2021 Social Media White Paper
N W! is the time to prioritize Social Media for your real estate business.
Social Media has long been viewed as a nice to have. But that has changed.
Why? According to the NAR 2021 Technology Survey, Social Media is the #3 Most Valuable Technology Tool, just behind #1 eSignature and #2 MLS. Real Estate Agents believe social media is more important than Lockboxes (#4) Personal Websites (#9) and Lead Generation tools (#11), and the current trend indicates that social media will elevate to the #2 position ahead of MLS in the next 12 months. Yes, ahead of MLS. This means that Social Media is trending to become the #1 most important marketing tool for real estate. Do not be behind the curve and wait until you see sales slow. You need to prioritize this marketing tool now.
The survey also uncovered: 3 top platforms used by Real Estate Agents ▪
Facebook - 90%
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Instagram - 52%
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LinkedIn - 48%
Source for highest number of quality leads ▪
Social Media - 52%
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CRMs - 31%
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MLS site - 28%
It’s undeniable that social media is a valuable and necessary marketing tool that is here to stay, and your authentic presence is expected by your past, current, and future clients, who all want to directly engage with you. Social media is a great place to start a conversation with a variety of relevant content that is accessible 24/7, and allows your network to engage with you on their time schedule.
Demographically speaking, the 2021 NAR Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends Report states that Millennials are the largest share of home buyers (37%), followed by Boomers (32%) and Gen Xers (24%). The largest share of home sellers is Boomers (43%), Gen Xers (25%), and Millennials (22%).
What can Social Media do for me?
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Elevate Your Brand. Buyers and Sellers want to work with agents they know, like, and trust. Here’s your opportunity to make a great 1st impression and position yourself as their trusted real estate advisor! Be authentic, let your personality and professionalism shine through, and engage your audience in a compelling and consistent way that is uniquely you. Keep your content fresh, your profile updated, and communicate effectively.
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Promote Your Business & Listings. Use social media platforms to announce new listings and provide a virtual experience with photos and
walk-through videos while narrating the unique features of the home, the neighborhood, and surrounding establishments. Celebrate your clients and their closing of their new home. Highlight your 5-star ratings, client testimonials, and sales awards. Post relevant news and community events that would be of interest your audience, share the state of the real estate market, and give them tips to maintain and update their homes. The opportunities are endless!
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Engage and Grow Your Network. People like to connect in a very genuine way, and build and strengthen relationships through engagement. Engage them by asking thought provoking questions, create a trivia contest with prizes, or offer a fun giveaway. Entertain them with positive energy by sharing your gratitudes, an inspirational quote, a favorite song or a beautiful piece of art. Share content that makes them laugh and smile, and use emojis appropriately. Be sure to respond to all comments so you can start a conversation, which can eventually be taken offline through a phone call or text. You should also post content that is relevant to your audience, use fun images, and encourage followers to comment, like and share. People also enjoy connecting friends, especially when there is a mutual benefit. If you are known as their trusted real estate advisor, they are happy to refer you leads and sometimes without even asking. Consider actively connecting people you think should know each other and chances are they will return the favor – what a great way to build loyalty and generate new leads. As you meet new people, be sure to connect with and follow them on all the social media platforms in which you are active.
There is no better time than the present, and these convincing facts are why you should make Social Media your #1 priority for your real estate business, NOW! Get online and start engaging with your network. Need help? Contact us at info@FLOWrealtor.com.