The real estate industry has been slow to adopt technological innovations. Veteran realtors have attributed this to the traditional nature of the industry — people still want to do home visits before buying property. But recent developments in the digital landscape have influenced a shift in consumer behavior.
Home-flipping apps have taken the place of real estate agents. Homeowners no longer have to employ the services of realtors and brokers with these apps. Although convenient, the technology does lack something important: real-world experience.
The absence of such expertise leaves your real estate agency with an opening. You have the advantage of giving homeowners valuable insights they won’t get from an app. But first, they need to know your business exists. And this you can accomplish through innovative search engine optimization services, which allow you to attract qualified leads and convert them into clients.
Use Local SEO to Improve Your Searchability in the Area
Search engines have made it easier for homebuyers to make informed choices. They are one click away from browsing listings in a specific location to getting information about an area. If your real estate agency lacks an online presence, you’re likely to lose lucrative opportunities.
The main benefit of a well-designed SEO strategy is its promise of discoverability. Local SEO allows you to market your products or services to local home buyers at the exact moment they look for them on search engines.
Search engines look at three core elements for this strategy: (1) proximity, (2) relevance, and (3) prominence.
When homebuyers search for specific locations or include phrases like “near me,” they are given results that are the closest to them. Integrating the areas you serve throughout your website improves your ranking in these searches.
Search engines sift through massive amounts of data to present the best results. Much like with your address, you need to naturally bring up your products and services in your web pages’ content. This will improve their discoverability and strengthen your online presence.
Always assume that your home buyers will read reviews and comments about your business. Managing your customer ratings work toward better credibility online. Additionally, promoting positive comments about your business increases your rankings in search engines.
Position Yourself as an Authority with Better Online Content
Once your target audience has found their way to your web pages, you need to convert them into clients. It’s not enough to have an aesthetically pleasing website, you need to give them valuable content to encourage them to stay on your site and establish your credibility.
When you position your business as credible, you build trust with your potential clients.
How do you achieve this outcome?
Share your insights through articles, infographics, and other types of content. These materials establish you as an authority in the digital landscape.
Highlight your relevance in the industry. Share examples of social proof, such as testimonials, photos of completed deals, blogs wherein you were cited as an authoritative source.
Build platforms that encourage engagement. Make shareable content so that your audience can easily promote you through their social media channels.
Improve Engagement with Clients through Social Media
Optimize your social media accounts to engage with buyers. This is a simple reputation-building technique that markets your business as a credible real estate brand. Consistency in all of your online platforms makes it easier to foster trust in your existing and potential home buyers.
Identify who your buyers are and determine what they want from you. Provide them with content that cannot be addressed by apps.
Regularly respond to comments and queries posted on your social media accounts. The interactions you have here build their confidence in your capabilities as a realtor.
Encourage them to post photos and comments about their experiences with you. Aside from the free promotion, you are creating social proof for future home buyers to use as a reference.
Real estate is just one of several industries making the shift to digital. Adopting these innovations and integrating them into your current business strategy gives you an edge. More importantly, you are creating better opportunities for your business to be discovered by your target market.