Did you know that 92% of buyers use the internet to search for properties? Or that 84% of real estate professionals use social media as part of their marketing strategy?
Times have truly changed.
As a realtor, you probably have experienced a major shift in the past ten years. From the way clients buy houses to how transactions are handled to what the digital clients want in their homes; the real estate industry has truly exemplified the power of the 4th -industrial revolution.
Amid the COVID-19 stay at home policies prevalent in most countries, digital marketing is naturally taking over the real estate industry. We’ve put together a list of the best real estate digital marketing hacks you can employ to stay ahead of the competition.
1. Harness the Power of Social Media
The power of social media in the digital age cannot be underestimated.
With more than 3 billion active users in the world, social media is a tool you don’t want to miss in your arsenal. A great social media campaign is not just about posting photos. It should aim to:
- Feed your followers with fresh content regularly
- Provide unique, searchable, and sharable content on all social media platforms
For best results, make sure you have an agency account on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Then use these platforms to not just post listing photos but also communicate, interact, and answer your customers’ queries.
2. Host Virtual Tours
Purchasing a home is a challenging process. And COVID-19 stay at home and social distancing policies haven’t made it easier.
With homebuyers unable to meet physically with their agents, virtual tours have become the new norm—allowing buyers to virtually take a tour of the property as well as the neighborhood while still at the comfort of their couch.
For your virtual tour to be successful, you should:
- Make it 3D and user-friendly
- Ensure the video tour is interactive and responsive across all platforms/devices
- Shoot the videos in ultra-high quality
The popularity of virtual touring tools has made it possible for agents to work from home. With all the necessary real estate tools at a hand, it’s now easier than ever to create a productive real estate office at home and use it to conduct all the work that you’d usually do from the office.
3. Launch a Text Campaign
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), a whopping 62% of homebuyers prefer their agents to send them property information via text messages.
With that in mind, it’s an astute move to leverage the power of text messaging to its fullest. Don’t just use a text marketing campaign for conveying property information. Instead, use it to coordinate property visits, communicate loan info, etc.
4. Focus on the Word-of-Mouth
From 2011 – 2015, Statista conducted market research on how North American consumers make their purchasing decisions.
The survey that measured the level of trust across various advertising mediums proved that Americans trust the word of mouth referrals more than any other form of advertising. Below find the findings as published by Statista.
- Word of mouth referrals – 82%
- Online reviews – 66%
- Email marketing – 64%
- Branded websites – 61%
That means to achieve an edge in a competitive industry like real estate, you’ll need to capitalize on customer loyalty, as loyal customers are your greatest brand advocates.
Know of other digital marketing hacks for real estate that drive results? Share with us in the comments section below.
