The real estate industry has undergone a digital transformation in recent years. With more people starting their home search online, having a strong digital marketing strategy is crucial for real estate professionals to attract and engage home buyers and sellers. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the top digital marketing tactics and tools real estate agents can use to boost their online presence and get more clients.
Search Engine Optimization
SEO should be the foundation of your digital marketing efforts. With over 90% of home searches starting on Google, ranking high in search results is critical for visibility. Here are some tips to optimize your real estate website and listings for search:
- Choose keywords buyers and sellers are searching like "homes for sale in [city]" and optimize pages and listings for those terms.
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Create location-based pages on your website targeting different neighborhoods and cities.
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Include your keywords in page titles, headers, image alt text, and URL slugs.
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Write blog posts and web content optimized for SEO. Focus on informational long-tail keywords.
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Get high-quality backlinks from industry sites and directories like Realtor.com.
Paid Search Ads
Google Ads should be a key part of your digital marketing mix. Paid search ads allow you to appear at the top of search results and target buyers looking for homes in your area.
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Bid on Google keywords related to home searches like “homes for sale,” “real estate agent,” and geographic terms.
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Create search ads that highlight your listings and local expertise.
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Use extensions like call, location, and callout to maximize ad real estate.
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Retarget home searchers across devices with display ads.
Social Media Marketing
Promoting your listings and brand on social media can expand your reach and humanize your business. Here are some best practices:
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Post listing videos and photos on Facebook and Instagram. Use hashtags like #realestate and location tags.
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Go live on Facebook during open houses to give virtual tours.
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Share market statistics, real estate news, and decor tips on social media. Mix in some personal posts to build a following.
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Run sponsored posts and ads targeted locally by interests like "first-time home buyers".
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Partner with vendors like home stagers to co-host Facebook Live DIY videos.
Email Marketing
Email is still one of the most effective ways to nurture leads and stay top of mind. Make sure you:
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Collect email addresses on your website and capture leads from listing portals.
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Send targeted emails to prospects with new listings and market updates.
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Develop email nurture sequences for home buyers and sellers.
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Promote open houses and events through your email list.
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Automate emails to engage past clients and get referrals.
The real estate market is competitive, but with a thoughtful digital marketing plan incorporating SEO, ads, social media, and email, real estate professionals can thrive and generate more quality leads online. Consistently executing and optimizing these strategies will help realtors boost their brand, get more listings, and build their business for long-term success.
Conclusion:
Implementing digital marketing best practices allows real estate agents to increase their visibility and connect with modern home buyers where they are searching - online. A comprehensive strategy including search, social, email, and paid advertising can help realtors gain more listings, generate quality leads, and stand out from the competition. With the right digital marketing foundations, real estate professionals can build their brands and achieve their business goals in today's digital world.