Millions of small businesses use Facebook to connect and attract new customers. If we look even closer at that number, you’ll learn that almost 80% of real companies, anywhere in the world have a Facebook page to find and sell to prospects.

Facebook marketing is a worthy investment for real estate businesses such as yours. It has the power to boost your reach, not just locally but globally.

Studies at the Pew Research Center found that Facebook brought in the most 62% of traffic to a brand’s website and not to mention 74% of Facebook users are high-income earners.

But remember, the road to Facebook marketing success for real estate agents isn’t an instant fix. It takes time, effort, and commitment to grow your following and customer base. 

In this article we will blow your mind with tips you can utilize for your Facebook profile to attract leads and boost sales for your real estate business.

Table of Contents

FACEBOOK PROFILE UPDATE & OPTIMIZATION CAN SET YOU APART

Before we can start getting everything in place to generate prospects and real estate leads, you’ll need to update your Facebook profile like a professional marketer!

1. CREATE A FACEBOOK PAGE THAT SHOWCASES YOUR BRAND

If you already have a Facebook business page for your real estate business or professional company, then you can skip this section. If you don’t have a Facebook business page set up or you’re still using your personal Facebook account for business purposes, then listen up now! 

Your first step towards Facebook marketing should be to set up a page dedicated to your real estate brand. A Facebook business page allows you to use features, tools, and analytics that aren’t available with a personal account. A Facebook research found that 6 in 10 local businesses state having an online presence is essential for their long-term success.

2. UPDATE FACEBOOK PROFILE PICTURE TO MAKE YOUR PROFILE RELATABLE

When was the last time you updated your Facebook profile picture? Your profile picture allows people to identify your account easily while searching for it.

People see your profile and cover image before they read your bio, captions, or take a deeper dive into your post. This is why first impressions are extremely important! 

Your profile picture can be your logo, a professional headshot, or your real estate team! At the end of the day, it should do the following:

  • Look professional and dynamic
  • Use the ideal Facebook size of 360 x 360 pixels or 180 x 180 pixels
  • Highlights your best qualities and features
  • Positively represents your brand.

Pro Tip: Using the same profile picture across multiple social media platforms gives your brand image consistency and allows your followers and clients to quickly spot your account.

3. UPDATE COVER IMAGE TO INFORM VISITORS OF YOUR SERVICES

Adding a cover image is also another important factor when it comes to first impressions. It’s your second introductory after your viewer has seen your profile image. Your cover image can have a bit more context than your profile image. A Facebook cover can be an image with graphics or a video.

According to Facebook, your cover photo displays at 820 pixels wide by 312 pixels tall on computers and 640 pixels wide by 360 pixels tall on smartphones.

However, some other market research companies recommend using the dimensions 820px by 360px and to keep all text and graphics in the middle safe zone as per the specifications below so your cover image can be viewed properly via desktop or mobile:

4. UPDATE FACEBOOK CONTACT & INFORMATION TO MAKE YOURSELF EASILY DISCOVERABLE

Business Insider found that about 64% of consumers want brands to connect with them and that social media is the number one channel for brands to connect with consumers. 

When customers go on your Facebook page, they expect to find all multiple ways to contact and get to know you better. When you leave your contact information empty, unconvincing or outdated, you hinder your customers from making contact with you.

As such, you’ll need to update and fill in your business page’s contact information. Update your website link, email, bio/description, address, among other things! If you’re ready to update or add your contact information, here are six steps to get started:

1.     Click your profile picture in the top right.

2.     Click About > Contact and Basic Info.

3.     Click or select “add information.”

4.     Add or change the information you’d like to edit.

5.     Make changes to the privacy of your information by selecting the current privacy setting (example: Public, Friends, or Only Me).

Click Save.

5. CREATE FACEBOOK TABS & CTA TO BOOST YOUR BUSINESS

Facebook allows you to add a large Call to Action (CTA) button to your business page. This big blue button allows you to drive traffic to a specific link or get people in your messaging Inbox.

Facebook offers a variety of CTA’s that work alongside their purpose. For example, CTA includes: “Send Message,” “Apply Now,” “Download,” “Learn more,” and “Contact Us.”

6. CLAIM YOUR VANITY URL TO BOOST FACEBOOK SEO

Each Facebook business page comes with a vanity URL, and this is a specialized Facebook page URL that’s one of the top Facebook SEO tips.

Instead of having a Facebook page URL: https://www.facebook.com/mybusinessname/588871236.

Your vanity URL link can be this instead: https://www.facebook.com/mybusinessname.

To get started, go onto www.facebook.com/username, select your business page, and then claim your link.

7. SET UP YOUR FACEBOOK CHAT FEATURES TO CONNECT DEEPLY WITH YOUR AUDIENCE

A Research study found that not only do consumers expect companies to have active social media channels, they also expect them to be ready to respond quickly to their followers there. 42% of social media users expect a response in under an hour, 25% in the same day, and 9% want it in 5 minutes!

Luckily Facebook provided business owners and real estate agents a solution. Automated responses and saved replies.

Here’s a quick guide to learn how to create an auto-reply on Facebook Messenger:

*Click Settings at the top of your Page.

*Click Messaging in the left column.

*Below Response Assistant, click to select On next to Send Instant Replies to anyone who messages your Page.

*To change your instant reply message, click Change, update the message and click Save.

8. ALLOW REVIEWS ON YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE TO BUILD CREDIBILITY

Reviews can be the bread and butter of a real estate agents’ reputation, and the same goes for your online reputation. In today’s digital world, nearly 95% of shoppers read online reviews before making a purchase, which includes purchases from service providers. 

Showing off your reviews, especially your best reviews, can give new clients the confidence to do business with you or to engage with you at the very least.

Facebook allows you to turn on or off or moderate reviews. Here’s how to get the Reviews tab to show up on your Facebook Page:

  1. Click “Settings”
  2. Click “Edit Page”
  3. You will see a section titled Tabs
  4. Turn ON the option to “Use default tabs”
  5. There, choices for pre-picked tabs will show up
  6. Scroll down until you see “Add a Tab.” Click it.
  7. Add the “Reviews” tab

Pro Tips: After you’ve closed a deal with a client, send them a thank you follow up email and a link to your Facebook page to leave a positive review!

9. FACEBOOK CONTENT MARKETING IDEAS TO LEAVE YOUR COMPETITORS IN THE DUST

Marketing experts usually claim that Content Marketing provides 4x the ROI of our traditional marketing spend. If you’re wondering how to gain success on Facebook, these three significant factors will influence your marketing success: content, engagement, and ads.

In this section, we’ll be talking about content and engagement and how you can use the following tips and ideas to start publishing eye-catching content your (potential) customers will love.

1. CREATE CONTENT THAT EDUCATES

The most important content a professional in any industry can provide their followers and customers are content that educates and informs. For new homeowners (to be) or persons looking to sell, it can be a scary time.

Lack of information, what’s expected, and how to deal with the process can stop them from taking the first step in their real estate journey.

Instead, create content that provides solutions and methods to make their buying/selling process more comfortable. Sharing educational content allows you to connect effortlessly with customers, and it shows off that your business is credible, informed, and trustworthy. 

2. INVEST IN GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY & CONTENT TOOLS TO BUILD BRAND IMAGE

As a realtor, you know that first impressions count, so you want to make sure that the images and content/graphics you choose to leave a lasting impact.

Start investing in a high quality camera (or quality camera phone lenses) and lighting tools. 

If you can’t afford to buy a camera or use a photographer for daily projects, then try investing in a phone that has exceptional camera reviews. 

3. UPLOAD ENGAGING VIDEOS ON FACEBOOK TO STAND OUT IN AUDIENCE’S NEWS FEED

More than 4 billion video views are garnered on Facebook every day. Video content is highly engaging and it is one of the most sought after types of content across all social media platforms. Unlike text, you can say and show a whole perspective with video content.

Not only is using video an essential part of any marketing plan, but social media posts with video have 48% more views than static images. The more views your listing has, you increase your chances to catch a potential buyer’s eye.

Pro Tip: Facebook users watch 85% of Facebook videos without sound, so make sure you have captions or the first 30 seconds is engaging enough for them to turn on the audio.

4. SHARE EYE-CATCHING LISTINGS & RENTALS TO CAPTURE ATTENTION

Another form of content your Facebook page needs are high quality images of listings and rentals that you have to offer. Capture images from different angles, rooms, and even neighborhood details and features.

Your images should effectively showcase your listing and the experience that customers will have once they purchase their new home. 

Here’s some friendly listing photography do’s and don’ts you should follow:

  • Before you start showing off your listing, make sure that the area is free from clutter and mess. You want to put your best listing forward, so make sure to clean up beforehand!
  • Clean Walls: People can see dirty handprints and cobwebs, so be sure to paint that over or stay clear of it when taking pictures.
  • Lighting: Earlier, we spoke about how important lighting can be for content. Sharing a picture of a dark room will not get buyers running towards your business. Use well lit areas.
  • Edit or Add Filters: Adding some minor touches to your pictures can make a world of difference. You can sharpen, increase the brighten and highlight with tools like Adobe Photoshop

5. USE FACEBOOK PUBLISHER OR SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT TOOL FOR IMPROVED RESULTS

Facebook now includes a publishing tool inside. It’s a platform that allows you to publish, draft, or schedule all of your social media content.

Stories, posts, videos can be edited and scheduled for a week in advance. You can access a creator studio, additional content tools, and a sound collection you use when editing videos.

If you have multiple social media accounts, then you should consider using tools like Hootsuite or Buffer to schedule all your content in one place. This way there will be no confusion and you can stay on top of things.

6. SHOW OFF YOUR CUSTOMERS

Once you’ve gotten customers to send reviews, it’s time to add them to your Facebook content. Share them weekly or monthly, and you want as many people.

When you’re taking pictures of your customers, remember it’s all about them, not you. Don’t force them to smile or hold up a sign, instead ask. When people are comfortable taking pictures, it shows.

7. BEAT YOUR COMPETITORS BY CREATING A BRANDED HASHTAG

A branded hashtag is a hashtag that’s created specifically for your social media account. Hashtags make your content discoverable and act as a form of SEO. For example, if your company is X Real Estate, then your branded hashtag can be #xsrealestate.

When people click or search for that hashtag, they’ll quickly find content associated with your account.

8. RESPOND TO COMMENTS AND LIKES TO SHOW YOUR AUDIENCE THEY MATTER

The average engagement rate for Facebook posts is 3.6%. Why do you think engagement is so important? When people engage with your content, it shows that they are interested in what you have to say and what products or services you have to sell.

When someone leaves a comment on your post, take the initiative and respond to them positively and politely. Whether it’s about your services, the content in your post, or just saying hello, when other people see that you respond to comments, it encourages them to reach out to you.

When you’re marketing online, it’s a bit harder to connect with people. Responding to comments makes you more approachable and opens the door to potential conversations.

9. BOOST ENGAGEMENT BY FOLLOWING THESE FIVE TYPES OF PEOPLE

It’s important to stay in the game when using social media platforms. This is especially true if you’re new to Facebook. Make sure to engage, comment, and follow these five types of people to grow your real estate’s Instagram account:

  • Past clients: Keep in content with past clients so your post can be fresh in their feeds as a reminder to them to refer you to friends and family, or do business with you again.
  • Current/potential clients: Let them feel like you want to engage with them on a professional level. This also allows you to do some research, see what they like, recent family updates, and more, so when you meet in-person, you can build rapport.
  • Local business owners: You can connect and network with them.
  • Local community influencers: You can reach out to them as potential clients to build your online credibility.
  • Local real estate agents or companies: Stay in the loop and watch your competitors and see how you can stay relevant or ahead.

10. FACEBOOK AD CAMPAIGN & LEAD GENERATION TIPS TO SKYROCKET YOUR BUSINESS

This section is a brief guide containing tips, and tricks realtors can use when creating ads and using Facebook to generate potential leads or prospects.

1. INSTALL YOUR FACEBOOK PIXELS ON YOUR SITE FOR IMPROVED ANALYTICS 

Facebook pixels are lines of code installed on your website that lets you measure, optimize, and build audiences for your ad campaigns.

This snippet of code also allows you to retarget a specific audience that landed on your website through a Facebook campaign you ran.

Facebook business has explained how pixels work exactly: When someone visits your website and takes action (for example, buying something), the Facebook pixel is triggered and reports this action.

This way, you’ll know when a customer took action after seeing your Facebook ad. You’ll also be able to reach this customer again by using a custom audience.

When more and more conversions start to take place on your website, Facebook’s AI picks this up and it gets better at delivering your ads to people who are more likely to take certain actions. This is called conversion optimization.

Ensure that you or your ad manager install your pixels before running ads or doing ad campaigns. 

2. DRIVE TRAFFIC TO YOUR LANDING PAGE OR WEBSITE TO BOOST SALES

Facebook alone is a good tool, but when used to drive traffic or redirect viewers to your website or service pages, it can work wonders.

The key to making the most out of your ad budget is using a specific landing page to redirect viewers, helping you to meet your goals effectively and have a more specialized CTA for your ads.

For instance, let’s say that you have multiple listings you’d like to show off, instead of creating one big ad to show them all, give your most prized listing their very own Facebook ad. Or you could group list based on the same locations. This ensures:

  • You’re targeting customers who are looking for something specific.
  • It’ll allow you to drive traffic directly to where you want it to go.

3. CREATE A DETAILED TARGET AUDIENCE FOR SUPERIOR RESULTS

When you’re creating your Facebook ad campaign, it’s important to select a specific target audience. Like Marketing, if everyone is your customer, then no one is your customer. When you have a defined target audience, you increase your ads’ chance of success.

Facebook allows you to choose interest, location, age, radius, country, and more. You can also A/B tests the audience with the “Lookalike Feature.”

4. CREATE MOBILE ADS AND CONTENT TO REACH MASS AUDIENCE

We live in a world where people are consistently making use of their phone or desktop to get things done, so having an ad campaign that fits both platforms will increase your chances of conversions.

Facebook found that Mobile-first video ads make up more than half of Facebook’s video revenue, and it makes sense, why? As more users opt to access Facebook from a mobile device, advertisers need to shift their strategies to accommodate that, which means creating videos specifically designed for mobile.

6. A/B TEST YOUR FACEBOOK ADS TO FIND THE OPTIMAL COPY

A/B Testing allows you to test two versions of the same ad with slight variations, A and B, (the Control and the Treatment) are tested against each other to see which ad gets the most conversions or clicks.

 The goal is to identify changes that increase the chance of what you want to occur, occurring and then doubling down on them.

A/B Testing your Image: Sometimes, the winning image of a listing we select won’t always win over prospects. If you notice your real estate Facebook ad isn’t getting enough clicks, then it’s time to change things up. Try using the image of the inside, outside, or the neighborhood around your listing and see which works best.

A/B Testing your Title: Think of your ad titles like movie headlines, giving prospects a sneak peek as to what they can expect if they should buy or inquire about your listing. If you’re thinking about A/B testing your title, then do that until you find the optimal result.

A/B Testing your Target Audience: Try A/B testing your target audience. Again sometimes the people we think would be interested in our listing might not look at your ads. Try targeting persons with a certain financial status, location, ages, and specific interest.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

Real estate marketing with Facebook is a great investment to gain prospects and sell listings to targeted customers. It can seem like a lot of work, but once you overcome your Facebook learning curve and get the hang of it, you’ll be a pro in little time.