The power of community: Engaging and educating your target market to fuel success

September 10, 2024 7 min. read

Royal LePage® REALTOR® and a 2023 Rookie of the Year, Myriam Coper, shares her advice for agents looking to build a successful and meaningful career in real estate.

In the dynamic and competitive real estate industry, emerging as a standout newcomer is no small feat. Royal LePage’s 2023 East Coast Rookie of the Year, Myriam Coper, has managed to achieve this by leveraging a unique approach centred on human connection, community engagement, and continuous education.

Myriam’s success showcases the power of strategic lead generation and management through social networking and community-building initiatives. In a recent conversation with the award-winning agent, we delved into her innovative strategies and the lessons she’s learned along the way, providing invaluable insights for real estate professionals. Here’s what Myriam had to say:

Being selected as one of the Rookies of the Year is an incredible achievement. What do you believe sets you apart from other agents in your marketplace?

I believe what sets me apart is my dedication to empowering newcomers to Canada with the knowledge and resources they need to confidently navigate the home buying process in New Brunswick. I understand that many of my clients are coming from places with completely different processes for buying and selling real estate, and transacting in a new country can feel overwhelming. I take the time to break these processes down step by step, offering comprehensive support and guidance every step of the way. I aim to be a trusted resource and advocate for anyone looking to settle in New Brunswick, ensuring they feel informed, comfortable and confident throughout the process.

Can you tell us how you generate and manage quality leads in a competitive market?

Workshops have definitely been a big part of my success. I’ve found that partnering with local organizations to host in-person and online events each month allows me to not only generate leads, but also build meaningful relationships with people in my community. It’s a chance for potential clients to get to know me, ask questions, and really engage with the home-buying process in a comfortable setting. Referrals from satisfied clients and my network are another key piece – there’s nothing more powerful than a personal recommendation. On top of that, I love volunteering in the community. It’s such a genuine way to meet newcomers and connect with them directly, often before they’re even thinking about buying a home. For me, it’s all about being active in my community to establish trust organically and foster strong relationships.

How do you measure the success of your lead generation strategy?

Since the beginning of the year, my workshops have helped me connect with about 65 people – a mix of new contacts and existing clients. It’s all about building and nurturing those relationships. I strongly believe in the power of human connection and when your business is about putting people first, clients will naturally gravitate towards you.

Building relationships is essential in this industry. What tools do you lean on to navigate your successful career and maintain strong connections with your clients?

Royal LePage’s strong CRM system, rlpSPHERETM, has been essential for managing my client database and developing new opportunities. I also automate parts of the buying process with tools like Vidyard – where I create videos explaining documents or embed them on my site – making the transaction process smoother while saving time. And, standard tools like Excel also play a key role in analyzing data, tracking numbers and calculating profitability.

With such a successful approach, what advice would you share with other agents looking to build a profitable and meaningful real estate career?

If I could share one piece of advice, it’s this: soak up all the knowledge you can. If you’re with Royal LePage, you’re already learning from some of the best in the industry, so take full advantage of that. Dive into the training, and don’t hesitate to ask experienced agents or your broker for guidance. Also, don’t underestimate the value of your personal network. Family, friends and professional connections are often your first opportunities to grow your business, so make the most of those relationships.

I would also emphasize that you should not skip out on marketing! Invest in your personal brand early on. Build a solid marketing plan, determine exactly who your target audience is and set clear goals based on this information. For me, workshops have been a game-changer, but it’s important to find what works best for you. Most importantly, never lose sight of the fact that building strong relationships is the foundation of a successful real estate career. People need to trust you before they work with you, so focus on that first and foremost.

That’s excellent advice! With all of that said, can you tell us about your best day as a REALTOR® so far?

Every close is a win! It’s hard to describe the joy of helping a family – who hasn’t even been in Canada for a year – successfully secure their first home. For me, seeing their dreams come true is the ultimate reward.

Inspired to propel your real estate career? At Royal LePage, we offer ongoing training opportunities that equip you with everything you need to succeed as an agent: royallepage.ca/en/realestate/join-our-team