How Social Media Distracted Realtors From Real Money

Written by Devone Richard

Social media didn’t ruin real estate.
It distracted realtors from making real money.

Somewhere along the way, the industry stopped rewarding production and started rewarding attention. Likes replaced listings. Followers replaced fundamentals. And too many agents confused visibility with profitability.

The result?
A generation of busy realtors who look successful online—but struggle to build consistent income offline.


Attention Is Not Income

Social media creates motion without progress. Realtors spend hours filming content, chasing trends, and posting daily—yet can’t tell you their conversion rate, average commission, or monthly revenue target.

Being visible feels productive.
It isn’t.

Seven-figure realtors don’t track likes.
They track closings, margins, and leverage.


The Influencer Trap

Social media rewards entertainment, not execution. Algorithms promote flash, not fundamentals. As a result, many agents optimize for reach instead of revenue.

They know how to:

  • Film reels
  • Edit videos
  • Build aesthetics

But they haven’t mastered:

  • Pricing strategy
  • Negotiation
  • Listings
  • Client leverage

Real estate isn’t a content business.
It’s a decision business.


Busy, Not Profitable

The most dangerous phrase in real estate today is:
“I’m busy.”

Busy agents chase low-quality leads, post nonstop, and stay reactive. Profitable agents control inventory, build referral pipelines, and protect their time.

Social media didn’t create hustle culture—but it amplified it. And hustle without structure leads to burnout, not wealth.


What Top Earners Actually Use Social Media For

High-producing realtors don’t disappear from social media. They demote it.

They use it to:

  • Reinforce credibility
  • Stay visible to past clients
  • Support listings and authority

They don’t use it as their primary income engine.

Social media supports the business.
It does not become the business.


The Shift Back to Real Money

The real money in real estate still comes from:

  • Listings
  • Negotiation skill
  • Repeat clients
  • Referrals
  • Systems
  • Ownership and leverage

Agents who return their focus to fundamentals don’t just earn more—they last longer.


Final Thought

Social media made real estate louder.
It did not make it more profitable.

Realtors who stop chasing attention and start building structure will always outperform those chasing algorithms.

Because real money doesn’t trend.
It compounds.


Devone Richard, Real Estate Broker

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