Whether you’re new to the industry or just haven’t quite mastered technology, now is the time to create a plan for digital marketing.
With 51 percent of homebuyers finding their home online, you want clients to be able to find you and your listings easily.
Below is a step-by-step guide on how you can successfully start an effective internet marketing plan for your business. Follow these digital marketing strategies, and you’ll boost your company’s customer engagement in no time.
Develop a personal brand and a business vision
Real estate agents must distinguish themselves and their respective firms from competitors. This is an essential step if you want to make sure that you have an effective internet marketing plan for your business.
If you are stumped on how to develop your own marketing plan, check out this article, and look for examples on the internet and from your peers.
By developing a personal brand, you choose how your business is perceived by any prospective client. Think of it as the impression you want your customers to have by just looking at your business logo, website or even by just hearing your company name.
You can conceptualize the branding image of your business by defining the kind of service you want to provide to different kinds of people.
For example, you might become the neighborhood expert, or you might find a niche such as helping first-time buyers or relocating military families.
Create a business website
Once you have a brand, you will need to tie this image of your business into all the other digital channels created for your business venture. And one of the main digital channels that any real estate agent should create is a business website.
Internet marketing for real estate agents will yield no results if you do not have a central online hub to redirect your customers to.
Professional-looking websites can now easily be created using premium and free real estate themes and templates on sites such as WordPress. If you are new to digital marketing, you can rely on these website templates and not have to worry about coding the website yourself.
Choose a web template that allows you to easily add your own brand’s branding elements without a hitch. And because you are creating a website for a business that sells houses, landholdings and other real properties, make sure to choose a web template that will allow you to easily add slideshows and video galleries.
Publish well-researched and informative content
To supplement your website, make sure to write and publish well-researched and informative posts. The trick is to focus on helping clients with their needs.
You can do this by answering common buyer and seller questions in the form of how-tos, guides and lists. Topics may include home maintenance, homeowners insurance, mortgages, first-time homebuyer programs, how to sell a home faster and tips for moving.
Also, remember to vary your post formats. You may create video posts, long article guides, or infographics. By doing this, you cater to a wide variety of readers and potential clients.
If you need some inspiration for article topics, check out:
Get social
Aside from an official company website, agents should also get social media accounts. The most notable platforms to consider are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and maybe YouTube.
Use social media to gather, share and curate photos, posts, links and videos about real estate, how you help clients and the resources they can use.
To make this internet marketing strategy more effective, do not forget to link to your official website and add your business contact information in the bio section of your social media profiles.
Start an email list
In connection with previous marketing strategies, another important internet marketing strategy that agents should employ is starting an email list.
An email list is important because it allows you to collect customer emails primarily through your business website and your social media accounts.
It’s another method to provide value to your clients and potential clients through curated, valuable content.
Ask clients for reviews
When marketing any kind of business, it’s also important to listen to your customer’s feedback. If you are a real estate agent who wishes to establish a reputable online presence, you can use customer reviews on your website.
This way, other potential clients can read them and be reassured that you are operating a legitimate business offering good service.
Potential clients use real customer reviews to gauge whether they can trust a person, business or brand.
As a business owner, you should make sure that your customers can provide constructive feedback about your business and that you are able to share that feedback with other people.
Start with the basics, and as you grow your business, measure your results and build on what works.
Lisa Smith is a freelance writer and graphic designer. Follow her on Twitter, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
