Working in a real estate industry, one question I hear often is, "Do I even need to use social media in real estate?" The answer is yes, 100% yes. Social media is important for every industry, but for the real estate agent, there is so much opportunity.
Why Social Media?
In this technology-driven age, it's crucial for agents to remain active on social media in order to build new interest in newly listed properties and to attract sellers. More people are using social media to see unique properties, and with millennials becoming the fastest growing home buyer market, it's just going to get more important.
Which Social Media Networks Should I Use?
With so many different options available, and with new ones popping up all the time, it can be overwhelming to choose the proper social networks. No matter which social networks you decide to use, the content should be fresh, and engaging.
The big three right now are:
Facebook: With Facebook's recent changes to their advertising policy, it may seem pointless to use Facebook for advertising and promotion. Just because they have removed some targeting options, doesn't mean it's completely useless. Facebook can be a great tool to grow your business organically. Video Walkthroughs ,3 D Photo Tours, Digital Open Houses, Live Video, Facebook Stories, etc. can all boost your organic reach and engagement.
Instagram: Instagram is currently considered the fastest growing social network with around 800 million monthly users. Utilizing good photos of listings, proper hashtags (you can use up to 30 but using them all is not recommended). Instagram stories are a great way to boost engagement with questions, polls, etc. that can provide instant feedback from your audience. You should set your instagram up as a business account so you have access to great tools and analytics to help build your strategy. Each Instagram post should have a CTA (Call to Action: a question, check out link in bio, check out more here, etc), a touch of your personality (use emojis, friendly conversational tone), Hashtags (1-5 seems to be ideal).
Youtube: Youtube is actually the second largest search engine behind google. With over 3 billion searches per month, it has more searches than Bing, Yahoo, AOL, and Ask.com combined. Youtube is a great tool for real estate agents. The content most people are engaging with now is video. Post video walk throughs, tutorials, tips & tricks, etc. The more relevant content you have, the better chance you have of some one seeing it and engaging with you.
Of course there are other social networks like Twitter, Tik Tok, Snapchat, and Linked In that have their own place in a marketing strategy. The Foundation Marketing - LLC can help real estate agents and other small businesses build and implement a strong social media strategy!
Basic Content Ideas
There are a few easy things a real estate agent can post to get started with their social media presence.
Property Photos - Social Media is HIGHLY visual. Using good, high resolution photos are essential to a strong social media strategy. Eye catching photos encourage likes, shares, and comments. You'll want to include some quality copy to go with the photos. Don't forget to add you contact info as well. Need some high quality photos or 3D photos done? Reach out to us here at The Foundation Marketing.
Success Stories and Testimonials - People love to see happy, positive content. Showing off photos of happy home buyers, testimonials, followup on remodels, etc. These types of celebratory posts get some of the highest engagement. Show the story, and make a connection!
Industry & Market News - Follow blogs, keep up to date with the latest trends. Share blog posts, articles, etc. Show your audience that YOU are the expert!
Home Improvement & Renovation Ideas - Everyone is looking for home "hacks" to make their lives easier. Posting tips, tricks, and ideas will keep your audiences interacting with you and wanting more information. You'll be the "go to" person for tips, tricks, and ideas. This keeps your clients engaged after the sale. Renovation ideas and inspiration are both great things to post for prospective buyers/sellers and past clients alike. Any sort of educational content on home maintenance serves multiple audience and highlights your know-how!
Video - Probably the most important aspect in social media right now. Video is KEY! It gets the most engagement and reach on all the platforms. Video content could be walkthroughs, "live" open houses, video of the night life and culture of the neighborhood.
New Listings - Probably the most obvious, but posting new listings is a great source of content. Be sure to utilize photo, video and have a good CTA (Call to Action).
One of the most important aspect os social media is being social. It's often forgotten about, but responding engaging, and encouraging more engagement is key. They more you interact with your audience, the more you'll get seen!