The saying “You didn’t come this far to only come this far,” is applicable to a newly license real estate agent. After completing your pre-license education, passing the South Carolina real estate exam and obtaining your license, all the work, time and effort you put in to getting to that point wasn’t just to get you to that point. In fact, earning your license is only the beginning of your real estate career.

One of the benefits of starting a career in real estate is the ability to work independently and control your own schedule. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can achieve success on your own. In fact, building a strong network from the start is one of the key factors that helps you attain your full potential as a profitable real estate agent.

Network within the real estate industry

You’ll have competitors in your sales region throughout your career in real estate. However, you can also interact with other agents, brokers, mortgage loan officers and other people who work in the industry. These connections will prove invaluable time and again as you try to generate leads, gain referrals and turn a profit.

Be an active member of your community

Another way to build your network is to attend local events and participate in community service activities in your area. Especially if a local event includes a job fair or similar venue, you can set up a table and share information about your real estate business, answer questions and, perhaps, gain a new client or two in the process.

Being an active member of your community also helps establish your brand. When people see that you take an active interest in the community where you live and sell real estate, it builds trust.

Casual conversations are part of the networking process, too

If you’re parent, you might coach your child’s sports team or attend games or events at school. You probably get invited to social gatherings, such as weddings or graduation parties. You also travel about in your town on errands or performing everyday tasks such as grocery shopping.

On the surface, none of these things seem to have anything to do with real estate. However, one of the best ways to build your network is through your everyday activities and interactions with other people. Whether you’re chatting with another parent in the after-school line while waiting for your child or speaking to someone in the checkout line at a local store, you never know when a casual conversation might present an opportunity to help you build your business.

Networking is the thread that stitches the fabric of your real estate career together. Always be thinking of ways to network.