Real estate agents are realizing they need to use online marketing to attract homebuyers in today’s marketplace. Where is the first place many people look for a new home? The internet, of course. Real estate marketing techniques have come a long way in recent years. There’s a movement away from old-school tactics like newspaper ads and fliers toward modern practices like social media. Your options as a realtor to stand out in the crowd are only increasing with each passing year.
Let’s look at some ways to maximize the return you get on your digital marketing if you’re a real estate agent.
Optimize your real estate website and make it mobile-friendly
You need a website — why? A website gives you complete control over your brand image and allows you to showcase your work without having to rely on someone else’s platform (like Facebook). Your website should include contact information for inquiries about buying or selling a home, along with testimonials from satisfied customers.
Your website is the foundation of your digital marketing strategy, so it’s important to optimize it for search engines and buyers. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly too. Real estate sites must be responsive, so they work well on phones and tablets as well as desktops and laptops.
Optimize your website content for keywords. Use relevant keywords in headlines, descriptions, body copy, and titles throughout your site — but don’t keyword stuff! Use keywords naturally in your content. The best way to determine what people are searching for online, and the keywords you need to use, is to look at other high-ranking real estate websites. Once you know what terms are used frequently, use them yourself within pages.
One way to get ahead is to take a short course on search engine optimization (SEO) so you know how to structure your website and content to build and maximize traffic. Many real estate agents lack this knowledge, and it greatly limits their ability to get traffic to their site.
Get listed on real estate directories
Real estate directories are a great place to market your services and connect with potential clients. Real estate directories are websites that list the properties for sale in a certain area. They allow users to search homes by location, price, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, etc.
There are many types of real estate services offered by different companies such as Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com, as well as local realtors who have their own websites for listing homes for sale in their area. Being listed on multiple sources can help increase exposure, which means more people will see your listings (and hopefully inquire about them).
Being listed on these sites has several benefits, including increased visibility among potential buyers; the ability to reach out directly via email or phone call; and the opportunity for cross-marketing between agents who work together within the same network system.
Make sure your information is correct and up to date on each site so that people find what they’re looking for when they search for homes in your area. You should also add links back to your website or social media pages from each profile page.
Use social media to connect with potential clients
Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are excellent sites to connect with potential real estate clients and get your name out there in front of people looking for an agent. They also allow you to connect with other relevant parties, such as builders, banks, and mortgage brokers, so you can share ideas about how to market your services and attract new clients. It’s difficult to manage too many social media platforms simultaneously, especially if you’re a busy real estate agent. Choose one or two that you’re most comfortable with.
Some options include:
1. Facebook
Facebook is still one of the most popular social media sites, and it’s a great place for real estate agents to network with clients and potential clients. Posting about new listings, open houses, and recent sales can help you grow your client base.
2. Twitter
Twitter is another terrific place for real estate agents to connect with clients and potential buyers. You can share tips and advice on current market conditions, as well as industry news that might be relevant to your followers.
3. Pinterest
Pinterest is one of the fastest-growing social media sites today. It’s also a great way for agents to build their brand by sharing photos of homes or neighborhoods they think would appeal to their ideal clients. The more pins you have, the better your chances are at building visibility in this fast-paced environment.
Social media is an essential part of any modern marketing campaign because it allows you to reach more people at a lower cost than traditional advertising methods. However, if you use social media incorrectly, it can hurt your business rather than help it. Make sure you know how each platform works before jumping into the fray without any preparation or planning.
Focus on getting reviews
Getting reviews is one of the best ways to build trust with potential clients. It’s also likely they’ll check reviews before they decide to hire you, so don’t overlook them on social media (like Yelp) or your own website.
Reviews are a great way for people to see how others feel about you and your services. They give potential clients an idea of what it’s like working with you. This makes it easier for them to make an informed decision about who should be their next real estate agent.
How can you get reviews? Be active on social media. Social media is one of the best ways to get more reviews because you can directly interact with your clients. If they have a good experience with you, they’re much more likely to leave you a review on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
Other ways to get online reviews:
• Ask for them.
• Make it easy for people to leave reviews by linking directly to Google or Yelp from your website (with the option of leaving an anonymous review).
• Follow up with potential reviewers by emailing them a link to leave a review after they’ve toured your property or viewed the listing online.
• Offer incentives for leaving reviews.
Create a blog
A blog offers a way to share tips on how to buy or sell a home, as well as provide information on market trends and other topics of interest to consumers. Blogging can also be a great platform for advertising your listings or yourself as an agent.
It’s important to have a blog that is relevant and engaging, one that attracts readers and leaves them wanting more. If you don’t have time or interest in writing the content yourself, there are third-party platforms where you can select pre-made templates tailored specifically toward real estate agents (or ones that allow you to customize). You could also hire someone to write blog posts for you. But if you have the time, writing your own blog posts will add an authentic element to your posts and help form a stronger connection with your readers.
Use email marketing
Email marketing is a great way to stay in touch with your audience and drive traffic to your website. Create an email list of leads and customers. Email marketing is one of the most effective ways for real estate agents to reach potential customers. Most people check their email daily, or even multiple times per day. Create a sign-up form on your website, so visitors can opt-in by entering their email addresses. Then send them relevant content regularly through email newsletters (at least once per month). To encourage signups, offer something free that’s relevant to your customers, such as a free e-book with tips on buying a new home. Keep emails short and to the point, but offer valuable information. This will make it easier for readers to digest all the information quickly.
The Bottom Line
If you want your real estate business to grow, you need to build an online brand and leverage Internet marketing opportunities. Online marketing is a fantastic way to grow your business and reach more people. Use these tips to grow your real estate business and be the best real estate agent you can be.
