Lisa Hernandez Your best marketing tool is face-to-face networking. It doesn't cost anything but time.

My blog and website.  It is what established me as an expert in my market. Yes, it takes some time to build... but it is the least expensive long term lead generation too ever!!!

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.  Multiple Streams of income.  Online, direct mail, social media, networking, etc. etc. etc.

Lisa Hernandez - My #1 marketing tool is ME!  I make phone calls, meet people for coffee, lunch, dinners, invite them to local events, parties...personal contact is THE #1 way to build your business!

As Barbara Todaro mentioned, I also use those same tools and they're really not that costly.  

Pick a neighborhood or two and farm it like you live there!  Immerse yourself in the community - make sure the entire neighborhood knows who you are...rinse and repeat EVERY SINGLE MONTH!

Best of luck!

Invest in yourself and be wary about "get rich quick schemes" which will come your way in droves.   Education is important.   Proper broker choice too.   Focus on a consistent prospecting program.  You are smart and ahead of other new agents by joining ActiveRain -- I wish AR was around when I was new.

Good luck.  

Direct mail, give them a reason to contact you.

Your number 1 tool is a vibrant dynamic website with a great IDX set up that will capture leads for you.  Everything else works off of that.  Blogging, youtube, pinterest, link it all to your website.  

Everything I use works for me or I don't use it....direct mail, full page newspaper marketing, open house events every weekend, online marketing via websites, wordpress blogs, AR, Google+, personal facebook page and business facebook page, Realbird for listings, Animoto for video, You Tube for the videos.....  and you wonder why I start my day at 5:30 am at the gym!!!!

Lisa,

It depends on your marketplace, and I agree with Michael Setunsky A

There are many things I do: direct mail, You-Tube, blogging, On-Line, e-newsletters, volunteering, sponsorships etc.it all works in concert with each other. Everything needs to be consistently done to keep you "Top of Mind" in your market area..one thing is not going to cut it! 

Picking up the phone and calling a client or colleague.

Direct mail works for me. I would get up your website as fast as you can. Work on lead generation that you don't have to pay for so no Z or T. Blogging works.

For our brokerage it is our website - which we link everywhere possible.

Barbara Todaro is my queen of marketing...

I am my number one marketing tool.

Tied for #1

  Sphere of Influence (personal networking), and Internet Presence.

Your best marketing tool is yourself and your market knowledge. A website, blog and social media presence where you share that knowledge completes the package. But first things first.

It's sort of trial and error, and a combination of new and old school strategies.  Just don't spend any money buying leads from Zillow, Trulia or anyone else.  I don't know anyone for whom that strategy has really worked. I would preview (in person, not in front of a computer screen) all of the homes for sale in your market area, especially the high-end ones, and then get to know Brian Buffini or Joe Stumpf.  Wish they'd been around when I was a newbie.

Develop a database with all of your contacts and send them email on a regular basis in addition to your face to face contacts. All of you contact records should show in your database.

I love what Barbara Todaro  and Debe Maxwell  said in their answers to your questions. 

I would add it depends on your personality, what your strong points are, and who your audience is. 

Debe is outgoing and likes to build relationships with her peeps who will and do buy and sell with her. That works great for her. 

However, for an introvert, not so much, it would be quite painful for a very shy person to be able to build a business the same way. 

Likewise, some agents are super good on the phone and their phones are their blood lines for their business. They will call, cold call, farm call, etc. They will be successful because they are focusing on tactics they are good at and which they enjoy. 

However, if you are like one of my daughters, she is scared to death of the phone. She won't even call Pizza Hut to order pizza. So if that is your personality then the phone is not your best friend:) being on line would suite you better. 

The great thing about this business is you can build it any way you like to, using your strengths and multiplying them. There are so many paths to success you can choose to go on. 

It all works to the point of what you believe will work, will work.:) 

I did Open Houses for the first two years to build up my business

There's never just one marketing tool. It's a combination of numerous tools that work for different aspects of your business. I've been a big believer in a good CRM forever to generate a healthy level of repeat and referral business.

I'm not a realtor, but for several years, it has been my website - The Flooring Girl.

Mine is print ads.  It varies all over but do yourself a favor and don't by leads.  Use that money to market yourslef long term

My ReferralMaker CRM and a phone is always #1

But, video email and video texts have been well received the last 2 years (kept under 60 seconds and not too often).

Ive been doing 3000 direct mail pieces for almost two years straight now and the ROI is way off the past 6 months

My website with a strong follow up plan.

Online and offline.

Today it would be your online presence, blogging, web site and lots of content.

Lisa Hernandez - a few - including Facebook Ads and business page for listing. No direct mail, though.

My rural market is a bit different. Heck print advertising still works here. 

Let everyone you know...know that you are in the real estate business. Ask for business and for referrals. 

My sign with a "SOLD" rider is my best piece.  Other than that, networking/sphere of influence, online is free mostly.  Blogging.

Work your sphere first, then come up with a mailing program.

It is different for everyone. Focus on what you are good at, and it will become your #1 marketing tool. Some are good with phone call follow-ups, other are awesome face to face, and the techie ones are fantastic at online and marketing postcards. Let us not forget the performers who are giving their Oscar appearances in front of the camera.

Don't try to do everything. Focus on your ONE thing, and it will bring you success. It won't be an overnight accomplishment. However, consistency will propel you to #1 come 2017. Good luck!

Lots of good answers here, but you want to make sure that when you are approached by companies who want to sell you leads that you not waste your money. Best of luck to you.

Face to face to gain name recognition! Follow-up. Gain market knowledge and introduce yourself to experienced Realtors. People find it easier to do business with people they know!

Seminars.

Ken Jones nailed this one!

Business networking groups and Facebook!  :)