Real Estate Marketing Checklist for New Agents
Every agent dreams of becoming a household name in the markets they serve. When people know you and associate you with your focus city or region, business almost immediately follows.
To get to that point, you'll need a solid strategy. This checklist makes sure you have the essentials to achieve real estate marketing success.
CreateYour Own Website
It may strike you that almost every agent is online and has their own website. Why? Because it's the place to be. Over 90% of home buyers find properties online, making the Internet the perfect space to meet potential clients.
Your website has several functions. First, it can serve as your online calling card. Visitors will know how to get in touch with you as soon as they need your services. Second, you can use it as a portfolio of sorts, showcasing recent sales and achievements in the field. Third, a website helps you build
credibility, which in turn helps you gain visitors' trust. Over time, as you earn more experience, you can expand your website to showcase other aspects of your business.
Here are five features your real
estate website should have:
Add A Blog Section
One of the best ways to establish rapport with potential clients and make your expertise known is to keep a blog. You can specialize in specific topics or cover a wide range of subjects. It's best, however, that the articles you publish are relevant to your market and focus areas. That said, maintaining a blog can be time-consuming work. Avail professional blogging services so you can concentrate on your business.
Create neighborhood guides & market resources
Your website should have evergreen content that will stay relevant for a long period of time. This can come in the form of neighborhood overviews and buying and selling guides. True Content can help you become the go-to real estate expert in your area.
Integrate IDX search on your website
Also known as broker reciprocity, IDX integration enables your website to become an important touchpoint for visitors who are about to start their respective real estate journeys. With IDX, your website will be able to show active listings available in the market.
Provide advanced search capabilities
You want your website to also serve its visitors. By providing advanced search options, potential clients may have an easier time browsing available listings in the areas you specialize in.
Add a dedicated contact page
Open a line of communication between you and your site visitors. This page can be as simple as stating your business' complete contact information. Having a contact form, however, is better.
Experiment withOrganic Traffic and Paid Advertising
You can support your website and social media profiles by incorporating other digital marketing methods into your overall strategy. These help your website rank higher on search engine results. When that happens, your website will have more online visibility, thereby attracting more visitors and creating more opportunities for you to build and expand your client base.
These methods are essential to any real estate marketing strategy:
Apply SEO strategies tailored to your website
Search engine optimization (SEO) enables your website to rank higher on search results organically. It employs several tools, including relevant keywords, meta descriptions, and schema mark-ups. With a higher rank, your website will have better visibility, which translates to better online presence and more chances of converting quality leads. New and returning clients will have an easier time finding you and your expertise.
Invest in PPC ads
Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising allows you to reach your audience better through targeted paid ads on search engine result pages (SERPs). And as the name suggests, you only pay if somebody clicks your ad. When done right, this method can spell success for your business by driving quality leads, increasing conversions, and boosting your brand's visibility on different platforms.
With Seo & Ppc
Maintain ASolid Presence on
Social Media
A great way to introduce yourself to new clients as a real estate expert is by being active on social media, particularly Facebook and Instagram. These platforms serve as an informal extension of your website, allowing you to reach a wider audience– even ones who are not part of your target market. This is great, as whatever content you post on your social media profiles are shareable. You may even have your very own viral moment. Moreover, you'll also be able to engage with prospective clients directly.
Here are a few things you can do to boost
your online presence via social media:
Share news and updates
Let people follow your work by sharing new listings, recent properties sold, as well as client testimonials. Doing so enables previous and potential clients to see the range of your work, which in turn increases your credibility.
Post useful articles and links
Turn your social media profile into a helpful real estate resource. Sharing articles you found elsewhere also sends the message that you're constantly on the lookout for market news and updates. Instead of generic captions, add insights or expert opinions about the subject matter.
Join Facebook groups
Facebook Groups are great spaces to meet potential clients and introduce yourself as a subject matter expert. Impart advice, share news and relevant articles, and occasionally, promote your services. Be mindful of community guidelines to become a trusted active member of that group.
Create and post videos
People love it when they hear from the personalities they follow, whether they're celebrities or superstar Realtors. These days, short-form video content are engaging vessels for quick property walkthroughs, real estate tips, and updates. Take time to shoot short videos for Instagram stories and reels. Consider expanding your social media presence to TikTok as well.
Keep anOngoing Email
Newsletter
Email marketing remains one of the most integral parts of a complete real estate marketing strategy. With a 19.17% average open rate, it's also a great way to keep your clientele engaged beyond promoting or making home sales. More importantly, emails can be checked almost whenever and wherever.
The beauty of an email newsletter is you can include just about anything. You can provide a neat summary of the latest real estate news affecting your market and area. You can also use your newsletter to update subscribers about fun local events and community engagements. Depending on the subscriber list, you may also share lifestyle and home improvement tips. The sky's the limit.
What makes a good email newsletter?
Start with an inviting subject line
Ensure open rates by starting with winning subject lines. Keep it as short as possible without sacrificing descriptiveness or personality. Depending on its contents, you may also want to avoid open-ended questions or give a clear but friendly command in the subject line.
Add concise and descriptive links
If you are sharing links to blog articles, videos, and other landing pages, avoid using generic one-liners for your links. The more personalized and engaging, the better. Speaking of links — it's recommended to include several in an email newsletter.
Keep your audience segmented
Not everyone on your subscriber list shares the same interests. In order to send effective email newsletters and keep high open and click-through rates, it's important to send the right kind of content to the right group. This starts with your subscription form. You can segment your audience by location, demographics, lifestyle and interests, and level of engagement.
Marketing Solutions
IncorporateOld-School Marketing Strategies
Although most real estate transactions are done online these days, it will still do you well to explore traditional real estate marketing methods. It adds another layer to your brand.
Distribute freebies
A lovely way to thank your clients for getting your services is to leave them with a nice, branded souvenir. This could be a sturdy tote bag with your logo or business name, a baseball cap, a pen-and-paper pad combo, or even a T-shirt. Invest in useful freebies to increase the chances of other people hearing about your real estate business.
Invest in well-designed calling cards
You'll never know when you'll meet your next client (or collaborators). Calling cards are a nifty micro-marketing resource that demonstrates professionalism as well as your brand. Remember that the type of paper, design, and finish you choose will have a significant impact on how the recipient perceives you and your business.
Stick yard signs
Yes, most people conduct their home searches online nowadays. But yard signs still attract interest among both active and passive homebuyers. Have custom yard signs made with your business' name and contact details.
This real estate marketing checklist provides a good base that you can expand as your business grows and its needs evolve.