We asked hundreds of real estate professionals about their habits, marketing strategies, and real estate marketing tools for professional success. This content summarizes those responses.

Whether you are a new real estate agent or a seasoned real estate agent, the following information can help you develop real estate marketing ideas to capture potential leads, both potential buyers and potential sellers.

Real estate marketing tools used by top agents

bar graph showing the listing marketing tools currently used by real estate agents
Data from Virtuance’s 2025 Real Estate Marketing Trends Report

Professional real estate photography

There’s no question that professional photography continues to be one of the top real estate marketing tools used by real estate agents. 98% of respondents said they currently use professional images in their marketing stack. Not only is professional photography cost-effective, but it is also the most critical element for all other marketing material.

You can use professional photography on your social media platforms to increase your exposure to potential customers. To increase your web presence, make sure to pair professional images with relevant content on your social media posts. Social media is a great way to network and find a potential client. Make sure that your social media channels are up-to-date and use professional images.

Additionally, professional real estate photography results in more showings, more offers, and higher sale prices.

Floor plans

Additionally, floor plans ranked highly, reflecting a growing focus on various visuals for online marketing. The popularity of floor plans outpacing 3D tours is probably due to their cost-effectiveness and overall appeal, especially since some buyers vocalize that virtual tours make them dizzy.

Aerial photos and 3D tours

Due to their complementary focuses—aerials best showcase exteriors, while 3D tours best showcase interiors—aerials and 3D tours are equally adopted among agents today. Although aerial images and 3D tours are popular buzzwords in the real estate industry, the fact is that over half of real estate agents are still not using this technology.

Therefore, aerial images and 3D tours can be a powerful tool to attract qualified leads. Both aerials and 3D tours can be used in email marketing campaigns, on your social media accounts, and for other real estate marketing efforts to help tell a comprehensive story of your property.

Emerging real estate marketing tools used to market listings

This past year, emerging tools like community images and property reels remained less prevalent, but they provide agents with significant differentiation options. Visually compelling enhancements like these are likely to be adopted more widely in 2025 as competition intensifies.

Community image of a playground to showcase a home's neighborhood
Image by Virtuance

Combining marketing methods to drive sales

This year, real estate professionals are balancing traditional and digital marketing to overcome key challenges like selling more homes, generating leads, and increasing referrals.

Social media remains the most popular tool, with 80% of agents using platforms like Facebook and Instagram, while SEO, websites, and paid ads are gaining traction. Despite digital growth, referrals, word-of-mouth, and email marketing continue to be essential due to their strong foundation in trust and relationships.

Video marketing is an emerging opportunity, with relatively low adoption in 2024, signaling room for growth in 2025. As agents refine their strategies, a mix of new and proven marketing methods will be key to maximizing reach and driving sales.

Stay ahead with the latest marketing trends and tools

Success in 2025 starts with a strong marketing strategy. Virtuance helps real estate professionals stand out with high-quality photography, 3D tours, floor plans, and more—proven to attract buyers and drive sales. To stay ahead of the competition, download our 2025 Real Estate Marketing Trends Report and discover the latest insights, strategies, and opportunities shaping the industry.

Continue on to Tools of Real Estate Titans Section 2: Tools of the Trade –>

FAQ

Professional photography enhances marketing materials, increases engagement, and leads to more showings, offers, and higher sale prices.

Floor plans and 3D tours help buyers visualize properties better, making listings more appealing and increasing engagement.

Community images and property reels offer visually compelling ways to stand out and attract more buyers in a competitive market.