How Real Estate Agents Can Succeed at Social Media in 2017
Till a few years ago, real estate agents could easily get away without a strong social media presence. Consequently, the industry was relatively slow to embrace technology. But now, with consumers expecting any and all the businesses they deal with to be online, it is no longer optional for real estate professionals.
However, social media marketing isn’t rocket science and here are five simple steps for any real estate professional to ramp up their social media game.
1. Craft a Plan
There are a variety of social platforms out there—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Snapchat and more. Simply having a mere presence on one isn’t enough. One needs to be active and consistent on the network.
It’s quite normal to get overwhelmed at first or lose momentum over time. A concrete plan will force you to think out your strategy well in advance and also hold you accountable. Charting a plan will help you stay focused and organized about your efforts, so there’s less chance of you getting sidetracked or giving up.
2. Choose Your Platform Wisely
For many reasons, you need to be selective about the social media channels you invest in. Every social network is tailored for distinct demographic and distinct types of content. It is better to focus on the networks that align with your goals rather than spread yourself thin and be mediocre as a result.
Identify the social networks that fit your business objectives. This can be based on your target audience, your brand, relevant fields or topics and so on. Be targeted in your campaigns to establish and cultivate relationships.
3. Use The Platform Effectively
Every social network has unique characteristics that are important to keep in mind. Twitter is great for sharing articles and participating in topical conversations, while Pinterest is one many people turn to for visual inspiration, Linkedin for professionals to network and so on.
While posting, be sure to follow the 80/20 rule. It means that 80 percent of your posts should be on common areas of interest and only 20 percent that relates to your business and listings. Being overly promotional on social media can hurt your brand as people do not want to be sold to.
Social media is a two-way street. If you want your content to engage people, you have to engage in return. Responsiveness goes a long way in this.
4. Managing Social Activity
Consistent and strategical activity is the key to Social Media Prominence. In its absence, social media could end up either taking up way too much of your time or fail midway. Make use of management tools like Hootsuite that enable you to schedule all your posts from one place.
You should always keep in mind that you shouldn’t re-purpose content wholesale, but rather adapt effectively.
5. Monitoring and Measurement
Marketing always goes hand-in-hand with measurement. While social media marketing is mostly about long-term goals, for the short term identify metrics (number of likes, followers, etc.) that demonstrate progress until eventually, these statistics translate into concrete leads and sales.
Many of the social networks help you with analytics to help track growth. This helps maintain motivation while gaining insight into that which works and what doesn’t.
In order to establish a strong online presence, position yourself as an expert, connect with clients and prospects to build relationships. And remember, all this can be fun as well.