI: If you’re spending money on lead generation (like online ads, Zillow Premier Agent, etc.), calculate the Return on Investment. For example, $200 on Facebook ads yielded 50 leads, of which 5 became clients and 2 closed deals netting $15k commission. That’s a great ROI! Versus $500 on a postcard mailer that yielded crickets – maybe not worth repeating. 

The goal is to build a repeatable and optimized system for getting clients. Analytics might sound outdated, but it’s basically the feedback that tells you “Hey, this works!” or “Hmm, try something else.” 

Now, let’s get to the mistakes you shouldn’t be making. 

Common Mistakes Realtors Make (and How to Avoid Them) 

Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to slip into habits that hinder your client growth. Here are some common mistakes real estate agents make when trying to get more clients: 

• Ignoring Online Reviews: Not actively asking for reviews (or worse, ignoring the ones you have) is a big mistake. 

Fix: Make requesting reviews a standard part of your closing process. Respond to every review you get – thank happy clients and professionally address any negatives. 

• Depending on One Lead Source: Over-relying on paid leads or one source like MLS, Zillow, or referrals alone can backfire if that channel dries up.  

Fix: Diversify your lead generation. Mix in organic methods like your own website SEO, social media, networking, alongside any paid leads. 

• Slow Response Time: As we emphasized, taking too long to follow up is a recipe for lost deals.  

Fix: Prioritize speed. Respond to new leads within minutes, not hours or days. 

• Letting Your Digital Presence Go Stale: Inactive social media profiles, or a website with the last blog post in 2019, sends the wrong signal. It may make clients wonder if you’re still in business or up to speed.  

Fix: Regularly update your online presence. Post at least weekly on your chosen social channels. Refresh your website content or design annually if needed and keep your listings current. 

• Sticking to Only Physical Marketing (No Analytics): If you only use old-school methods like paper flyers, generic postcards, or handing out business cards, you’re missing out.  

Fix: Embrace tech and data. For instance, use a digital business card so you can track interactions and get analytics instead of hoping someone calls from your paper card. 

Many of your competitors are still slow to change. This is exactly why you have an opportunity to shine by doing things a little differently (and smarter). 

Final Thoughts – Building a Client Pipeline That Lasts 

The formula for getting more real estate clients in 2025 comes down to visibility, trust, and convenience. You must be highly visible where clients are looking (Google, social media, local events), you need to earn their trust (through reviews, personal branding, and expertise). 

You must make it ultra-convenient to connect with and choose you (fast responses, easy info sharing via digital tools). 

When you nail this – Visibility + Trust + Easy Contact – I believe you’ll create a predictable pipeline of clients. 

Remember, in a crowded field of 1.5 million realtors, the ones who adapt and provide superior service will thrive.  

Ready to level up your real estate game? A great first step is to create your Krofile digital business card. It’s free to start, and you’ll immediately upgrade how you share information and collect reviews.  

Here’s to your success and an ever-expanding client list!