Real estate agents have a wide assortment of marketing tools that help elevate their listings and marketed properties. One such tool is the online listing.. When it comes to your listing, success is in the details. Here are a few tips for marketing online that, when done well, can make all the difference in getting a listing noticed and sold.
Learn and use good SEO. Take time to learn about using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for your listings. Good SEO involves finding keywords or phrases that define your listing to your chosen market audience. These keywords and phrases usually include two to four words that clearly highlight the listing’s location (e.g, city, state, neighborhood) and type of home (e.g., type of home, bedrooms, brick); an example of a good SEO listing might be “4-bedroom rambler in Holiday,” or “2-story, red brick, single-family home, Sandy.” Use keywords in titles, listing descriptions, URL, social media, images and marketing materials. Think about the search terms your customer will use; in fact, you can even do a search online to see what comes up!
Develop and manage your email list. Learn about how to use email to put your listing in front of potential clients. Email is a marketing tool; it can be used effectively or ineffectively. You can achieve a lot by sending out a well-targeted email with an eye-catching headline, like “Just listed: 4-bedroom, 3-bath, 2-car garage rambler, Everton.” Additionally, emails with high-quality images catch attention better.
Great photos that tell a story. Your listing photos tell the story and introduce the homebuyer to seeing themselves living in the home you are presenting. Many listings are full of images that have been taken without much forethought to message that is being sent. Many try to save listing expenses by the using the mobile phone. Mobile phones are great for selfies, but not for selling your listings. If you are taking the photos, invest in a good camera, take a class in listing photography, and study images used in listings to understand what sends a good message, or hire a professional who shoots listings on a full-time basis. In addition, consider adding photos that highlight the surrounding area, such as parks, schools, shopping, downtown areas, and more.
Take advantage of video or slideshow tours. Video and slideshow virtual tours are a great way to market your listings. You can use these to highlight compelling features about the property and the community, and to effectively brand you or your brokerage. When creating the video, you will need to clearly define who your target clientele is and what is most important for them. You will need your best images in the beginning of the video to “wow” your audience. You will want to highlight the prime selling points of the listing. If it makes sense, you will also want to show the local parks, schools, shopping, recreational areas and more; give the viewer a feeling of what it would be like to live in the community for a day.
If you lack photography skills, this is not a do-it-yourself venture. Often, the professionals who take photos for your listing can also create videos and slideshows.
Share your listing in social media. Social media is probably second nature to you. You may be already using social accounts like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest to alert your community about listings. Make sure your various profiles appear clean and are up-to-date across all of your networks. For a listing, use some of the great photography and video you have with a short description. Make sure you also ask your community to share your listings and provide tips on anyone who might be in the market to sell or buy a home. If you are new to social media as a real estate agent, take time to learn about what makes good content for sharing in addition to listings.
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