As you read the guide and learn how to use REALTOR.ca and other CREA resources to their full potential, you'll benefit from a series of quick tips along the way. Here is a summary of these tips.

Milestone No. 1: Getting Set-up

Get To Know Your MLS® System AndREALTOR.ca

Tip: Use REALTOR.ca to browse available listings, and use your board/association's MLS® System to see the listings that have sold.

Download The App

Tip: Get your clients to download the app. Get them on REALTOR.ca and its apps (iPhone, iPad or Android) to strengthen your relationship. They can create an account to save and share their favourite listings with you, helping you get an understanding of the type of properties that interest them the most. If your clients are on the go the My REALTOR® feature allows your clients to easily connect with you.

Review Your CurrentListings On REALTOR.ca

Tip: Check out all of your listings in one location on REALTOR.ca - All of your listings appear on your REALTOR® Profile page. Head over to ' Find a REALTOR ' and search for your profile.

Beef Up Your REALTOR® Profile Page

Tip: Keep in mind that REALTOR.ca receives 1.5M visits each month from consumers, investors and agents from outside Canada. List your characteristics such as designations, languages spoken and areas or expertise to improve your chances of being contacted.

Tip: Make sure REALTOR.ca is sending your leads to the right place. Check that your email is up-to-date with your Board/Association to ensure you receive email leads from REALTOR.ca.

Tip: Equally important for Buyer Agents. If you are strictly a buyer agent, and have no listings on REALTOR.ca, don't overlook your profile page as a tool that can help capture new clients.

Tip: Questions about your profile page? Contact your local board/association to learn more about the type of information that can be included on your REALTOR.ca Profile page.

Consider A .REALTOR Domain

Tip: Now that your REALTOR.ca profile page is ready to go, why not claim a .REALTOR and use it as a redirect to your profile page? For example, if your name is Phil Dunphy, go claim PhilDunphy.realtor (or some other variation) and use it as a redirect to your REALTOR.ca profile page. Check out this post from the CREA blog on how to set up a redirect.

Milestone No. 2: Taking Advantage Of Info At Your Fingertips

Look-up Top Keywords To Boost Your ListingMarketing

Tip: Make sure your listings are easily found. If any of your listings are located in the cities above, make sure to include these top search words in your listing descriptions (when applicable).

Tip: Know your target buyer. Ensure your property descriptions speak to the target audience. Make sure the buyer can see themselves in the description (i.e. first time home buyers, etc.).

Learn From Consumer Behaviours OnREALTOR.ca

Tip: Taking a closer look at what tools/information consumers use on REALTOR.ca can also help you better understand each phase of the journey. For example, "Serious Hunters" is the segment that is more likely to use tools such as Financial Calculators, look-up Neighbourhood Demographic data and search for listings with Open
Houses, as these issues are top-of-mind.
Become Familiar With Technology Terms

Tip: If you have specific questions about the first three terms (VOW, IDX, and DLA), contact your local real estate Board / Association. For questions regarding the MLS® marks, REALTOR.ca, or DDF®, don't hesitate to contact CREA's Member Support Centre (1-888-237-7945 / support@crea.ca).

Milestone No. 3: Preparing Your Listing For The Digital World

Think Global

Tip: Video is a must. International buyers expect to see video of your property and the surrounding community as part of your listing. No video will drastically reduce your chances of reaching serious buyers.

Tip: International buyers are also looking outside of big cities. The right buyer for your cottage or small town home might be in another country. There is plenty of interest for properties outside of large urban areas. Even if you are not selling real estate in Toronto or Vancouver, you can still consider an international selling strategy.

Tip: Digital is global…but stay within your "cultural sphere." If you are using social media to attract international buyers from a specific country or region, make sure that you are aware of cultural differences and that you understand the language.

Tip: Don't forget about international SEO (Search Engine Optimization ). Like in Canada, most searches for information start with search engines such as Google, and Baidu in China. When listing a property, make sure to tag your listings (including images and videos) with the appropriate descriptions and keywords.

Tip: Understand the transaction process in the other jurisdiction.The rules of the game can be quite different from place to place. It is a lot of work, but critical that you get familiar with the rules of the market in question, as you will need to educate your client throughout the process. Realtorlink.ca/international is a are great places to start, to get info on courses, designations, and tips on how to take advantage of global opportunities.

Knowing - And Using - The MLS®Fields

Tip: Consult your board/association for information and/or courses on how to enter and maintain your listing in your MLS® System.

Tip: Fill In The Blanks. As much as possible, don't leave any MLS® fields blank, fill in as much information as you can. Remember not all MLS® fields will be uploaded to REALTOR.ca. Check with your local board / association to understand which fields are uploaded to REALTOR.ca.

Tip: Don't forget the keywords. As mentioned in Milestone #2, look-up the top search keywords in the listing's city. If any of these keywords are applicable to your listing, make sure to highlight them to increase its chances of being found by potential buyers.

Make Photos A Prominent Part Of YourListings

Tip: Pictures say a thousand words. Get a series of tips here, including picture do's and don'ts.

Take It To The Next Level With A VirtualTour

Tip: Multimedia content (i.e. a YouTube video, Virtual Tour) can be shared on REALTOR.ca by adding the appropriate link in the Multimedia field in your board/association's MLS® System.

Tip: If the property is large, or the lot includes several acres, consider using a drone to encompass aerial views. However, before doing so, check out the latest blog post from CREA Legal on the usage of Drones by Realtors. Under current regulations, to operate a drone for a commercial purpose, one must obtain a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) from Transport Canada .

Submit Your Ultimate Listing

Tip: Review Your Listing. Once you have uploaded your listing, check it out on REALTOR.ca. Send that listing to your client right away and have them review it.

Tip: Go Mobile. Suggest to your client that they download the REALTOR.ca app on their phone and walk them through the search functions. While you are at it, show them how to add your profile and contact info in the app's "My REALTOR®" feature.

Milestone No. 4: Promoting Your Listing

Get More Eyes On Your Listing With REALTOR.ca Data Distribution Facility (DDF®)

Tips: Seven DDF® tips here .

Make Sure You Are Receiving Your Leads From REALTOR.ca

Tip: Verify your local board / association has your most up-to-date contact information, including email. This information will appear in your REALTOR® profile on REALTOR.ca and it is the primary means for consumers to contact you through the site.

Look Up Your Listing Stats To See What's Working

Tip: Through this tool, you can print out the report for your client, or download as a PDF and email.

Increase Your Visibility Using A "Hub And Spoke"Strategy

Tip: Start small. There are many other popular social media sites (Snapshat, Instagram, Wechat, etc), but you don't need to use them all. To start, pick one that you are comfortable with, or do some research and find out what social media site is most popular with your target audience. You will be more successful by being active on one single social media site, as oppose to spreading yourself thin across many and appearing like you are "out of business".

Tip: Keep your content fresh: There are many options when it comes to social media channels. Be careful not to get carried away, make sure that if you launch a presence on one or more sites that you are able to keep the content fresh and relevant. Talk about the neighbourhood(s) where you are active, highlight local businesses, etc.

Design A Responsible Email Strategy