Engel & Völkers
  • 4 min read
  • 05.10.2018

Follow me - how real estate agent Martin Rouleau conquered the social networks

From real estate agent to social media influencer

23,000 Instagram subscribers, 9,300 Facebook fans, more than 8,500 follower on LinkedIn and nearly 4,000 Twitter followers: These impressive figures reveal just how successful Martin Rouleau, Engel & Völkers real estate agent from Montréal, is on social media. And Martin Rouleau is also very successful in the analogue world: Recently, Engel & Völkers honoured him as one of the ten most successful real estate agents in the world. We spoke with the real estate agent about the value of social media for the real estate industry, his dream property, and what he would take with him to a desert island.

Property sales via social media - innovative and worthwhile

Martin Rouleaus’ success on social media networks did, of course, not happen overnight. A short message sent via the Facebook profile of the real estate agent marked the beginning of an unparalleled success story: “In 2010, I came back to Real Estate after a two-year sabbatical. I wanted to let all my contacts know. Facebook, at the time, was the most efficient and effective way to share the news. The response was so great. I decided to invest 30 minutes a day to grow my followers base. I never stopped since.”

This half an hour of daily effort and Martin Rouleau’s expansion into other social networks such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram are paying off: In the meantime, the real estate agent has an impressive 70,000 followers across his channels. This reach allows Martin Rouleau to carry out much of his real estate business via social networks: “Social media is an excellent and cost-efficient way to market properties and, most importantly, yourself. It is imperative to be present on as many social media platforms as possible. It will get you listings and bring you great buyers’ leads. However, you also need to be knowledgeable of your market and always work on your negotiating skills to make the deals happen.”

Contact clients anywhere, anytime

The big advantage of social media marketing lies in the fact that you can always reach potential clients. Martin Rouleau is well aware of this, which is why he regularly posts the new properties he is selling. In addition, he reports on his travels and presents destinations and people he meets. His Instagram account in particular, which the influencer considers his favourite social platform, demonstrates his passion to bring together his private and professional life. Here you can see photos of luxury properties next to photos of a dinner with colleagues or a trip to distant Kyoto - Martin Rouleau’s favourite travel destination.

Thanks to his smartphone, the real estate agent always has the opportunity to share stories with his audience in a publicly appealing way. Thus, it is not surprising that his iPhone is one of the three things he would take with him to a desert island - in addition to a bottle of Vetiver de Guerlain and a pack of Benson & Hedges.

The dream property of a real estate agent

A clear visual line, a high recognition factor and regular, authentic articles - these are the reasons why Martin Rouleau is so successful on social networks. The real estate agent also has a clear vision about what his dream property should look like: “It is contemporary. Lots of glass, bathed in sun. White oak floors.A luxurious spa-like bathroom ensuite. A functional kitchen. It is a condo as opposed to a house. The lower maintenance and the in-house services allow me to travel with peace of mind.”

Do you feel inspired by Martin Rouleau’s success story? Would you like to find out more about the fascinating opportunities for marketing real estate successfully on social media? Then contact us and become part of the Engel & Völkers team!

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