Estate agents in the UK operate in one of the most challenging yet exciting industries.
You must maintain a pipeline of leads to stay ahead and avoid the emotional highs and lows of unpredictable performance.
Lead generation differentiates an average real estate agent and a rock star one.
There is an art to productively generating leads that allows you to do more with less.
But you must have the right tools and knowledge, or else you will be searching for a needle in a large haystack!
1. Cultivate partnerships
Networking with other businesses in the local community plugs you into the influencers who can direct new business your way and can be influential in tipping customers’ decision.
The saying all politics is local can as well be all real estate is local for our case. You must have an ear to the ground and know all the players in your market.
Building quality relationships with stakeholders in the community can enhance your credibility. Ultimately, people want to engage their friends and family real estate agents in the hope that they will like them. Be likeable, but be even more efficient! Partnerships are everything.
2. Build a robust digital presence
All customer journeys now start with an online search. If you do not have a mobile responsive website, then you are committing sacrilege in this business. You must have a web presence that showcases your expertise and educates customers. For example, you can create blog posts in which you address frequently asked questions (FAQs). You can also create and share how-to videos. Another weapon in your arsenal can be newsletter sign-up that allows you to build a bank of emails while sharing new deals with the subscribers-thus building loyalty. This is an essential component of your sales funnel because it will be, in most instances, the first contact that customers have with your brand.
Incorporating live chat on your website can be particularly useful in increasing the interest and willingness of visitors to engage with your brand.
Your lead response time can determine if you lose or close a sale.
Live chat increases the proactiveness of your sales operation, pulling potential clients to your ecosystem.
Your website should be an information hub that informs customers and helps them in their consumer journey.
3. Social media marketing
Facebook is an underrated platform for any local business. You must use its targeted marketing strategies to reach the customers who need your services the most. For instance, Facebook Marketplace can increase your engagement with people who are interested in buying property. Similarly, Instagram and other platforms can be used to increase your visibility online.
Video marketing is also important in gaining the attention of target customers. This is particularly important as more and more people embrace video. Only a few real estate agents are showing their listings on YouTube. Embracing video content will give you a leg up over your competition.
Create sponsored listings on social media to boost engagement. Then, use your live chat with personalized messages.
Respond to visitor queries through in-app messaging.
4. Build your reputation as a thought leader.
In an increasingly competitive business environment, you must stand out to win.
Leverage your knowledge and expertise to package content that addresses important client pain points.
Search engine optimised blog posts are one way to differentiate yourself from competitors as a thought leader. Always add a call to action that directs readers to your landing page to become qualified leads. You can use lead pages pop to engage customers.
Sharing valuable content not only educates others but also ensures you are noticed. It helps you appear knowledgeable about the property in the local market and attracts visits from those interested in learning about the industry. This reduces resistance when you cold call or engage a prospect.
Highlight customer testimonials and case studies to demonstrate you can deliver. Everyone wants someone who delivers!
5. Harness the power of Real estate portals
Most real estate portals have lead generation and advertising programs for real estate agents. Although the paid options can be costly, they are an effective way to reach qualified leads.
Some of the real estate portals you can work with are; Zillow, Justproperty, Zoopla, Rightmove, and Trulia.
Besides increasing your targeting capacity, it can boost your digital presence and ensure you are seen by people actively considering getting a real estate agent.