A while back, we talked about the “3 Ways Real Estate Agents Can Differentiate Themselves” through the creative use of blogging and social media. But social media platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook offer so many tools you can use to boost your activity, we figured it’s time to give you an update.
1. Snapchat
Snapchat recently issued an update containing the new feature, Snap Maps. Now you can share your location, along with a picture, and see the locations of friends on a map. This is ideal for targeting people who are looking for a home in a given area, and for fostering awareness of the homes you have on the market. Couple this with creating awareness around your Snapchat account and you could attract your next buyer.
You can also use Snapchat to create a Geofilter for an open house. Everybody within the area defined by your Geofilter will see this and can share with their friends, thus spreading the word about your event. As an added bonus, when people in the neighborhood start sharing your event on Snapchat, prospective buyers will learn about who their new neighbors might be. And the leverage on your advertising dollars couldn’t be any better, as Geofilters are incredibly cheap, starting at the low price of $5.99.
2. Instagram
Instagram is a great platform to showcase your properties through beautiful images. You can even add the location of the house. By using the right hashtags, you can attract the notice of anyone who might be looking for this type of property. Remember to include pictures of neighborhood amenities, such public pools or parks. You can also arrange coupon offers to local restaurants through your Instagram posts. The restaurants get free advertising this way and you’ll get a bigger following, both for this particular house, and for your future posts about other properties.
3. Facebook
There are two major ways to use Facebook to help sell real estate. One is to use Facebook’s search tool to look for people who are posting about wanting to buy properties like yours. Do not start off by telling these people you have a house to sell them, though. That’s creepy and desperate. Instead, ask questions. Learn about what matters to them and offer advice and information. They’ll see you as a person of value, and there’s a good chance they’ll work with you when they’re ready. If you can refrain from saying, “we sell real estate, call me at 555…”, you will be doing yourself a favor. Remember, your chance of success will be much better in the long run if you don’t push it.
You can also figure out who your house is perfect for, and then use Facebook ads to get your posts in front of that exact demographic. As with Snapchat, the cost of entry for Facebook ads is still low, and definitely worth it.
Real Estate Agents Will Stand Out with Social Media
By making the most of Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook, in these ways, you can get your posts seen by the people who are the most likely to engage—and perhaps become your next client or buyer. As you know, the real estate market is very competitive. Consumers are looking for a real estate agent who can stand out from the crowd, someone who can make a difference for them. These platforms are one way you can do just that.