Social Media Marketing For Realtors: Part 2
The most intimidating part of creating a new social media campaign is, without a doubt, getting started. Many people worry about questions such as "what are my competitors doing online?", and "how far behind am I?".
These are valid concerns, but if you're a realtor, you may be in luck. While some real estate firms and realtors have started to capitalize on social media marketing, it is still greatly underutilized in the industry.
For the second installment of our blog series, we will first be focusing on a real estate company currently using social media - what they're doing, and what can be learned from them. In the US, most major firms are already on the web; they have Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, and some even have blogs. Century 21 realty has over 80,000 likes on Facebook, over 35,000 followers on Twitter, as well as a successful blog.
These are large numbers, but Century 21 is also a massive firm.
While large firms such as Century 21 are your competitors, they should not be your main concern. They are already well established online, and have countless customers. Larger firms like Century 21 can hardly use their Facebook page to network with customers.
They have too many fans and are unable to interact with everyone on a personal level. Smaller realtors can use their social media sites to talk with interested parties, and use their pages to actually answer questions and make sales.
However, smaller, local firms and private realtors are often not well established online - this leaves a spot open for you. We have spoken with local realtors, and have found that it is rare for anyone in their office, or competitive firms, to utilize social media.
Using a social network such as Facebook can give you a serious competitive edge; you can easily talk to clients, showcase tour videos, and update your followers in real time.
So if you're worried about behind in social media, don't stress it too much. Odds are, your smaller competitors aren't online yet, and larger firms aren't using social media on a personal level.
However, we believe it is time for you to get a head start on the competition. Set up a Facebook page, start taking YouTube videos of the houses you're trying to sell, and get in touch with clients who are already online!
What are the advantages of social media for realtors?
Social media in and of itself offers many strategic advantages for using it in line with a business. It is the fastest growing segment of Fortune 500 companies marketing budgets, and has proven itself for years now to have an unspeakable influence on almost everyone.
This compounded with its simplicity and comparative low cost make it nearly necessary in today's business world. But not everyone seems to be taking full advantage of its influence.
One of these segments that has fallen short of keeping up with social media for their own promotion and business success are realtors. Now there is nothing wrong with this if you still can be successful and see the results you have been seeing over the years.
But what about better results, or better relationships with clients? I'm pretty sure any realtor would want to see this happen. It is fair to be skeptical however. Social media is still relatively "new" and has not been adopted all that much by the industry, so what's the incentive? What really makes it so attractive to use as a portion of a marketing strategy specifically for realtors? Why should they use it?
Improved client relationships for one. If you can connect with someone in person and then add even more value to this relationship online, through social media, then you have strengthened that relationship. And when it comes to networking and closing deals, the relationship you have with clients is absolutely critical.
Ease of communication. In many parts of the country, especially the east coast, there can sometimes be a language barrier between yourself and clients.
These people want to connect and communicate with you as best as possible, but unfortunately sometimes language stands in the way of it happening successfully.
Adding social media to the equation can aid in this because it has become a worldwide phenomenon that anyone can participate in. If you can email a client that you have difficulty speaking with in person, then you can certainly use social networks in that same regard.
Shifting age of homebuyers. A new wave of customers are coming to real estate. They are young, in their 20's and 30's, and have been raised alongside technology. Social media and the web are second nature for them. That is where they seek out information and share their lives.
So why not be there too? You can be the information they are looking to find and connect with them on platforms which they feel most comfortable using. Communicate with them using the technology they are must accustom to.
Social media compliments existing marketing. When adding a social media plan to your business model, things do not have to be completely redone. In fact, one of reasons social media is so great is that it can be added to what you already have very easily.
It can be an extension of all the marketing you have been doing for years and would like to continue with. It can even be a way for you to create a larger audience for the other marketing you are doing.
The potential for more sales. All of these reasons listed above go along way in better your business, but at the end of the day there is nothing more rewarding than closing the deal.
Whether it is getting it sold or finding someone the perfect place, you are doing them a job that few can undertake. Therefore, it is practically invaluable to clients. Social media can help you do this more.
By building an audience, as well as an extended network for your business, and creating a strong presence for yourself online, the ability to close more deals is that much more realizable. It may not happen right away, but over time your presence will only grow greater and so will your social media skills.
There's really nothing to lose if you would like to become a more successful realtor and create a competitive advantage over those who choose to ignore it.
These are valid concerns, but if you're a realtor, you may be in luck. While some real estate firms and realtors have started to capitalize on social media marketing, it is still greatly underutilized in the industry.
For the second installment of our blog series, we will first be focusing on a real estate company currently using social media - what they're doing, and what can be learned from them. In the US, most major firms are already on the web; they have Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, and some even have blogs. Century 21 realty has over 80,000 likes on Facebook, over 35,000 followers on Twitter, as well as a successful blog.
These are large numbers, but Century 21 is also a massive firm.
While large firms such as Century 21 are your competitors, they should not be your main concern. They are already well established online, and have countless customers. Larger firms like Century 21 can hardly use their Facebook page to network with customers.
They have too many fans and are unable to interact with everyone on a personal level. Smaller realtors can use their social media sites to talk with interested parties, and use their pages to actually answer questions and make sales.
However, smaller, local firms and private realtors are often not well established online - this leaves a spot open for you. We have spoken with local realtors, and have found that it is rare for anyone in their office, or competitive firms, to utilize social media.
Using a social network such as Facebook can give you a serious competitive edge; you can easily talk to clients, showcase tour videos, and update your followers in real time.
So if you're worried about behind in social media, don't stress it too much. Odds are, your smaller competitors aren't online yet, and larger firms aren't using social media on a personal level.
However, we believe it is time for you to get a head start on the competition. Set up a Facebook page, start taking YouTube videos of the houses you're trying to sell, and get in touch with clients who are already online!
What are the advantages of social media for realtors?
Social media in and of itself offers many strategic advantages for using it in line with a business. It is the fastest growing segment of Fortune 500 companies marketing budgets, and has proven itself for years now to have an unspeakable influence on almost everyone.
This compounded with its simplicity and comparative low cost make it nearly necessary in today's business world. But not everyone seems to be taking full advantage of its influence.
One of these segments that has fallen short of keeping up with social media for their own promotion and business success are realtors. Now there is nothing wrong with this if you still can be successful and see the results you have been seeing over the years.
But what about better results, or better relationships with clients? I'm pretty sure any realtor would want to see this happen. It is fair to be skeptical however. Social media is still relatively "new" and has not been adopted all that much by the industry, so what's the incentive? What really makes it so attractive to use as a portion of a marketing strategy specifically for realtors? Why should they use it?
Improved client relationships for one. If you can connect with someone in person and then add even more value to this relationship online, through social media, then you have strengthened that relationship. And when it comes to networking and closing deals, the relationship you have with clients is absolutely critical.
Ease of communication. In many parts of the country, especially the east coast, there can sometimes be a language barrier between yourself and clients.
These people want to connect and communicate with you as best as possible, but unfortunately sometimes language stands in the way of it happening successfully.
Adding social media to the equation can aid in this because it has become a worldwide phenomenon that anyone can participate in. If you can email a client that you have difficulty speaking with in person, then you can certainly use social networks in that same regard.
Shifting age of homebuyers. A new wave of customers are coming to real estate. They are young, in their 20's and 30's, and have been raised alongside technology. Social media and the web are second nature for them. That is where they seek out information and share their lives.
So why not be there too? You can be the information they are looking to find and connect with them on platforms which they feel most comfortable using. Communicate with them using the technology they are must accustom to.
Social media compliments existing marketing. When adding a social media plan to your business model, things do not have to be completely redone. In fact, one of reasons social media is so great is that it can be added to what you already have very easily.
It can be an extension of all the marketing you have been doing for years and would like to continue with. It can even be a way for you to create a larger audience for the other marketing you are doing.
The potential for more sales. All of these reasons listed above go along way in better your business, but at the end of the day there is nothing more rewarding than closing the deal.
Whether it is getting it sold or finding someone the perfect place, you are doing them a job that few can undertake. Therefore, it is practically invaluable to clients. Social media can help you do this more.
By building an audience, as well as an extended network for your business, and creating a strong presence for yourself online, the ability to close more deals is that much more realizable. It may not happen right away, but over time your presence will only grow greater and so will your social media skills.
There's really nothing to lose if you would like to become a more successful realtor and create a competitive advantage over those who choose to ignore it.
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