Real estate agents can generate buyer leads by being active in the community. They can do this by hosting epic open houses, posting about recent listings, and engaging with the local community online.
For example, one agent in our area regularly hosts rec sports for kids, and his brokerage sponsors the teams. This makes him top of mind when parents are looking to buy a new home for their family.
1. Create a website
Whether you’re working with clients as an agent or a broker, a website gives your business a digital hub to bring in prospective buyers. Your site can include a property search, mortgage calculators, area maps, and other interactive features that help visitors understand your local market.
Creating downloadable assets like market reports, mortgage rate updates, or staging checklists can also demonstrate your value to real estate buyers. You can feature these on your home page and include a link in your navigation bar.
In addition to these, create separate user dashboards for buyers and sellers. This provides a customized experience for each user type, improves user satisfaction, and streamlines interactions.
2. Create a social media presence
Creating and maintaining a social media presence is a great way to bring in real estate buyers. But it’s important to choose the right social platforms for your business.
For example, if you’re a real estate agent, it might be best to use Instagram. This platform allows you to showcase homes and neighborhoods with photos and videos. It also provides a great opportunity to share client testimonials.
Another great way to use social media is to create a newsletter. This is a great way to stay in touch with clients and keep them up to date on local listings. You can also send individualized emails to homebuyers based on their stage in the process. This will help them feel special and can increase their trust in you as a real estate agent.
3. Create a blog
Blogging is a great way to demonstrate your real estate expertise while staying top of mind for potential clients. It’s also a cost-effective way to generate leads and grow your real estate business.
Write about local schools and their rankings, parks, and other amenities that will be important for new buyers in your area. These types of posts will show up in organic search results and help to establish you as an expert in your field.
If you have a few homes in your portfolio that have been tastefully renovated, make a blog post about them. Homeowners who are thinking of selling will be intrigued by these stories and may want to contact you for more information.
4. Create a video
Video marketing is a powerful tool that real estate agents can use to attract new clients. For example, they can create videos that showcase a property and its unique features. They can also create videos that feature testimonials from past clients.
Another way to use real estate videos is through email marketing. Emails that contain videos have a 300% higher click rate than emails without them. This is because people are more likely to watch videos when they’re in a hurry.
To make a real estate video effective, it should be short and entertaining. It should also have a catchy title that will attract viewers’ attention. Also, the video should include a link to a landing page that has additional information about the property. This will help potential buyers make an informed decision. It will also show that you are a knowledgeable and trustworthy real estate agent.
5. Host a virtual open house
Many real estate buyers are looking for homes online, so a virtual open house is a great way to increase buyer leads. You can hold a live virtual open house on a video conferencing platform or post a pre-recorded tour on your website. Either way, make sure you promote the open house through social media and email marketing.
Make the virtual open house more interactive by asking your potential buyers to comment or ask questions in real-time. This will give you the opportunity to answer their questions and show them features of the home that they may have overlooked.
After closing on a home, consider throwing your buyer a housewarming party. This will get your name in front of their friends and family, which could lead to more referrals. Also, consider giving them a special door knocker or framed drawing that will be a reminder of your services.
6. Create a virtual tour
Using software to piece together panoramic photos into an interactive virtual tour is a great way to showcase property listings. Then, a potential buyer can click on specific areas to access information, like a floor plan or photo gallery.
If you don’t have the equipment to create a virtual tour yourself, there are many companies that can do it for you. Just be sure to do your research and choose a company that can capture your listing from multiple angles.
Creating a virtual tour can help you expose your home to more people, both locally and out of state. Be sure to do a thorough cleaning and remove personal items to make it easy for buyers to picture themselves living there. Also, use natural lighting to create a bright, inviting space. Also, don’t forget to stage your home to appeal to a wide range of buyers.
7. Create a virtual walk-through
A virtual walk-through is an effective marketing tool that can be used by real estate agents to showcase properties. A well-produced video can highlight the property’s unique selling points and create interest among prospective buyers.
A professional virtual tour will help a buyer feel like they are actually inside the home. This can be done through a video or 3D photo tour. A good virtual tour will be clear and have well-composed angles that highlight the property’s features.
The home buying process can be overwhelming for first-time homebuyers. To ease their concerns, real estate agents can host workshops to teach them the basics of home buying. This can also help them build trust and rapport with clients. This will lead to future business and referrals.
8. Create a virtual walk-through video
A video is a great way to humanize your real estate business and build trust with buyers. It’s also a great way to answer commonly asked questions about a property. Interview past clients or use aerial drone footage of properties to showcase your expertise and highlight unique selling points.
Using a virtual tour will help prospective homebuyers better understand the layout and size of the property. These videos can be as simple as a real estate agent walking through the property with the camera on a tripod, or more complex like 360 degree interactive or virtual tour videos that offer a more immersive experience with viewers being able to zoom in on specific areas and view them from different angles. These types of videos are more expensive than a simple walk-through video but are worth the investment to attract more qualified leads.
9. Create a virtual tour video
Virtual tours are a great way to show off a property. They can be more engaging than still photos and can help a buyer understand the layout of a home better. Make sure to take a few standard photographs of each room before shooting your video, and don’t forget to include closets and laundry rooms!
A virtual tour can also be a great way to reach out to buyers who live out of town. It can be difficult to meet with out-of-town buyers, but a virtual tour allows them to see the property from the comfort of their own home.
Be creative with your video and add some flair! Interview past clients, show aerial drone footage of the property, or even star in a promotional video yourself. This will give your business a personal touch and set you apart from competitors.
10. Create a virtual walk-through video
A virtual walk-through can help buyers get a feel for a property without having to travel. It can also save time for both agents and clients. Plus, it can allow prospective buyers to determine whether a property is a good fit for them before they request an in-person viewing.
A 3D walkthrough can also be used by developers to demonstrate their proposed designs for buildings or interiors. This helps them attract potential customers and boost their marketing tactics.
To make your virtual tour look more professional, use a tripod to avoid shaky footage. It can also be helpful to have a list of all the rooms in the property before you start shooting, so that you don’t miss any important details. This will make the video more effective and persuasive. Also, consider hiring professional cleaners to ensure that the property is spotless and free of clutter.