How to Localize Your Marketing Strategy to Sell More Homes

This post comes to us from the Homefinder.com blog:

As the real estate industry continues to recover, limited inventory and rising home prices are still prevalent in many cities. To set yourself apart from others in your area, it is important to establish yourself as the authority in your market by localizing your marketing plan.

We've compiled five ways you can attract and engage local buyers below. Add these tactics to your selling strategy to stand out from the competition.

1.) Improve your SEO tactics to be more visible online: Search engine optimization is an easy and free way to make sure your website is appearing at the top of search results. To reach buyers in your local market, use target keywords specific to your niche market (ex. "Lincoln Park Condos") on each page of your site. Link back to your website on your social media profiles and ask loyal clients to share your blog posts or review your business – this will drive more traffic to your site and boost your SEO ranking.

2.) Host an open house: The best way to truly localize your selling strategy is to host an open house. An open house provides a great opportunity to engage homebuyers and sell them on the home face-to-face. Prepare for a successful open house by downloading the Open Home Pro app, which manages your sign-in, follow up and lead management processes.

3.) Share relevant, local information: Send market updates or community insider info to your network. Simple topics like "Top Five Neighborhood Farmers Markets" or "Top Ten Summer Festivals" will provide your network with valuable information and could lead to repeat business or referrals. Encourage your contacts to share this news with their network to grow your brand presence and increase referrals.

4.) Use video to engage buyers: A short video series is a great way to virtually introduce yourself – and your market – to potential clients. Film a series of tips about living in your area (your favorite stores, activities for kids, nightlife options, public transportation info, etc.) and post them to your business's YouTube channel. You will give potential buyers an inside look into your community, highlight your knowledge about your local market and will create valuable content to share across social media and via email.

5.) Target local buyers via social ads: With Facebook's organic reach dwindling, your posts may not be reaching as many followers as usual. Make the most of your marketing budget and use services like Facebook Ads or Promoted Tweets to geo-target your ads and reach homebuyers in your market. Keep your ads concise and highly visual to keep potential clients engaged.

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