I could just as easily write the opposite – What Realtors Can Learn from Small Business Owners – as successful business people share the same basic habits.

BUT, the real estate industry has been under tremndous pressures the last couple of years and the Realtors that are surviving and thriving have learned a thing or two that other busiess owners can profit from.

The media has done a good job bombarding the airwaves with the negative side of the downturn in the real estate and lending industries, but you find successful Realtors spending more and more time helping to educate the public on what is happening locally in their markets.

Through the use of blogs and other social media, successful real estate agents are increasing their presence and branding on the Internet. Realtors, like many business people, receive more than 50% of their business from referrals. Word-of-Mouth marketing has long been recognized as the most powerful form of advertising.

The Internet has had a powrful effect on word of mouth marketing. Social and business networks, blogs, podcasts, vlogs, YouTube and many other venues allow for exponetial word of mouth marketing.

Savvy Realtors and real estate agents are leveraging the tools of Web 2.0 to increase lead generation. The beauty of the Internet is that you can increase exposure and traffic while allowing yout site to sift and qualify leads.

Small business owners need go no further than Todd Fitch of Hanson & Fitch to find out what leveraging the Internet can do for a small business in the East Bay.