Social media for real estate agents: 7 great ways to win listings and boost sales
Social media has become a powerful networking space that real estate agents can use to boost property sales. After all, 23.168 million Australians aged 16 to 64 use social media, according to DataReportal. Their most used social media platforms in January 2024 were:- Facebook Messenger
- TikTok
- iMessage
- Snapchat
- X (formerly Twitter)
It is, however, important to understand the types of engaging content social media users prefer to consume on specific platforms – and this is where strong social media management and professional writing techniques come into play.
What social media users want in 2024
Hootsuite’s Social Trends 2024 report states that, after staying in touch with family and friends, the top reason consumers use social media is “to be entertained and to mentally unwind”. Real estate agents should, thus, connect and engage with prospective vendors through the publishing of entertaining content.
Visual content, such as images, short-form videos and infographics, as well as interactive content, usually generate the most consumer engagement on social media.
These, however, are consumer’s biggest turn-offs:
7 ways to use social media to grow your business
1. Showcase listings with high-quality content
Ensure your website ranks well on search engines by optimising keywords related to mortgages and the local property market. Update your content regularly.- High-quality photos and videos of properties
- Drone/aerial footage
- Virtual tours
2. Engage with their targeted audiences
- Respond to comments and messages promptly
- Use interactive features like polls and Q&A sessions
3. Real-time engagement with potential buyers
- Host live tours through platforms like Facebook Live or Instagram Live
- Host webinars to unpack popular topics like the home buying process, market trends and investment opportunities
4. Share content on multiple platforms
- Understand what types of content appeals to which audiences, and on what platforms. Social media content creation often involves tweaking and adjusting the same content to suit different platforms and their respective users’ needs.
- Create detailed posts
- Join local groups
- Use Facebook Ads to target specific demographics
- Use Stories, IGTV and reels to share quick property updates, behind-the-scenes content and engaging short clips
- Use hashtags to reach more people
- Share real estate market updates and educational articles to establish yourself as a thought leader
5. Run targeted ad campaigns
- Facebook and Instagram ads: Reach potential vendors based on location, interests and behaviours
- Google ads : Keyword targeting and SEO copywriting enable you to attract owners thinking about selling
6. Create valuable content
- Blogs and articles : Share informative content about market trends and the property selling process
- Infographics : Use visually appealing infographics to present data and statistics about the real estate market
7. Showcase client testimonials and success stories
- Client reviews : Share testimonials and positive feedback from past clients to build credibility
- Case studies : Highlight successful sales and share stories that potential vendors can relate to
8. Use hashtags and geotags
- Popular and relevant hashtags can increase the visibility of your posts
- Adding geotags to your posts can attract local buyers
Win more listings with LinkedIn
LinkedIn is designed for business and made for connecting. This makes it a great tool for real estate agents to establish a professional presence and attract more clients.
This is how you can get the most out of LinkedIn:
1. Optimise your profile
Use a high-quality professional headshot and a customised banner that reflects your company or business profile. Also, write a compelling headline that clearly states your role and what you offer.
Top tips:
- State the areas you operate and the types of property sales you specialise in
- Highlight your experience, awards and achievements
- Tell client how you can help them
- Share testimonials and success stories
- Include your contact details and include relevant keywords to enhance searchability
2. Build and engage your network
LinkedIn enables you to make strategic, professional connections, not only with potential vendors but also industry professionals.
Top tips:
- Personalise your connection requests to increase your chances of acceptance
- Stay visible in your connections’ feeds and build relationships by regularly liking, commenting on and sharing their posts
3. Share valuable content
In addition to engaging with your connections’ posts, be sure to regularly publish your own posts, covering market analysis, trends and insights, to establish yourself as a reputable professional in the industry.
Top tips:
- Post testimonials and case studies showcasing successful transactions and satisfied clients
- Write or share educational articles or posts about various real estate-related topics that are relevant to your audience and provide value
4. Capitalise on the power of LinkedIn groups
Join relevant real estate and local community groups; engage in discussions and offer your expertise.
Top tip:
- Create your own group focused on your local real estate markets or specific niches. You can share listings, market updates and engage with potential buyers and sellers.
5. Use LinkedIn’s publishing platform
This platform allows you to publish in-depth articles on a number of real estate topics, from market trends and updates to home buying and property investment advice. Such articles can help you position yourself as an authority in your field.
Top tip:
- Maintain a regular posting schedule to keep your audience engaged and informed. If they know when you are due to publish, they will look out for your posts.
6. Use LinkedIn Ads
LinkedIn offers targeted advertising options to reach specific demographics of property buyers. Through sponsored content you can promote your posts to extend their reach beyond your immediate network.
Top tip:
- Make use of LinkedIn’s lead generation forms to gather potential client information directly from your ads.
7. Get endorsed
LinkedIn enables you to further showcase your expertise – and build credibility – through recommendations and endorsements. All you need to do is ask satisfied clients and colleagues to write recommendations that appear on your profile.
Top tip:
- Ensure your key real estate skills are endorsed by your connections to enhance your profile’s attractiveness.
Enhance your social media presence
Social media marketing and paid advertising are powerful tools for real estate agents but, ultimately, content is king.
To ensure your digital marketing copy, blogs, articles, social media copy and LinkedIn posts add value to potential vendors and generate leads, it may be worthwhile enlisting the expertise of professional social media content creators.
