Why use Instagram for real estate?
The reason you are reading this is most likely because you have seen others using Instagram for real estate and you want to learn how to do the same. Great idea! Instagram has been a game-changer for Realtors.
Just think about it:
Instagram is visual; real estate is visual. Who has access to more instagram-worthy photography than Realtors?
Instagram is personal; real estate is all about relationships. Many real estate agents obtain the majority of their clients through referrals and people they are already acquainted with. Instagram Stories allows you to share moments from your real estate life with your followers, so that by the time they are ready to buy or sell, they feel like they already know you.
Instagram is free. Even if your real estate business is just getting started, you can still reach and engage a lot of people.
If you want to be successful as a realtor, you need to create content and use social media to establish yourself as an expert in your field. Instagram is a great place to start.
I’m going to give you a warning before we start: don’t try to do too much at once. One mistake that Realtors often make is trying to use too many marketing tools at once instead of focusing on a few that will be most effective. If you try to do everything at once, you won’t be successful.
To start becoming successful on Instagram, begin by posting content that will engage others. This guide covers how to use Instagram to market your real estate business, including tips on creating an effective profile, finding and using hashtags, and using Instagram Stories.
In this guide, you will learn:
- How to hone your target audience on Instagram
- How to create your brand on Instagram
- How to optimize your bio and profile page on Instagram
- The best types of content to post on Instagram and how to get more engagement
- How to track your results
How to hone your target audience on Instagram
You can’t use Instagram for real estate marketing unless you understand the market you’re trying to reach.
Have you ever seen a Realtor bio that looks like this?
Luis specialize in helping first-time home buyers, luxury real estate, new construction, and investment properties in Chicago’s city and suburbs.
Ugh! At least it’s not in all caps. It is clear that Luis does not want to miss out on any opportunities. But what’s wrong with this? He fails to gain anyone’s support because he is trying to please everyone. It is better to have a small portion of a large market, than a large portion of a small market. That’s the choice Luis is making.
So who is your target audience? First-time home buyers in Chicago? Luxury properties in a certain neighborhood? The people you are trying to reach with your message should be so specific that when someone from that group hears you say it, they think “that is exactly me.”
You need to understand your target market really well and what makes them happy.
- What do they do for a living?
- Do they have pets?
- What grocery stores do they shop at?
- What might their hobbies be?
- Why are they buying or selling?
- What fears do they have about the process?
The best way to find out the answers to these questions is to ask your current clients directly.
This information forms your “client persona.” Be careful of fair housing laws when making your persona. The psychological information you collect is more effective than demographics.
Tailoring your messaging to better match the personality of your target market will result in a more effective message. If you make your posts more relevant, people will remember them better. You’ll see more engagement, and ultimately, more referrals
Why Your Real Estate Instagram Bio Matters
Have you heard, Instagram is the new Google. Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating just a little. It is more important than ever to make sure that your profile, and more specifically your real estate agent Instagram bio, is optimized. This is because Instagram has new search and explore features, and 80% of Instagram users are voluntarily connecting with brands.
If you use Instagram for business purposes, then your profile will become like a home page on a website. The goal of your website is to turn visitors into customers by getting their email address in your database, or at the very least before they exit your website.
The goal of a real estate Instagram profile should be to attract visitors and convert them into followers and then into clients. So basically, same same. This means that you should spend some time making your real estate agent Instagram bio look great so that you make a good first impression, which you only have a few seconds to do.
Why Real Estate Agent Instagram Bios Are So Essential for Agents
According to research, most people decide whether they like someone or not within seven seconds of meeting them. The same goes for browsing social profiles. Some people argue that people have lower attention spans online than offline.
Your real estate agent Instagram bio is one of the first things that your potential clients will see. You want to make sure that it is positive and puts your best foot forward. This means that you only have seven seconds to make a good first impression. Make sure you use your time wisely.
Bios on Instagram can be a great way to make a good first impression that can lead to more followers, engagement, and potential customers. Let’s get started with five secrets to writing a great real estate Instagram bio!
Already have an amazing Instagram bio? If you’re hoping to attract clients through your Instagram account, it’s important to have a feed that is designed well and speaks to your target market. Luckily, we have some tips to help you create the perfect real estate Instagram feed.
5 Secrets To Writing A Killer Instagram Bio That Attracts Real Estate Clients
1. REAL NAMES ATTRACT REAL PEOPLE
Social platforms are built for relationship building and connection. People are coming to your page to learn more about you, not what you sell. Your ideal client is more likely to exit your page without a follow if your real estate agent Instagram bio is only about business and marketing messages.
Also, it is unlikely that your ideal client is looking for real estate professionals to follow. However, they are wanting to connect with other individuals in the world.
If you’re creating an Instagram account for your business or brand, don’t change the default name to your business or brand name. This is a chance to remind your followers that you are a real person and not just a business trying to fill their feed with sales pitches.
You want your followers to understand who they are engaging with so that the connection is stronger. I highly recommend using your real full name. Your business name does not have to be the same as your personal name, but it should be a name that you personally chose. If you’re not Nike, I recommend that you put your business name.
2. IT’S ABOUT THEM NOT YOU
Some people say that they start their day by making their bed, putting on makeup, and getting dressed for work. These people are probably lying. At least most of them. If everyone else is able to get dressed in something other than sweatpants and spandex before sitting down at their computer, why can’t I do the same? I refuse to believe it’s just me. I am not ashamed of it anymore.
If you’re trying to appeal to everyone, you’re really appealing to no one. If you want to make your real estate business stand out in your market, you should look into niche marketing.
3. GETTING PERSONAL MAKES YOU MORE RELATABLE
You want to be known for more than your job title or what you do for a living. You will only be top of mind for your ideal client if they are willing and ready to hire you. If you want to develop a stronger relationship with your real estate audience, try including some personal details in your brand story. This will not only help them relate to you better, but it will also help you take up more share of mind – basically making you the first person they think of across multiple topics.
Your followers want to engage with you as a person, not with your business. Write something personal in your bio so your followers can get to know you and maybe relate to you better. Your audience is more likely to engage with your Instagram posts if they feel like they have something in common with you.
Hey, don’t over complicate this! The information in your real estate agent Instagram bio should be an accurate reflection of who you are. What’s your favorite thing? It can be your favorite food, show, hobby, or anything else you can think of.
4. YOU DON’T OWN YOUR FOLLOWERS
You cannot control your social media followers unless you are Mark Zuckerberg. It’s not only difficult to get your followers to see your posts, but the algorithm is regularly updated, making it even harder. You’re only reaching a small number of people who follow you on Instagram.
What do you do about it? Well think about a website for a moment. The most effective way to turn a website visitor into a subscriber is to include a call-to-action. A call-to-action is a statement intended to provoke an immediate response. When you’re ready to turn your real estate Instagram followers into leads, consider using a helpful guide, recent blog post, educational video, or free webinar. These are all great ways to get people interested in what you have to offer.
The point is that you are providing your audience with a way to interact with you outside of Instagram. This gives them a chance to get to know you better and allows you to build a stronger connection with them. This gives you more chances to create a strong relationship with your preferred customer. This call-to-action encourages you to take advantage of the time when your audience is actually viewing and interacting with your real estate Instagram profile.
If you think email is no longer an effective marketing tool, you need to read this article discussing 5 reasons why real estate professionals should have an email list. You’ll thank me later (at least I hope so).
5. FOLLOWERS DON’T WANT TO CLICK YOUR LINK
Ok, your followers care less about your website than you might think. A call to action cannot simply be a website that is put up in the link field. Your audience won’t click your link unless you give them something of value.
Your email address is just as valuable as currency, if not more so. With it, you can stay in touch with your target audience and create referral business.
If you want someone’s email address, you need to persuade them that it is valuable. The website offers free information in exchange for something of value. Generating free content, also known as lead magnets, is a great way to show off your company’s knowledge, assets, and skills. Think of yourself as a fisherman, and your audience as your fish. This offer, my friends, is your delicious bait.
But it can’t just be any free information. Think about what your target audience would find most valuable and then proceed accordingly. And crazy thought…you could also just ask. Think about who your ideal client is and what types of information they might find valuable. Find someone who fits that description and run a few ideas past them to get their opinion. Some things you may want to consider when looking for housing are alerts, newsletters, webinars, guides, ebooks, checklists, and ecourses.
In Summary
While all social media platforms can help you build relationships in the real estate business, Instagram is the best platform for doing so. If we don’t take advantage of the opportunity to get in front of our ideal clients and build trust with them, we’re missing out.
So to recap, the top three reasons Instagram should be your go-to secret weapon in your real estate marketing arsenal:
- Secret 1: Real names attract real people
- Secret 2: It’s about them not you
- Secret 3: Getting personal makes you more relatable
- Secret 4: You don’t own your followers
- Secret 5: Followers don’t want to click your link
