Are you a real estate agent trying to expand your reach? One of the best ways to do so is to build an audience online. Not all of your audience members will become customers, of course, but you can establish yourself as a thought leader in your field if you create a variety of informational and compelling content that everyone can use as a resource. The real estate world is complicated, so people will appreciate anyone that helps them navigate it. Why not be that person? Here are a few ways to build an audience:
Create a Youtube channel
Video is one of the most common and effective forms of content marketing. According to WordStream, people watch 500 million hours of video on YouTube every day—and YouTube has over one billion users, which is almost one-third of everyone who uses the internet. You cannot reach them all, obviously, but with such a vast user base, there is definitely a niche audience out there for you somewhere.
Ris Media reports that seven out of ten homeowners are more inclined to list with real estate agents that use video marketing to advertise their properties, so grab a camera and walk people through each home. Shoppers love to see in-depth looks at houses before they visit them in person—an air of mystery can make things fun, but it doesn’t really have a place in real estate.
You don’t have to limit your video content to touring listings. Try starting a YouTube channel that discusses issues in the real estate world that you are passionate about. The odds are that many people have questions you can provide answers to, or maybe they do not even realize certain aspects of the industry are abnormal until they hear it from someone in-the-know. Consumers want to be as informed as possible when it comes to potential living spaces, so offering education will help attract interested “students.”
Not good at creating other videos? Try using the top video editing software of 2019 to help you create engaging videos.
Host a podcast
Not everyone has time or availability to watch videos, though. But do you know what people can listen to while they perform other tasks? Podcasts.
What are podcasts in simple terms? Think of them as radio shows; only they are now audio files downloadable online. People can listen to podcasts while they cook, while they commute to work, or while they exercise, which means you have plenty of opportunities to capture people’s attention and talk to them about a subject you believe warrants further discussion. Forty-two million Americans listened to podcasts weekly in 2017, so there is bound to be a few who will be interested in what you have to say.
Publish a blog
Written content is tried-and-true, and it’s still effective. Don’t you love that feeling of relief when you have a problem, Google it, and a well-written and informative blog post pops up that tells you exactly what you needed to know? Textual media is still integral because it’s skimmable and searchable, which means people do not have to read the entire piece in order to pick out the bit of information they needed (and some people simply prefer reading instead of listening and watching!).
Blogs are also beneficial for your SEO efforts. Conduct a bit of keyword research to learn what the most commonly searched terms in your industry are and incorporate them into your articles (without overstuffing, of course—making your content readable is more important). If you publish your posts regularly, provide valuable insight, and take care of other technical SEO aspects, you are more likely to appear on the first page of Google results when people search for queries related to your niche.
Leverage social media
Billions of people use social media, which is perfect for sharing images, video, and other information regarding properties and other topics you wish to share. Consider starting an Instagram account where you post pictures of incredible interior design, or maybe a Facebook or Twitter page where you discuss issues like housing disparity, affordability, gentrification, and more.
Major social media platforms are also advantageous places for people to contact you. If people have a question, it might be easier to send you a direct message over Instagram than to call and email you. You can also use social media to keep up with what your competitors are doing. What issues are they talking about, what strategies are they using to expand their reach, and how well are their efforts working? You should never copy their content, of course, but you can learn from their campaign failures and successes.
Distinguishing yourself from the crowd can be challenging on the real estate landscape, so it’s helpful to build a community of viewers, listeners, and readers by offering more value than information about particular listings. How will you grow your audience?
