How Real Estate Pros Are Utilizing Social Media

Different types of professionals are now using social media to advertise their services, meet with other field experts as well as stay updated with recent news and technologies related to their specific business. Real estate professionals, in particular, are maximizing the effectiveness of a few social media platforms in meeting their objectives. They can communicate better with colleagues, clients and market experts using the different tools and features online. They can also get quick information that will establish their reputation to bring in more sales and loyal customers.

How Realtors Use Social Media

1. Staying available

Real estate pros use social media to constantly make themselves available to their target clients. Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare and Instagram are just some of the websites that allow professionals to stay visible via mobile devices. Clients and experts can communicate regardless of the time and place. You can answer questions and reply promptly to other inquiries and potential sales. You can establish relationships with customers better as well as deepen communications by being accessible. Clients like to work with a professional who understands their needs and offers fast responses and solutions to their different problems. And because this is the digital age, there's nothing faster at sending information than getting online. Some of the most followed real-estate related individual Twitter accounts these days include RealEstate.com (@real_estatecom), Real Estate Global (@RealEstate_) and Luxury Real Estate (@propgoluxury).

2. Social engagement

This is one of the main advantages that social media networks offer. Social media is the ideal way to communicate and join activities today, whether professionally or on a personal level. There are so many features and approaches offered that will keep target clients interested, such as hosting contests, starting chats and conversations, providing links and sharing other forms of media. Social media networks allow real estate experts to communicate with thousands of people from all over the world. Interaction has significantly increased among social media users because of the convenience and ease-of-use. Branding has also become much easier since real estate agents and professionals can create a specific profile, showing their experience, background and objectives. You can easily upload photos, provide blogs and articles, as well as tweet about recent offers and activities pertaining to real estate. If your marketing strategy involves a hashtag (and it should!), you can track who among your followers are your best supporters. These are the people who constantly use your hashtag and spread the word about yours offers. Using an analytics tool, you can see your Most Prolific Users. Depending on their level of engagement, you may want to tap these people to become your brand evangelists online (and for free). Let's see the hashtag #RealEstate, for example, and its most prolific users in the past six months, as well as the most used related hashtags. Most Prolific Users Related Hashtags

3. Location advantages

There are tools and social media sites like Foursquare that lets online users communicate and share their current location. As a real estate marketer, location is one of the primary concerns. You can get more targeted clients by showing your actual location and other places where you usually transact business. You can share photos of real estate for sale and indicate the exact location. You can also share other useful landmarks that will help property sell faster such as available schools, churches, shopping districts and parks. Use the check-in function to appeal to clients more.

4. Getting connections

Real estate pros also need to get in touch with other experts for referral purposes. You have to ally with some of the most influential social media users who can share information, as well as keep you abreast with recent developments in the market. Join their conversations and events to stay updated with changes. Tag the social media leader and thank him whenever he helps share your information or joins topic-related conversations. Following the most relevant users will also expand your network further, letting you meet other professionals and potential clients. Some of the most popular real estate-related Twitter groups or tweet chats in the US today include the following: a. #HomeDesignChat: run by @HomeDesignChat, weekly international chat featuring designers, builders, realtors, industry suppliers and home lovers b. #AptChat: run by @AptChat; weekly chat about the apartment industry c. #REOnline: run by @TouchMrktg and @joshuahof; weekly discussion between real estate professionals and social media consultants

5. Establishing reputation

It is vital to post regularly as well as keep a very catchy and informative profile. You can invite more followers online by providing good quality content. Use hashtags, links and photos to make posts more visually enticing. Join conversations and provide solutions and specific and well-researched answers to posted questions. Create a solid reputation for yourself in the real estate market and people will immediately refer to you over time. Real estate professionals should always include social media marketing as part of their overall strategy for more long term benefits. Having your portfolio online, at a time almost everyone is on the Internet and has a social media account, will help translate to more connections, engagements, customer inquiries and, eventually, sales.   .