Online Marketing

The end goal of your online marketing is to create a reliable source for converting clients, and generating engagement is one of the most important steps that leads to that goal. But with so much competition for attention online, increasing your engagement can feel like an uphill climb. The good news is that growing your online engagement is easier than you might think, with the right tools, tactics, and a willingness to invest consistent effort into achieving your engagement goals.

Know Who You're Trying to Reach and Where to Find Them

Before you get busy with specific engagement tactics for your online marketing, it's critical to understand exactly who you're trying to reach. That's because the best tactics for generating engagement will differ depending on your target audience. Whether you're planning out your website content, social media strategy, or paid advertising, start by considering the needs and online habits of your target audience.

When you know who you want to reach, you can get busy learning about the best places to find them online. This is especially important for social media because different demographics favor different platforms. Research any social platform you're planning to use ahead of time, integrate best practices, and ensure that you're investing your energy in the places that will deliver the best results.

Invest Your Time Wisely on Social Media

While there are many places to grow your engagement and guide people to your website, it's tough to top the efficiency of social media. With the right tactics, you can spend more time generating engagement on social platforms and less time thinking about what to do next.

• Less Promotion, More Conversation
  Spending too much time on promotion and not enough time on conversation is one of the easiest mistakes to make with social media marketing. That doesn't mean that you can't showcase listings or highlight all of your great content. It just means that the most successful real estate brands and agents on social media invest significant time in engaging with their audience. Always remember that engagement is a two-way street, especially on social.
  
  
• Want Engagement? Start by Asking Questions
  If you want to inspire conversations and get your social connections to engage, asking questions is the perfect place to start. Think about questions that speak to the needs of your target audience, ask them often, and encourage your audience to ask questions, too. By answering questions, you can advance the conversation and build trust by demonstrating your real estate expertise.
  
  
• How Social and Your Website Work Hand in Hand to Generate Engagement
  Ideally, you want a seamless experience between your social media pages and your real estate website. The content on your website should be easy to find on all of your social channels, and visitors to your website should be able to connect with all of your social accounts easily.
  
  
• Create a Social Schedule and Stick to It
  Achieving your engagement goals is so much easier when you have a plan for how to get there, and a social schedule so that you'll always know what to do next. When you know how to reach those goals, you can use your social media time much more efficiently and effectively.

Create Content That Tells Stories and Encourages Conversations

The content that you create for your real estate website, blog, and social media should be one of your best sources of engagement. When you share content on social, jump into the comments to start the conversation. When you're thinking of content ideas for your blog, focus on topics that will encourage your audience to ask questions and leave comments.

And don't be afraid to branch out into new types of content! Video content is easier than ever to create, and it's a great tool for generating engagement. People are more likely to feel a connection when they can see your face, listen to your voice, and hear directly from you. In addition to attracting people to your website, your content is a powerful tool for keeping them there once they arrive.

Track Results to Find Out What Works Best for Your Brand

Not every engagement strategy will be the right fit for every agent or real estate business. That's one reason why it's so important to track your results, look at your analytics, and refine your strategy over time. It's easier to grow engagement when you have data-based insights on what works best with your audience.

No matter what else you do to grow your engagement, remember that authenticity is key. When your audience feels like they can connect with you on a human level, they're more likely to engage. That's true for social media, your website, and all of your real estate marketing efforts.

Most of your future customers will find you online — be sure you're making it easy!

Millennials are the #1 generation in the housing market. At the peak of the pandemic, with interest rates at historic lows, Generation Z made a showing, too. That cohort has returned to an "old-fashioned" approach, seeing homebuying as an important path to growing wealth.

They'll be ready to work with you much sooner than you might think.

And they're looking for you... on their phones.

Yes, just about everyone has adapted to the smartphone era. Pew reports 97% of Americans have cell phones and 85% of those are internet-capable smartphones. But no other generation has the same level of technical savvy and "always-on" connectivity as this up-and-coming young group.

To win their trust, you need a polished, professional online presence.

Turn Your Online Presence Up to 10 with These 10 Tips

Even if you work in a niche that skews older, Millennials and Gen Z will be part of the decision-making process before you know it. So, there's never been a better time to take a close look at the way you present yourself online and ensure your digital brand is compelling.

Here's how to do it right:

• Make Sure Your Website Is Mobile-Friendly
  Google now looks at the mobile version of your website first to decide where it should rank in search. What is it finding? Be sure your real estate website has a responsive layout. Responsive means it adjusts to the display size and input available to the user, making it easy to navigate on phones and tablets.
  
  
• Incorporate Texting into Your Marketing Plan
  Millennials and Gen Z alike love text, maybe even more than talking. Research shows young people prefer to avoid voice calls, but they are overwhelmingly favorable to texts. They're even willing to get texts from businesses, as long as they consent first. A text message marketing platform makes it easy.
  
  
• Use Integrated Live Chat
  Of all the different options you can use to connect with website visitors at the moment they're paying full attention to you, integrated Live Chat is the fastest and most effective. It can appear on any page of your website. Highly enticing, it may motivate prospects to ask you a question they might otherwise skip.
  
  
• Be Selective About Social Media
  You don't need to be on every social media platform — just the ones where your customers are found. For most real estate pros, that means Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Instagram is the most popular platform for real estate photography, and it links directly to Facebook for easy sharing.
  
  
• Make It Simple to Get in Contact
  Texting and social media are helpful on their own, but they're most powerful when they give your leads the chance to connect quickly. The faster you can respond to first-time inquiries, the more likely you are to get a customer, so configure and monitor notifications during work hours.
  
  
• Once You're Set Up, Use Automation
  Once your social media profiles are fully set up — with every form filled out and brilliant, branded images in every space — set realistic goals for posting each week consistently. Social media automation lets you plan your posts in advance and send out instant, event-driven updates in less time.
  
  
• Set Up an Email List to Capture New Leads
  Most first-time visitors to your website aren't ready to do business — with you or anyone else. But that's okay if you use email marketing. Email marketing automation means you can stay in contact with leads for weeks, months, or years, building trust along the way until they choose to take action.
  
  
• Boost Your Best Listings with Targeted Social Ads
  Social media ads can get eyes on your listings in a hurry, but it's crucial to go in prepared. Not knowing the ins and outs of setting up their ads, business owners often lose money. Ad Wizard is a self-service tool that helps you launch ads for your listings and track their performance at a glance.
  
  
• Be Consistent and Purposeful About Your Website Content
  Content marketing is a method of attracting targeted visitors to your website by answering the burning questions they have about the homebuying process. This helps raise your visibility in online search, so be sure you are posting at least one 800-word article a week aligned with your audience's interests.
  
  
• Use Website Analytics for Continuous Improvement
  A real estate CRM suite brings together the data from your email, social media, and website so you can focus your attention on what really works. Total visibility in one location enables you to understand where visitors are coming from and what they do once they reach you.

Contact us at Delta Media Group to learn more about digital marketing in real estate.

Today's real estate agents have a lot of new tools at their disposal to help their businesses grow. Blog content, social media, and other online marketing tools have become indispensable. Still, one thing has not changed: prospective clients will always want to know what your previous clients think about your services. 

Reviews and testimonials are essential for growing your business. But why are they so important, and how do you get them? We're here to offer up some answers. 

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There are thousands of sites claiming to have amazing digital marketing insights that will change your life plus offer hundreds of different tactics you could try.

The big question: How can you put it all together into a plan that works in real estate?

Many sales associates find themselves reinventing the wheel when it comes to digital marketing and social media. They start excited only to discover the results aren't what they expected.

Some get caught up in a cycle of trying one thing after another but never figuring out what the big deal is. Others lose track of digital marketing entirely, letting others define their brand online.

The secret is this: Digital marketing is the key to ending the exhausting cycle of hunting for the next referral most sales associates experience early in their careers.

The right approach to digital marketing brings leads to your door, so you can stay focused on building your business, expanding your skills, and delivering world-class service. When leads seek you out, not the other way around, you can achieve the work-life balance you want.

Follow it consistently, and this five-step plan will help get you there:

1. Get a Custom Website That Communicates Trust
   Real estate custom websites are a "must-have" item for real estate professionals who want to stand out from the rest. A custom website fosters trust by making a fantastic first impression. It should communicate who you are, who you serve, and what makes you different. Just as important: It must be mobile-friendly so leads on the go can browse with their smartphones.
   
   

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Are you tired of getting the same old results from the same old real estate marketing tactics? It's said that Einstein once declared, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results." We could spend all day trying to find out if Einstein really said that, but that would be... a little insane. The point is that whoever said it was 100 percent correct, and the lesson applies directly to the real estate industry.

Real Estate Marketing That Gets You Results

No matter how great your service and team are, it's hard to achieve your goals if your marketing isn't reaching the right people. If you want to attain the results that you dream of achieving, then now is the perfect time to take a fresh, honest look at marketing your real estate business differently.

• Develop a User-Friendly Website That Fits Every Screen
  Think of your website as a storefront. If your store is looking a little dated, located in a hard-to-find place, and lacking in information on what you have to offer, then you can't expect many people to come to visit. Develop a user-friendly website that makes it easy for visitors to find the information they want when they want it.
  
  Your website should be a place where they can learn about local communities, search listings, and pick up valuable real estate advice through relevant content. Since so many real estate shoppers browse on their phones whenever they get a free moment, responsive mobile design is also crucial to ensure that your website scales to fit any screen that they are using.
  
  
  
  

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Be a Stand-Out Agent by Building Your Personal Brand

It's not that easy being a real estate sales associate these days.

The big challenge that sales associates face can be summed up in a single idea:

Real estate pros are widely agreed to be the most active professionals on social media; however, many times, people simply tune out what their local real estate expert has to say. And the problem goes beyond Twitter and Facebook to other parts of the digital world.

In an increasingly crowded, fast-paced online sphere, everyone is looking for better ways to stand out. But technology is only one part of the equation: The way you approach your work also helps you to differentiate yourself from everybody else.

What's the best way to communicate your big difference to online leads?

In a few words, it's the personal touch.

Technology has a strange effect on communication. Use a little technology – like, say, just email or text – and it makes your message seem impersonal. But go to the next level, fully embrace what technology has to offer, and those online interactions can be as personal and memorable as a face-to-face conversation.

But technology is the only vehicle. You, the sales associate, are the driver.

Before you can figure out the best use of technology to grow your practice, figure out what you want.  What do you want your clients' experience to be?

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Real estate digital marketing is a sure-fire way to take your business to the next level in 2020.

Even if you haven't gotten started with digital marketing just yet, it's never too late to start. The sooner you do, the sooner you'll see results.

Marketing your business online may seem complicated. The truth is, you can get started with almost any proven tactic as long as you do it consistently.

In real estate, many of your competitors will be advanced digital marketers. So, as you start to get comfortable with one method, it's a good idea to introduce another. Successful firms tend to have four to seven approaches they rely on every month.

Here are ten ways to use digital marketing in 2020:

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The majority of buyers start their home search online. They search current listings and look for the right real estate agent to help them through the buying process.

With luxury real estate, the impact of online marketing is even more powerful. To attract and keep affluent clients, agencies must project an image of luxury from the start.

You can't be sure when a lead will first become aware of your brand. That may come from a blog post, social media, listing, or webinar. With that in mind, it's crucial to have a multi-pronged online marketing strategy that always puts your best face forward.

Many real estate agents are partnering with luxury communities or homebuilders to appeal to a discerning clientele. Here's how your online marketing strategy can help you do it the right way.

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In today's digital world, a website is essential for your real estate business: No one will believe you're a "real business" if they can't find you online. But the value of digital marketing goes further: Done right, it energizes your real estate practice with a consistent flow of buyers and sellers ready to do business.

Many real estate agents start out unsure which digital marketing tools suit their needs. They may post on social media or write blog posts for a while, only to discover getting traction is more challenging than they hoped.

Consistency is key, and a marketing mix where several digital techniques work together is more effective than any one approach. To move forward, consider these seven tools that have paved the way to success for real estate agents like you:

1. 1. Customizable Websites
      If your website looks like everyone else's, that may be how visitors treat you. There are best practices that make it easier for customers to use your site, but it should give them a taste of your personality and branding. Your site's appearance and structure should be built around your ideal customers and their needs. Brokerage & Team Packages by Delta Media Group handle all design the details for you.
      
      
      
   2. CRM System
      CRM stands for "Customer Relationship Management," and it should be part of your business technology platform allowing you to manage your relationships and communications with clients and prospective clients.  With the right CRM system, it's simple to organize your client lists, streamline your business processes, and grow your real estate business.  Delta Media Group's Pipeline Manager is built to help you TRACK, MANAGE and ENGAGE with your contacts right from your smartphone.
      
      
      

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Your online presence should be one of your most valuable assets as a real estate agent because clients from every generation rely on online tools to shop for homes, research communities, and engage with real estate agents. If you want to make the most of your online presence, then you need to own it. Take the time to create a distinctive social media presence, develop an outstanding real estate website, market your real estate business with targeted, relevant content, and make sure that clients/prospects have an easy time finding you. Take these steps to own your online real estate presence.

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