In the “old days,” real estate agents marketing their sellers’ properties would simply put a sign in the yard, put a listing in the MLS, and pray that it sold. Even today, there are a lot of real estate professionals who think syndicating listings to portals is a job well done.

But here’s the thing: these tactics may be enough to sell a home. In a good market, they may be enough to even sell a home over asking price. However, now that sellers have nearly unlimited access to housing data on the internet, this strategy is not enough to grow your listing business.

According to a recent study by the National Associations of Realtors (NAR), the number one thing sellers want is for their agent to market their home to potential buyers. What does that mean? Where are the buyers?

They’re online. In 2014, NAR reported that 92% of home buyers searched for properties online. A study by Google in the same year suggests that the number is even greater at 97%. Perhaps more telling is that almost half of buyers who purchased a home in 2014 found that home online.

To convince prospective sellers to work with you versus someone else, you have to learn how to go beyond syndication. You need a strong digital marketing plan to fulfill their expectations and hold your own against competitive brokerages, agents, and listing portals.

A Digital Property Marketing Plan will show home sellers exactly how you’re going to actively market their property to home buyers. With a detailed plan, you can prove to them that you’re different and are the one they can trust. You can even tell them that most agents won’t do any of what you’re showing them.