We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – it’s really important 🙂
Unless you are digital media savvy, you are missing out on potential clients, listings, and sales. So here’s a checklist of key questions to ask yourself as you analyze ways to enhance the home search process for clients and potential clients.
Question #1: Are you mobile-friendly? Did you know that three years ago, mobile devices overtook desktop as the primary method people use to access the internet? This means that your highly creative website may need to be repurposed in order to be effective. And if you’re just starting to develop your own website, think mobile first, desktop second. And yes, both Winning Agent WordPress themes are Mobile Friendly.
Question #2: Are your photos high-res? Here’s an example of why that’s important: The iPhone 6 has a 1334 x 750 pixel resolution which works out to 326 ppi (pixels per inch) – the same as the iPhone 5. The Plus model packs in more pixels with a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution at 401 ppi. If you are using Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or any similar apps, you need the same degree of high-res photos or your clients may begin to think they have vision problems.
Question #3: Are you hyperlocal? Every medium you use should answer the specific questions your customers and leads are asking about your city, town, or neighborhood: How’s the market? How are the schools in the area? Is this a walkable neighborhood? What restaurant has the best hamburgers? You know all those answers, of course. The trick is to get them onto your mobile-friendly site and keep them up to date. Think Facebook—selfies of you sharing a libation with your significant other at the local brewpub or laughing it up with your kids at the ice cream parlor. Your post should link to maps and directions for any place your client wants to go. Hyperlocal is still very relevant.
Question #4: Is your head in the cloud? This is one time when it should be! Cloud-based apps are helping Realtors become ever more efficient. Apps like Evernote and Dropbox are perfect for helping both you and your clients keep track of notes and files, like contracts and disclosures. You may need tools for communicating both internally (with your team) and externally (with your clients). Check out tools that work both ways, such as Google Docs and Socialcast. These tools have way more potential for communication efficiency than e-mail. They get everyone on the same page at the same time, rather than stuck in the linear back-and-forth you may currently be using with email and texting. E-mail is great, but it wasn’t built for online collaboration. There are better tools.
Question #5: Have you completely converted to e-signature technology? It’s far less time consuming than printing and faxing contracts around. That method is already going the way of the horse and buggy. Documents can be signed instantly online and often on any device available. There are many different apps to consider, starting with DocuSign or Adobe Document Cloud. Eversign will tell you that it is “a legally binding digital signature platform you can access from anywhere” — office, home, or mobile device. And there are several others to consider. Choose the one you think your clients will find easiest to use.
So if you’ve read all of the above and your eyes are starting to glaze over because you just don’t consider yourself tech-savvy, relax. It’s OK to feel overwhelmed–for a few minutes, anyway. Why not use this article as a to-do list and work your way through it, one step at a time. Before long, you’ll be the office techie and your colleagues will be coming to you for advice.
That’ll be the day!
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