Do Agents Need to Run Paid Ads? Not Necessarily.
There’s a common belief that every serious property agent must eventually spend money on Facebook or Google Ads to get leads. That’s not entirely true.
Paid ads are a tool, not a ticket. Many top agents never touch Meta Ads Manager — yet they consistently close deals. The difference is simple: they already have a network that works.
1. Your Private Network Is Already an Asset
If you’ve been in the industry for a while, you probably have one or more of these:
- A WhatsApp list of 300+ past clients, lawyers, bankers, and friends
- Access to ready stock owners through personal connections
- A pool of co-broking partners who trust your listings
Those aren’t just contacts — they’re private audiences. Every message, status update, or testimonial you share with them works like a “free ad” that carries far more trust than any paid traffic could.
Paid leads are cold. Private leads are warm.
Warm leads close faster and cheaper — because the trust is already built.
2. Roadshows Still Work (If Done Right)
Before the internet, roadshows were the Facebook Ads of the 90s. They still work today — just differently.
Whether you’re setting up at a new condo launch, a shopping mall, or even a bank lobby, a roadshow gives you something no digital ad can: face-to-face credibility.
- You control your environment.
- You can observe reactions in real time.
- You can refine your pitch instantly.
And unlike paid ads, roadshows don’t depend on algorithms or budgets. Your cost is effort, not dollars — and for many agents, that’s a fair trade.
3. Paid Ads Have a Role — But Timing Matters
Should you eventually run ads? Yes — but only after you’ve mastered the basics.
Paid ads amplify what already works; they don’t fix what doesn’t. If your listings aren’t well-presented, your follow-up weak, or your CRM disorganized, then pouring money into ads only accelerates inefficiency.
Start with:
- ✅ A clean database
- ✅ Consistent lead follow-up
- ✅ A few closing case studies you can showcase
Once you have those, then every RM100 you spend online becomes leverage, not a gamble.
4. Build Systems, Not Just Traffic
If your private connections, roadshows, and WhatsApp marketing are producing leads — document everything. Use a system like ListingMine CRM to track:
- Who referred you
- Which event brought which lead
- Which listing or campaign generated real revenue
That’s how you turn “luck” into a process — and a process into predictable income. When the time comes to scale with paid ads, you’ll already know exactly what to amplify.
The Bottom Line
Not every agent needs to run paid ads. But every agent needs a system to manage and grow their lead sources — whether they come from ads, friends, or roadshows.
Don’t chase impressions. Build relationships that keep paying you long after the ad stops running.
