7 Realtor Marketing Tips to Expand Your Client Base During a Pandemic
Despite forecasts and predictions, the real estate market’s held up pretty well during the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the latest statistics, houses spent an average of 12 days less on the market than during the same period last year. So, if you’re not having a good year, it’s time to boost your realtor marketing game.
Traditionally, the real estate business has been a more interpersonal affair than these times allow, which means you need a new approach. Check out these tactics for changing times.
1. Online Realtor Marketing
The whole world’s gone digital nowadays, so if you want to succeed in marketing real estate, you’ll need to follow suit. Most people start their search for a new home online.
The first step in establishing a strong digital presence is setting up a website.
While it’s important that your website’s pleasing to the eye, there are some other important factors to consider.
- Make sure your site loads fast and is easy to use
- Optimize it for mobile users
- Use only top quality images and copy
- Keep it fresh by posting new content regularly
In the online realm, you’ll need to compete with millions of other websites to capture the attention of clients.
Search engines use keywords to match websites to internet user’s inquiries. So, sprinkle relevant keywords on every page, especially in prominent headlines.
Don’t guess which keywords you should be using, it’s helpful to get into the minds of homebuyers to find out which terms they’re likely to use when searching for homes.
Read these tips on how you can find out what your clients are really looking for. If you’re new to the world of online marketing it’s best to work with a professional online marketing firm until you get the hang of it.
2. Write Regular Blog Posts
Nothing goes better with a website than a blog. Blog posts give your website credibility, provide a constant stream of fresh content, and can drive traffic to your website.
This year, people are spending more time at home than ever before. That means they’re also spending a lot more time on the internet.
Write regular blog posts offering advice for prospective homebuyers, or showcasing some of your best properties. It the best way to attract the attention of people browsing the internet for a new home.
3. Invest in Your Brand
One of the best real estate marketing tips is to work on establishing a good name for yourself in the industry. While websites like Zillow or Trulia are valuable sources of leads, they aren’t a good substitute for the personal touch.
Work on building a reputation that hinges on some unique aspect of your real estate services.
A great website is only your first step towards creating an independent presence for yourself. You can also hand out flyers, write guest posts for locally-focused websites, or arrange an appearance on a local radio show.
These small things all add up to establish you as an expert in your neighborhood and can help you to become the first person people think about when they want to buy a home.
During these uncertain times, people would much rather work with someone familiar to them.
4. Get Social
Again, social media is where people are right now. Unable to get out and about with friends, they’re seeking companionship online.
Instagram is a particularly useful social media tool because it’s focused on images – and people love images.
Team up with a great photographer or fine-tune your own photographic skills and get posting. Don’t feel you should only use images of your properties for sale.
Get creative with fun shots of your featured neighborhoods and quirky images of your real estate team. People are searching for interesting content all the time.
Instagram is an excellent brand-building and real estate marketing tool. Spend time studying which types of posts are attracting attention and take cues from them.
Facebook is another good platform for marketing real estate. You can use targeted ads on this platform, run competitions and quizzes, link to your blog posts, and get to show off your brand to a large audience.
Video content works very well on Facebook too.
5. Go Local
When last did you look up anything in the Yellow pages? Nobody lets their fingers do the walking anymore.
Instead, list your business on local online directories like Google if you want prospective customers to find your business. These directories are easily accessible online and you won’t have to pay anything to get onboard.
6. Try Email Marketing
Email newsletters are still a powerful marketing tool. People check their email several times a day and if your content is interesting enough, yours might just catch their eye.
Finding addresses can be tricky, but sometimes the best way to get them is to ask outright. Encourage people to sign up on your website and mention it in your blogs too.
You can also use various email marketing systems to get advice on how to find interested parties and get their addresses.
It’s vital to keep your correspondence short, engaging, and interesting. Always include a clear call to action at the end such as inviting them to browse your listings or get in touch.
Once you get the hang of email marketing, it can really boost your customer base and your sales.
7. New Age Interactive Events
While you can’t host a gathering of hundreds of people right now, you can still engage them where they are – behind their computers.
Set up talks and presentations online, publish podcasts, or host interactive virtual Q&A sessions. Use your list of email addresses to invite attendees.
If you make your content interesting enough, you’ll soon have plenty of people ‘tuning’ in.
Different Times Call for a Different Approach
Nobody really knows how to market real estate during the pandemic, since it’s been decades since we had one. Yet, you can’t go wrong with these realtor marketing tips based on the prevalence of online marketing nowadays.
For more great tips on how to buy, sell, and market real estate, keep reading my blog.