It goes without saying that the National Association of Realtors is a major force in the real estate industry. For some, it’s not always a welcome one. But Nobu Hata believes the NAR can be a force for positive change, especially when it comes to digital marketing. As Director of Digital Engagement, Nobu helps agents and brokers on the ground understand how digital is changing the way they work, and what they need to do to be successful.

Nobu knows what it means to be an agent: he spent seven years selling homes in Minneapolis before joining the NAR in 2012. Now, Nobu spends his days monitoring the latest trends and educating real estate professionals about what it takes to stay competitive in today’s market. In this interview, Nobu explains how new agents can audit their online presence, and what it takes to create valuable content that gets consumers out from behind their computers.