Engaging your social media followers starts with great marketing content. In Part 4 of this 4-part series, we’ll focus on blogs and powerful images that will stop your followers from scrolling. Let's get started!
Click on any of the first 6 topics below to see recent blog posts in this real estate marketing series.
Blogs
Images
A blog is a great way to educate and entertain your followers. Writing conversational-style blog posts on your website or a web page builds a following and grows engagement. Boost engagement by sharing real-life stories and adding a bit of humor, and your followers will look forward to reading more of your blog articles.
According to a Microsoft study, our attention span has dropped to 8-seconds.
Easy-to-consume content is a great way to engage your followers quickly. The attention span of viewers has dropped to 8-second ( Microsoft), so it’s essential to engage them within seconds of seeing your content.
Consider adding a short, attention-grabbing video to the beginning of your blog. Use your video to enthusiastically explain your article and leave a cliffhanger at the end (“wait until you read about the tree swing!”). Draw your audience in within seconds and give them a reason to read your blog through to the end. As a bonus, you can share your video on social media, email, and through text to engage even more followers. If you aren’t interested in recording a video, consider making a quick GIF to draw in your audience.
If you want the best SEO, focus on 2,100 to 2,400 words per blog article (Hubspot).
TIP: If you prefer a vlog (video blog) or a podcast, transcribe them into blog articles. Yes! Transcribing your podcast gives you even more engagement because you satisfy those who learn visually and those who learn auditorily.
Use your blog to clear up confusion about real estate and include why the topic matters to you. If you have a story from a client, get permission to use it in the article to give your readers a chance to experience a real-life situation.
Take a few minutes to look at blogs you read frequently. What keeps you coming back to read them each week? You likely feel a connection with the writer. That’s how I feel about the “Total Annarchy” blog. It’s an easy-to-read blog with a bit of humor, I feel connected to the writer, and I always learn something new.
Incredible images will capture the attention of your audience and stop the scrolling. Whether you’re sharing an image of a house or an image of yourself enjoying a real estate convention, take time to make your photos look as professional as possible.
When taking photos of a house, use a professional photographer whenever possible. If you’re using your phone to snap a quick photo for social media, shoot in good light, and at favorable angles. For example, instead of shooting a straight-on photo of the front of the house, shoot from a low angle.
We’re drawn to professional-looking photos that evoke feelings. A photo of a home taken at sunset, you laughing at a conference, a hug from clients who have purchased their first house, all share emotion. Put some feeling behind your photos and you’ll be rewarded with more engagement.
The “wow” factor definitely has a place in real estate photos. An image of a living room with a fireplace may be beautiful, but compare it to a styled photo and you’ll see a true winner. Imagine a roaring fire, a cashmere throw on the arm of the couch, a steaming cup of cocoa with the fireplace in the background. That’s the type of photo that captures the attention of your social media followers, especially when you add an emotion-laden caption.
Imagine propping your feet up in front of this warm and cozy fireplace, a luxurious cashmere throw over your shoulders, and a steaming cup of tea to soothe your worries away. Ahhh… Check out my up-and-coming listing on 34th & Brown, and you’ll fall in love with the character of the home.
Sharing images of your involvement in your community provides a great way to engage with your followers on social media, your website, and your blog. Photos of you volunteering at a local animal shelter, or raising money for a family who lost their home to a fire, give people a glimpse of your “giving” side. These photos leave people feeling like they already know you, making it easier to connect when you finally meet them face-to-face.
Conclusion
As seen throughout this 4-part marketing series, there are several ways you can engage your audience on social media, through your blog, and directly through email or text. Whether you use your own stories to bring your blog to life, or you make an impact with professional photos across all mediums, you have the power to make connections with followers long-term.
Try a couple of the marketing options provided in this series and see what works best with your audience. Whatever marketing tip you decide to use, practice it for at least 3 months before shelving it. When you take your time to develop meaningful content and check your analytics, you will discover what your audience responds to, and what platform(s) is your sweet spot. Gradually experiment with all the marketing options in this series, and you'll find one that sets you on a course to success.
If you missed the previous posts in this 4-part real estate marketing series, click on the options below:
Part 1: One Piece of Content, Video