It’s no secret that content marketing is a great way for real estate agents to build brand awareness, drive website traffic, establish expert status, build trust with prospects, foster client relationships, and stay top of mind.
But when the rubber meets the road… when you’re sitting in front of the computer and staring at the blinking cursor on a blank page… what should you write about?
The good news is that with the many digital tools available today, creating content is easier than ever. Here are 9 content ideas to get your creative juice flowing:
1. Infographics
They allow you to share information succinctly while engaging your readers with visual content. You can create infographics to explain processes (e.g., how to rent out a property or prepare for an open house) or compare the pros and cons of options such as renting vs. owning, fixed-rate vs. adjustable-rate, and condo vs. townhouse, etc.
2. Virtual Tours
Offering virtual tours is a great way to engage your prospects, especially as videos have become increasingly popular. You can even deliver interactive videos, such as a custom open house, using virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) services such as Google Tango, roOomy, and Matterport to enhance the client experience.
3. Fact Sheets and Glossaries
Real estate transactions can be intimidating for many and you can position yourself as a trusted ally by helping your audience navigate the processes. Fact sheets and glossaries — simple one-pagers packed with digestible and useful information — are easy to create and can be distributed either physically or digitally to your target audience.
4. Checklists
The real estate industry is rife with complicated tax laws and myriad procedural steps that can make anybody’s head spin. Yet, missing just one small step could result in delays and additional costs. You can create checklists to help your audience make sure that nothing falls through the cracks as they go through various transactions.
5. Success Stories
You build trust and credibility by sharing client success stories. Besides written quotes from clients, you can use video testimonials or interviews to increase engagement. In addition, you can share user-generated content (e.g., Instagram posts from happy clients) or publish “case studies” to give readers an in-depth look at how you work with clients.
6. Local Events
Sponsoring or participating in local events is a great way to build relationships with the community and raise brand awareness. You can share content about these events to stay top of mind and boost your local SEO ranking so your website is more likely to get found by searchers looking for real estate agents in your area.
7. High-quality Photos
Professional, high-res photography is still one of the best ways to showcase a property across various marketing channels (e.g., website, emails, social media, printed materials.) You can also create interactive carousels on your website to help potential clients assess homes on the market.
8. Webinar or Q&A Chat
Consumers are increasingly accustomed to interacting with service professionals virtually. You can host a live stream or webinar to share useful information, walkthrough properties, answer questions, and more. Don’t forget to use the opportunity to generate leads and progress prospects down the sales funnel!
9. Expert Interviews
Besides creating your own content, you can collaborate with experts such as builders, lenders, appraisers, originators, attorneys, etc. Invite them to speak at your webinars or guest post on each other’s website. When they share the content with their audience, you’ll also gain exposure to more people who may not have known about your services.
Conclusion
There are many different ways you can share your knowledge and provide value to your audience. To find out what works best for you, track your traffic and analyze your website data to see what content is most effective in attracting high-quality traffic and engaging your audience. Then, focus your resources on producing and promoting more of what works to optimize your ROI.
