In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for any business. In the real estate industry especially, the majority of homebuyers and sellers turn to the internet for their needs. Therefore, it’s essential for agents and brokers to not only exist, but thrive online. What tools do you need to make sure you’re set up for success? Read on for how to build a strong online presence.
Website
A professional website should be first on your list when you’re looking to build a strong online presence. Your website must be
well designed, easy to navigate and provide all the necessary information about your services. Beyond that, it’s extremely important in today’s climate to own your own website. Many agents rely solely on using their real estate firm’s website to represent themselves. However, a single-page profile on a company site is not sufficient, as viewers only see the agent’s umbrella brand. This places them at a disadvantage and means they are not in control of incoming leads. On the flip side, owning your website grants you access to rich analytics reports, most likely unavailable on a brokerage website. These reports provide valuable information about how visitors reach your website, keywords used in searches, pages visited, and what content drives the most traffic. Agents can use this data to better understand their visitors’ behaviors and make changes to their website content accordingly. Check out the ready-to-use realtor websites available at WinningAgent to get some inspiration!
SEO
With so much competition in real estate, your website should be optimized for search engines so that potential clients can find you easily. This includes using relevant keywords, high quality content and optimizing your website’s structure. Real estate SEO (Search Engine Optimization) uses a set of processes aimed at improving your real estate website’s visibility on search engine results pages. After all, the higher you rank in search results, the more people will visit your page. If you’re a newbie, check out some SEO tips to get your website dialed in and ready to go!
Social media
Social media is widely regarded as the most important marketing tool for realtors to build a strong online presence. If you think about it, just about everyone uses it in some way. And whether or not you’re active online personally, you would be silly not to take advantage of social media for your business. As a real estate agent, there are so many opportunities to convert social media activity into client relationships. Make sure that you have active profiles on popular social platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Check out a few of our favorite social media post ideas for realtors if you’re in need of some assistance!
Video marketing
Video marketing is becoming increasingly popular for a good reason. In an increasingly
busy world, buyers are spending less time reading content and more time connecting with immersive videos. Since this trend is only increasing, real estate agents must embrace video marketing to stay current. Ready for some stats? Real estate professionals who use video marketing see 49% faster growth than those who stick with traditional methods. And posts with a video see 1200% more shares on social media than those without. Finally, websites with videos keep users on their sites 88% longer. Use Instagram and Facebook live to create your videos. Offering virtual tours is essential for showcasing your properties too. Remember, not all buyers have time to visit open houses, but they will always check them out online.
Email marketing
Email marketing is an effective way to stay in touch with clients and keep them updated on your business. You can use email to share new listings, blog posts, market reports and other key information. Send personalized emails to a variety of clients, manage those emails, and track performance metrics. Using email marketing software, you can send relevant information to each client without spending much time crafting individual emails. In addition, the metrics information will help you understand who is opening your emails, which are most effective and which fall short. Use these metrics to create more meaningful email campaigns that reach more clients, ultimately helping you grow your business. More people reading your emails, means more potential leads!
Professional photography
One of the most powerful means of selling homes is strong photography. Humans are visual beings, so the more effectively you can represent a property on your website, the greater your odds are of making the sale. With those online photos being the buyer’s first impression, poor-quality or amateur photos simply won’t do. If there are only a handful of images of the property, clients will also search elsewhere. High-quality photos (and lots of them) make properties look extraordinary. Plus, they give buyers an opportunity to view every room and every detail before getting in their cars. When you represent your listings with high-quality imagery, you also show that you care. You are invested in showing off the best, which can deepen buyers’ trust in your business.
Reviews and referrals
Good reviews are an essential element if you’re looking to build a strong online presence. If your clients had
a good experience with your services, encourage them to leave reviews on platforms such as Yelp, Google and Zillow. Include instructions and links to leave reviews on your website to make it easier too! Reviews are incredibly important – and they go hand in hand with referrals. Take opportunities to partner with other real estate professionals, service providers and local businesses to create a network of referrals. More folks mentioning your name – especially in the market of potential buyers – is the ultimate goal.
Advertising
Online advertising will help you reach a wider audience when marketing your business. You can use platforms such as Google Ads and Facebook Ads to create targeted campaigns. That means you get to define your target market, geographic location and all that good stuff. Retargeted ads are also key – helping you reach potential clients who have visited your website but have yet to take action. In terms of ad content, this is where your high-quality photos and videos come into play. Use your finest clips and some compelling copy to encourage viewers to engage with your online advertisements. Experiment with different combinations of imagery and text and make note of which ads yield the highest results!
Online communities
Participating in online communities can help build your reputation and connect with potential clients. For example, you can become active in real estate forums and Facebook groups. Make a voice for yourself in these communities and use it to market your business, open houses and events. Building a rapport with local homeowners and buyers is always a good idea!
By following the above tips, you can cultivate a strong online presence, attract more leads, build your reputation, and grow your business. Are there any elements of a strong online presence we’ve missed? Let us know your thoughts and personal strategies in the comments below!
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