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Is Social Media the Key to Being a Successful Real Estate Pro?

In a world where a great majority of the population is using the internet and social media, real estate agents can find an ultimate advantage.

According to a report by National Association of Realtors, 44% of buyers look online first for properties for sale. Plus, 66% of the first-time homebuyers are millennials, a group that is largely represented on social media. If social media for real estate agents is utilized properly, then real estate marketing can be taken to the next level. With these, realtors have the chance to be more visible, build trust and boost business further. Here is my winning strategy for social media for real estate:

Using Facebook

Facebook undoubtedly is one of the most widely-used social media networks. What people use to connect with family and friends and to discover news and events can also be used as a social marketing tool for real estate agents. With Facebook, you can engage with clients and boost real estate marketing.

Post new listings: Use your Facebook page to post new listings. Show off new homes for sale, use images and talk about the features and amenities of these new listings. These real estate social media posts will help attract prospective customers to your property and your business.

 

Post events in your neighborhood: You can also post current and upcoming events in your neighborhood. This will demonstrate your knowledge of the community and your participation in it. It can also give customers a glimpse and a feel of the neighborhood they’re considering buying in.

Post about possession days: Posting about possession days and dates — when a buyer is officially handed the keys to their new home — is also a good way to engage with your customers. It builds trust and confidence, and you have the chance to highlight your success as well as the clients’.

 

Promote or boost posts: A Facebook page also gives you the chance to promote or boost posts. These promoted real estate social media posts will help you reach new or targeted audiences. The Facebook Insights feature also enables you to see how many people it reached, how many engagements it made and more, so you can adjust or enhance your strategy in the future.

Using Twitter

Though tweets are limited to 280 characters, you can still reach different audiences, share information and engage with prospective clients. It is a fast and easy way to do real estate social media marketing.

Tweet about local news or events: If there is some sort of event or some important news about the community or your business, share it. This can attract your audiences and provide them an insight about the neighborhood of your property listings.

Tweet about clients: Twitter is also good for tweeting about your clients. Post a picture of you together, or show the house that they have successfully acquired through your real estate services. In a way, Twitter can act like an ongoing digital work portfolio.

Tweet about new listings: You cannot provide all the details in a tweet, but you can invite people to look at the listing on your website or to send you questions personally. This way, you are encouraging them to connect to learn more. Incorporate hashtags into the tweet to extend your reach.

Using Instagram

Instagram primarily deals with photos, so you can share multiple snapshots of listings, events, the community and more.

Post about new listings: Go ahead and post about new listings in your neighborhood. You can show every room and every corner of a new listing with a single post in a photoset, and people will be able to browse those photos smoothly through the mobile app.

Make use of your stories: Instagram stories are another way of sharing timely updates with your audience, whether it be about a new listing, events or important real estate news. You can compile these stories onto your Highlights to be shown on your profile even after 24 hours.

Hold giveaways or contests: Instagram giveaways are effective and can lead to prospective clients. With the help of Instagram stories, news about your giveaway can travel fast and give your real estate services the exposure that you need.

Using Blogs

I also advise writing and posting blogs regularly. By doing this, you can show your knowledge about anything related to real estate, homes and/or living. You can write and describe listings, or you can write about homes and interior decorations. Blog posts will help expand your reach to current and future clients who’d like to read about real estate and home living.

Other Social Media 

There are also other social media sites that real estate agents can take advantage of. YouTube can be used to post videos of new listings, LinkedIn can be used to share local news and events and Pinterest can be used to share new listings and blog links from your website.

Other Tips

Simply setting up various accounts in these social media is not enough. You have to make sure you are using them properly and maintaining every account. Be sure to:

• Fill in the details when creating a page or a profile for your real estate services. Supply your address, office hours, phone numbers and the link to your website. Do not leave your profile picture blank.

• Respond to queries under your posts. This shows commitment to customer service.

• Use hashtags and make sure they are relevant to the post.

• Use clear, quality photos, especially if it is of a new listing.

• Share your blog posts in various social media. This can attract new audiences and encourage them to visit your website. It is also good to stay active on various platforms.

Real estate agents can do more with the technology available to them today. If you take the time to learn how to use these social media networks, then you can improve your real estate marketing strategy and help your real estate services grow.

Original Content: Forbes