The first quarter of 2017 has come and every real estate agent and investor is grinding to achieve a successful real estate business this year.
The ultimate goal of course is to implement your marketing strategies for maximum impact at minimum cost and to find out what’s new and useful and see if it aligns with your objectives.
So here’s our list of some of the top real estate marketing trends to watch out for this year.
6 Real Estate Marketing Trends and
How a VA Can Assist You
1. Marketing Automation and List Building System
In 2017, more real estate agents will adapt marketing automation because it saves a lot of time and money, especially when you are busy with closing deals, communicating to clients or taking care of your family.
However, often times, real estate professionals don’t know how to do it, or don’t have the resources to pay for real estate marketing automation software.
What a Real Estate VA Can Do:
- MLS & CRM Management – Real Estate Virtual Assistants (REVA) are experienced and familiar in maintaining top database systems like Salesforce, InfusionSoft, Top Producer, E-Edge, etc. When a new lead comes in, you don’t have to spend time transferring it to your CRM because the REVA will do it for you.
- Database and Property Software Management – For Property Management Firms, the virtual assistant will update your database to make sure you have complete tenant info such as payment transactions.
- List Building and Prospect Management – For Real Estate Investors, the VA can perform lead generation tasks according to your preferences (Probates, FSBOs, Foreclosures, etc.)
In this way, the leads are automatically contacted and added to your ongoing marketing strategy system.
Related Reading: How a Real Estate Marketing Assistant Can Take Your Company to the Next Level
2. Efficient Ads Targeting for Better Conversion
Creating meaningful targeting ad campaigns take extra work but you will definitely love the results. First thing to do is to segment your audience based on whether they are buyers, sellers, investors and other sub-categories. The trick here is to maintain that your ads are not flagged down when you post in sites like Craigslist.
What a Real Estate VA Can Do:
- Posting Ads – The virtual assistant will create and manage ad postings online and make sure your ads are not taken down.
- Update Property Listing – He or she can also update your listings to include only recent properties that are available for rent, lease or for sale. Task them to tag or remove those properties that are no longer available in the market.
- Listing Coordination – For investors, a REVA can manage accurate and timely updates of your property information. They can also assist in finding agents or brokers where you list your properties either for lease or for sale.
- Online Marketing – Additionally, the VA will use the following sites to market your properties online: Craigslist, Backpage, Kijiji, Zillow, Trulia etc.
This approach will help you get more leads and conversions from your targeted ads. Remember that once your prospects are tagged properly, you can then launch customized ad campaigns to attract them.
3. Real Estate Agents/Investors Will Do More Personalized Content Marketing
This year, you’ll discover more that personalized content is one of the most effective real estate marketing ideas to generate organic traffic to your website. Agents and investors need to focus more on user experience and create custom CMA reports and presentations for clients.
Target audience factors to consider:
- Types of clients: First-time homebuyers, upsizing, downsizing, relocation, investors
- Hyper local areas: zip codes, neighborhoods and subdivisions
- Types of homes: condos, lofts, townhouses, duplexes, lakefronts, estates
- Timing of the transaction: Moving now, moving soon, moving next year
What a Real Estate VA Can Do:
- Website and Social Media Updates – virtual content specialists can post relevant updates in your social media channels to increase engagement and update property listings on your website.
- Create Graphics and Marketing Materials – they can also provide you visually enticing images and graphics for flyers, brochures, leaflets and ads.
4. Website Live Chat and Customer Support
According to Forbes, online live chat support is going to be huge this year in the real estate industry. A live chat platform on your website means clients can visit your site and not only browse your properties but also have the opportunity for a person to person interaction.
Virtual real estate services include chat support agents that can answer questions in real time and provide further details people want to know about your business.
63% of consumers are more likely to return to a site that offers live chat, as opposed to one that doesn’t. Click To TweetWhat a Real Estate VA Can Do:
- Phone/Chat/Email Support and Customer Service – Virtual assistants will answer incoming calls from prospective tenants and will also handle maintenance calls from active tenants.
- Handle Inbound Calls – VAs can act as receptionists taking inbound calls. They will also answer phone inquiries and reply to emails.
- Appointment Setting / Follow-up calls – The executive assistants can also follow up with leads or with your prospective buyers and renters. They will also make outgoing calls for rent collection and payment reminders.
- Cold calling for Real Estate Agents and Brokers, Investors – Got an existing list of persons to contact? Real estate assistants can pitch them for your properties that are up for grabs.
- Meeting Set-up and Calendar Management – A dedicated assistant will set up your meetings and manage your calendar to ensure you are never overbooked and on schedule.
5. Virtual Open Houses and 3D listings
In real estate, virtual reality tours are becoming a more convenient option than the actual visit. This gives way for the buyers or renters to look at lots of houses quickly in their initial research phase.
One trending platform now is the Matterport 3D Tours that allows you to digitize your listings, helping buyers see a realistic 360-degree view of each of your properties.
What a Real Estate VA Can Do:
- Create Marketing Materials – Outsource virtual assistant to help you out with creating a virtual tour for your properties. He can also edit your existing videos or create other marketing materials such as flyers, brochures, leaflets and ads.
- Online Marketing and Website Update – as soon as you have your virtual open house ready, the VA can then promote it online such as in listing directories and include it in your website as an additional feature.
6. Mobile and Video Strategy
In this age of ‘on-the-go lifestyle’, more people conduct search and purchase right on their mobile phones. This can be one of your real estate marketing strategies where your content and ads can be optimized for better user experience.
73% of homeowners say that they’re more likely to list with a realtor who offers to create a video for them. ~Virtuets Click To TweetWhat a Real Estate VA Can Do:
- Create/Edit Video – VAs can use a service like Listing Videos from Vscreen and add 3D animation, professional narration and custom branding. This will help give consumers something extra, and keep their attention longer.
- Create Mobile-responsive Website Update – a tech VA can upgrade your website to include mobile functionality and improve user experience.
Need help implementing these strategies for your business in 2017? Take a look at our real estate virtual assistant services and see how our efficient VAs can assist you in your everyday tasks and objectives. CALL 1-866-596-9041.
We would love to hear if these tips worked for you! If you have questions or any Real Estate related success stories, please leave a comment below.
Reference:
http://www.inman.com/
http://www.bostonlogic.com/
http://www.fortunebuilders.com/
