5 Creative Real Estate Marketing Ideas
Bring your Business to the Next Level with These 5 Creative Real Estate Marketing Ideas
A career in the real estate industry is exhausting enough on its own. With constant meetings, tracking leads, brokering deals, etc. who in their right mind has time for marketing? And what if there is just not enough room in the budget to hire a marketing professional? Well, we have some really good news. Putting in the hard work up front and developing the right marketing strategy can be effective enough to do all the work for you and continuously generate leads with little upkeep effort. While standing out in today’s world of constant internet content and mindless scrolling is a challenge, it is crucial if you want your business to thrive. So, how do you develop ‘the right marketing strategy’? Here are 5 simple yet creative tactics you can use to create a marketing plan that stands out from the competition.
1. Create a quick (1-2 minute) and engaging company video detailing the selling points of working with you.
In today’s marketing world, visual content is key. Videos, for example, are a fantastic tool in building trust and credibility with both leads and existing clients. On top of that, people are much more likely to stop their scroll for videos. Creativity and standing out is crucial when you are planning this video. If you have the ability and equipment to do this yourself, definitely go for it, but it may be worth the investment to hire an outside media agency to do the work for you while you focus on your business. Either way you choose to go, don’t be afraid to have fun. You can still get your important points across while showing off your personality. You want to remind people that you are a person and by showing your human side, they are more likely to want to work with you. Don’t just tell them, SHOW them why they would love working with you or using your services.
2. Start a real estate blog on your website
Websites with blogs are getting 55% more leads than those without. This is your chance to show off your knowledge! Prove your worth to clients by SHOWING how much you know about the real estate industry. The more you write, the more you will appear as an expert when people are searching with their own questions. The key aspects in play here are SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and original and trending content. SEO is critical in blogging and you should know the keywords to include in your blog. You should also be blasting your blog throughout your social media to drive website engagement. Struggling with content ideas? Make a list of the most common questions you get and write the answers. Chances are, people are frequently searching for those answers online as well. Also, think about knowledge or experience you have that others might not. It’s just as important to write new content as it is to write common or trending content.
In order to generate leads from your blog, design each blog post as a landing page complete with multiple engagement-centered call to actions. Have social media share buttons, make your website menu large and accessible, have a direct phone number visible so visitors can call, or have a pop up with newsletter information. These are just a few things you can add to your blog page to ensure you are not writing purely for pleasure, but to capture real leads.
3. Utilize photo-centered social sites like Pinterest and Instagram
Apps like Pinterest and Instagram can act as a portfolio and lead generator all in one so if you aren’t using them yet, start NOW! However, just having an account is not enough. You need to post engaging content and you need to post it regularly. We cannot repeat this enough, visuals are KING in your online efforts and your goal should be to STOP THE SCROLL. Produce content that stands out and forces consumers to pay attention. Use drone photography, interactive floor plans, virtual staging, etc. to avoid falling behind more tech-savvy competitors. Think outside the box when thinking of new content to post and don’t be afraid to integrate humor.
Not only do these apps help increase leads, but they can also help you stay on top of what is trending and what potential clients are looking for. Once you have that information, you can begin tailoring your own visual content to reflect those trends and capture more attention and therefore leads. Finally, make sure you are effectively using hashtags! They can be a great tool in making your content visible to new followers and potential leads.
4. Utilize Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
This one is not so much on the creative side, but it is just as important. If your business is not already utilizing SEO in your marketing plan, you should change that ASAP. 46% of Google searches are for local inquiries. You want to show up in those searches! To do that, set up a Google My Business page with all your details. Also, make sure you have filled out profiles on all online directory platforms such as Zillow, Realtor, Yelp, Yahoo, Trulia, and Bing. Your goal here is to be sure your contact information is available wherever a person may be conducting a local search. Be sure that all your profiles are completely customized with photos and all pertinent information. The more active and relevant you appear to Google; the higher chances you have of appearing at the top of a search. If you want to know where you currently stand when it comes to local SEO, try this test: do a search for your services in your area. If you do not show up on the first page, it’s time to boost your online marketing strategy.
5. Optimize your website with add-ons.
Making sure your website is top notch is perhaps the most important aspect of a stellar marketing plan. This means making sure it’s updated and finding ways to integrate new technologies that makes it stand out AND generate leads. A great way to generate more seller leads and gather contact info is to offer useful tools like free home valuations on your site. You can also utilize that contact information, especially cell phone numbers, to generate faster lead response time. Start using automated texting as a way to get in contact with possible leads as soon as they give you their info. Texting opens the door to those clients who prefer it or who do not have the time to sit down for a phone call with you. Another add on is to strategically place your reviews throughout the website so they are visible and accessible, especially on your contact pages. Clients will be more likely to contact you after reading your testimonial page; people trust other people. Most importantly, make sure your site is mobile friendly. The majority of searches are now happening from people’s phones. On top of that, Google’s algorithm ranks mobile-friendly sites higher than those that aren’t designed for mobile use.
At the end of the day, the most important thing you can do is get your business out there and humanize your brand. And remember, not all marketing has to lead to direct sales; brand recognition is just as important, especially in a business as personal as buying a home. So what are you waiting for? Implement these 5 strategies into your marketing plan and watch the leads pour in. After all, you deserve a marketing plan that works as hard as you do.
