25 Real Estate Marketing Ideas To Bring in Qualified Buyers
25 Real Estate Marketing Ideas To Bring in Qualified Buyers
25 Real Estate Marketing Ideas To Bring in Qualified Buyers
Qualified Buyers
Download Now: Free Real Estate Marketing Plan
Meredith Hart
Real estate is a field that's equal parts challenging and potentially lucrative. A 2022
study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) found that 86% of buyers recently
That same study also found that 73% of buyers interviewed only one real estate agent
during their home search — highlighting the importance of building awareness and
getting in front of buyers as quickly as possible. That's why having a solid grasp of real
Below, I’ve compiled some real estate marketing ideas top agents use to promote their
businesses. Whether you’re just getting started or are an experienced realtor looking to
attract new clients, these marketing tips will help you create a successful marketing
plan.
Create a website.
Build a blog.
Co-host a webinar.
1. Create a website.
Creating a website for your real estate business will show prospective clients what you
have to offer. Include listings on your site and update them regularly. This keeps
Add something a little unexpected to set your website apart. Take this mortgage
Creating a website provides a digital hub for interested buyers to learn more about
available properties. They’ll also be able to learn about your real estate agency or agent
Pro tip: Whether you work at a brokerage or have your own firm, creating a website is a
great way to grow your personal brand, show positive reviews from clients you’ve
2. Build a blog.
You can also start a blog and create content optimized for SEO. This ensures your
posts show up in prospect search results every time. Tools like Google Analytics and
Ahrefs can help you find the search terms and keywords your target clients are looking
Make it easy for them to navigate to your main website and link to your profile pages on
other real estate sites so they can learn more about you and your business.
And don't forget to create interesting images for your posts. This infographic would
potential clients. Blogs also create an outlet for sharing industry news, events, and
advice for potential clients. You can stay top of mind for your audience, so they think of
Send a monthly newsletter roundup of your blog content, and reach out to contacts
when new property listings are available. Include images of the properties that link to
the full listing, a video walkthrough of the property, or a virtual staging of the home.
Creating email marketing campaigns lets you connect with past and potential clients in
real estate marketing. By keeping in touch, agents can stay top of mind with their
Pro tip: Add urgency and curiosity to your email subject lines to improve clients' chances
of opening your messages. Here are 20 tips to help you write catchy subject lines.
A virtual staging website gives buyers a sneak preview of what the home looks like.
Online staging saves you the time and money of physically staging the property.
A 2023 study found 85% of staged homes sold for 5-23% more than unstaged homes.
Virtual buyers can envision themselves in a potential new home before visiting the
understand how to use the space and what it would look like if they lived there.
What we like: In the post-pandemic world, virtual staging can be beneficial, whether
Experiential marketing engages your prospects and “invites an audience to interact with
a business in a real-world situation.” Host a tour of the area you’re selling in, hold an
experiences, making it an effective strategy in real estate marketing. Buyers can then
fully engage with the property listings, resulting in deeper connections and higher
conversion rates.
Pro tip: With more than 3 million active real estate licensees in the U.S. today, using
unique marketing tactics can help you stand out from the rest and build personal
Use your local connections and partner with clothing boutiques, home decor
showrooms, and coffee shops to promote listings — and invite them to participate in an
open house event. For a unique way to encourage prospects to visit your open house,
Local partnership popups encourage potential buyers to explore each room, and you
can work with local businesses to determine discounts on goods that can be offered to
home buyers. Plus, you can showcase businesses in the area, making the
What we like: Building brand recognition with popular local businesses can help spread
Instagram is another tool to get in touch with home buyers, promote your listings, and
grow your brand. Your most beautiful images can reach even more people with a paid
promotion.
Instagram ads allow you to pick a target audience, budget, post type (e.g., image, video,
carousel), and promotion length. And you can use targeted hashtags to ensure posts
Paid Instagram promotions allow agents to target their ideal audience with precision.
Instagram ads can target specific demographics, ensuring the most relevant audience
Pro tip: Video ads on Instagram or TikTok aren’t just great for promoting listings — they
also give you a chance to show your personality and build credibility with potential
clients.
Using drone photography, take sweeping shots of the home’s exterior and surrounding
landscape. Purchase a drone or use a drone service, like HouseLens or Sold by Air, to
Use the photos to add an excitement factor to your listings. Video can be used to
supplement your virtual tours or walkthroughs and show exterior features like patios and
pools.
Don‘t have the drone photography chops to show your clients’ homes in their best light?
Services like Drone Base have thousands of experienced photographers around the
Drone shots can add a layer of professionalism and appeal to your listings. They are a
great way to give prospective buyers more insight into the property and surrounding
areas.
With over 188 million monthly viewers, Zillow lets you get your business in front of
thousands of new prospects. This resource from Zillow lists the steps to set up your
profile.
Your profile allows you to share your listings with a large audience and connect with
What we like: Zillow profiles are free and can connect you with a broader audience.
10. Ask for referrals.
Did you know 41% of sellers using a real estate agent found their agent through a
referral from friends or family? If you're not asking for referrals, you should be.
Follow up with buyers a few months after they‘ve settled into their new home to ask how
I hope you‘re settling into your beautiful home! You picked a great neighborhood to buy
it in, and I’m so happy to have been able to help you through the process.
I enjoyed working with you. If you have any friends or family looking to buy or sell in the
area, I‘d love the opportunity to work with them. I’m hosting a happy hour next week to
Feel free to share this event link with anyone you think might be interested: [Insert link
to event page]
Regards,
[Your name]
Some realtors will offer to plan a housewarming party for their new homeowners and
opening the door to new leads. Further, referrals are often the highest quality leads.
They’re already familiar with your work and come with a higher level of trust.
Pro tip: Avoid sounding pushy or overbearing when asking for referrals. A friendly
reminder at closing or in follow-up emails can remind clients to send their friends and
family your way. And don’t be afraid to send a thank you gift for any referrals you
receive.
It‘s no secret that video can be a powerful tool for realtors. And it doesn’t have to cost
thousands.
Whether you go for a highly produced video like the one below with client testimonials
or use video software to record a message from your laptop pitching your services to a
potential client, video can be a way to set yourself apart from the crowd.
Promotional videos humanize your agency and create an emotional connection with
potential clients. By showcasing your unique selling points, you can also differentiate
Pro tip: Get the most out of your videos by adding some flair. Interview past clients,
show aerial drone footage of your listings, or star in the video yourself. This can be a
great way to show off your personality and build trust with potential clients.
current market? Partner with a local lender, title company, or even your favorite staging
service and host a webinar on a topic that interests those considering making a real
estate move.
For example, you might team up with a home improvement service to conduct a
webinar on the most valuable improvements sellers can make to their homes to boost
sales prices. These preferences can differ per state, so this can be valuable information
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Your webinar hosts can offer unique insights and information on a specific topic,
a platform for agents to showcase their expertise and put a human face to their brand.
Pro tip: Don’t forget to request opt-ins from anyone wanting to attend your webinar.
Having attendees provide their names, email addresses, and other contact information
Your satisfied previous clients are an excellent resource for bolstering your credibility
and building trust through your real estate marketing. If a sale goes well, touch base
with the customers you helped and get a paragraph-long blurb about how helpful you
were.
Once you have that content — along with those clients‘ permission to project it — put it
on your website, so prospects can understand how well you’ve previously served
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Testimonials build social proof and establish credibility with potential clients. These
quotes also highlight the personal experiences and relationships that agents have built
with their clients, giving prospects a glimpse into what a partnership looks like.
Best for: Testimonials are one of the best ways to build trust among potential clients, so
share them wherever you can: on your website, in your email newsletters, on social
media, etc. You can also create video testimonials to amp things up!
While the real estate market hasn‘t been exempt from the rising tide of digital
transformation, some old-school marketing tactics can still play into an effective real
estate marketing strategy. More traditional media, like print advertisements and
an ideal strategy for promoting local property listings. Use this strategy in conjunction
What we like: In today’s digital world, snail mail and other traditional advertising media
can help you stand out among your competitors. And research has shown that
consumers are more likely to act on print advertising than on digital ads.
This point is pertinent for all businesspeople who maintain websites — and real estate
agents are no exception. You want your web experience to be as seamless as possible.
Prospects shouldn't have to deal with a clunky “desktop condensed onto a phone
screen” mobile site when they want to learn more about your business.
listings on any device. Google also prioritizes websites optimized for mobile, as they
Pro tip: If building a new website, opt for a template that already has mobile optimization
built in.
Maintaining an active, engaging social media presence is one of the better ways to
frame yourself as a trusted advisor. Join local Facebook groups, and answer relevant
questions that arise on them. You can then take similar strides on other platforms like
You can also share helpful content with your followers. One way or another, establish
yourself as an authority in your space by demonstrating that you know what you're
talking about.
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Why this works:
Prospective clients want to connect with real estate agents that understand the practice,
their niche, and their areas. A helpful social media presence shows that you have a
Pro tip: If you don’t have the time for social media but have the budget, consider hiring a
professional social media marketing manager to help you. They will be versed in
creating and analyzing content across multiple platforms and can help you partner with
One way to keep yourself at the top of potential clients' minds is by staying in active
touch via a newsletter. Send them relevant content, report on local real estate news,
keep them thinking of you by letting them know you’re staying up on trends in your local
market.
Email newsletters provide a cost-effective way to keep clients informed, engaged, and
up-to-date on industry news and trends. By regularly sending out newsletters, agents
Best for: Routine newsletters are a great way to keep your name and business top of
mind with your clientele, whether they are looking to buy themselves or are referring you
to a friend.
18. Create a standout business card.
Printing solid, visually appealing business cards is one of the better ways real estate
Business cards are easily distributable and can help you capitalize on in-person
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Pro tip: Avoid overcrowding your business cards with too much information or printing
them in odd shapes and sizes. Keep them wallet sized with simple, clear, and concise
to know homes they might buy. If you're selling or leasing properties, conducting
thorough video tours and posting those clips with your listings can add credibility and
By featuring high-quality video tours of properties, agents can give potential buyers a
These tours can also save time for both agents and clients. Prospective buyers can
Pro tip: Don’t confuse personal videos with virtual walkthroughs. When showing a
property, make sure the focus is on the living space and surrounding area. There’s a
time to show off your personality and a time to give potential buyers the information they
need to feel comfortable making a decision. This is a time for the latter.
People love free stuff — from keychains to mugs to pens to can koozies and beyond —
so if you can provide swag like that, you should take it. It's an excellent way to get your
brand out and keep your services in mind when attracting and retaining potential clients.
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services. Plus, your swag can help create a sense of pride and loyalty among
employees, who appreciate receiving items that showcase their affiliation with the
company.
Pro tip: Don’t waste your money on cheap swag items that will get thrown in the trash,
like cheap pens or key chains. If you invest in branded swag, go for something practical
or eye-catching, like fun koozies, a nice mug, a stylish tote bag, or quality pens that
write well.
The housing market has been on fire since 2020, both buyers and sellers expect quick,
via live video, you can give buyers a more immersive experience without requiring them
Virtual home tours save time and effort for both real estate agents and potential buyers.
They help buyers to eliminate homes that don't meet their needs without having to visit
them in person, and they allow agents to show more homes to more people in less time.
Moving to a new city can be daunting, especially if you‘re unfamiliar with the area. By
creating guides to various cities in the state in which you’re licensed, highlighting the
best neighborhoods, local attractions, and top-rated schools, real estate agents can
help prospective buyers make more informed decisions about where to live.
informed decision, but it also positions the real estate agent as an expert in the area,
Pro Tip: Be sure to include your contact information throughout the guide so when
buyers see a city they like, they know exactly who to call.
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A beautifully staged home can significantly increase its appeal to potential buyers. By
offering guides for home decorating tips and ideas or using your listings as examples of
how to showcase different decor styles, you can help sellers present their home in the
Home decor guides provide added value to potential buyers and sellers, while also
building the agent's reputation as a trusted adviser and expert in their field.
Podcasts are a popular medium for consumers to learn, stay informed, and be
entertained. By starting a podcast that covers a range of real estate topics, from market
trends to advice for first-time buyers, real estate agents can reach a wider audience and
Podcasts are a great way to establish a personal connection with potential clients. By
sharing their expertise and insights in a casual and conversational manner, agents can
build credibility and trust with their audience, which can lead to new business.
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Understanding the home buying process can be overwhelming for first-time buyers. By
hosting workshops that teach them the basics of buying a home, including how to
secure a mortgage, what to look for in a home, and more, real estate agents can
educate potential buyers and help them feel more confident in their decision-making.
deeper level, building trust and rapport while providing valuable information that can
Without clear goals for your real estate business and marketing strategy, measuring
success is difficult. Consider the following points when developing your marketing plan.
What do you want to accomplish in the short and long term? Develop a vision statement
to identify the goals you’d like to reach. This makes it easier to lay out steps for reaching
buyers, etc.? Identifying the personas you’re selling to paints a clearer picture of who to
3. Develop goals.
Set goals for your overall marketing initiatives and summarize which strategies you’ll
use to accomplish these goals. What are the business goals you’d like to reach? And
what criteria will you use to decide if these goals have been met?
Think about what differentiates you from your competition. Here are some questions
How does your unique approach or personality create value for prospects?
What are your market's latest pricing, selling, and buying trends?
How can you discuss these trends (including the numbers) with prospects?
Pick the top marketing ideas for your business, selling proposition, and ideal target
market. From there, calculate how much of your budget to allocate to each strategy.
6. Measure performance.
Once you’ve identified the tools you’ll use to market your business, write down key
metrics to measure their success. Determine the timeframe for the strategy or campaign
Goal: The post should gain 1,000 impressions and have a click-through rate of 1%.
marketer” actually is. Several potential marketing ideas for real estate professionals
don‘t need to be allocated to a consultant or third party. For instance, you probably don’t
But often, real estate professionals lack the time, resources, and know-how to assume
If you're struggling with website design, content creation, graphic design, SEO, or any
other technical or creative process beyond your skill set, you might want to bring in
them to your services. Creating a marketing plan will help you set goals for your
Editor's note: This post was originally published in July 2019 and has been updated for
comprehensiveness.
This article was written by a human, but our team uses AI in our editorial process.
Check out our full disclosure to learn more about how we use AI.