My broker and I left a big box more than five years ago, and we have been happily living on referrals and our marketing ever since.  We promote through ActiveRain and our websites.  The advantages to the consumer are that we do not charge an administrative fee on their HUD to the tune of $500 or more and do not pass along other costs.

So many more resources with a big company.

I am with a team.

I have a team.

My actions and results are my promotions.

Big brokerage one can connect one another through net working. However, you are still on your own getting your leads since you work as an independent contractor.  Working out of your home is great if you have tons of leads or past clients.  The trend is changing though... Most sellers are interested in the lowest possible commission or work with those farm heavily in their neighborhood.

I LOVE being Independent. I feel there are many advantages and i like to promote myself through my AR blog and then post it on all Social Media and have had my blogs picked up in local papers and some national papers and magazines.

I promote myself by writing posts about my communities and subdivisions.  The advantages of working with me are I know the community and subdivisions...plus my Clients are very active on Social Media and I get a lot of nice things said about me...

Jack Lewitz at KW, I can promote my brand, my team - so I get best of both world!

I do the work, not the company and exactly what I say on a listing appointment.   I have the record of sales. 

I previously worked for big brokerages.  I found that there were a lot of layers to go through to get simple things accomplished, questions answered or inaccurate commission checks corrected.

The big brokerages I worked for aggressively advanced the idea that the brokerage name is meaningful and advantageous to the agent.  That may be true for some people.  I found it to be complete nonsense.

My experience is that there were constant pitches to the agents to buy what I thought were high cost, low value programs that would purportedly revolutionize our business.

For me, a small brokerage offers a direct connect to the broker, faster answers and flexibility.  As long as the broker is very knowledgeable, ethical and operates from a base of total integrity, I'm comfortable with the small brokerage, as are my clients.

I always promoted myself, not the broker so my marketing really didn't change.  

People hire people they like and trust.  In my view, it's rare that clients care where you work.  They care how you work.

There is no difference in the ways to promote yourself. However, those with a brand name firm such as RE/MAX will have a marketing advantage.

Jack,

I would say that you have to promote yourself as an agent regardless of whether or not you work at a big company.  It is just as easy to be lost in a big company or as an independent.  There has to be a compelling reason for someone to want to work with you.  A

 I am a happily independent Real Estate Broker. I started 11 years ago with Century 21 and find that once I got my training, the big name franchise wasn't doing a lot for me and taking almost half my commissions. I focus on a boutique, hands on business where I give my clients the ultimate in customer service. I promote myself heavily online. The advantage to using me is that I can often be more flexible in how I work deals and list homes.

As an "agent" you are not actually independent because you have to hang your license under a broker (at least that is the case in California and Hawaii where I have a broker's license). To be with an independent BROKERAGE like mine, I give you a lot more flexibility as to commission structure and how you market yourself - at least that is my M.O. in my brokerage. Clients like this because I have instant answers and I can help my agents negotiate. There are no hard rules and procedures if it can save a deal for my agent.

Broker and owner.  I don't do a lot different than when I worked for another Broker.   I had to market my self then and I am doing the same now.