What now? Learn the market.

My broker was smart about that. Go on tours of homes to get wrapped around the inventory. Go to open houses, model homes. Now we have more technological ways to do that as well. But I think when you're new you need to do both. Drive the neighborhoods. Figure out how to get from A to B so you don't look like an idiot when you're showing property.

Those are not immediately profitable skills but they are necessary.

While you're doing that, decide on a couple of neighborhoods that you'd like to list in. Get the CCRs. Learn all about those neighborhoods. And then start mailing. Nowadays you can create a FB page or blog to inform others on the ins-and-outs of these neighborhoods.

Finally but not finally, learn the documents. Read them, re-read them, commit them to memory.

As a newbie I made everything more complex than need be. Lighten up because the real world vs school world are 2 different things.

I think that FB would be the best suggestion for a newbie as they also tend to be younger & able to engage that better. Target everything to ??? Have to figure that out.

I agree with Candice A. Donofrio.  Learn the market and the areas.  Make connections with title reps and escrow companies as well as other agents and lenders.  See what they have that can help you.

Find an area close to them and doorknock it.

What Candice A. Donofrio said.  At the beginning, it's all about getting "educated" about the market, documents, and how to actually build a successful business.

Annette,

Find a mentor, and the community has given you great answers. A

As far as marketing goes:

I would go over that marketing - attracting positive business related attention - can be broken down into two basic resource classifications. There's marketing that takes time. And there's marketing that takes money. And of course every degree of combination of the two.

So for a Newbie, I would start with asking what is their marketing budget? If it's low or "no", then they are looking at open houses, door knocking, calling FSBO's/Expireds, seeking veteran agents in the office that want evenings and weekends off to mentor under and/or pick up buyer leads they don't want etc etc. The basics.

If they have some cash or credit or other way and the intention to use those resources for marketing, then of course, cash opens the door to choices.  I would recommend FB campaigns, or plugging into a tried and proven package/program  - there are lots of them for sale. Find a high producing agent outside of your local market and ask if they are willing to share or sell their systems for a price that works for your both and to shadow them for a week - you  may have to pay something - maybe not. The point is, find and buy a working system and copy it.

We start with a meeting with myself or our coach and ask questions then coach through what needs to be done to fit their needs and abilities, and what training they will need to become competent at what they want to become.

Realize first that success in real estate is a long term pursuit !

The answers would depend upon the local market.

Beware to the lead gen companies and only move forward if at least a thirty day trial period with no $$$ down.

Just follow Ockham's Razor.

Sometimes the most simplest, basic in the moment approach to anything is right there. Activate that and you're off! I am thinking of those freeway on/off ramp pan handlers who hold up signs that say: Will work for food. They take in good money with this focused and handy marketing approach

Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041 When I was hiring or training my KIS strategy was always stick to your SOI. Market to those you know 1st and do it with out "selling them". 

Learn the basics and practice them. Study the local market. Make yourself known to other agents. Ask questions. Complications will find you.

1. Learn the market backwards and forwards

2. Identify your own strengths and weaknesses.

3. Shadow some very experienced agents so you can see how it's done.

I stopping giving free advice and focus on my own business. 

You want a mentor you need to pay.

Focus on top three for a specific period, track results, then re-evaluate based on results and what was learned. Revise as needed, do it again.

Get a mentor. Absorb like a sponge. Explore out of the box ideas and be your own person! Learn the market!

I too think they need to learn the market.

Meet the people in the industry and ask questions of those whom you learn to respect.

1. Start now. Forget everything you learned in a RE school. 

2. Reach out to all you know to tell what you do now. 

3. For the best experience, join a team or a seasoned agent.

Don't make things more complicated than they are.  Some of the simplest things can turn into cluster bangs when people complicate a simple process.  Just follow the process. If it ain't broke - don't fix it.