NAR Library & Archives has already done the research for you. References (formerly Field Guides) offer links to articles, eBooks, websites, statistics, and more to provide a comprehensive overview of perspectives. EBSCO articles (E) are available only to NAR members and require the member's nar.realtor login.
Marketing Strategies
33 Proven Real Estate Marketing Ideas & Tools Top Agents Swear By (Vetted by HousingWire, Oct. 7, 2025)
A list of proven real estate marketing ideas to include innovative new ideas for 2025 and beyond — including fresh new ways to leverage AI in your marketing.
18 Clever Real Estate Marketing Ideas (The Close, Jan. 26, 2026)
Proven real estate marketing strategies as well as links to strategy guides, buyer’s guides, and scripts.
Launch Your New Listings with a Better Marketing Strategy (RISMedia, May 3, 2022)
Maximize the marketing of your next new listing to create mass market exposure for generating more buyers to the property by lining up your listing strategy with a better timeline, marketing the open house as an event, and converting open house attendees into potential leads.
12 Creative Real Estate Marketing Tips (NAR REALTOR® News, April 9, 2021)
Social media use is a must along with social sharing buttons on your website, professional photographs, inclusion of local images, and tailored content for your market.
20 Effective Real Estate Marketing Ideas for Agents (Placester, May 12, 2026)
“Real estate marketing is what puts you in front of the right people and helps you earn their trust. The more effective your efforts in this area are, the better your chances— because in many cases, you only get one shot to win the client. What does that mean for you? If you’re not visible early, you’re often out of the game before it even starts. There’s no second chance. Real estate marketing is about being the first name that comes to mind at the right moment. Today, marketing for real estate agents can take many forms. Most of your efforts will be online, but offline still matters—especially in a business where referrals and word of mouth often drive the final decision. So where do you start? In this article, you’ll find a list of 20 successful real estate marketing ideas. Go through them and pick what fits your model, your market, and your goals.”
Lights, Camera, Listing: How to Get Noticed in Real Estate (NAR REALTOR® News,, Apr. 20, 2026)
“Real estate listings have become more than pretty house photos and staged interiors. Today, agents are stepping in front of the camera, using humor, music and storytelling to make others pause, watch and engage. From choreographed dances to mini-movie storylines, these agents are rewriting the rules and adding creativity when it comes to selling homes.”
From Delisting to Relisting: 7 Tips to Freshen Up the Home’s Marketing (NAR REALTOR® News,, Mar. 23, 2026)
“Homes taken off the market in the winter may reappear this spring. Here’s how agents are being strategic to reset pricing and expectations—and close the sale.”
Personal Promotion & Branding
Real Estate Branding: The Complete Guide for Agents (The Close, May 6, 2024)
Includes steps one can take to create a magnetic real estate brand with examples.
8 Real Estate Marketing Materials to Crush Your Personal Brand (The Close, Sept. 24, 2024)
“If you want to build a personal brand that generates business while you sleep, choosing the right real estate marketing materials is crucial. Second only to your time and emotional energy, your marketing materials are your most precious assets. Think of them as the vehicle that delivers your personal brand to the world.“
Personal Branding for Real Estate Professionals (Placester)
“People choose who they do business with based on a number of different factors, including presentation, demeanor, experience and passion. Your brand combines your beliefs with your business practices and this is what people gravitate to when seeking out a real estate professional.”
What Makes A Great Real Estate Brand? (realtor.com®, Mar. 16, 2023)
“In today’s competitive real estate market, your real estate brand is more than just a logo or a catchy slogan—it’s the foundation of your reputation, your business growth, and your long-term success. Whether you’re an independent agent or part of a larger brokerage, real estate branding and personal branding are essential for building trust, credibility, and lasting client loyalty.A strong real estate brand helps you stand out, attract your ideal clients, and create a memorable experience that keeps people coming back—and referring you to others.”
Niche Marketing
28 Real Estate Niches Brimming with Potential (Vetted by HousingWire, Feb. 5, 2025)
“Choosing the right real estate niche (or niches) will help you gain expertise, sharpen your career focus and protect yourself from sudden market fluctuations. While many agents aspire to become luxury agents, many overlooked real estate niches can boost your annual revenue if you master the intricacies of those types of transactions. Here’s a list of real estate niches to help you identify and specialize in a type of property or client.”
The Real Estate Agent’s Guide to Niche Marketing (Placester)
Select your target marketing niche by:
- Location
- Street or neighborhood
- Housing development
- Town or city
- County or region
- Home type
- Residence style
- Age group
- Buyer/seller type
Why These 10 Overlooked Real Estate Niches are Goldmines (HousingWire, Nov. 4, 2025)
“Most real estate agents are chasing the same clients—first-time buyers, investors, luxury listings, and others. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, there’s a powerful opportunity that too many agents miss: serving the people no one else is paying attention to. Choosing a niche doesn’t mean boxing yourself in or limiting yourself, it means standing out and becoming an expert. It means becoming the go-to resource for a group of people who are often overlooked, underserved or underrepresented in the real estate conversation. And when you show up consistently for a community that’s been left out? You don’t just win listings — you earn trust, referrals, and long-term relationships.”
6 Criteria for Finding Your Perfect Niche (NAR REALTOR® News, Mar. 19, 2023)
“Do you need to develop a niche in order to be successful in real estate, or should you just serve everyone? It’s a valid question, and it’s one often driven by fear—the fear of “boxing yourself in.” After all, each neighborhood and agent can be vastly different. But heed this warning: If you attempt to help everyone, you could help yourself right out of business. When you don’t define what sets you apart, the assumption for many is that you’re just like everyone else—and with hundreds or thousands of agents in every market, no one wants to blend in or be considered ordinary. There are six categories to consider when positioning yourself and your brand in the market. Here are brief descriptions of each, along with some advice about when and how to use them.”
Marketing Expenses for Real Estate
Marketing of Services Expenses, 2024 (National Association of REALTORS® Member Profile, 2025)
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following eBooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
Generating Business Referrals Without Asking: A Simple 5 Step Plan to a Referral Explosion (eBook)
Instagram Rules: The Essential Guide to Building Brands, Business and Community (eBook)
+Leads: Simple Strategies That Work to Get Real Estate Leads Fast (eBook)
One Million Followers: How I Built a Massive Social Following in 30 Days (eBook)
Personal Branding Strategies: The Ultimate Practical Guide to Branding and Marketing Yourself Online Through Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter and How to Utilize Advertising on Social Media (Audiobook)
Marketing (eBook)
This Is Marketing: You Can't Be Seen Until You Learn to See (eBook, Audiobook)
The New Rules of Marketing & PR: How to Use Social Media, Online Video, Mobile Applications, Blogs, News Releases, and Viral Marketing to Reach Buyers Directly (eBook)
The Magic of Digital Marketing: Tips for Real Estate Agents (eBook)
Marketing 6.0: The Future Is Immersive (eBook)
Social Media Marketing 101 for Real Estate Agents (eBook)
Using Social Media for Work: How to Maintain Professional Etiquette Online (eBook)
Social Media Marketing a Strategic Guide: Learn the Best Digital Advertising Approach & Strategies Boosting Your Agency or Business with the Power of Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Google SEO & More (eBook)
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
As a member benefit, the following resources and more are available for loan through the NAR Library. Items will be mailed directly to you or made available for pickup at the REALTOR® Building in Chicago.
Less Blah-Blah More Ah-Ha; How Social Savvy Real Estate Agents Become Trusted, Preferred, Referred - and Rewarded (The Woodlands, 2011)
Sales and Marketing 101 for Real Estate Professionals (Dearborn Real Estate Education, 2007)
Managing Brand You: Seven Steps to Creating Your Most Successful Self (American Management Association, 2008)
Career Distinction: Stand Out by Building Your Brand (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2007)
Real Estate Marketing and Sales Essentials: Steps for Success (Thompson South-Western, 2006)
Have an idea for a real estate topic? Send us your suggestions.
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