Outbound Marketing in Real Estate: How To Stand Out in a Crowded Market

Disclaimer:  This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or compliance advice. Outbound marketing methods such as cold calling, text messaging, direct mail, or email campaigns are subject to federal, state, and local regulations. For guidance specific to your market, consult a qualified legal or compliance professional.

Your ideal client just listed their property with another agent, not because they didn't know you existed, but because that agent reached them first. This is the power of outbound marketing.

While some agents wait for leads to come to them, a strategic outbound approach puts you directly in front of motivated sellers and buyers before they ever start their search. 

Read on to learn why outbound marketing still dominates in 2025 and the proven strategies that can turn cold prospects into closed deals.

What Is Outbound Marketing (vs. Inbound Marketing)?

In real estate, outbound marketing is when you proactively reach out to potential clients rather than wait for them to find you. Think cold calling, mailing postcards, knocking on doors, and sending targeted emails or texts. Instead of casting a wide net and hoping for bites, you’re actively reaching out to specific prospects with personalized messages.

This is different from inbound marketing, which involves attracting potential clients by creating valuable content and building a following. Think about writing blog posts, earning referrals, and being active on social media. Instead of chasing leads, you’re positioning yourself as a trusted resource so clients come to you when they’re ready to buy or sell a property.

While both outbound and inbound marketing can be effective, many agents rely too much on the former because it requires less effort. For example, it can be easier to wait for referrals than to call a lead on the phone. However, outbound marketing is the key to unlocking faster growth. 

Why Outbound Marketing Still Works in 2025

Here’s why outbound marketing can still work for real estate agents in 2025 and beyond:

Lower Competition

Since outbound marketing often requires more effort, many agents tend to avoid it. This creates lower competition for the agents that do pursue it. Think of it this way: If you’re the only agent in your market actively cold calling prospects, you’re that much more likely to win their business.

Instant Awareness

Outbound marketing puts you in front of prospects on your timeline, not theirs. Even if they're not ready for your services, you've established a relationship so that when they do decide to buy or sell, they're more likely to call you, not search Google for an agent they've never heard of.

Lead Segmentation

While outbound marketing may require more effort, lead segmentation tools can help streamline the process. For example, PropStream helps you build custom lead lists by client type and selling motivation. That way, you can send tailored messages via email, text, or postcard.

Pro Tip: Check out PropStream’s 20 unique Lead Lists for segmenting your outbound prospects into distinct lead groups. 

Top Outbound Strategies That Still Get Results

Now that you know what makes outbound marketing powerful, here are the top outbound strategies that still get results: 

Direct Mail

Direct mail is sending physical marketing materials directly to homeowners’ mailboxes. Think postcards, letters, or newsletters. By tailoring these messages to different lead types (e.g., expired listings, pre-foreclosures, or vacant property owners), you can boost lead conversions.

Cold Calling or Texting

Cold calling or texting is a bit more time-intensive and personal, as you’re contacting leads directly on their phones. However, with software like BatchDialer, you can automate dialing and even call up to five numbers simultaneously until one is answered. 

Tune into a BatchDialer Demo On Increasing Efficiency With Cold Calling Hacks

Pro Tip: BatchDialer also offers predictive dialing, which prioritizes leads most likely to pick up the phone based on their call history and other data. 

Social Media DMs

Sending direct messages (DMs) over social media is similar to texting. However, you have the benefit of showcasing your social media profile, which can help give you credibility, especially if you have a strong social media presence. 

Community Presence

Of course, tried-and-true outbound marketing methods like door knocking and hosting or sponsoring events can also be effective. They’re all about building a local presence in your community that opens the door to offering your services to people in person.

How to Personalize Outreach & Avoid Sounding Like Every Other Agent

That said, even the best outbound strategies can fall flat if you sound like every other agent.

To stand out from the crowd, aim for hyper-specific messaging. For example, instead of asking a prospect if they want to list their house, say, “I noticed your property has been owned for X number of years. Have you considered downsizing?”

From there, the prospect may open up about their future housing plans and may even ask you about your services, what you think their house is worth, etc. 

The key is to offer personalized value upfront. This could include local market statistics, recent comps for the prospect’s home, or insights into their current equity. Then they’re more likely to trust you as an expert with valuable information tailored to their situation.

Measure & Optimize Your Outbound Marketing Campaigns

Launching an outbound marketing campaign is just the beginning. 

From there, monitor the campaign to evaluate what’s working and what isn’t. For example, you can track open rates, response rates, and conversion rates and adjust your strategy accordingly. 

You can also A/B test direct mail designs, scripts, call openings, etc. The more performance data you collect, the more insights you’ll have to gradually improve your marketing campaigns.

Ultimately, however, consistency beats perfection. Instead of investing hours trying to craft each text message, consistently send messages to qualified leads and refine them over time.

Start Your Next Outbound Marketing Campaign with PropStream

Not sure where to start? PropStream has everything you need to launch your first outbound marketing campaign and more. 

Our platform can help you find the best leads to direct your outbound marketing strategy to. Find motivated sellers, build custom marketing lists, automate your lists, and start your outbound marketing campaign right within the platform by utilizing tools like free skip tracing (with select plans), email campaigns, and postcards.

*PropStream engages an independent third party to perform skip-tracing.