Technology

Turn ‘How’s the market?’ into a lead without being weird

· 5 min read
Turn ‘How’s the market?’ into a lead without being weird

If you have been in real estate longer than about five minutes, you have heard the question, “How’s the market?

Most agents answer it the same way. A quick opinion, a couple stats they half remember, then they move on. The moment passes, and nothing happens.

That is a missed opportunity, because that question is a softball. They are not challenging you. They are inviting you to be useful. 

The problem is they usually ask it at the worst possible time, the grocery store, a kid’s sports event, a random hallway chat, a place where nobody wants a 10-minute market lecture.

So we stopped trying to answer it on the spot. We built a system around it.

The simple system

Every week, we film a quick market update video. Thirty seconds to one minute, just local stats, what is moving, what is not, and one simple takeaway. Then we post it everywhere as short-form content.

That video becomes the tool you use when someone asks the market question in real life.

When someone asks, “How’s the market?” my response is short and easy: “I actually film a quick market report every week. Do you want me to send you this week’s update?”

Most people say yes, because it feels helpful and it is not a sales pitch. Now you have a reason to get their contact information without making it awkward.

Then you do the easiest part. You grab the direct link to the video from your social account and text it to them. You follow it with one line like, “I just sent it over, it will break down what’s going on locally. If any questions come up, just text me.”

That is it. No pressure. No forced close. Just value.

Why this works better than trying to talk in the moment

Most people asking “how’s the market” are not ready to buy or sell today. They are curious. They want context. They want to feel informed. If you try to jam a full conversation into a quick social moment, it usually comes off like you are pitching.

The video does the opposite. It makes you look prepared, consistent and professional, without you needing to dominate the conversation in the grocery aisle. It also lets them consume the information on their own time, which is the only time people actually pay attention.

The hidden benefit nobody talks about

The direct link creates a connection between you and them online.

When they click the link in a text, it opens your social account, and now you have a bridge between their real-world interaction and your content. Even if they never follow you, there is a good chance your posts start showing up for them more often because they have interacted with your account.

That matters because you are now nurturing them without having to chase them. You keep posting, they keep seeing you, and you stay top of mind in a way that feels natural.

It also gives you built-in follow-up

This is the part that makes it a real lead generation system and not just a nice interaction.

Seven to 10 days after you send the video, you have a clean reason to reach out again. You can call or text and say, “Hey, we met at the grocery store. I sent you that market update video. Did you get a chance to watch it, and did any questions come up?”

That follow-up is not weird because it is not random. It is tied to a question they asked you first. You are not begging for their business. You are continuing a conversation they started.

The long game is where the money is

Most of the time, these people are not immediate clients. That is fine. The goal is to get them into your ecosystem in a way that feels organic.

Over time, we have seen two types of wins come from this.

The first is referrals. People we have never worked with will send us business because they see the consistency, and they assume competence. They tell a friend, I see his market updates, he knows what he’s talking about, call him.

The second is delayed direct business. Weeks or months later, someone will reach back out and say, “We met at the grocery store, you sent me that video, I started watching your stuff, and now we’re actually thinking about making a move.”

That is the real point. You earn trust in small doses, then you earn the right to be the agent when timing becomes real.

One question, one video, one simple pipeline

Most agents treat “How’s the market?” like small talk. That is why it never turns into anything.

If you treat it like an invitation to provide value, it becomes a lead source you can repeat every week. The weekly video gives you something useful to send, the link creates ongoing visibility, and the follow-up has a natural reason built in.

All from a question you already get all the time.

Josh Ries is a real estate broker and a lead generation consultant. You can connect with him on TikTok and Instagram.

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