We can’t ignore the elephant in the room, Covid-19 has changed the playing field for real estate agents. It doesn’t matter which part of the world in which you operate, selling houses has just got that little bit harder, and now it is a case of adapting to a new set of rules.
So, what is the answer? Same as it always was, a good marketing strategy is always the best tool if you want to grow your business. Ideally, it should include elements of traditional marketing and think outside the box. It doesn’t matter whether you specialize in listings, sales, rentals, or all of the above, the theory is the same, you need to generate interest and open channels of communication in order to make those all-important sales.
Here are some tips to help you get the word out and leads rolling in….
Keep calm and carry on marketing
During the economic downturn, it’s tempting to batten down the hatches and cut costs, starting with marketing and advertising. This is exactly the opposite of what you should be doing, it’s essential to keep a continuous presence especially when pickings are much slimmer. It’s vital to get your voice heard and to keep the lines of communication open. A study of 600 companies (between 1980-1986) by McGraw Hill Research found that those that continued to advertise and market their products achieved sales 256% higher than those who didn’t, showing that share of voice really matters.
Websites…make your first impression count
Now more than ever, your website is your most important marketing tool, so it’s crucial to get it right. First impressions mean everything, issues such as a shabby layout, bad navigation, slow loading and boring, tired and irrelevant content are big turn-offs. Equally futile is a beautiful slick site with lots of interesting info if no one can actually find it.
Think of your website as your shop window. You need to entice visitors by displaying your best sellers and clearly highlighting how your USPs and specialisms can fill a need. If 2-bed apartments in Gainesville brings home the bacon, then it makes sense to put these on display. But it doesn’t end there, to get any returns on your investment you must make sure that it is seen by driving traffic to the site.
Keep your online content short and sweet
Mentioned briefly above, valuable content is key. No one has the time or inclination to scour through reams of irrelevant, same as every other realtor's sh** just to find one nugget of information. Even if you have a fantastic turn of phrase and fancy yourself as a writer, you must resist the temptation to pad out text. The shorter the better. Succinct, informative, and friendly text is always a winner.
Get busy on social media
We may be encouraged to practice social distancing but there is nothing stopping you from making connections on social media. With more people opting to work, socialize and just spend more time at home, we’re all using social media more. So now is the perfect time to strike.
Social media platforms are perfect for keeping in touch with current clients and reaching new audiences. Make sure your pages are branded and you keep the tone professional, friendly, and forget about trying to sell. It’s all about nurturing relationships so that you strengthen your company’s reputation as the go-to agent for assistance, market news, tips, and of course red-hot properties! Keep your content interesting, respond quickly so that you can connect with prospective clients, whether they are interested in buying or listing their homes.
Beef up your blogging
Social media pages are great, but a blog can give your more bang for your buck. Posting regular well-written blogs benefit your website and it can boost your company’s reputation. Adding fresh content is vital for SEO and can help improve its organic ranking and if you happen to be imparting interesting facts, tips, and opinions, it could make your site the go-to source for real estate news.
Virtual tours
Images paint a thousand words, so if a buyer can’t get to a property, bring the property to them. Yes, virtual tours have been around for a while, but they have really come into their own now. So, it is worth investing in a virtual tour for the properties that you want to push, as this will allow potential buyers to enjoy a private showing at their leisure from the comfort of their own home. Booking professional photographers and videographers is a key way to stand out.
(video by Tally Photo Group LLC, tallyphoto.com)
Our method is to ignore the photographers and shoot straight for the videographers. Video is a much more powerful way to procure clients and get potential online consumers engaging with that contact page on your website.
Get in touch with Promotonics today and let us get a cost-effective marketing strategy in place that will drive maximum return on investment for your team! Contact