As a realtor, you may have experienced a major shift in the last 10 years. Clients are beginning to buy properties differently. Often beginning with online market research and a clear vision of precisely what they want out of their future apartment, house, land, or business space.
Online marketing has risen to the top of the priority list for best-in-class realtors. The real estate business is now relying on online marketing for everything from generating new leads to closing successful deals.
In this piece, we’ll look at how you may market as a realtor using online marketing.
1. Aquire a user-friendly website
Have you ever visited a website just to abandon it because it took too long to load? Real estate websites, with their many images and connections, can be a web developer’s worst headache. On the other hand, with the help of a competent web designer and an understanding of what their clients are looking for, realtors can get a responsive user-friendly website.
Almost half of all online browsing is done on a mobile device, therefore if your website is not built to be responsive, your clients may be unable to browse your site comfortably. To provide your consumers with the best experience possible, your mobile-friendly website should have the following features:
1.1 Use clear and customer-focused language
Think about specific results your target audience is searching for. Even if you are a top-producing realtor, your readers will feel more connected to you if you say, “Find your new house in less time,” rather than outlining your qualifications.
Do not attempt to use sophisticated language or complex words. In general, extremely simple language has the highest conversion rates. Being clear and straightforward has a greater effect than being smart.
1.2 Should have a responsive design
The use of mobile internet has officially exceeded that of desktop computers. You’re already behind if your website isn’t easy to use on smartphones and tablets. Because the majority of people search while they are on the go, your website must have responsive design features that make your site content accessible on any browser, platform, or device. Smartphones and tablets have small screen sizes, rely on touch input, and are sometimes subject to fluctuating mobile connection rates. Will users feel at ease browsing your website on these devices as they do on computers? A refined user experience – regardless of technology – is critical to optimizing your online presence.
Additionally, there is a priority on searchability for mobile-optimized site design. In early 2015, Google implemented a search algorithm that promotes responsive websites with higher search ranks.
1.3 Should have a lead capture form
When it comes to realtor websites, success is determined by more than just the amount of visitors and views. The website should be an effective tool for capturing leads that may turn into new clients.
Don’t let your visitors leave your website without first establishing a relationship. Using clever call-to-actions, encourage them to offer their information. Don’t limit yourself to catchy words. Make your calls to action as unobtrusive as possible while yet being successful by:
- Emphasizing the advantages of subscribing to your updates, such as regular and timely market and listing updates.
- Creating smart visuals and layouts that direct viewers’ attention to a contact form.
Users may email you inquiries, sourcing requests, or any other real estate-related inquiry using lead capture forms. A great tool for starting a discussion and eventually converting a user into a client is an inquiry form.
1.4 Your contacts and location should be easy to find
Also important is ensuring that your users have various ways to contact you. Make your contact information visible on every page of your website, and include connections to your social media profiles to encourage quick and easy interactions.
1.5 Make it is easy for users to find properties from your listings
Searching for the perfect house or business space may take a lot of time and work, especially for those shopping in a new and unfamiliar community.
Make property searches more enjoyable and engaging for your visitors by presenting your newest best offers and suggestions on dedicated pages on your website. Featured listings sections are ideal for real estate professionals that specialize in specific types or categories of properties.
Want to highlight the greatest luxury estates in your area? Highlight new or upcoming constructions? Are there any available acreage properties for sale? Create personalized hot sheets that highlight your most valuable listings. Use customized layouts to summarize and make key information easy to understand.
Your users will appreciate your efforts to make their lives simpler.
1.6 Integrate a search tool
Most, if not all, of your website’s users, will be looking for their perfect real estate purchasing or selling possibilities. This is why search tools are always towards the top of the list of must-have features on a real estate website.
Some real estate clients are more experienced and knowledgeable than others, while others have no idea where to begin. Including several search options on your website will help you to appeal to a wider range of people, increasing your chances of generating leads and potential clients.
Any or all of the following search tool styles benefit realtor websites:
- Toolbars for quick searches. These are great for first-time purchasers or people who are inexperienced with your line of business because they are small and straightforward to utilize. Place them on your website’s main page and inner page margins so that visitors may do searches from wherever on your site.
- A page for advanced search. This search tool’s expanded set of search parameters is ideal for consumers or sellers who know exactly what they want.
- A map search page that is interactive. The visual aspect of this tool will assist homeowners wanting to migrate within the same area or region, as well as purchasers looking to relocate near a specific point of interest, such as a school or business institution.
1.7 Images should be high-quality, clear, well-labeled, and minimal in file size.
Images are an important component of any website – especially on realtor websites.
While effective content communicates vital information and helpful, simple features keep users interested, pictures can create emotions and grab their viewers’ imaginations. This involves communicating ideal living circumstances and lifestyles that listings sometimes do not completely convey.
Images also help to break up the monotony of long blocks of text on a website. The strategic use of appropriate pictures may significantly increase the readability of your material.
Stock pictures and video footage are always a low-cost and easy alternative for your website. Investing in professional photography and videography, on the other hand, may go a long way toward establishing a more real, customized, and trustworthy vibe.
Listing images should have a tiny file size so that they can load quickly. Image file compression can be used to minimize image file size. They should also be clearly labeled to help users and search engines understand what they represent.
1.8 Should have simple navigation
In web design, three is (unofficially) the optimal number of clicks that a user needs to find any material or information that they desire.
The 3-click rule is not a hard and fast rule, but you get the idea: keeping clients pleased requires being quick, easy, and handy.
Do you want to know how to improve the navigation structure of your website? Here are a few examples:
- Fixed headers keep the major portions of your website accessible at all times.
- Descriptive, topic-focused labels will better direct your visitors than generic section labels. They are also excellent for SEO.
- Keep your menu to a maximum of five items.
- Include fat footers at the bottom of each page to provide readers with a summary of your site’s parts – where the links will not distract from your primary content.
Examples of real estate websites
Get a Real Estate Website
2. You should be a gold mine for useful resources and valuable blog content
Make sure the material on your website is not restricted to property listings. Rather, create a one-stop-shop for all of your prospective clients’ demands.
Fill your website with useful sections that will position you as the go-to source for local information.
2.1 Consider these resource examples
- Buyers’ and sellers’ manuals. Real estate transactions may be lengthy and stressful, so provide your readers with something to keep them entertained during the process.
- Mortgage calculator. Assist buyers in avoiding committing to a house that they cannot afford. A built-in mortgage calculator can help customers manage their expectations.
- Home valuation. Provide prospective customers with a realistic assessment of the worth of their present property so that they may maximize their profits on a sale.
- Ongoing market reports. Before making a move, savvy property owners and investors may be keeping an eye on the market. Publish market updates on your site to keep visitors informed – and coming back.
- Lifestyle blogs and guides. Prospective home buyers would always enjoy a peek of the local lifestyle that they will soon be a part of. A blog is a dynamic part of your website where you may write about a variety of subjects of interest, such as thorough neighborhood descriptions, lifestyle recommendations, and listings of important sites and events.
2.2 Create quality blog content
Websites that are responsive and have active blogs usually have more indexed pages, which helps real estate professionals boost their SEO.
A blog is an effective way to boost your SEO, build a strong online reputation, and provide your consumers with practical information about buying or selling a home or piece of property. A real estate professional’s digital marketing strategy is worthless unless it includes significant content, whether it is published on your website or social media.
Make it a habit, to give information that buyers and sellers can come to for solutions to their most pressing real estate concerns.
3. Run pay-per-click (PPC) adverts
Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising is an efficient strategy for realtors who wish to generate new leads by paying for adverts that are clicked regularly.
PPC is an excellent digital marketing option for real estate brokers searching for new clients who are interested in their offering since they only pay when someone clicks on their ad.
PPC advertising is directed towards those who have searched for related terms in Google or another search engine.
4. Create a social media marketing strategy
Ensure that you have accounts on all of the main social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and, if you take a lot of property photos, Instagram). Interact with others, convey good news, and advertise your properties.
Sharing real estate-related material on your Facebook page is one thing, but a full-fledged social media marketing campaign is what gets you the results you want. Here are some suggestions for useful information to post on your social media platforms:
- Stories of success
- Findings of case studies
- Listings that are new or existing
- Blog posts that are interesting and relevant
If you are acquainted with digital marketing, you’re likely aware of how difficult it can be to create a social media marketing strategy and regularly publish across all platforms. Buffer is a tool designed to make social media content production and scheduling as easy as possible.
The most essential rule of thumb to remember when creating a social media plan for your real estate firm is to post a variety of material. Although listing sharing is a key component of your digital strategy, you must ensure that your material is valuable to a broad audience, not simply leads looking for a house.
5. Create an email campaign strategy
An email marketing strategy, regardless of sector, is a vital tool for engaging with new leads and remaining relevant with former clients. A well-rounded campaign should ideally guide potential clients through specified activities based on their buyer profile and past interactions with you.
According to Smart Insights, the average open rate of emails for real estate firms is about 26 percent, with a 3 percent click-through rate (CTR). The more relevant your content is to a customer, the more likely they are to open the email to read what you have to say.
6. Request for assistance
I know implementing the above tips can feel like a daunting task for you. However, it is necessary for your online marketing success.
You don’t have to take that journey alone. Seek assistance or outsource some of the above tasks.
Gachoki Studios has worked with several realtors and agencies over the years. The experience we have gained will help you boost your online branding and marketing efforts. We are willing and ready to assist you at a moment’s notice. Consult us today to work out some online marketing solutions specific to your business.
