102 Clever Ways To Get More Real Estate Leads, The Ultimate Real Estate Marketing List

The Ultimate List For Realtors and Brokers - 
102 Clever Ways To Get More Real Estate Leads, The Ultimate Real Estate Marketing List
This list is to inspire realtors to get more leads! I hope you use this list and enjoy. 

• VIRTUAL STAGING

A new technology sweeping real estate is virtual staging. You can take empty room photos and add furniture, decor and interior design. And good companies look real! Use this technology to add value to your process, and overcome doubts from prospects.Cool Technology www.whynothomes.com (Of course we mention our team!)

• TOURISM BLOG POSTS

Publish blog posts featuring interesting places, activities and personalities in your area. Someone may drop in for a visit and find your location interesting enough to stay longer and buy a home.

• TESTIMONIALS

Testimonials are a great way to build your credibility. Make sure that testimonials are prominent in all pages. Comments should be short, sincere and influential.

• BLOG COMMENTS

In your blog posts, encourage comments by asking open-ended questions or asking them to share about similar experiences. Build a community that respond to each other’s needs.

• EMAIL DISTRIBUTION

In all your pages, include your email address at the bottom. Although there is usually a “contact” page, people usually find it easier to click on the email address. Make sure it is prominently seen.

• BLOG POSTS WITH VALUE

Blog posts that address the needs, questions or concerns of buyers and sellers will be appreciated. Some examples are ‘How to identify a profitable property investment’, ‘Checklist in buying old properties’, ‘Top 10 reasons why X city is the best place to raise a family’ or ‘The fastest way to sell your property’. 

• GOOGLE MAPS

Make sure that your business address, website, logo and contact numbers are correct by googling your business name. Your customers may be calling up your competitors instead. So make sure these are updated on Google maps, Map Quest, Yellowpages and Applemaps.
StartHere: https://www.google.com/business/ https://www.google.com/business/

• WEBSITE WITHOUT MUSIC

Keep your website simple and professional. Avoid music and other extras that may distract visitors from your message

• WEB DESIGN UPDATES

Web designs change frequently. Be observant when you visit other websites; look out for improvements that can be applied to your own website. A redesign every three years should be acceptable.

• LOCAL AND SPECIFIC ARTICLES

Maintain the conversational and personal tone in your blog posts. There should be a variety of topics for both buyers and sellers. Have a local IDX (Internet Data Exchange) search.

• WEB LEAD FOLLOW-UPS

Once the inquiries increase, know the appropriate way to respond. Urgent inquiries need a callback immediately. However, minor and repetitive inquiries can be addressed by a FAQ page in your website. Always include a monthly email of your local market. To create a custom newsletter, use services like Aweber.com
Aweber.com

• VIDEO POSTING TO WEBSITE

Instead of blogging, try posting a video. This ranks high in google and most people nowadays prefer watching to reading.

• NEIGHBORHOOD REVIEWS

If there are new restaurants in the area, write a post reviewing the food, ambience and service. This creates interest in the city. Always provide a link to your website.

• INCREASE SEO LINKS

Increase your visibility in the search engines by finding creative ways to add links to your website – social forums, other bloggers, business partners, neighborhood directories, etc.

• LINKS TO NEIGHBORHOOD PAGES

Know all about keywords (the words frequently used by your target customers). Create a hyperlink for text like 'XYZ homes for sale' and link to neighborhood pages. This will help in your google ranking.

• MULTIPLE LINKS PER POST

On each blog post, add at least 5 links. If you have related blog posts, these can link to each other. If a fellow blogger elaborated on a topic, add a link to that post.

• GOOGLE MAPS

Add google maps in your ‘Contact” page.

• YOUTUBE VIDEOS IN BLOG POST

Embed a Video - When you embed a video on your site, you can add relevant information right on the page people are searching for. Use this method when you are discussing a new area or property.

• ACTIVATION OF WEB PAGES

Activate older pages – update your mission statement, add events or announcements, anything to refresh and rank higher in Google

• TRAFFIC THROUGH AFFILIATES

Set up an affiliate plugin on your website. Offer this to other websites so that they can earn from each lead they give you. This is an advanced advertising technique that can be very powerful

• SUBSCRIPTIONS

Have a subscribe button. Those interested in getting your blog posts or newsletters are potential leads.

• HIRE A WEB DESIGNER

Have a web designer redesign your website. Great design builds trust.

• MAKE AN APP

More people are using their mobile phones instead of desktop. Capture this market by creating apps on IOS and android - be specific to the needs of your area. Review existing real estate apps (for both buyers and sellers - property searches, mortgage calculators, data scanner, ) to find out their weak points. Outsource the building and testing of your app. There is always an easier, faster and more efficient way to complete real estate transactions.

• LIVE CHAT SUPPORT

Enhance your website to include live chat. Making yourself available online to answer their immediate queries is a big help. This is one way to know the needs/concerns for your FAQ page. Also one way of capturing their names and telephone numbers for follow-up.

• OWN YOUR WEBSITE HOSTING

When you decide you need a website, make sure you own your server space. That way, you can make a custom email, add your own content anytime, and maintain control over your server space. Smart business owners understand the importance of owning thier server space. A great provider is Bluehost.com, you can get started owning your own server space for around $4 dollars a month. Check it out here: http://www.bluehost.com/
Or click the link to the right to learn more.
Bluehost.com

• CREATE A WEBSITE DESIGN WITH WEEBLY.COM

When creating a website, its important to move fast and keep your site deign professional. If you dont code (like most people) a great alternative is the website creator weebly. You can drag and drop your website needs and format the site with ease. This is a great tool for business owners who are short on time, but need something to look great. You can also upgrade to weebly through your bluehost server account. Try it free at the link -->Weebly.com

• LOCAL RAFFLES

Local businesses like restaurants and groceries usually have raffles during holidays or special events. Get in touch with the event organizers and contribute instant prices to customers that provide their name, address and phone number. Display a picture of your price (or the actual price itself) in a location that can't be missed.

• DOOR HANGERS

Colorful and eye-catching messages in door hangers can be very effective in advertising your business. Design can be made by canva, a free app. http://fitsmallbusiness.com/real-estate-door-hangers/

• EVERY DOOR DIRECT MAIL SERVICE

Send your marketing materials (for example, flyers, letters) using the USPS marketing service. To avoid wastage, you can carefully select homes using information like age, income and household size. You also have the flexibility of designing and printing your own materials or partnering with affiliates of USPS. While your business is growing, your niche may be changing. The "EDDM" mapping tool can be re-used to change your choice of mailing routes.

• MOVING COMPANIES

Start joint ventures with moving companies to generate fresh leads. When people relocate to a new city, they usually rent while taking the time to choose homes to buy. Movers are their first point of contact so this is a great way to introduce your real estate business.

• REFERRALS

Referrals are still the huge way source of leads. In all face-to-face situations, always find a way to talk about your realty business and leave them a business card or gift to help them remember you.

• Radio and TV Advertising.

Radio and TV are still the traditional way of advertising. Find shows related to real estate like flipping homes, home makeovers, home improvements. Travel shows that feature your location. Talk shows that discuss real estate common issues or changes in the market.

• MLS LISTINGS

MLS is a great source of homes for sale. Search for those with high potential and promote yourself as a realtor in the area. Leave your link.

• Public Speaking.

This is very effective to build your credibility as an expert in your field. It will also build your network.

• BUMPER STICKER PROMOTION

Send out bumper stickers with catchy messages that advertise your business. This is instant advertising during traffic.

• LOGO EXPOSURE

Decide on a nice logo that represents your business. Have this printed on pens, shirts, hats, flyers and business cards. These should be ready as give-away items while meeting people face-to-face. Unexpected gifts are always welcomed.
99deisgns.com

• LOCAL BULLETIN BOARD ADVERTISING

Always be on the lookout for places where your flyers can be posted. The local spa, grocery stores usually have a bulletin board where you can post for free.

• FLYER MARKETING

The best places for your flyers are those where customers are maintaining homes. The local home depot are where people go to fix their homes. They may be on the lookout for new properties that are not too costly to maintain.

• BUSINESS CARDS

Be ready to give out your business card during your face-to-face meetings. Someone may be on the lookout for a home or may know someone else. Your business card will be handy for passing your name.
VistaPrint.com 500 Business Cards For $9.99

• PEN MARKETING

Pens are useful and are kept longer. If your logo is there, it will always be seen.

• POST IT NOTES

Similar to pens, post-its and thumb drives are other useful items that are always on-hand. Add your logo and use them as giveaways.

• DIRECT MAIL ADVERTISING

Create beautiful real estate postcards as part of your direct mail campaign. You can also post these in bulletin boards.

• MOVOTO

Partner with Movoto where they can help direct a customer to you

• FACEBOOK GROUP POSTING

Search facebook for groups that are related to your niche. Look up those with posts on DIY home tips, or those featuring your city or state. These groups will show as potential pages if these match your facebook profile.

• YOUTUBE VIDEOS

One limitation of Google is providing information at the local level. Since youtube is the next choice for getting this information, try creating a youtube channel focusing on the activities of the cities or towns where you’re selling houses.
youtube.com

• FACEBOOK ADS

Facebook advertising is very affordable and targeted. You can specify the demographics of your target customer and Facebook will send your ads to them.Social Media Marketing facebook.com

• TWITTER SEARCH FOR LEADS

Use advanced search to target your customers in Twitter.

• SOCIAL MEDIA POSTING

Use bufferapp to schedule your social media postsSocial Media Marketing
buffer.com

• WEB VISITOR FOLLOW-UPS

Be proactive and work efficiently. When there are visitors to your site, always acknowledge their comments. Follow-up with a phone call, SMS message or email.

• SOCIAL MEDIA SCHEDULING

Maintain a regular weekly schedule. We are creatures of habit so we are most effective if we follow a schedule. Set aside specific hours during the week to post blogs in your website or comment or share on social media. Have a notebook always ready to list down ideas for your blog. The inspiration can come from comments, an article you read, an observation, etc. Once home, write these down in your content plan as reference for future posts.

• FACE EXPOSURE

Be consistent in your branding. In your social media, maintain the same picture so that people can easily visualize you. Even in person, be consistent with your brand.

• SOCIAL MEDIA GOAL SETTING

Know your most effective social media platforms and how frequent to post. Then block the time in your schedule. To be interactive with your social media followers.

• PROPERTY SEARCH IN CAR REPO

Another creative way of sourcing properties is by finding out people who are getting their car repossessed. The next might be their homes. So be the first to market their properties.

• GARAGE SALES

Another creative way to find out properties for sale is by visiting garage sales. Those selling may be moving out so they may need help selling their homes. Other people who visit garage sales are new homebuyers on a budget. They might have friends who are also planning to relocate to your city due to a job assignment. Network with these people to get leads.

• LINKEDIN MARKETING

Connect with people you meet over Linkedin. This social network is a great way to stay in touch and be in front of your prospects. Add you blog post here, or just post an update on your real estate market.

• COMPETITOR ANALYSIS

The big real estate companies conduct a lot of expensive research in their marketing campaigns. Observe and learn from them. Try to do the same on a smaller scale or budget.

• BE NICE

Be courteous in answering the phone, always eager to help. You will leave a good impression.

• PROPERTY SEARCH - Divorces

Another creative way to source for homes is to find out who are divorcing. These are motivated sellers and may want to dispose of their family homes soon.

• HOBBIES

Even while indulging in your hobbies, these are perfect networking opportunities to make your business visible in an informal way. The more people who know your business, the better.

• SOURCE ARTICLES ONLINE

If writing is a challenge, this can be outsourced to content providers like iwriter.com. There are many similar services. Outsource this so that you can focus on building your business.
iwriter.com

• RECRUITING INTERNS

Social media posting can be tedious since this is done regularly. You will always need fresh ideas. Try hiring an intern from nearby schools. You will be helping someone gain experience while freeing your time to concentrate on your business.

• MANAGE OUTSOURCED WORK

You will also need to oversee these outsourced tasks. For newbies, be specific about your requirements and meet them regularly to check on their outputs.

• WATCHING LEAD STATISTICIS

If your website is on Wordpress or you have a Facebook page, check the statistics – how many read your posts and at what times in the day? Which posts created engagements or reactions? Which had an impact and how much response did you get? Knowing these stats will help you decide on the frequency and ideal publishing times of your Facebook ads. It will also help you decide which topics you will delegate more to content writers.

• USE CANVA

Take advantage of free apps like Canva which makes it very easy to create custom images for your web pages. This can also be outsourced.

• HIRING THROUGH FIVERR

Fiverr.com is another quick source. For $5, you can hire someone to post for you in social media, make images or even logos. Check it out for more details. But watch out for low quality work.

• DELEGATED SHORT TASKS

There are tasks that you can always delegate. Once you have a schedule for your social media and blog posts plus a content marketing plan, search for an intern or social media company who can carry these out for you. If your family is actively using Pinterest or Facebook, they can also help post for you, exposing your business to a different set of people.

• LOCAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS

Keep good relationships with those providing services for your business. Examples are the movers/packers, stagers, termite and pet control businesses, furniture sellers, auctioneers. If they have websites, you can ask them to include your business in their reference page and you can do likewise. Word-of mouth advertising is also very effective.

• NEIGHBORHOOD CLUBS

There are neighborhood associations like your local Toastmasters club, you can ask them to include links to your website. People browsing their website may (by chance) also be needing your services.

• LOCAL ATTRACTION REVIEWS

Contribute articles to travel blogs featuring local attractions. One way is to give a top-10 list of the best restaurants in your area and add your link. Someone may be doing a web search of your area prior to moving.

• OPEN HOUSE MARKETING

Have a digital open house wherein all potential customers can view a house at a specific time and video-chat with you. This saves a lot of time and effort. Your clientele is also maximized to include those from other countries or states.

• REVIEWS OF LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Taken from a non-resident's point of view, write an review on the local attractions in the area. Highlight the best reasons to live there, from the millennial to the retirees. Always provide a link.

• LOCAL RESIDENT INTERVIEWS

Interview local people on what they love most about living in their cities or town. This could be a blog, submitted article or a video.

• INTERVIEW SCHOOL EMPLOYEES

Write a special blog post for parents, featuring the various school districts. To do this, you will need to interview school employees. Parents love this!

• VIDEO OF VARIOUS LIVING OPTIONS

Another good idea is to post videos on alternative living options. For those on long business trips, show various apartments that are very homey. For students on a budget, show the dormitories or shared spaces available. For the growing family, show the proximity of schools and shopping malls. For retirees, show relaxing spaces and conveniences.

• LINKS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES

Call other businesses aligned to your business - like the movers, interior decorators, architects, termite companies, household decors, second-hand furniture stores. Ask them to link to your website and do the same for them. Many links will build your presence in search engines.

• BUYING ADS IN LOCAL WEBSITES

Be on the lookout for local websites or school activities that are selling slots for advertising. These can be very cheap but will increase your online exposure.

• SPONSORING SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

For schools with their own websites, find out if there are any school activities that you can sponsor (a recital, graduation, sports event, contests). In their calendar page, you can then place your ad. Not only will this build your SEO but it will advertise your business to potential homebuyers like parents.

• DONATING TO NON-PROFITS

Donate to a non-profit organization while providing a link to your website

• CLASSIFIED AD POSTING

Post houses for sale through the classified ads. Make sure your ad contains important key words. Show attractive pictures and highlight the advantages of choosing your houses - safety/security, new furniture, privacy.
Superads.com
Craigslist.com
Zillow.com
Truelia.com
EbayClassifieds.com
Backpage.com
Reachoo.com
DomesticSale.com
TheGoodDeal.com
Semesh.com
Apartable.com
RealRentals.com
Hotpads.com
Americanlisted.com
Ihouseweb.comLocal MarketingSuperads.com
Craigslist.com
Zillow.com
Truelia.com
EbayClassifieds.com
Backpage.com
Reachoo.com
DomesticSale.com
TheGoodDeal.com
Semesh.com
Apartable.com
RealRentals.com
Hotpads.com
Americanlisted.com
Ihouseweb.com
Short Sale Homes For Sale
A creative way to search for potential homes for sale is to find short sale listings. These are mortgages that are 30,60,90 days late on mortgage and could possibly be on sale very soon. Be the first to offer your services as realtor.

• PIZZA BOX ADVERTISING

Pizzas have a wide customer base. Have an attractive logo and advertise your real estate business on pizza boxes. Most eat pizzas as a group around the box so your business can be a conversation item.

• JOINT VENTURE WITH TERMITE AND PEST COMPANIES

Be creative in your search for leads. Termites and pest companies are potential partners since homebuyers usually need inspectors prior to buying. When posting your ads, you can mention this affiliation with termite companies.

• VACANT PROPERTY SEARCH

Another creative way of finding houses to market is by going around and finding vacant properties. Search courthouse records to get information. You may find motivated sellers here.

• WHOLESALER PROPERTY LISTS

Another creative way of getting properties to sell is by finding investors with a list of wholesale properties (like a subdivision). The investor will share this information to get as many leads as possible.

• BLOCK PARTY

Organizing a party with neighbors is a good way to build community, get your business known to get new leads.

• BOARD MEMBERSHIP

Having responsibility as board member of a local organization will build your credibility in the community.

• VOLUNTEER

If they're big events in your city (like a concert or a visit from public figures), volunteer to help. This is a great way to network with others and advertise your business.

• SPONSOR AN EVENT

Every time you have a marketing promotion, it would be best to tie-up with big events related Fire Prevention Week, Breast Cancer Awareness, Presidents Day, etc. Even if the event is not related to real estate, as long as people are attending, someone will most likely be interested in buying or selling homes.

• Meetup.com

Meetup groups with similar interests are great sources of business. You can share your knowledge of real estate with others. For your hobbies, you can build your network of potential leads.
meetup.com

• BUY BREAKFAST FOR SOMEONE

An unexpected treat like buying breakfast for the local firefighters will also build your reputation. People who lose homes in a fire are potential homebuyers.

• TEACH A SAFETY CLASS

Build your reputation by showing your concern for neighbor's safety. Organize a Safety Awareness Program to prevent fires and accidents in the home.

• PARENT TEACHER MEETING SPONSER

Sponsor food for parent-teacher meetings and advertise your business. Parents are your potential market of homebuyers.

• TEACH A CLASS

Speak in local elementary schools so that parents will know you and your business.

• COLLEGE ASSISTANCE

Help any college course related to real estate by giving lectures and identifying quick learners who could help search for leads.

• ZILLOW

Use zillow.com in order access more browsing buyers. Make sure to answer questions and be helpful. This site holds a ton a great leads for your business.

• ALLIANCE WITH MARKET LEADERS

From the big real estate leaders, try to buy exclusive leads from them. These homes have already been preselected for their high value so these are easier to market.

• REALTOR.COM

Use realtor.com and register for your local town. Many people use this site to find an active agent in the area

• REDFIN PARTNERSHIP

Competitors can also be sources of leads. If their customers are finding homes outside their area or lower than their budget, they can direct these customers to you. Be partners with them.

• FREQUENT EMAILS

Email marketing can be very effective. Start a buyer/seller how-to course wherein you send weekly emails. Address their needs and build their trust on your expertise. Set up a drip sequence with Aweber.com.
Aweber.com

• EBOOK MARKETING

Compile your most popular blog posts into an ebook. Or create a new one with very useful info. Offer it for free in exchange for customer’s email.

• BING ADS

Bing is another powerful search tool that could gain a lot of traffic for your site. To post an ad, you can either work on a fixed budget or pay-per-click only.
bing.com