If you haven’t already started improving your business, this should act as a wake-up call. Below, we have put together some marketing strategies that you should be using right now if you’re a real estate agent:
Improve Your Photo Quality
It goes without saying that real estate is highly dependent on image quality. Especially during the initial phases, when potential customers are searching for their dream home on various real estate websites. A professionally shot photo is always going to catch more eyes than a blurry snap. There are hundreds of affordable options, from smartphones to digital cameras, that can help you snap high-quality photos.
You don’t need to pay anyone to do it. You can and should do it yourself. Not only will you be attracting more customers with the higher quality photos but you’re also adding your own personal touch. You’re the real estate agent. You know which parts of the home are the most attractive. Use your knowledge to your advantage. Furthermore, there are hundreds of free photo editing apps that are at your disposal. Make the most of those as well before posting your latest listing on your website.
Create High-Quality Content
Your biggest customers are probably people who are actively looking to buy, sell or rent a home. But what about your other potential customers? Some might have already made a purchase through your agency. Others may be looking forward to do it in the future. These clients aren’t actively searching for a home but you should try to keep their interests piqued nevertheless.
If you’re only posting house or apartment listings on a regular basis, you’re not reaching out to your entire customer base. To reach everyone, you have to post relevant, high-quality content. Share your tips and tricks about buying a new home, tell them what they should be looking out for when they’re renting, how to spot a good deal, etc. If you’re posting relevant content for them, they will stick around and eventually make a purchase through your agency when the time is right.
Be Active On Social Media
Almost everyone is active on at least one social media platform. People use social media to share their interests with their friends and family. You too can and should have at least one social media account from which you post updates for your clients. Creating shareable content is a great marketing strategy for real estate agents.
However, keep in mind, similar to the previous tip about high-quality content, your posts should be diverse. Don’t limit yourself and your audience to home listings. If you’re on Facebook or Twitter, write meaningful articles that contain valuable information for your clients, like we talked about earlier. If you’re active on Instagram, post high-quality photos with the right captions and links to your business. As always, being active on social media platforms doesn’t mean you just post updates or content and leave. You have to engage with your audience in the comments.
Get More Referrals
A recent study shows that almost 90% of real estate agents report that relying on referrals are one of their most successful marketing strategies. Unfortunately, when asked if they spend anything on trying to get more referrals, less than 45% of them answered that they do. This is definitely something you need to work on, if you haven’t already.
You have to have a strategy in place that would bring in more referrals. The vast majority of people trust reviews and referrals that come from their close friends and family. Statistically, you’re more likely to gain more clients through referrals than through any other marketing strategy. You shouldn’t be afraid to ask your clients to pass your business card around. There’s a high chance of them doing so, especially if they’re satisfied with your work.
Regularly Follow Up With Your Clients
As a real estate agent you should always keep a good relationship with your present and past clients. Throughout one’s life, not a lot of real estate purchases happen. People usually cycle through a few homes until they settle for the right one. Once you’ve made contact with a new client, you should keep in touch with that client, regardless if he’s going to make a new purchase through your agency in the near future.
Send out newsletters on a regular basis. Provide your clients with relevant information. Reach out to them. Ask for their opinion. Anything that keeps them engaged should secure you as a top choice for their next home purchase. If you don’t like writing emails and newsletters, simply pick up the phone and give them a call. Thank them for their business. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Moreover, you can send out birthday cards. Connect with them outside of business opportunities to make them feel valued.
Maintain a Clean Database
When it comes to marketing, a cluttered database means bad business. You’re wasting time creating content and sending out updates in the form of newsletters. If your clients are unsubscribing or not opening the emails you send out, you’re losing business and missing out on opportunities.
People will regularly subscribe and unsubscribe to your newsletters, social media newsfeed, and so on. Your duty is to actively remove people who unsubscribe from your mailing lists and keep everything as tidy as possible. After all, you’re investing money, time, and effort into your marketing campaign. No reason why you should waste any of it.
Add a Live Chat Option On Your Website
You should have already focused on improving your website’s inbound traffic. But what does a potential customer do once he’s on your website? How does he find what he needs? What if he has a question regarding one of the home listings?
This is where live chat comes into play. 24/7 chat coverage is crucial for keeping your customers on your website until they find what they’re looking for. Live chat allows your potential customers to ask questions and receive their answers in real time. This is exponentially better than having them write you an email and then having to wait until you reply. There are several live chat options that you can choose from, some even being oriented towards real estate agencies.
Streamline Your Marketing Strategy
Ultimately, you’re a real estate agent. Your job is to create opportunities for people looking for a new home. While doing this, you also have to keep an eye on your business pipeline to make sure everything is running smoothly. You’re probably busy all-year round, visiting locations, talking to sellers and buyers, and so on.
By the looks of it, you probably don’t have time to manage your marketing strategy as much as you would like to. That’s why it’s important to streamline the process as much as possible. Everything from your email newsletters to your social media posts can be automated with the right software. Don’t be afraid to try out your options.
