Are you leaving an effective digital footprint? Keep reading to find out.
In today’s episode of Vantage West Academy, we’ll be covering an important tool that many Realtors forget to take advantage of: the internet. More specifically, we’re talking about maintaining a digital footprint.
I often see a surprising amount of gaps when I consult with agents, and in today’s technological age, these gaps could mean a loss of clients, sales, and lucrative leads. Here’s a quick walk-through of ways you can quickly and effectively fill out your online repertoire.
Google Business
One top tool that every Realtor should have is a Google Business account, which is where clients can go to write reviews for your services. It’s important to do some keyword research (or have tech-savvy do it for you) to ensure your account is optimized for all the areas you serve. You want your real estate business to show up, no matter what people search. You also want to place awards, accreditations, reviews from other websites, pictures, videos, etc., onto your account. Doing so can elevate your brand in search rankings and results.
Perhaps the most important part of your Google Business account is the review and rating functionality. You can look for yourself—if you search for competitors, you’ll see the person at the top of Google Maps is the person with the most reviews. Note the person and their number of reviews—that’s your target. If you work toward it, you’ll show up as No. 1, 2, or 3 on the map.
Always ensure your information is up to date—not just for your clients, but also for the algorithm. Google likes to see that you’re staying relevant. So, answer questions, update hours, and do other things to show your name is a top priority.
Though this social media platform is often overlooked, this is where professionals go to meet other professionals. These pros will often look through LinkedIn accounts when they’re looking for partners, new hires, and other agents. This means you want your profile to look professional, demonstrate experience, showcase accolades, use branding, and make you stand out. It’s also important to have a good number of connections; if you only have a few, it can look like your network is limited.
What’s nice about LinkedIn is that you can share content and demonstrate your real estate prowess without creating anything on your own. Instead, you can establish yourself as a curator of valuable local information, such as articles, market numbers, and other materials. It shows other users that you’re active in the industry, and the website can quickly become a major source of business for your company.
If you have a public profile, try to look at it through the eyes of a consumer or client. What kinds of things are you sharing? What type of person do your photos portray? Do you post things that relate to your business, such as pictures of happy clients, real estate news, or other related info? It’s ideal to have a public profile that allows people to see evidence of your competence in the industry, as well as your character. Make your party pictures private, and try to avoid divisive posts at all costs. The latter is important, as many big topics have the country split up in opinions and beliefs—do you really want to alienate half of your potential clients?
By following these simple but effective guidelines, you can deepen your digital footprint and rapidly grow your business. If you have any questions or would like any more information, feel free to reach out to me. Until then, stay tuned for the next edition of Vantage West Academy.
