8 ways to get your real estate website ranked higher in search engines

8 ways to get your real estate website ranked higher in search engines

If you want your online real estate marketing strategy to work, you’ve got to make sure your online presence is being seen by potential clients and customers.

One of the best ways to do this, is to make sure your website is ranking higher in search engine results than your competitors. This is called SEO (search engine optimization).

If you are new to the concepts of conducting SEO on your real estate website, the following is a list of 10 items that search engines take into consideration when determining where a real estate website will show up in search results.

1) Fresh, Unique, and Relevant Content

When Google or any other search engines determines a websites search ranking, they factor in the frequency of fresh, original content.In other words, a site that is consistently being updated or added to is more likely to be ranked higher than a similar website that is rarely updated.

Also, don’t simply plagiarize the work of someone else and pass it off on your website as your own. Search engines are smart, and if they find a ton of duplicate or plagiarized content on your website, your ranking will be penalized.

2) Keywords

This is perhaps one of the most important (and easiest) things you can implement in order to boost your search rankings. Decide which search terms or keywords for which you want your site to rank, and insert them throughout the content on relevant pages in your website.

Caution: Many people think they can simply stuff keywords onto their pages and make their site rank higher. The truth is that Google (and other search engines) are very smart. They know the tricks that people have used in the past, like keyword stuffing, and they now penalize sites that conduct these types of practices.

3) Backlinks

The quality and amount of backlinks (links that come into your website from other credible websites) factor into your search rankings. In the eyes of search engines, a real estate website with many backlinks is a trustworthy one, and therefore should be ranked higher than a website with no backlinks.

4) Internal Links

Internal links are simply links that go from one page of your website to another, without taking visitors to an external website. Using many internal links in the content of your pages will help boost your rankings. Remember, don’t go too overboard with this one either.

5) Social Media

There almost no doubt that you have heard of the importance of social media by now. Creating content on your website that can easily be shared on social media is a great way to get people to pass around the information you are presenting, and therefore drive more people back to your website.

It has also been shown that having a strong social media presence that consistently drives visitors back to your website has a positive effect on your credibility, and therefore increases your search rankings.

6) Page URLs

For those who might not know, a URL is the address of your website’s pages. For example:

www.YourWebsiteHere.com would be the URL for your homepage. www.YourWebsiteHere.com/example would be the URL for a page called “example”.

Creating a URL structure that incorporates your target keywords is a great way to increase search rankings. Avoid using symbols, numbers, or other characters in your URLs.

7) Metadata

Meta descriptions, keyword tags, and title tags live in the back end of your real estate website, or the HTML code. They help tell search engines what your website and pages are about, so that they can be ranked for relevant keyword searches. Including your target keywords in your website’s metadata will help boost your rankings.

8) Loading Speed

The time it takes for your website to load is an important factor not only for search rankings, but for improving visitor experiences. Make sure your website loads fast and doesn’t get bogged down by Flash, JavaScript, or any other unnecessary media.

Click here to learn how to capture more leads and automate your lead management to get more clients and close more deals.

4 Ways Video Boosts Real Estate Marketing

4 Ways Video Boosts Real Estate Marketing

It is widely known in other industries that video is one of the fastest growing mediums from which people receive their information online. However, for some reason it is highly underutilized in real estate marketing strategies.

In order to help you get a leg up on your competition we have compiled the following list of 4 simple ways you can utilize video in your real estate marketing strategy.

1) Potential buyers love visual aids.

– Property Walkthroughs

Virtual slideshow tours are great and should definitely be used, but why not add a video walkthrough of your property? You can never have enough pictures or videos of the inside and outside of an available property, and potential buyers love having the ability to preview properties from the comfort of their own home. You don’t have to be Steven Spielberg to create a great video walkthrough. While recording the video, tell the viewer some important facts about the home or some interesting features. Incorporating video walkthroughs with slideshows and still pictures will give your potential buyers some great visual aids in helping them make their decision.

– Neighborhood Tours

When buyers are deciding on potential properties, there is no argument that the surrounding neighborhood is a huge determining factor. How can you leverage the neighborhood’s best qualities? That’s right, with video! Drive to some of the local hotspots and take a few shots panning the area. Think about what makes that area unique, and go out and film it. This is especially useful for out of town buyers.

2) Word-of-mouth marketing is FREE.

One of the single most effective means for marketing in real estate is word of mouth. Potential buyers obviously need to build up a level of trust in you in order to help them feel more comfortable in their home buying experience. Contact some of your previous clients and ask them if they’d be willing to record a short 30 – 60 second video on how you helped them through their purchase. Give them 2 or 3 prompted questions, or simply let them ad-lib, whichever you think will portray you the best.

3) Be the expert.

In an industry with such a high amount of competition, it is very important that people view YOU as the expert. A great way to show people that you are the “go-to guy/gal” is to record short webinars. You can talk about anything you want, from home buying tips, to industry events, to addressing common questions… Anything that you think will help potential buyers and sellers.

4) Distribution is key.

Having a wide variety of well-planned real estate videos won’t do you any good unless you can effectively get people to watch them. YouTube is one of the best places to share your videos to potential buyers. You can set up your own YouTube channel that allows you to have all your videos hosted in one place. Be sure to link back to your videos on your other social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. You can even grab the embed code of your videos and post them directly onto your website.

The ways in which you can utilize videos in your real estate marketing strategy is really only limited to your own creativity. What are some of the most creative uses of video in real estate marketing that you have seen?

4 Ways Content Marketing Boosts Your Real Estate Digital Marketing Strategy

4 Ways Content Marketing Boosts Your Real Estate Digital Marketing Strategy

Blogs are nothing new when it comes to effective real estate marketing strategies, yet many real estate professionals still aren’t using them as they should. For some, it’s because they can’t think of what to write on a consistent basis, or else they feel like nobody will read their blogs.

Whatever the reasons for lacking a blog, “content marketing” is essential to add to your site to set you apart from your competitors.

The following are 4 reasons you need to incorporate content marketing in your real estate marketing strategy:

1) It builds TRUST

It’s hard for potential home buyers to go an entire day without being bombarded with some type of advertisement to buy a new home. This has caused potential buyers to always have their guard up, wondering, “What’s the catch?” Providing consumers with helpful content shows that you are genuinely interested in helping them, and also allows them to find your content when THEY want it. If you write content based on what you know and what you are good at, the consumers will be able to see that you are a trusted resource instead of some greasy salesperson with malicious intentions.

2) Content Marketing is FREE

Not only is blogging a great real estate marketing technique, it also requires no monetary investment on your part. The only thing it will cost you is the time it takes you to research your desired topic and type it out. What’s better than effective marketing? FREE effective marketing.

3) Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Blogging isn’t just a platform for you to get your opinions in front of potnetial buyers, it’s a way to boost your website’s search ranking as well. If you have already begun a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) program, incorporate your target keywords into your blog posts at least a few times. Not only does this show the search engines what your article is about, it also helps you keep your content on-topic and relevant for your target market.

4) People like to share good content

By adding social media buttons to your blog posts, you allow people to share your content with their social networks as well. WordPress and many other blogging platforms automatically include these buttons in your blog posts in order to make it as easy as possible for others to share your quality content. A well written blog piece can take on a life of its own after people begin to share it!

When it all comes down to it, the best rule of thumb to remember in your new content marketing is to write about things that people want to hear, and stay focused on your target market. If you are a Real Estate Agent, writing articles on video games will likely fall on deaf ears. Keep the content interesting, unique, and beneficial, and you will see great results for your real estate marketing!

40 Ways for Real Estate Agents to Market Listings

40 Ways for Real Estate Agents to Market Listings

If you’re looking for a way to spread the word on a listing you have, we’ve got you…

We’ve compiled 40 easy ways to market your listing. With a little effort, the whole town will know about your real estate listing!

Try a few of these and let us know how it works for you.

1. Use Specialized Niche Landing Pages:

Did you know that you can use IDX to create individual niche landing pages on your real estate website? Examples include web pages for mountain view properties, lakefront properties, specific neighborhood properties, or properties in specific school districts, etc. 

These landing pages attract niche leads that bigger websites miss while driving up your SEO at the same time. Try picking out the defining attributes of your listings and highlighting them for niche markets. Show them off on niche landing pages to find the perfect buyer more quickly.

Bonus tip: Put a lead capture form on these pages to collect your leads’ information.

2. Create Squeeze Pages/Lead Capture Forms:

Squeeze pages contain forms that you can fill out on websites to get something in return. Every person on the internet has filled one out before. You may have signed up for a newsletter, a chance to win a vacation, an ebook, property alerts, or something else using one of these forms. A website will ask for your name and email in exchange for something you want. 

Most real estate agents don’t use squeeze pages and are missing out on collecting leads’ contact information. When you share your listings on your website, be sure to include a lead capture form.

3. Have a Clear Call-to-Action:

Showing off listings online is great, but if there are no calls-to-action or clear next steps for buyers, your marketing efforts will fall flat. Make sure to include information about what steps buyers need to take next. Usually this will be scheduling a showing, so make sure to include buttons and links to schedule a showing.

Bonus Tip: Display your contact information clearly on all of your listing materials. 

4. Start a Facebook Group:

Facebook is trying to rebrand itself with groups. Use this to your advantage by starting a group about moving to your area. Groups like “Moving to the Dallas Area” are a great place to connect with leads and advertise your listings.

5. Create Buyers Bootcamp Email Drip Campaigns: 

Email drip campaigns are a powerful tool. Create an evergreen buyers bootcamp email campaign with steps and advice on buying a home. Be sure to include your featured listings. Though it may take some initial effort to write 8-10 emails your email campaign, once the templates are written, you can use a service like MailChimp to run them on autopilot for years at a time.    

6. Single Property Websites: 

Individual property websites are a great marketing tactic for listing agents. Listing websites impress sellers and can help you win listings. They also help you sell listings faster by making your brand and contact information highly visible, online. 

7. Listing Videos:

Videos are the #1 way to attract leads online. Listings with video get over 400% more inquiries and video receives over 400% more engagement than any other medium of real estate marketing. Most agents avoid video because of the cost or their lack of editing skills. The good news is that services like Single Property Sites can automatically create listing videos and syndicates them for you… all for the price of a cup of coffee.

8. Curated Featured Listings Pages/Posts: 

Curating your favorite listings on a regular basis is a great way to connect with leads. Share your list on your website and on your social media accounts. 

Bonus Tip: Try running a Facebook/Instagram ad with your featured listings.

9. Give Tours of Exclusive Listings on Instagram:

People are curious to see what’s behind closed doors. One of the most successful real estate Instagram tactics is to use your phone to share highlights from exclusive listings.

10. Give Tours of Exclusive Listings on Snapchat:

As mentioned above, this is a proven social media tactic with high engagement.

11. Create Custom Sign Riders: 

Curbside marketing can be incredibly powerful. Custom sign riders can attach to any listing agent’s ‘for sale’ sign. These sign riders have lead capture tools built in via text messaging, QR codes, web addresses, or even 1-800 numbers. It’s an easy way to capture buyer leads. 

12. Use SEM Tools to Create Viral Listing Descriptions:

SEM (search engine marketing) tools can help you see what terms and keywords leads in your market are Googling the most. By crafting your marketing messages around the terms your leads search for most, you can make a greater impact, onl

A great example of this would be changing the language of your listing descriptions to match SEM keywords. For instance, in Colorado, “mountain view homes for sale colorado” is a highly ranked long-tail keyword. 

By changing the wording in my listing description from “You can see the gorgeous mountains from the backyard” to “This mountain view home in Colorado features….” I can drive up the amount of people that find my listing online.

Bonus Tip: tools like SEMRush allow you to use their free trial to start learning about what search terms leads in your market use the most. 

13. Offer a Market Report for Your Area with Featured Listings:

One of the biggest questions buyers and sellers have is, “When is the best time to move?” Help them take action by putting out a bi-annual market report. Make sure your featured listings are of full display.

14. Leverage Nextdoor

A Nextdoor advertising campaign can connect you directly with leads. Try advertising your listings using an ad campaign.

Bonus Tip: Always be transparent about the fact that you are a Realtor and use Nextdoor’s advertising features and guidelines. If you try to promote yourself outside of these guidelines, you may be banned.

15. Use Instagram/Facebook Stories:

Use Instagram and Facebook stories to show off your listing images and videos. Be sure to include a call-to-action to call/text for a showing.

Bonus Tip: Use the Q & A feature to answer some frequently asked questions about the property.

16. Use a Social Scheduling Tool :

Use a tool like Buffer to schedule and share all of your listings to social media. These scheduling tools save you hours of time each month.

17. Set up a Facebook/Instagram Campaign with a Mini-Experience:

To truly engage leads online, invite them to participate in an online experience like a virtual tour or neighborhood walkthrough. These types of campaigns receive far higher engagement than those with static images and text. 

18. Use Infographics:

40% of marketers say that infographics drive the most engagement of any form of online content. And, three days after viewing, people remember 65% of what they saw on an infographic versus only 10% of what they read. Try adding neighborhood infographics for your listings. Include walkscores, school district information, population data, etc. The best part is, you can recycle these infographics later. 

Bonus Tip: You can easily make real estate infographics in minutes, using this guide.

19. Use Remarketing Techniques:

Have you ever visited a company’s website and then, over the next week, their ads popped up in your email, on your social media accounts, and on other websites you visited? That’s called remarketing, or retargeting. Research shows it is incredibly effective and best of all, it’s incredibly cheap. You can retarget your listings to people who have seen your listing or visited your website using Google Ads.

20. Use Share Buttons: 

Make it easy for people to share your listings by adding social sharing buttons to your business website, blog, email campaigns, and video content. This type of tactic is designed to increase your web traffic and the amount of people that see your personalized branding and contact information.

21. Don’t Forget to Showcase Your Sold Properties:

Listing agents who want to position themselves as sales experts should create web pages that show off their sold properties. This can easily be done using an IDX plugin.

22. Drone Photography and Video:

Drone photography and videos are quickly becoming a hot marketing tool for listings. Many real estate agents mistakenly think this trend is just about attracting more buyers. The truth is, drones are more useful for attracting new seller clients. 83% of sellers prefer to work with real estate agents that use drone photography! It all goes back to sellers’ core desire to work with a Realtor that has a great marketing plan. 

23. Virtual Tours:

Did you know that real estate listings with virtual tours receive 87% more views? Homebuyers view virtual tours as their own, personal showings. Not only do they impress sellers, virtual tours also help you sell faster. 

Bonus Tip: You can check out our guide for choosing the best virtual tour service, here.

24. Floor Plans:

Did you know The NAR’s Real Estate in a Digital Age Report found that floor plans are one of the most helpful and important marketing features for buyers? They beat out even pricier listing features like virtual tours. Floor plans are often overlooked, but there are many free tools for creating them.

25. Neighborhood Tours / Real Estate Farming Videos:

Neighborhood tours or real estate farming videos are a great form of marketing to boost your listings. This kind of evergreen content can be used over again. 85% of both buyers and sellers prefer to work with an agent who uses video. Try developing video content that will allow buyers to experience what living in a specific neighborhood will feel like.  

Bonus Tip: Check out this example for inspiration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M79NirPgd2M

26. Claim Your Listings on Portals:

Are you claiming your MLS listings when they are syndicated? One of the easiest opportunities to increase your marketing reach is by laying claim to what’s already yours. Make sure to connect your contact information with your listings on bigger listing portals.

27. Put Everything in One Place:

Make it easy for leads to connect with you and learn about your listings in one place. When your listing information, virtual tours, videos, and floor plans are all scattered on separate websites (YouTube, Matterport, etc.) buyers get overwhelmed. They get tired of clicking around, don’t see your information, and opt out. Make it easy for leads to contact you by putting all your listing marketing materials in one, simple place. 

Tools like Single Property Sites are designed to show your contact information prominently and share information like photo galleries, videos, virtual tours, drone content, floor plans, open house information, walk scores, and neighborhood information in one place.

28. Open Houses:

Even though there has been debate around open houses recently, many markets still swear by them. Most importantly, open houses are one of the best places to find new seller leads in your farm area.

29. Professional Photographs:

Photography can make or break your real estate marketing efforts. Just take a look at some of the greatest listing photography fails. Taking time to invest in a professional real estate photographer can increase your buyer leads immediately

Bonus Tip: Want to know how much you should be paying for a photographer? Check out our pricing guide.

30. Craigslist:

Craigslist is like the wild west of the internet, but there is still plenty of treasure to be found. After years online, Craigslist remains a proven place to generate real estate leads…if you know how. 

Bonus Tip: Avoid getting penalized for overposting. Only post photos of your listings (never of yourself), make your contact information clear, and create compelling descriptions that stand out. 

31. Featured Listing Ads on Facebook and Instagram:

Connect your listings with leads instantly using Facebook Business Manager. (Insert Image) Ads that show off your listings and link back to your business website are a great way to sell faster. Be sure to put a “schedule a showing” button on the listing webpage and display your contact information clearly.

Bonus Tip: When choosing your audience, consider using the town your listing is located in as well as 2-3 neighboring townships.

32. Printed Mailers:

High-quality listing mailers are still useful for your farm area and contact lists. Mailers can attract local buyers looking to upgrade, downsize, or help a friend move into their neighborhood. Better still, they also can attract new seller leads who will appreciate your marketing strategies. 

33. Curbside Flyers: 

Adding a flyer insert to your “for sale” signs can also help you sell faster. These easy, take home flyers should always have a clear call-to-action for scheduling a showing, your contact information, and a web address where they can learn more. 

34. Target Older Generations With Print Media:

If your inventory is primarily condos, single story townhomes, or +55 community properties, print media is worth your time. Even though newspaper sales have decreased in the past 15 years, readership of local newspapers and newsletters remains strong with older generations. 

Additionally, older generations continue to shy away from the internet. Lucky for you, the price of advertising in local papers has gone down as well. If you are looking to reach older buyers who need to downsize, the newspaper is the the #1 place to advertise. 

35. Canvas Local Stores and Coffee Shops:

This is another great way to market your listing without spending any money. Many local grocery stores, coffee shops, and libraries feature bulletin boards that are free to add to your listing information to. Just use one of your curbside listing flyers and be on your way.

36: Write Strong Listing Descriptions

Tightening up your MLS descriptions can help you sell faster. The NAR revealed that 85% of homebuyers found property descriptions to be one of the most important factors when searching online.

A few tips for creating fantastic descriptions include:

Using well-scored adjectives like “luxurious,” “captivating,” “updated,” “upgraded,” and “beautiful”

Using search terms buyers are likely to use to find listings. Homebuyers don’t care how websites sort their data, they are more likely to put precisely what they want into search engines. Words like “Cul-de-Sac,” “Lakefront,” “Ranch,” “Basketball,” “Inground Pool,” “Finished Basement,” “Bar,” and “Landscaping,” should be featured for appropriate listings.

Avoid negative descriptions. While honesty is important, avoid words like “fixer-upper,” “outdated,” “TLC,” and “handy-man special.” Instead, use softer descriptions like, “Ready for a new owner to leave their mark.”

37.  Crowdsource Listings Online

Why should a real estate agent do all the work of selling a home when social media users want to help? If an agent is already sharing their listing videos and photos on social media, this one is a no-brainer.

Simply tag the homeowners in the listing post on Facebook and Instagram. Their own social networks will help take care of the rest. By seeing a friend trying to sell their home, many users will share the listing on their own profiles to try and help. Its exposure for both the listing and the agent.

38. Google AdWords

If your inventory has a specific niche, Google AdWords may be able to help you sell listings faster and attract new seller leads, too. Google AdWords allows real estate agents to buy up certain keywords, so that their websites appear first in Google search results. 

For example, If you primarily sell mountain homes near Vail, CO, you could start AdWord campaigns for, “Houses for sale in Vail, CO”, “Colorado mountain homes for sale”, and “Vail, CO real estate.” 

The key is finding the common theme to the properties you sell. If you use keywords that are too generic like “homes for sale in colorado” then the Google AdWords pricing will be far more expensive, the competition will be steeper, and the amount of qualified buyer leads will be smaller. Using a specific city and property type (ranch, condo, etc) is a great way to get started. 

39. Network with Buyer Real Estate Agents

One of the quickest ways to sell faster is by networking with other agents. Some listing agents invite buyer agents to private walkthroughs for listings about to hit the market. Others will spread the word to real estate Facebook and LinkedIn groups, while others will email their list of contacts about their newest listings. No matter how it’s done, letting other agents know about your listings and what sets your listing apart is a great way to sell faster.

40. Virtual Staging

Make your listing photos and virtual tours even more powerful by adding virtual staging. If your listing is vacant or needs an instant makeover, virtual staging may be just the trick. After empty spaces are photographed, virtual staging software allows real estate agents to add professional quality furniture and decor to any space. Virtual Staging software like PadStyler allow real estate agents to transform listings, instantly.

How to Use Real Estate Infographics to Attract Leads + 25 Examples

Many real estate agents struggle to catch the attention of online leads. But few have tried one of the internet’s best kept secrets- real estate infographics. 

Infographics are images that present leads with easy-to-digest information. Leads like to use infographics to quickly learn and make decisions.

These images are great at capturing leads’ attention, driving up SEO, generating new leads, and promoting viral sharing of an agent’s brand. 

The best part is that real estate agents can make real estate infographics easily, for free, online. We have created the ultimate guide to making real estate infographics from start to finish.

Real Estate Infographics are Great Because They Are:

Fast and Free

It’s easy to make beautiful and free real estate infographics using sites like:

  • Canva.com
  • Spark.Adobe.com
  • Pictochart.com
  • Visme.com

Attract Attention

  • 40% of marketers say that infographics drive the most engagement of any form of online content (Venngage)
  • Three days after viewing, people remember 65% of what they saw on an infographic versus only 10% of what they read. (J. Medina)
  • 41.5% of marketers say that graphics like infographics are the most valuable (Venngage)

Viral

  • Infographics are liked and shared on social media 3x more than any other type of content (NN Group)
  • Tweets with images like infographics receive 150% more retweets than tweets without images (HubSpot)

An SEO Goldmine

  • Infographics boost traffic to websites by 12% (Demand Gen Report)

The Easy Way to Make Real Estate Infographics

All of this may all sound great, but you may be wondering:

  • What would I even make my infographics about?
  • How much time will it take?
  • How can I get leads from infographics?

We put together a real estate agent’s guide for using infographics, that answers all of these questions and more. And best of all, it shouldn’t take more than a few minutes to create an infographic that can generate leads for years to come.

1. Pick a Topic

Picking a topic for your infographic shouldn’t be overwhelming. There are two easy ways to choose a topic:

  • Look at other real estate infographics that have already been created.
  • Use free tools to choose a topic specific to your market.

Both options are covered, below.

Look at Other Real Estate Infographics for Inspiration

If you are short on time, a great option is to look at real estate infographics other real estate pros have created. Choosing a similar topic like one of the examples below is a great way to get started. Here are 25 great real estate infographic examples:

You can can also use free tools online to pick a topic for your local market.

Use Free Tools to Choose a Infographic Topic

Free tools like Google Keyword Planner, Keywords Everywhere, Google Correlate, Wordtracker Scout, and Keyword Sh!tter let you research what topics local leads want to learn about.

Here is an example using Google Correlate

Google Correlate is a free tool that shows what related searches people are performing online. For instance, if I look up the keyword, “how to remove a popcorn ceiling” there is a high likelihood that I will also Google terms like “how much does it cost to remove popcorn ceilings” or “Home Depot near me”. 

Google Correlate identifies these overlapping/related search terms that people are looking up. The keywords are correlated.

Example:

Now, if my market is Denver, I can look at keywords like “houses for sale Denver” (see image above) and at what other searches leads are performing. It looks like people shopping for homes in Denver are also looking to get the best credit score possible for their home loans.

I could make an infographic about ways leads can improve their credit scores for a Denver home loan or I could make an infographic with a list of loan providers in the Denver area. 

2. Copy the Stats

After you choose your topic, it’s time to gather the stats (content) for your infographic. This usually only takes a few minutes. A simple Google search is usually all that it takes. And credible sources like the NAR are full of quick data.

3. Pick a Free Tool to Create Infographics

Next it’s time to choose a free tool to create your real estate infographics. There are tons of sites that can generate them in minutes. Some choices include:

  • Canva.com
  • Spark.Adobe.com
  • Pictochart.com
  • Visme.com

4. Add Your Brand & Contact Info

Make sure to upload your logo/branding to the infographic maker and brand every infographic you make. That way leads will always be pointed back to you. Include a call-to-action for leads to visit your website or email you. You can usually do this at the very top or bottom of the infographic.

A branded infographic with clear contact information has the ability to generate leads for years.

(INCLUDE EXAMPLE)

5. Share and Boost on Social Media

Share your real estate infographics on social media and your website. You can also boost visibility using social media marketing.

6. Get the most out of your Infographics with Lead Capture

Using infographics is free and easy and they are great for boosting SEO, too. Including branding and clear contact information helps generate leads. But, to generate even more leads, lead capture is where is at.

  • 49.7% of marketers say that web forms are their highest converting lead generation tool (Hubspot).

Adding a lead capture forms to your webpages with infographics can generate the highest percentage of leads.

That’s where integrated IDX comes in. It’s the perfect partner for real estate infographics. IDX captures the contact information of leads visiting an agent’s website. Adding a soft sign up form to a blog post with an infographic can more than double the amount of leads generated. It also turns those leads into loyal website visitors by recording their home search history and sending them tailored property listings.

To find out more about how fully integrated IDX can help you generate more leads and help you close more often, check out a Buying Buddy demo.

Real Estate Infographics

Real estate infographics are free and simple to make. They are great for real estate agents because of they capture leads’ attention, boost SEO, and have the capability to go viral. Real estate agents can make them in minutes and they have the evergreen potential to generate leads for years to come.

5 Ways Real Estate Agents Convert Their Online Leads Into Clients

5 Ways Real Estate Agents Convert Their Online Leads Into Clients

The internet makes generating new real estate leads easy. It’s not hard to find or even buy leads online, but converting them into clients is what really matters. Getting new real estate clients from your online marketing efforts hinges on how effectively you nurture them. It doesn’t matter if an agent has a thousand leads if none of them make it to closing. Real estate agents need to send leads addictive content, remain in constant contact, and become a service center for their soon-to-be clients’ needs. Here are a few ways to start improving your online lead conversion rates.

1. Only Send Addicting Content

The number one mistake that agents make when they are they are trying to convert real estate leads is that they send the wrong kind of messages. Leads hate getting texts asking about their timeframe for moving, how much they have been pre-approved for, or if they can set up a phone call. All of these questions are putting pressure on leads to act and it makes them ignore requests.

Instead of asking tons of questions, agents should be sending would-be clients texts and emails they actually look forward to recieving. Leads should be excited about hearing from you. The best way to do this is by sending them exactly what they want – listings and helpful information. Leads are just looking to find the home that is best for them. The sooner agents help them do this, the faster they will see conversions.

It’s okay to ask questions to better serve your leads, but questions should only be asked after offering something of value.

Never do this:

“Hey Tracey, It’s Joe from Upstate Brokers. Can I call you this afternoon? I saw you wanted to a buy a house. Are you looking to move in the next 3-6 months or 6-12 months? Let’s talk today.”

Do this instead:

“Hey Tracey, check out these listings I found for you. Do you like the three or four bedroom homes better? I can send you homes that meet your needs as soon as they hit the market. – Joe, Upstate Brokers”

Calling a lead just to check in and see where they are at in the home buying/selling process is a missed opportunity. It also places your needs before your lead’s needs, and they can tell. Instead, make it a point to give online leads something of value like market reports or listings that match their home search history. Giving leads useful, relevant information establishes you as a real estate expert. This puts their needs front and center and it will make you stand out.

A good real estate CRM can help you do this step on autopilot.

2. Stay in Constant Contact – Have a Solid CRM in Place

Many real estate agents use Client Relationship Managers (CRMs) to convert their leads on autopilot. That’s because CRMs are the most effective tool for converting high volumes of online leads. A good real estate CRM can automatically send leads listings that match their home search history, keep track of everything leads have ever talked to an agent about, remind agents when to call leads, send email drip campaigns to colder leads, import leads from any source, and much more.

Choosing a real estate-specific CRM is critical. And, using one that can manage all of your real estate leads (IDX, Zillow, Realtor.com, FaceBook, etc.) in one place is a must. But most of all, it’s important to pick one that will actually work by nurturing leads to conversion. CRMs like Buying Buddy offer free demos for real estate agents looking specifically to convert online leads.

Tips and Tricks:

Once your real estate CRM is set up, there are plenty of tricks for converting leads into clients quicker:

  • Make sure that leads are contacted immediately after they land in your CRM with either a text message or phone call. Timing is everything.
  • Send your leads CRM messages they’ll love with with tailored listings. IDX capture makes this possible by using leads’ online home search histories.
  • Only send emails that say “Sent from my iPhone” or “Sent from my Android” to create a personal touch. You may not see their email the moment it was sent, but it will look like you did.
  • Never spam leads; they will block you. Every time you contact a lead, you have to offer something of value. Whether it is news about mortgage rates, listings, or market reports – everything you send from your CRM needs to offer value.
  • Make sure all texts come from a personal call back number instead of spam number (e.g. 538-00).
  • Use the call function. So many agents miss out because they ignore the call scheduling function in their CRM. Using an hour or two of your week to call leads can improve conversion rates quickly. 

3. Personalize Your Automation

One of the most powerful features of CRMs is their ability to set up drip marketing for every lead. Drip marketing is a strategy that many real estate agents use to send a steady flow of emails or text messages to their leads. These messages are usually written in advance (like scripts) and CRMs automatically send them on a routine schedule.

While most CRMs have automatic tools to insert the lead’s first name or other details, many messages still end up sounding generic. Leads don’t want to feel like they are just number 287 in your cue of 1,251 leads.

Here are some tips for personalizing your automated messages. Make sure every message:

  • Automatically includes the lead’s first name
  • Is written in your personalized voice – If a pre-loaded script sounds like it was written by a robot, change up the language so that it matches your brand and the way you talk to clients.
  • Includes personalized content – This could include market reports for the lead’s search area, new listings that match their home search history, or lists of local resources (inspectors, contractors, lawn services, etc).
  • Lets leads know when you’ll be reaching out next
  • Includes clear contact information so leads can easily reach you

Carefully tailored drip campaigns can go a long way toward making leads feel confident they’re in contact with a real person who is ready to help them.

4. Always Give Something Away

Real estate agents that listen and help their leads will see the most conversions. It all ties back into the idea of offering your leads exactly what they need – help finding their perfect home and getting to closing.

Before reaching out to a lead, agents should ask themselves:

  • What am I offering? Agents with the highest conversion rates always give something to their leads. This could be tailored listings, market reports, recommendations for sellers’ prep, or something else. But, the agent always gives the lead something. Know what you are going to give your lead and then give it to them right away.
  • How can I help? This is a question agents should ask themselves and their leads. Some real estate agents are so busy bragging about their sales from last quarter, that they miss out on conversions.

Here are some ideas of helpful content/information to give away to real estate leads:

  • Market reports for their search area
  • Seller recommendations for local contractors, photographers, inspectors, etc.
  • Property listings that match the lead’s home search history
  • Mortgage calculators and info
  • Home valuation data and projections
  • Information about new builds in their search radius
  • Staging and decor recommendations for sellers
  • Neighborhood information
  • Niche listing information (short term rentals, waterfront property, etc).

Agents with the highest conversions always give something to their leads.

5. Give Leads a Reason to Call You Back

Nothing is more powerful than curiosity. It’s in our nature, and real estate agents can take advantage of this when converting leads. Leaving your voicemails or email replies on a “cliffhanger” may be a powerful tool to motivate your leads to call you back.
 
For example, if a lead emails you with questions about both the master bathroom and the kitchen, you can reply with all the details about the bathroom and then use the kitchen as an opportunity to have a deeper conversation with your lead. Try something like:

“The bathroom has jack-and-jill sinks, a separate shower, and a jetted tub. Give me a call. I actually wanted to talk to you about the kitchen.”

It’s a subtle call to action. The lead must now call you back to find out what you needed to tell them. Of course, this is only effective if you have additional details to discuss, so be sure to document the exchange in your CRM, and be prepared to provide additional value when they call.

Converting Online Real Estate Leads into Clients

The challenges of walking online leads through the process of trusting you with one of the most important purchases of their lives can seem overwhelming. But by sending leads addicting content, using the right tools, and offering value, real estate agents can improve their conversion rates.

75 Easy Real Estate Blog Ideas

75 Easy Real Estate Blog Ideas

A real estate blog is a great way to drive up SEO, position real estate agents as local experts, and to make connections with new leads. But one of the biggest challenges is figuring out what to write about. Kick writer’s block to the curb with these 75 easy real estate blog ideas:

  1. Compile a curated list of top real estate listings of the month
  2. Write an article about the pros and cons of renting versus buying
  3. Create a checklist for first-time homebuyers
  4. Create a step-by-step checklist list for purchasing/closing on a home
  5. Create a list of tips for buying a new build and some pitfalls to avoid
  6. Create a list of some of the best home inspectors in your area
  7. Make a list of some of the craziest/unique properties that have sold in your market
  8. Make a VLOG walkthrough of a luxury property in your market
  9. Make a definitive guide to all of the educational options in your market (public, private, and charter schools)
  10. Make a list of house hunting tips for your market
  11. Make a list comparing shopping for homes online versus in person
  12. Write an article on the emotional stages of buying a home
  13. Write an article on the emotional stages of selling a home
  14. Create a list of the top industries/employers in your market and include job hunting links/tips
  15. Do a Q&A with the questions you are most frequently asked as a Realtor
  16. Make a checklist of how to improve your credit when applying for a home loan
  17. Make an article about the best times of the year to buy in your market
  18. Create a tip sheet for moving with pets
  19. Create a tip sheet for preparing kids for a move
  20. Write an article on home improvements with the greatest ROI
  21. Write an article detailing what exactly a real estate agent does on behalf of buyers/sellers
  22. Create a home staging guide for sellers
  23. Compile a list of red flags when looking at homes in your market
  24. Highlight a specific neighborhood in your market including schools, industry, recreation, etc.
  25. Create a home inspection guide for buyers
  26. Compile a list of things NOT to do when buying a home
  27. Write an article about where you see the future of the real estate industry heading
  28. Write an article about how you became a real estate agent (this can also be used to help beef up your bio section)
  29. Write an article about buying a specific type of niche property in your market (i.e. waterfront, cabins, farmland, etc.)
  30. Write an article highlighting the best types of properties for a specific type of lead (i.e. the best type of properties for young families in your market or the best neighborhoods for millennials in your market)
  31. Do a VLOG virtual walkthrough of a neighborhood using your cell phone.
  32. Write an article about how to tell if you are/are not ready to buy
  33. Write an article about how to get your home to sell faster (price reasonably, use an agent, staging, etc.)
  34. Explain the value of having a real estate agent
  35. Create a how-to guide for purchasing land in your market
  36. Interview a mortgage broker about how to get the best loan possible
  37. Share a local market update
  38. Write an article featuring the house that sold the fastest in your market in the past year and the listing that has been on the market the longest. Compare and contrast what made one sell quickly, and why the other isn’t selling.
  39. Do a vlog for each listing you have on the market (listing agents)
  40. Write a “secret tips” article about getting deals on real estate
  41. Write an article on how to select Airbnb/rental properties in your market for real estate investors
  42. Make a guide about the pros and cons of buying a foreclosure
  43. Compile a list of the worst listings you have come across in your market
  44. Do a vlog explaining the process of selling a home
  45. Do a vlog explaining the process of buying a home
  46. Make of list of open houses this week
  47. Make a list of all the neighborhoods with amazing holiday displays
  48. Make a calendar and an article featuring all of the local festivals/events that happen annually in your market
  49. Create a vlog featuring one your past clients about how you helped them find or sell their home
  50. Do a monthly update of your favorite active listings
  51. Create a list of your favorite neighborhoods for niche markets like 55+
  52. Compile a list of the best local contractors for building homes on land purchases
  53. Interview a local contractor and explain the process of purchasing land and building in your market
  54. Write about how to get the best resale value on a seller’s home
  55. Share an updating blog about the step-by-step process of helping one of your clients buy or sell their home. Share on social as well.
  56. Compile a list of the best ways to market a home; include examples of things you do to market homes (Matterport, Single Property Sites, listing videos, curbside, etc.)
  57. Share a hyperlocal list of your favorite places to eat, drink, etc. and do it town by town.
  58. Do a profile on a neighborhood/subdivision including year built, popular models, home styles, strengths of the neighborhood, demographics, etc.
  59. Make an investors article about the neighborhoods that are set to have the greatest investment roi in the coming years.
  60. Write an article on a neighborhood that is headed for gentrification, discuss why it is changing, and why it is a good time to buy into that area.
  61. Write an article about the best way to plan a move across the country
  62. Write an article about the best movers in your area
  63. Interview a local mover about the best tips for keeping possessions safe, secure, and well-packed during a move.
  64. Create a VLOG about showing off the differences between shopping online for a home and how it stacks up to shopping in person. Select a listing that may be deceptive online and compare it to a real walkthrough.
  65. Write an article about the top issues to look out for with homes in your area (i.e. flooding, poor clay/soil, mold, radon, etc.)
  66. Write an article about how to tell if you are financially ready to buy a home
  67. Write an article about how to tell if you are financially ready to sell your home
  68. Write about selling options during foreclosure in your market
  69. Interview a contractor about renovations and flipping
  70. Compile a list of top contractors for renovations
  71. Write a pros and cons list of buying an older home versus a newer home in your market
  72. Make a list of the best historic listings on the market
  73. Write an article about the history of your market
  74. Write an article about the best value-adding changes you can make to the exterior/yard of a home
  75. Make a list of the best real estate lawyers in your market

Real Estate Blog Ideas

The best real estate blog ideas are easy to write and drive up SEO. But most importantly, they should help leads. These articles are often compiled in list format, like how-to guides or feature reviews, and should not take very long to create. Each article should help leads feel a little more confident and knowledgeable about buying/selling in your market. Best of all, they can be the first point of connection between you and future clients.

Buying Buddy Is Now Available for the Austin Board of REALTORS®

Buying Buddy Is Now Available for the Austin Board of REALTORS®

The Buying Buddy IDX CRM real estate lead capture and customer relationship management (CRM) platform is now available for Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABoR) real estate agents and teams.

Buying Buddy IDX CRM is designed to make real estate agents’ businesses more predictable. With Buying Buddy, agents can get rid of sales gaps by attracting and capturing new real estate leads, building relationships with leads using specialized property alerts, and managing customer relationships from any source.

The Buying Buddy IDX CRM suite is compatible with any ABoR real estate agent’s business website. The software can be used on any website as a plugin for WordPress, Squarespace, Weebly, Joomla, Drupal, PHP, or as a fully built IDX-ready real estate website. Each option provides full MLS search and property display capabilities for the Austin Board of REALTORS® and the ACTRIS MLS system.

“We are extremely excited to have integrated with ABoR,” said Paul Eastwood, Founder of the Buying Buddy IDX CRM suite. “We are always striving to forge new relationships with MLSs across the country and our integration with ABoR will provide a whole new added benefit for real estate agents, teams, and offices.”

The company conducts frequent webinar presentations of the Buying Buddy IDX CRM suite. To attend the short webinar, visit https://mybuyingbuddy.com/request-live-demo.php.

Review and Improve Your Processes to Grow Your Real Estate Business

Review and Improve Your Processes to Grow Your Real Estate Business

We are rounding that corner into the holiday season, which means we are also coming to the time-honored year in review process. Real estate agents and Realtors® are looking back this year to see where they made gains and where they still need improvement.  Before you look at making changes to your business, be sure you look closely at your current processes to grow your real estate business. Remember the old adage “there’s always room for improvement”.

Examine Your Current Process

Where do your leads come from? Even though your listings and the marketing you do for your listings remain one of the best avenues for Realtors to secure new business, they are not the only place.

  • Paid Advertising- Whether you use Google Adwords, Bing Ads, Facebook Ads or Yahoo Advertising you are spending a lot of money for placement.  Do you know what your ROI is or if you are getting the most from your investment?  Here is a place you might look for improvement to grow your Real Estate business in 2018.
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO)- This is an area that should be examined annually if not more frequently.  Search engine algorithms are changed frequently, sometimes in part and sometimes by a complete overhaul.  This can wreak havoc on your niche marketing strategy.  For more info read our Active Rain blog Google algorithms, and be sure you look at your SEO strategy to grow your Real Estate business in 2018.
  • Zillow, Realtor.com and maybe Amazon – Paying a fee for leads passed along to you.  There is not much room for negotiation here, but make sure lead follow-up is airtight.  You have to be sure that you get the ROI from leads purchased. If you find any leaks, be sure to seal them to grow your Real Estate business in 2018.
  • Social Media- Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat to name a few.  Where is your audience?  As millennials move beyond “young” people they are changing the face of where Realtors and Agents need to be hanging out socially online.  Be sure you are where you need to be online to grow your Real Estate business in 2018.
  • Places You Might Not Have Thought Of – There are places that, believe it or not, still remain greatly untapped.  A few examples are Google My Business, LinkedIn, and Nextdoor.  Agents can do a land grab on some valuable online Real Estate (pun intended).  For more information about these untapped online bastions that can help you grow your Real Estate Business in 2018, check out this article on Inman.

You have the leads, now what?


There is a study that revealed how important your follow-up process is.  Once a contact is identified it is very important for Agents to follow- up within 5 minutes if possible.  After one hour, your chances of converting that contact to a qualified Lead drops drastically (by around 82%). If broken down even further, the number of conversions decreases even more dramatically between 5 and 10 minutes (between 80-81%).

When you get a notice that a new contact has been identified, regardless of where it came from, how do you handle it? This area will most likely have room for improvement.

Evaluate the Tools You Use


If you have real estate marketing tools, make sure you are fully utilizing their functionality.  Many agents and brokers invest in CRM systems but then do not fully deploy their features. Sometimes they also end up finding that the system they use is not designed to meet the specific needs of the real estate industry. You can improve your conversion and lead incubation by better understanding your business solutions.  Improvement here will increase your ROI and help you grow your real estate business.

Occasionally, an agent will realize that they need help to improve one or more of these areas. There are highly specialized resources available to help you grow your real estate business in 2018.  If you find that you need help with customer relationship management because you don’t have a Real Estate Specific IDX CRM or you have a system that was not designed for real estate, contact us.

We have been helping real estate professionals with IDX based solutions since 2002.  Our Buying Buddy IDX CRM suite (MBB) is designed to help you excel at Real Estate marketing with an IDX based CRM suite. We can help you grow your real estate business in the new year.