Social media has become an essential part of marketing in the modern age. However, it can be difficult to properly utilize social media and make it work to your advantage, especially if you’re looking to market your real estate business.
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to get more out of your real estate social media marketing efforts than you ever thought possible by leveraging the power of social media.
Online Marketing 101
The majority of social media comprises websites and apps that allow users to engage with one another and exchange information.
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram are the most popular social networking platforms. There are many more tools available, but these are the most popular and offer a wide range of tools for real estate marketing.
Ads
Facebook is a huge social media platform, with a lot of people using it on a daily basis. Facebook ads are one of those components that can really make your real estate business succeed by allowing you to find exactly who your audience is and getting them directly interested in what you have to offer. Of course, Facebook ads aren’t free, but they may be one of your best marketing tools yet!
Facebook advertising is a great way for real estate agents to connect directly with potential clients and convert leads into deals. Unlike traditional online advertising — where an ad might appear on a search engine results page or website at random — Real estate facebook ads allow you to target specific demographics based on age, location, interests, and more.
For example, if you were looking for first-time buyers in the Chicago area, you could choose the “first-time buyer” interest category and filter your ad further by selecting “Chicago” as a location parameter.
Live
While agents can do live stream home tours on other platforms, such as Instagram or Periscope, Facebook is the only one that allows users to schedule live streams ahead of time.
This feature is especially useful for open houses or live events. It gives agents a chance to promote their event prior to its occurrence, but it also allows them to invite specific people to tune in via notifications.
Beyond its massive popularity and quirky features, Instagram has great potential as a real estate marketing tool. It’s one of those social media channels that cater specifically to visual content. So if you have beautiful pictures of your property, Instagram is a great way to show them off!
Plus, it’s not hard to amass followers since there are already so many other real estate agents using it (particularly in big cities). Just take note that you can only share a link through your profile once per day.
It’s easy to get started on Instagram. Just download the app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. You can easily create an account with an existing Facebook account or by using an email address.
Start posting pictures of your property or other interesting things about the area where it’s located. Think about what makes your listing unique and post pictures that showcase these features.
It’s also a good idea to include some text in the description explaining why people should care about your listing. Include keywords like “apartment for sale” or “home for rent” so people can find them more easily when they search on Instagram.
LinkedIn is a social media platform for business professionals and also serves as a great real estate social media marketing medium. Agents use it to network and build relationships with other professionals in the real estate field, such as lenders, inspectors, and title officers.
This is also a good way to connect with potential clients. You can search for people by location, industry, or company name and join relevant groups.
LinkedIn has over 2 million groups that agents can join to widen their reach on the platform. For example, if you work primarily in the Bay Area, you might want to join one of the many local groups on LinkedIn.
Or perhaps there is an agent group for your brokerage firm. These are all great ways to network with other agents who may be able to send you referrals at some point in the future.
YouTube
YouTube is a great way to introduce people in your niche to your business. Creating a channel and uploading videos can help prospective clients get acquainted with you and what you do (Tip: make sure your first video has something in it that draws people in).
When you create a video, make sure the content is consistent with your brand. In other words, if you are promoting yourself as an expert on a particular topic, avoid making videos about something unrelated to that topic. If people see that you’re good at what you do and are passionate about it, they will be more likely to come back for more.
You can also use videos to narrate your listing stories. This is an excellent way to help buyers get emotionally attached to the property — and emotionally attached buyers are more likely to make an offer!
At its core, Twitter is all about connecting people through short messages and conversations. The platform encourages open dialogue between users, allowing everyone to share their personal experiences and opinions on any topic.
If you’re a real estate agent or broker looking to get ahead in your industry, Twitter is an ideal platform for sharing valuable content and reaching new clients. By following influencers in your field and engaging with them on Twitter, you can build stronger relationships with other businesses and position yourself as an industry leader.
Twitter also gives you the chance to target your audience based on location and interests — making it easier to find potential leads that are looking to buy or sell property in your area.
Conclusion
For the real estate marketing professional, utilizing social media for real estate marketing is a must in order to get the job done. In addition to direct leads, using real estate social media marketing also enables you to stay on top of topics that prospective customers are likely to discuss.
It also gives companies a chance to showcase their personality and give people a glimpse into what their business entails. With the popularity of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other sites increasing every day, it is more important than ever to utilize them for real estate marketing. Social media is where you need to be for anyone looking for the next great real estate community or neighborhood!
