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Popular real estate search and business platform Homesnap has launched a new product to help agents “get verified” on Google by building and maintaining a Google My Business Profile.
Called Homesnap Pro+, the new subscription service will handle the entire process for its users, including the uploading of photos, input of customer reviews and listing information. The app will glean agent business data from its existing MLS relationships to streamline on-boarding.
Also included will be assistance in soliciting and populating buyer and seller reviews, critical to successful SEO marketing, and automatically turning closed deals and news into posts for their profile.
“Do you want to show up with nothing, or do you want to show up for your clients with an up-to-date, real-time profile that builds trust?” said John Mazur, CEO of Homesnap. “Like Google says, it’s one thing when you’re talking about yourself, it’s another thing when someone else is talking about you. The reviews build trust.”
The product’s website states that, “62 percent of consumers are more likely to contact an agent who has positive and recent reviews.”
According to a press release from Homesnap, nearly 90 percent of real estate agents don’t take advantage of the product from Google, despite the popularity of consumers starting searches for agents and homes on the search engine leader.
“The key here is local, this is really about showing up in the searches for your market, and you will show up with an optimized profile. We think it’s a crucial SEO play,” Mazur said.
Homesnap did focus groups with agents on the service, and admits it is something real estate professionals can do on their own — if they have the time.
Mazur said once the agents on their panel lamented the amount of ongoing work it required to maintain a My Business Profile, they gave a thumbs up to the new service, which costs $299/year.
The company is looking to launch more services to assist agents in building their online personas and marketing presence. Homesnap already has an ad service on traffic app Waze, video ads on Facebook and promoted Instagram posts. Similar creative and strategic products are expected to be announced in 2019.
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