Working in real estate is hard under the best of circumstances, and there is no question that these days, real estate agents need to work especially hard to stand above the crowd. There is no such thing as someone who just walks through your door and finds you – you have to work for every single sale. This is even more important if you are a realtor who is just starting in the business.
Thankfully, there is no question that good marketing can go a long way towards helping realtors, particularly those who are just starting out in the business. Here are five tips that can help you make sure you make the most of your marketing efforts.
Make the most of digital & social media marketing
Simply put: If you aren’t engaging in social media marketing, you are setting yourself up for failure.
That being said, social media marketing is a broad, broad term, and being good at can be incredibly time consuming. As such, when it comes to digital and social marketing, you have to pick what network and advertising platforms work best for you. The answer may vary: You have to have a good idea of who your demographic base is and where they spend your time.
However, regardless of what platform you ultimately wind up using, there are some constants remain the same. First, when it comes to social media marketing, you can’t just sell. No one will pay attention to your content and no one will remember your name. Instead, give useful advice, like tips and tricks that are within your realm of expertise. Furthermore, remember, visual is always important.
Social media content that uses some sort of visual mark – like a picture or video – will get more important. Last, if you are going to use paid digital ads, make sure you fully understand what search terms people use when they try to check out real estate in your community. From there, gear your content and website data so people who are searching for those terms can easily find you.
Get Client Testimonials
Client testimonials can highlight your work, particularly if they are interspersed with information on your website. They can show off the good work you’ve done using someone else’s name and credibility.
If possible, get someone to write-up a testimonial for you, including details about how you went above and beyond their expectations and would unquestionably do the same for anyone else. This can help show off just how good you are at your job and essentially allow someone else to market for you.
Don’t forget: These reviews are nice, but if possible, have someone leave good reviews for you on any related websites, like Google, Zillow & Trulia. This will not only enhance your credibility but make it easier for people to find you if they search for you on one of these websites.
If possible, make sure to get as much real, personal information on your client as possible. Use their real, full names, and get a picture of them in front of their new house that you helped sell them or sell for them. This can make these testimonials more powerful, real and relatable.
Get Involved in Your Community
Digital networking is important, but in the real estate business, nothing beats the face-to-face. As such, your job should be to put yourself in front of community members as much as possible. Remember, the goal here is not to directly sell. Instead, its to build relationships, put your name and face out there, and ensure that when someone wants a realtor, they think of you.
Thankfully, there are multiple ways to get involved in your community. For example, there are numerous benefits of joining your local Chamber of Commerce, including access to networking events and the chance to advertise among your peers.
You can also pick an active non-profit that fits your passions. These events also give you a chance to sponsor important events while also meeting people. Remember, doing good should be the goal – but meeting people and building your business is an added benefit.
Use Realtor Postcards
For all the focus on digital these days, you can only ignore direct mail at your peril. Remember, 73% of people prefer hearing from brands or businesses via direct mail, and this mail is still something that people look at.
However, competing for attention these days is tough. That’s why it is important that you don’t just send mail in a scatter-shot format, but target it appropriately. Thankfully, realtor postcards can help you fulfill these important targeting objectives.
How can you use these realtor postcards? Target your successes. Create a marketing budget. Then, whenever you sell a home in a community, send postcards to the surrounding home, complete with a picture of the home and address that you just sold. From there, create a marketing message and direct people to a website that they can use you get more information about you and your business. This method allows you to build upon your successes and sell more homes based on neighborhoods that you have already sold successfully.
Host Fun Events
Hosting fun events is a great way to break the mold. These events should be parties and socially themed, not directly sales related. They can be anything: Movie nights, fun nights with Santa, pool parties, whatever. The point is that you want your clients to feel good about you and like you.
However, there can be a sales element to these events: Encourage people to bring a friend and leave brochures or other sales literature around. This will help you get your name into the community, and particularly among the friends of former clients and people who already like you.
Marketing for real estate can be a time-consuming process. However, with time and effort, there are ways you can successfully do it. These five suggestions can help you get started with all of your marketing.
