The real estate competition is fierce and standing out from the crowd requires expert marketing skills. In today’s age where buyers are increasingly looking to do more legwork on the web before seeking an expert, online marketing skills are especially essential. Here are 6 of the best hacks to elevate and grow your real estate business. 

Create a Website

Don’t just build a site, ensure that it’s mobile-friendly too! 

Why? Because it makes it easy for users to access all the information regardless of the device they use. Make sure that all of your property pages have great photos and easy access to Google Maps and Google Earth. Today’s consumers are online-savvy and independent. With that said, make sure that the information they need is easily accessible. Your visitors need to have a good experience on your website, so take the time to brush up on user experience design skills and information architecture. 

Dedicate a page to showcasing your agent bios and ensure that you’re making the most of these bios by emphasizing your community connections to the area. You can do this by mentioning local events and charities you’ve taken part in. It’s also important to underscore your locally valued skills. Think about what skills are valued in the area you practice and highlight them. Finally, use your bio to demonstrate your achievements by presenting your expertise in a specific area or areas. For example, if you have experience in the area of luxury sales, showcase those achievements.

In addition, adding tools like a mortgage calculator will boost the length of time that clients spend on your page which increases the likelihood of remembering and reaching out to you for their needs. Tools like a mortgage calculator transform your website into a one-stop-shop for all of your clients’ real estate needs and reduce the need to access other real estate services.

For more ideas, check out what other successful realtors are doing. What does their website layout look like and what have they included in it?

Implement Email Marketing Strategy

Be sure to send your email subscribers the stuff they’re looking for including notices about upcoming open houses, weekly/monthly listings, news about seminars you’re offering in the area, etc. 

Note: if you work in several geographical areas, you’ll want to segment your newsletter subscribers based on location. This guarantees that they only get relevant emails and updates from you.

Step up Your Social Media Game

Don’t just set up social media accounts on all the top networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google+ etc.), but be active on them. This includes everything from interacting with users, promoting your website and properties, posting real estate related news in your area/community, sharing good press, and promoting your town (not just the properties). Home shoppers are eager to get second opinions from their family and friends so don’t forget to include social sharing buttons on your property listings.

Localize

Creating accounts in business directories widens your outreach and increases your online presence. Placing your business in a local/hometown online business directory has the advantage of grounding you in your specific community as a contributing member.

An online business directory has the added benefit of organizing and displaying your reviews and testimonials so that prospective clients can easily access them when searching for you.

Use Virtual Staging, if You’re Not Already

Staging is an important next step after taking photos for listings. Unfortunately, it can also be expensive and time-consuming. Thankfully, virtual staging technology enables you to stage your properties with the click of a mouse. Virtual staging makes sense at all price points because it’s a low cost solution that allows your users to visualize the space. You can show instead of tell them where the couch could go, how big of a bed would fit in the bedroom, and what to do with an open loft space etc. It allows clients to visually perceive whether a room is perfect for an office, or if it’s big enough for dual purpose. Staging is highly valuable to a buyer because it allows them to discern whether they can emotionally connect to the property and visualize it as their home.

Encourage Referrals

A tried and trusted agent is one who will get repeat business. Also, clients will be more likely to refer their family and friends to an agent they’ve had a positive experience with. This is why maintaining a relationship with your clients even after you close is important—they will more likely pass on your name. There are a million ways to build your referral network. One way to maintain rapport is by sending a local care package to a client. These can include small tokens of appreciation like gift cards to a coffee place, theatre tickets, restaurant gift cards, etc. Another idea for the long term is sending anniversary and holiday cards. 

Don’t be shy to ask for testimonials from former clients. Testimonials are a huge endorsement and a sign of trust. When a homebuyer has had a great experience with you, reach out to them and ask for a testimonial. You can make the most of these positive reviews by posting them on your website strategically and occasionally sharing them on your social media pages.