Facebook has more users than any other social network at 2.07 billion monthly active users. The social network has become a part of the daily routine for just about everyone. It’s our way of keeping in touch and staying up-to-date.
How does that help you with getting real estate leads? As it turns out, Facebook is about more than just cute baby goat videos and your uncle’s embarrassing political posts.
It knows pretty much everything about everyone. And Facebook has some of the most comprehensive demographics in the world. As a regular consumer, only your friends and the people who have “liked” your page see your posts, and that’s not even guaranteed. However, as an advertiser, a whole new world is opened up to you.
All of Facebook’s demographics are at your disposal. Would you like to send a free market analysis offer to every homeowner in your marketplace? Yep, you can do that.
How about offering a free homes list to self-identified buyers who have recently been shopping on Zillow? You can do that too.
So, you might want to consider moving from organic reach (just posting to the people you already know) to paid content. You can run effective, targeted ads for as little as $5 per day.
It may take a little time to learn, but your investment will be well worth it. Here are five surefire tips to help you generate a steady flow of leads from Facebook.
Get familiar with your Ads Manager
You may not know it, but you have a free Ads Manager included with your Facebook account. This is where you will find all the targeting data Facebook makes available to you. You can research all the demographics and create highly specific audiences who will then receive your offers.
Here’s a small example of people you can identify using Facebook’s targeting metrics: homeowners, renters, people interested in buying or selling real estate and people who are likely to move.
Stop ‘boosting’ your posts
It’s tempting to press the “boost” button, but don’t do it! You are bypassing all of Facebook’s custom targeting options when you do that. Take a few minutes to create the specific audience you would like to see your offer — before you boost that post.
Beat Zillow at its own game
Bring in buyer and seller leads by offering a “free homes list.” Choose an area where you would like to work, and run an ad offering the “Most current list of homes for sale in ________ area.”
Sell your listings fast
Quickly and easily create a post advertising your new listing. Then send it to everyone above the age of 29 who lives within 10 miles of the home. You will increase your chances of selling quickly and pick up new leads at the same time.
Grab more buyers than you can handle
Generate a steady stream of buyer leads. Try running a simple “Buy for less than rent” ad. With this strategy, you could also team up with a loan officer and share the advertising costs. And who knows, you may also end up hiring a buyer’s agent.
If you take just a little time to learn Facebook, you’ll be connecting with interested prospects daily. You may never have to ask yourself where your next deal is coming from again.
Belladonna Riso is an associate broker with Century 21 Everest Realty Group in Salt Lake City. Follow her on Facebook.
