The Biggest Mistake Brokers Are Making on Social Media and How to Fix It
According to NAR's 2022 Technology Survey, nearly half of agents and brokers surveyed said that social media was their best source of high-quality leads. Brokers and agents who don't use social media effectively are essentially giving up leads to those who do, leaving money on the table. Still, many real estate professionals are frustrated when they don't get the results they expect from social media or hope that their social networks will be a source of quick and easy leads. In many cases, these brokers are all making the same big mistake. Can you guess what it is? The biggest mistake real estate brokers are making in their social media marketing is consistency. Why consistency is key in social media marketing For social media marketing to be successful, it needs to be a habit, not a sporadic undertaking. This means posting consistent content according to a consistent schedule. Why is overall consistency so important? Consistency leads to better brand recognition By posting consistent kinds of content in a consistent way, you give your audience an opportunity to recognize your content and develop positive associations with it. The content you post is how you share your expertise, values, identity, and voice on social media, as is the way you respond to your sphere's comments and posts. Consistency helps build a stronger audience Most social media algorithms favor regular posting, meaning that if you post according to a particular schedule, you will be rewarded with more views and hopefully more engagement (and leads!). If your goal is to get your content in front of your sphere, the rule of thumb is generally the more you do it (without spamming, of course), the more your sphere will see. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon weren't built in a day, and neither will your social media marketing machine. Like creating a beautiful garden, it takes time to build the community you need to generate a consistent stream of leads. How long is hard to say, but a consistent presence will help you attract more leads over time. Consistency builds loyalty, credibility, and trust Consistency is also important because people are not generally on social media to be marketed to, at least not consciously. Social media is where family and friends connect, and so real estate brokerages trying to promote listings are "invading" a social space. Your advantage as a broker is that houses, homes, and homebuying occupy an important part of many people's lives, and so sharing genuine, authentic content about the value you add and the benefits of working with a real estate agent can help your sphere start to trust your expertise and promote and amplify your brand even more than you already are. How brokers can help their teams post to social media consistently The challenge is that consistency can be hard. Agents are usually busy out selling houses, not generating content for their social media profiles. But a little effort can go a long way to help ensure a consistent brokerage presence on social media. Develop a social media calendar and stick to it Like any habit, you need to pick a frequency that works for you. Some people manage to go to the gym six days a week. Others manage to go once. Both are fine, as long as you're consistent. Pick a schedule for posting content and adhere to it as much as possible. If you find it hard to post content according to a set schedule, you can use a social media tool like Reach Social to automatically post content on all your preferred platforms. Create social media guidelines and share them widely You can encourage consistency by defining the kinds of content you want to share, the color scheme of your posts, the size and shape of any logos you decide to use, your online tone of voice, and by ensuring your team follows these guidelines. Share your own content regularly You can give your agents content inspiration by creating your own posts for them to share. This gives them the opportunity to share more information about the brokerage and encourage stronger brand recognition and loyalty. 3 other ways brokers can win at social media marketing To reap the benefits of social media marketing, a little bit can go a long way. In addition to consistency, learn more about three other Cs for social media success: Scroll-stopping social media content Content is king on social media, and different kinds of content are better suited for different platforms. Listing images and videos do really well on Instagram, videos are obviously well suited for YouTube, and Facebook and LinkedIn are great places to post links to listings and interesting real estate articles. Controlling the branding and messaging As a broker, being able to exercise a degree of control over how your business is presented online is both empowering and a business imperative. It's also key to creating a consistent presence, and there are tools at your disposal that give you the control you need without restricting your team. Cost-effective tools and strategies Getting the most out of social media doesn't have to cost a fortune. Social media is one of the most effective places to market your brokerage, and it's essentially free. For a relatively low investment and cost per lead, you could be amplifying your reach significantly. To view the original article, view the Constellation1 blog.

Real Estate Media Trends You Should Follow in 2023
As a real estate pro, staying ahead of the curve and being up-to-date on the latest industry trends are essential. This not only allows you to serve your clients better but also allows you to stay ahead of the competition. The media landscape is constantly changing, and it can take time to keep up with the latest trends. However, following the industry trends is vital to stay on top of your game. Here are the top six real estate media trends for 2023: Virtual Reality Is More Favored One of the significant technologies changing the real estate landscape today is Virtual Reality (VR). VR allows potential buyers to virtual tour a property and its location without physically visiting the space. It also allows real estate developers to present complex projects in an immersive and realistic view. It is an excellent tool for real estate marketing. Realtors can create virtual tours of properties, making it convenient for potential buyers to view and ask questions about the property. So remember to keep up with VR and its continuous helpful effect on the industry to continue to provide your clients with the best possible service. Drone Footage Is Needed Another hot trend in real estate media is drone footage. Drones offer a unique perspective that allows viewers to see properties in a whole new way. 3D mapping is becoming popular as time goes on. It uses images taken from a drone to create highly accurate 3D models of buildings, landscapes, or objects that are not visible from ground level due to their height. Drones are an effective tool for real estate marketers. Given the demand for exceptional real estate photography and detailed property listings, this trend will be around for a while. Social Media Will Remain a Powerful Tool Social media is a powerful marketing tool in the real estate industry. Real estate professionals use social media to increase awareness, educate potential buyers, and generate leads. It is also a great way to connect with people in your community. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter can be used to share information about events, news articles, or pictures of your listings. Get on TikTok TikTok is one of the practical marketing tools that can assist agents and brokers in reaching a larger audience and increasing their conversion rate. It enables you to present your listings and services to instantly catch homebuyers' attention. The app has become a popular app for real estate. TikTok's true power stems from its relative simplicity. You can create lead-generating material that indicates your authority on the subject and help position you as the go-to real estate professional in your community with a few clicks using the information you already have. Harnessing the Power of Email Email marketing is becoming a necessity in this day and age. More than an online presence is needed; you also need a sound customer relationship management system. This means that you need to send out newsletters regularly. Real estate pros need to send out more marketing emails to reach your business goals and connect with your target audience. You're busy seeking new homeowners for your properties; automated email marketing campaigns deliver the appropriate message directly to them. Real estate email marketing used correctly, can help you reach more clients and close more deals. Prioritize SEO SEO is a crucial part of marketing strategy for the growth of a real estate business. Building a solid online presence can help differentiate your company from the competition and grow your business. Search engine optimization (SEO) is optimizing a website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). This process includes on-page factors such as page load speed, content relevance, title tags, and keyword density. There are many things to consider regarding SEO and real estate. The keywords that you use on your website, the content you post, your design, and how often you update your pages all impact how well your website ranks in search engines. The most important thing to remember about SEO is that it's not something you do once and forget about later. It's a process that requires constant attention and care if you want to see results. To Wrap Things Up Real estate media trends are changing rapidly, and agents need to keep up with these changes. With the emergence of new media technology, agents and brokers can reach a wider audience and increase their lead generation. In recent years, online platforms such as social media, blogs, and websites have provided agents with the necessary solutions for marketing their businesses. Following these trends will improve your real estate business, whether you try them yourself or get in touch with experts to help you stay on track. To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.

RealtyPlug

RealtyPlug is a marketing suite that assists real estate professionals in selling more homes. Their service can help ou: Add a real estate search to a Facebook Page Add a real estate search to a website or blog Syndicate listings to the highest-traffic real estate websites Real estate professionals who choose this monthly service will see features added almost continually. Facebook App RealtyPlug makes it easy to add a custom real estate search to a Facebook page – it just takes a few clicks. After it has been added, fans can search, “Like,” share, and send listings directly from your page. Custom Search Widgets With RealtyPlug, users can create an unlimited number of search widgets. It’s easy to add standard and map-based property searches to a website or blog with a single line of text – without IDX. Listing Syndication RealtyPlug distributes listings to the most-searched real estate websites, including Zillow, Yahoo! Real Estate, Trulia, and more. Listings appear on these sites with the agent’s contact information so that any comments/questions/showing requests are sent to the agent. In addition to appearing on third-party sites, listings will also be presented on a user’s Facebook page and on any Featured Listings section on a website or blog. There are also tools to post a listing to Craigslist or Backpage.

HomeASAP Agent App™

HomeASAP Agent App™ - Created for members of the Real Estate Agent Directory™ (READ) on Facebook, HomeASAP Agent App™ is the easiest way for agents to connect with leads in their area right from their mobile device. Agents receive instant notification when they get a new lead and are able to easily able to send an immediate email or Facebook message to the lead. This all-encompassing app, which also integrates with HomeASAP’s IDX Home Search™ and the Search Alliance™ network, lets agents manage their READ accounts, update their READ profiles, post referrals to Facebook, view recent activity of leads and the homes viewed, sort and manage leads, and adjust Search Alliance™ bid, budget and service area. The HomeASAP Agent App™ is currently available for iOS 9.0 or later (compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch), with Android version coming soon. It can be downloaded for free in the Apple store. Membership in READ is required to use the app, and agents can sign up right within the (READ) app.

NewPanda: Real Estate Edition

NewPanda helps agents and brokers connect with clients and leads through all the latest channels. From a single easy-to-use online interface, you can communicate to clients and leads through e-mail, text messages, social media and more. New Panda offers a free contact manager as a base. From there, you can purchase à la carte options so you pay for only what you need. The contact manager lets you easily import or manually add your existing contacts. You can sort your contacts into groups for sending custom messages based on interest, association, or however else you choose. The contact manager also includes to-do notes, contact information, mailing labels and more. NewPanda's à la carte options include: Social Tools - If you don't have the time to manage your social networks, NewPanda can deliver carefully planned content to your Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. They offer pages with trackable URLs, custom Facebook pages, and the ability to schedule social posts in advance. E-newsletter - NewPanda can help you deliver beautiful newsletters via customizable e-mail templates. They can provide rich, relevant content, including videos and polls, or you can supply your own. You can even automatically include listings in your newsletter. NewPanda handles all the delivery, unsubscribe and other administrative headaches for you. E-mail Tools - Automated birthday, anniversary, and holiday e-mail messages let you stay top-of-mind with your clients. NewPanda also lets you make customized e-flyers and send them to leads. Mobile Ads - Keep up with on-the-go digital marketing. Just give NewPanda your listing info a receive a voice hotline, interactive text messaging, QR code, mobile webpage, e-brochure, and the ability to track it all. NewPanda can also send you instant lead alerts via text or e-mail when a prospect looks at a mobile ad.

TurnKey Suite™

TurnKey Suite™ - An all-in-one solution, TurnKey Suite™ provides agents with everything needed to build and manage their social presence on Facebook. TurnKey Suite™ includes: • Creation of a new Facebook Business Page (or remodeling of an existing one), with custom-branded graphics, and optimized with lead generating apps. • IDX Home Search™, Facebook’s top-rated MLS search service that makes the agent the point-of-contact for any listing, and also imports any of the agents’ own active listings. • Page Management – HomeASAP’s team of experts will increase traffic and engagement to the agent’s page using handpicked real estate content. • Marketing Consultation – HomeASAP’s team of Marketing Consultants provide the agent with consulting on their Facebook marketing, providing tips and helping with Facebook advertising, if desired by the agent. https://www.facebook.com/TurnKeySuite

Homesnap Introduces Integration with Facebook Marketplace
Homesnap has integrated with Facebook Marketplace to make it easier to promote single-family homes for rent, and to give prospective renters more search options. Facebook Marketplace is already known as an easy, convenient way to buy and sell locally. With more than 1 in 3 people on Facebook in the US using Marketplace each month, people can find what they're looking for with just a few clicks. Marketplace's extensive reach has given Homesnap the ability to tap into a targeted and relevant user base with superb lead generation potential. Every lead generated goes directly to the listing agent or broker via email, free of charge. By integrating with leading house and apartment rental sites, Marketplace has made it easier for agents and property managers to list rental inventory on Marketplace, and for renters to find their next great home. Marketplace charges no listing fees or commissions, and its mobile-optimized interface and personalized customer experience ensure that property owners, managers, and agents can create tailored, browseable listings with minimal effort and investment. Renters are able to easily search listings to find exactly what they're looking for using filters such as location, housing type, price, bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, pet friendliness. With Messenger/chat integration built in, questions can be answered in real time and potential leads fielded and converted quickly. "Our integration with Facebook Marketplace has garnered a ton of interest from renters who typically spend their time searching for a new home among more traditional, multifamily properties," said Lou Mintzer, Homesnap's Chief Product Officer. "We're hearing regularly from our MLS partners that not only do these placements on Marketplace generate lots of new business for rental agents, but they are also encouraging agents to list rental properties with their MLS, whereas before they might have withheld rentals simply because they didn't think they would generate much interest." In the past three months alone, approximately 100,000 leads have been generated from their listings. Facebook Marketplace represents a unique opportunity for MLSs, brokers, and agents to reach renters who may not be working with an agent and/or have access to MLS data. Since launch, MLSs that have opted into Facebook Marketplace through Homesnap have seen, on average, a 9.8 times increase in free leads and 4.3 times increase in views for rentals. Homesnap's integration with Marketplace has been both seamless and scalable, and Marketplace's extensive reach has given Homesnap the ability to tap into a targeted and relevant user base with tremendous lead generation potential. MLSs, brokers, and agents interested in promoting their rental properties on Facebook Marketplace should send inquiries to [email protected]. To view the original post, visit the Homesnap blog.

Payback Incentives
No more business as usual. Payback customers have earned millions in incremental dollars, sales forces have turned around the bottom line, and careers have been made, fast. As the industry’s most flexible sales incentive award program, Payback delivers results every time.

Previsite America, Inc.
Previsite provides automated, affordable and effective online solutions for Real Estate profressionals. Founded over a decade ago, Previsite launched the is the highest-quality Internet based Virtual Tour solution available to create compelling panoramic views to help agents sell more homes. With Previsite Virtual Tours, clients feel as if they are actually in the house. Unlike other companies, Previsite is a web-based virtual tour software solution that allows you to create beautiful tours without having to download software or stitch photos. The Previsite Virtual Visit Solution integrates to any website and the annual subscription includes unlimited access to the online platform, allowing you to create your online virtual tours in minutes. Previsite’s SocialConnect solution links your entire listing portfolio across all social media channels – Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and more. Your listings are automatically transformed into customized videos, placed into searchable and tailored social media pages and linked back to your site – to increase incoming leads and SEO. Previsite’s most cutting-edge solution, WorldPosting, sends your listings to a network of the world’s leading real estate websites in more than 26 countries over 4 continents – reaching an audience of over 70 million potential buyers. Benefit from special pricing and automated diffusion and expand your market around the globe in one easy click.

RESAAS
The Real Estate Social Network™ RESAAS was designed to become a dedicated social platform specifically for real estate professionals where professionals can connect and share content that is most important to their industry and their business. RESAAS’ powerful reblasts® engine automatically generates all of a professional’s real estate workflow into invaluable social content that is automatically pushed out to the RESAAS platform and your other social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter. With RESAAS, the real estate professional receives their own true social network in order to create profile pages, connect with other real estate professionals, upload and manage their own listings, build networks and groups with other agents, answer real estate-related questions, and communicate with their personal social network in real-time. RESAAS also features an innovative question and answer platform, called Real Estate Q&A, where consumers can connect directly with real estate professionals by way of a live question and answer platform.

ActiveRain
ActiveRain is a Seattle, WA technology + media company that operates the largest and most active social network in the real estate space. Our roots go back 6 years, but unlike many new "real estate technology" companies, we are not trying to change the business model. Rather, we're looking to provide the technology to augment an existing one. Over the years, we've worked closely with agents and companies both large and small, providing the technology to support their core business: selling homes. Our primary goal is to empower the real estate professional, and as an extension, educate and empower the consumer. In June 2006, we launched the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, a social network and marketing platform for real estate professionals. This network helps agents to create business relationships both within the industry and with consumers.