The role of a real estate agent has drastically changed over the past decade. The dramatic advances in mobile technology, speed of information dissemination, and use of photos and videos has made it easier for agents to communicate with clients, but only if they’re keeping pace with the ever-evolving tech tools. Technology allows home buyers to view a property, schedule a booking, and make an offer – all online – so agents need to understand how to harness the best digital tools designed for real estate. Here is a list of our favorites.
- Social Media: Part of networking to gain new clients is meeting prospects where they are, and 85 percent of U.S. consumers use social media. Not only is it important, but social media is a free tool to market your real estate listings, or congratulate new buyers who used your services to land their dream home.
Make it work: Consistency is key. Post regularly and respond to followers when they ask questions.
- Videos: Facebook Live is a great tool for real estate promotions. Whether you’re hosting an open house or want to announce a new listing you’re putting on the market, users find live video five times more engaging than images. In addition to live opportunities, use video to promote listings and your services. Do a brief explainer of your custom marketing plan for each of your listings or showcase a few properties with a video tour.
Make it work: Keep your videos engaging. If you’re on Facebook Live, ask users questions, respond to their comments and include a link to your website so people can reference it later. Produce quality videos (no shaky, blurry images) because 90 percent of users say quality of video is most important.
- Blog: Getting people to your website should be a top priority. Once users are on your site, you have an opportunity to request their contact information, showcase your listings, or offer good real estate advice. An updated blog is a great way to attract users to your site. Even if they’re not currently looking to buy or sell, you can offer a free Comparative Market Analysis to help evaluate the value of their home.
Make it work: Be consistent and don’t always explicitly market yourself. Offering quality content will bring people back to your site again and again.
- Mobile Optimization: Nearly all millennial homebuyers – 99 percent – use the Internet during their home search. More than half of all homebuyers use a mobile device to search listings. Design your website to be optimized for mobile devices, so if your prospects are on a tablet or phone, your site is still easy to view and use.
Make it work: Look into local companies to help build a website designed with mobile optimization. Ask your friends and family to test the site and get feedback for future changes.
- Mobile App: Even if you have a website for your real estate content, a mobile app is an efficient way for clients and prospects to contact you. You can also use the app to streamline your business and easily send clients information and listings.
Make it work: As with your website design, if you’re unfamiliar with how to build out a mobile app, partner with a local agency and keep the design simple. Feature crisp, clear photos and easy-to-find contact information.
With an increase in access to data, homebuyers are savvier than ever. Real estate agents must learn how to use technology to their advantage and build personal relationships with clients, playing into the emotional aspects of buying and selling – the space technology cannot reach.
