I’ve touched on the importance of social media as an agent – how it can make a huge difference in the success of your business. So I thought it was time for me to put together a full post on how to use social media to your advantage as a real estate agent. Obviously, everyone is different, and everyone’s business is different, so this isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. But hopefully, these tips can help you better utilize social media and build a strong(er) digital presence. Let’s get into it…
First things first, if you don’t have a social media page dedicated to real estate…. it’s time to make one. This can be a separate account from your personal page or you can dedicate your current account to real estate and life as an agent. It doesn’t really matter, as long as you have a social media presence. I’d recommend setting yourself up on multiple platforms- i.e. Instagram, Facebook. Tiktok, etc.
Plan Your Content Calendar
It can be difficult to consistently post on social media… trust me, I’ve been there! The motivation to create content comes in waves, so that’s why it’s smart to create a content calendar. This is essentially a calendar that maps out all of your content for chunks at a time. I think creating them monthly is the most manageable, but it’s personal preference.
Plan out all of your content for the month, whether that be videos, static posts, stories, graphics, etc., with each piece of content having a live date. This will hold you accountable to create and post content by a certain date so you’re always getting something fresh up. It also allows you to see what’s on deck for the month, allowing your content to flow together and not become repetitive. It might seem like a lot of work at first, and it is, but over time, it will become a well-oiled machine.
Batch Shoot Content
A content trick I know many agents (and creators in general) use, is to batch shoot content. Essentially, this means that you shoot multiple pieces of content at once, to be used over time. Shoot fresh photos, and film videos, so you’re left with an arsenal of content that will last a few days or weeks. You’re basically getting all your content done at once so you don’t have to be constantly creating fresh things. Once you run out, you batch shoot again. Batch shooting can be exhausting, but in the long run, it’s nice to rip the band-aid off and get it done so you don’t have to worry about it. You can even plan out your captions and schedule your content in advance so they post automatically- there are different platforms for that such as UNUM, Planoly, and more.
Stay Consistent
As I mentioned above, creating a content calendar will help you stay consistent… and consistency is KEY. If you’re trying to build up your page, expand your reach, and grow a following, consistency is going to play a huge role in your ability to accomplish this. Regardless if you’re trying to grow your page or not, consistency is important for clients, prospective clients, and others in the industry to see.
Quite frankly, to someone who hasn’t worked with you, it shows you have your shit together and only enhances your credibility. A prospective client might try and look you up on Instagram, and which do you think will give them more confidence about your abilities: a well-put-together page with information, industry expertise, consistency, listings, and more, or a page with no posts and no effort put in. It might seem silly to dedicate time to your social media presence but trust me, in the long run, it can only benefit you.
Start Creating Video Content
According to the National Association of Realtors, only 9% of realtors use video marketing such as Instagram videos for real estate agents in their social media strategy.
What???
When I read that statistic it blew my mind. If you know anything about social media, you know that video-based content is on the rise. So much so that it generates 1,200% more shares than text and images combined! This means that video helps agents get in front of more potential clients than any other form of social media content. If video isn’t a part of your social media strategy, it’s time to incorporate it ASAP. I know creating a video can seem like a lot of effort, especially compared to quickly posting a photo, but if the numbers tell you anything… It’s worth it, and it will definitely set you apart from the 91% of agents not using video.
Don’t know where to begin? Here are a few video ideas to get you started:
- Agent Introduction Video: Introduce yourself! You’ll get used to talking in front of the camera 😉
- Neighborhood Spotlight Video: Share details and information on a specific neighborhood you have listings in. If you don’t have listings, you can still do a neighborhood spotlight video. Share why you love the neighborhood and why it’s a good place to buy.
- Client Testimonial: Ask your client to film a testimonial video for you. If they don’t feel comfortable, a written testimonial will do, and you can create a text-based video.
- Just Listed Video: Have a new listing? Make a video with clips from the property, or a slideshow of pictures.
Check out this video I posted on my Instagram page!
As I mentioned, there’s no one size fits all, so find what works for you and stick with it. Everyone’s business and brand is different, so lean into your thing. If you don’t know what works for you, this is the time to try a ton of different things out. Eventually, something will stick!