As a REALTOR®, knowing how to navigate the digital world is of the utmost importance because as many as 96% of homebuyers use the internet when looking for new homes. It’s not enough to have a website and social media sites, though. You have to know how to build a strong online presence that works for you when you’re looking to grow your client list.
Between a website, social media platforms, and knowing how to get your name as close to the top of search engines as possible, it can all be overwhelming at first. The good news is that you can learn how to leverage the internet to your advantage and grow your business.
Creating an Effective Website
Several factors go into creating the perfect website for your real estate business. From the design aspect, you want to follow the theory that less is more. Clean layouts, simple navigation, and high-quality visuals that don’t bombard the visitor are key. When putting your layout together, ensure it is desktop—and mobile-friendly. You also want to ensure your branding is consistent throughout, so that means choosing the right colour scheme and style.
You may also want to consider integrating your MLS onto your site so people can see the available properties and a high-level showcase of what each property offers. Ensure you include the price with all listings and that users can filter through your properties effectively with location, price range, bedrooms, and amenity options. Your contact information should also be easily accessible, making it easy for potential clients to reach out.
Engaging on Social Media Platforms
Social media can be your best friend when building a strong online presence because most people have at least one platform profile. Researching all the available options, choosing the ones you’ll keep up with most, and engaging in the most optimal ways based on that is critical.
For example, if you choose to use Instagram, creating high-quality photo and video content that quickly grabs the user’s attention is the best way to utilize these sites for your online presence.
Facebook offers more in the sense that it allows you to share tips and other information about the real estate market in a way that is easier and more digestible than through imaging alone.
Regardless of the site you use, you want to ensure that your content makes its way to the top of everyone’s page by posting consistently, engaging with users when they engage with your posts, and using hashtags wisely.
Utilizing SEO Techniques to Attract More Leads
Search engine optimization, or SEO for short, is an excellent tool at your disposal. To use it in a way that provides you with more leads, you should focus on the key elements of SEO.
These include researching keywords related to your location and using them wherever it feels natural in your content, creating high-quality content that stands out, equipping your image and video content with descriptive alt text that includes keywords, and building backlinks to credible and authoritative sites in your area to make your site more credible.
While building a strong online presence isn’t easy, it can be done with the right tools and support. If you’re just starting out or feel you could improve your online presence, contact us today. We can help you navigate the online world in a way that fosters success.