The world is changing, and has been for some time. Real estate agents who have kept up with these changes are winning. Those who have not are losing or will lose eventually. You can no longer rest assured on that reliable old database of yours. You must be using the resources that social media has afforded to you in order to grow and help your business thrive.
Jumping head first into social media marketing can be intimidating. That’s why I am here to list four extremely practical tips for you to get moving. Follow all of them or just start out with one. Any effort you make will start you in the right direction.
1. Hold Unlimited Open Houses 24/7/365
What an amazing idea right? Just keep the houses open and capture as many potential leads as possible! Sound infeasible? Of course it does! You can’t be all places at once!
Facebook can be all places at once. YouTube can be all places at once and so can Zillow, as well as your website. It is your choice what you do on these platforms. How do you want your houses to be shown? Are you going to be like everyone else and post a few photos from your iPhone?
Statistics have shown that when you have a professional video made for a listing, that house is viewed substantially more than those without. It helps the house sell faster and for more. As well, it would not be a bad idea to dip a little more into your marketing budget for a professional photographer. Raise the value proposition of the listing from the first time a potential buyer sees it by treating your online listings like a 24/7 open house.
2. Cold Call Thousands of Potential Clients at Once
No. I am not talking about those annoying voicemails that are asking people if they have even the smallest inkling of a thought of selling in the next 100 years. You know who you are, and I still love you.
I am talking about the potential for paid reach through Facebook. There is a reason Facebook is called “the most powerful marketing engine on the planet” by most of the worlds top minds in marketing. You have the ability to craft campaigns of proposed value and send them out to as many or as few people as you want. You can craft the demographic to be as wide or as narrow as you would like. You can target by state, city, interests, trends, age, and the list goes on.
The only difficulty with this practice is figuring out what people want to see. It is important to offer value when promoting yourself on social media. Don’t just send an old school ad out to thousands of people. Show them value by informing them, entertaining them, or helping them in some way.
3. Become the Best Real Estate Agent Ever
This really isn’t as hard as it sounds. You don’t actually have to be the best, you just need people to see you that way.
The “Guru” niche on YouTube has been growing for years. These are people from all different industries who use their presence on social media to share inside information about their business.
Many brokers use this as a method of recruitment. They get on YouTube and Facebook, sharing their wisdom about the real estate industry. Budding agents see their videos and decide they want to work under such an experienced and engaged broker.
An agent can become a “guru” on social media to show potential clients that they know what they are talking about. Create a video where you explain the “top ten things that determine a house’s value” or “five mistakes most real estate agents make” or “four game changing real estate marketing tips”….oh…wait.
By sharing this kind of value, you build a relationship with clients before ever meeting them, you offer them value without asking for anything in return, and you cement your expertise in your community.
4. Be Available 24 Hours Everyday
We all need a break sometimes. We can’t be taking calls at four in the morning every night. Establishing a presence on social media that you ACTUALLY ENGAGE WITH can provide your clients with a place to feel connected when you don’t want to be.
If you have shown in the past that you are willing to engage and answer questions on Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter, people will feel assured that theirs will be answered. Obviously people will still desire face-to-face or over-the-phone communication. This is not to replace that kind of communication, but rather to supplement it.
When you add more avenues for communication, it shows an openness that your competition probably isn’t offering.
Take over the world!
Let’s recap our plan for world domination:
- Hold unlimited and never-ending open houses with professional video
- Cold Call as many people as you want with targeted Facebook campaigns
- Display your expertise by posting “guru” videos about the real estate industry
- Use your social media presence to be there for your clients 24 hours a day
As I said before, you could commit to one, all, or a couple of these concepts. Every little bit will help. Just pull out your phone and start shooting “guru” videos. Call a local videographer and get a quote on one of your listings. Create a page on Facebook page where people can start to connect with you. Research what demographics would be best to reach through a Facebook campaign. Just take the first step.
If you ever have any questions, I would be happy to help! Leave a comment below, jump over to one of our social media profiles, or use the contact page here on the website!
