Starting any new job can be tough. Real estate is no different. But unlike a lot of other professions, as a real estate agent, how you proceed is largely up to you. Here are some tips to get you started right as a new real estate agent: Get a Mentor One of the best things you can do for your career in real estate is to get yourself a mentor. Find someone who is willing to teach you everything they know and take you under their wing. There is so much to learn in real estate, but a mentor can help you avoid costly mistakes by teaching you what they’ve learned through the years. Decide on Your Brand You’ll want to create a brand for yourself based on the niche market you want to serve. Will you sell mostly houses to young couples? Or will you specialize in selling commercial real estate to entrepreneurs? Trying to be everything to everyone is a recipe for failure, so decide on your brand early. Start With Your Warm Market The first place to start marketing yourself as a real estate agent is within your warm market. They trust you already, and they’re more likely to give you a chance while you’re still new. Let your family and friends know that you’re the person to turn to when the time comes to buy or sell their home. Network Networking is critical for real estate agents. You’ll be more successful if you’re connected and trusted by more people. Find networking events to attend where you can meet people face-to-face, do cold calls, and hand out flyers and business cards. Networking is especially important as you begin your career but will become less necessary as you successfully serve clients and start collecting referrals. Start Marketing Yourself Marketing is a big part of being a real estate agent. People can’t hire you if they don’t know who you are. So, after you’ve decided on your brand, create some business cards, get a professional email address, and start marketing! You can also utilize social media for some free marketing. Educate Yourself Much of your credibility as a real estate agent will come from your knowledge. If people think you know your stuff, they’re more likely to hire you. You need to know your market well, stay up to date with current trends, and be able to answer hundreds of questions. It may take you time to really feel comfortable with the amount of knowledge you possess, but if you’re always educating yourself, you’ll feel comfortable much quicker. This article was originally posted on RobertHagaman.net.