Month: December 2013

The real estate profession is for social media marketing opportunity. Search engine optimization (SEO) and the world of social networking can be intimidating at first, but it’s not as complicated as one may think. When utilized correctly, social media marketing can result in a significant rise in website traffic, resulting in more clients and more profit for you. Here are some tips on how to effectively use social media for marketing purposes and broaden a connection with your local market.

1. Post About Your Neighborhood
Show off the listings in your local neighborhood through pictures and descriptions that will catch they eye and trigger engagement. This will market the area to prospective residents as well as show your passion and knowledge about the community, making you a trustworthy source for interested buyers. If there is a new community being constructed, post updates about the area and how it will improve the lifestyles of new and current residents.
2. Always Use Images
Attaching images to your updates will result in more views, likes and shares, as they are more likely to attract the eye than just blocks of text. Show off how beautiful the city surrounding your local market is through photographs and video.
3. Show That You Care About Your Clients
When you are face-to-face with your clients you show them that you care, so why not extend this courtesy to social media? On your Facebook page, nicely welcome your most recent new homeowners and include a photo of them in front of their new home. This shows that you engage with your clients and that you follow up with them.
4. Post Your Listings
MLS isn’t the only place to advertise property listings. 20 percent of your content should be about you and your product. When you post the listing, be sure to avoid making it seem like a print advertisement. Write about the home and it’s selling features, including the price. Be sure to keep this post engaging by asking questions about the property and seeing what people like about the home, the neighborhood and the community. Post about your scheduled open houses a few days before they happen.
5. Post About Events In Your Neighborhood
Show your current and potential clients how wonderful your neighborhood is and the different local events going on around town. If you are going to be attending an event, invite your followers to join you. Ask questions to spark engagement, such as what kind of events your followers would like to see happen in the area.
If your goal is to be a successful real estate agent, look to REDX. We lead the industry with innovative data verification, lead generation products, unmatched data quality and original real estate solutions so you as an agent can make more money, work more productively, and help more homeowners in less time. Call us 800-731-7339 for the best in real estate solutions and increased listings today.

Many agents got into real estate to be their own bosses, set their own schedules, and work on their own terms. While these reasons are good, with them comes the temptation of kicking back, taking it easy, and not pushing through the slow times that supposedly accompany the holidays. Here are three reasons that the holidays are a great time to stay busy.

1. Motivated Customers
Sure, the market slows down in December. However, if someone is trying to buy or sell during this time of year, you know they’re serious about it. The flippant clients that are just testing the waters and shopping for options are not common in December. In most cases, people looking to buy or sell around the holidays are doing so because they have to, usually due to job changes or transfers. This puts some customers in desperate positions that allow you as the real estate agent come to their rescue.

2. Lazy Competition
Real estate agents are only human. When facing the choice between sipping some eggnog by the fire and prospecting more leads, many agents cave and go with the first. But with temptation comes opportunity. As most agents start hanging up their real estate cap for the year, competition gets softer and the potential business is divvied among a smaller pool of agents. If you keep working, that means more motivated customers for you.

3. New Year Means New Expireds
January 1st is the biggest expired day of the year. More leads will be hitting your MLS than you can probably get to. If there is one day you should commit yourself to calling expireds, this would be it. While your colleagues are sleeping in after New Years Eve, you should be pounding the phones picking up the deals they couldn’t make happen.

Some agents might shy away, saying they’d rather not contact people on a holiday. To them I’d say that they are likely not going to get an easier shot at them. Most sellers have the day off and will probably will be at home and close to a phone. Families will typically be together, meaning that you can probably get both decision makers on the phone at the same time. Sure you might get some grumpy people who are getting over their New Year’s Eve hangover, but on January 1st, the conditions for prospecting expireds will be as perfect as they get.
If your goal is to be a successful real estate agent, look to REDX. We lead the industry with innovative data verification, lead generation products, unmatched data quality and original real estate solutions so you as an agent can make more money, work more productively, and help more homeowners in less time. Call us 800-731-7339 for the best in real estate solutions and increased listings today.
About Jefferson Snow
Jefferson Snow is a member of the Sales team at REDX and loves to help real estate agents find success with REDX. He lives in Utah with his amazing wife Callie.

Recently, my boss shared with me a Harvard Business study that outlined four key reasons customers buy from the people they do. Consumers buy from businesses that:

1. Save Time
2. Provide Resources For Ideas
3. Provide Connections and Relationships
4. Stick With Them Through the Journey

My boss encouraged me to make sure to cover these bases in every sales call here I’m on with REDX clients. I would echo this invitation to you real estate agents. Try to cover all these bases in your calls to expireds and FSBOs.

1. How can you save a client time?

Let you know your prospect that you will save them time. The first way, an agent does this by assuming marketing responsibilities. The second is by showing them the network of appraisers, inspectors, and buyers you already have to get the ball rolling fast.

2. What new ideas can you bring to the table?

Especially when working with expireds, you have to show that you are able to bring something special to the table that agent before could not. Let the seller know what makes you different than the next agent in line. Let them know what you have up your sleeve that is going to get their house sold this go around. You have to have some unique selling point. Otherwise, your only selling point will be either lowering your commission or taking on listings priced too high.

3. Connections and Relationships

Buying anything these days is like joining a tribe. The same goes for an agent. You should treat customers in a way that makes them feel like they’re entering into a family. Some agents do this by renting out movie theaters and inviting all their clients for a client appreciation day. Others do this by throwing picnics, or taking families up in the REMAX Balloon. Come up with something that will connect your sellers together.

4. How can you share the client’s journey?

People tend to buy from companies that will be by their side step by step if needed, someone who will be with them to the finish line. As agent you can do this by being available to your clients. Agents are notorious for being elusive people to get ahold of. Make sure to let potential clients know that you won’t just grab the listing and disappear off the radar. You’re going to be the agent who gives them weekly updates, if not daily. You will explain your marketing efforts, report after showings, and show them you are accountable to them.

About Jefferson Snow
Jefferson Snow is a member of the Sales team at REDX and loves to help real estate agents find success with REDX. When you call REDX 800-731-7339 you should ask for Jeff. He lives in Utah with his amazing wife Callie.
If your goal is to be a successful real estate agent, look to REDX. We lead the industry with innovative data verification, lead generation products, unmatched data quality and original real estate solutions so you as an agent can make more money, work more productively, and help more homeowners in less time. Call us 800-731-7339 for the best in real estate solutions and increased listings today.