How you deal with people day to day matters more than most agents realise, because those moments shape how you are remembered.
One thing I have learned over time is that people make their mind up about you long before they ever need you. It is rarely based on one big interaction. It is usually formed through a series of smaller ones. A call. A meeting. An email. Something they saw online. None of these moments feel important on their own, but together they add up.
That is why I place a lot of importance on integrity and transparency. Not as concepts, but as behaviour. Saying what you mean. Being clear when something is uncertain. Following through. These things sound basic, but they are often where trust is either built or lost.
The other part that matters is value. Every time you reach out to someone, there should be a reason that makes sense for them. It does not need to be impressive. It does not need to be clever. It just needs to be useful. Too much communication in this industry exists simply to stay visible, and people feel that very quickly.
When contact becomes repetitive or hollow, people disengage quietly. Not out of dislike, but because it feels unnecessary. On the other hand, when communication is clear and relevant, even if it is less frequent, it tends to be welcomed.
This applies just as much to email and social media as it does to conversations. You do not need to be everywhere. You need to be consistent in how you show up. People remember whether you were helpful, whether you were straight with them, and whether dealing with you felt easy.
Over time, those impressions matter. They are what people rely on when they decide who to call, who to recommend, or who they feel comfortable dealing with again. You do not need to manufacture that trust. It grows out of how you handle the ordinary moments.
In this business, reputation is built slowly. Interaction by interaction. The standard you hold yourself to in those moments is what stays with people long after the details are forgotten.