Digital Advertising for Real Estate

The need to advertise digitally is a must in every sector of the economy today, including real estate. Not listing a property online and using that space to market it is a serious mistake. The National Association of Realtors estimates that nearly half of all home buyers look online for a property as they begin their search, making digital advertising for real estate agents across the country an absolute must. How does digital advertising differ from print advertising when it comes to strategy, though? Understanding that is the key to building your ad presence online. 

Traditional vs. Digital Advertising

Just a few decades ago, advertising meant signs, postcard mailers, and much more. Today, though, things are quite a bit different. In the world of digital marketing for real estate, advertising simply doesn’t work the same way. It’s an immersive experience that is measurable, targeted, and continually evolving. 

Within this space, you have much to choose from, and the goal is to market to your target audience as often as possible and build brand authority that they can trust. This often means hiring a digital marketing team to address your website, your marketing campaigns, and your social media presence, and it may even mean an entirely different way of designing your ads. 

Top 4 Digital Real Estate Advertising Strategies to Try

How can you achieve better digital advertising for real estate properties in your portfolio? This list of the top digital real estate advertising strategies can help. 

1. Make the Most of Social Media: There is no better place to spread the word about a new property than the world of social media. These platforms are interconnected, so you have the potential to pass on property to entire networks of individuals across the world. While Facebook seems to reign supreme in this space, you have other options as well including Twitter and Instagram. Keep in mind, though, that interacting on these platforms isn’t just about selling the next property. Instead, it’s also about building a digital presence. You’ll want to create some brand authority by offering testimonials, developing a strong following by continually responding to people, and make sure you’re continually being seen. That’s the way to get home buyers to respond in this space. 

1. Consider Email: Social media can be incredibly helpful, but so can email advertising. With a monthly newsletter or even daily email property updates, you’re going to be digitally advertising with a personal touch. Fill your messages with information about how to buy and sell, what’s happening, and a few of your best listings to make this work. You’ll want to build out your list by including old clients, sign-ups from your website, and even referrals from other sources. 
2. Think Video: If you haven’t already considered building a presence in the world of online video, there’s never been a better time. Thanks to spaces like YouTube, you can post videos of properties, advice for sellers, and so much more. This is a stronger way to connect with today’s buyers than television commercials, and it means an opportunity to spread the word about almost every property you list. 
3. Buy Display Ads: There are lots of places your potential customers might visit where you can pay for display ads. You can do it through your local news outlets. You can also do it through various websites. You typically pay up front for the cost of this kind of ad, and while it’s sometimes harder to measure than other types of digital advertising for real estate professionals, it’s still a good choice. 
4. Add Pay-Per-Click to the Mix: Pay Per Click, or PPC, advertising is a way to have ads shown in certain circumstances. You choose the audience and your demographics, then set a budget. When anyone clicks on the ad once it’s shown, you’ll pay for that click. This can be a little bit risky, because it can get expensive quickly, but the simple truth is that if you work with a professional who understands this form of advertising, you’ll always get results. 

There are many ways to add digital marketing to the mix, but the key is to do it as soon as possible. Once you establish your digital marketing strategy, you’ll begin to see results almost immediately.