Zillow : 5 Things You Need to Do Online to Sell More Real Estate in 2015

With a new year comes the opportunity to implement new strategies that can make your business better than ever. As the world moves toward a more digital experience, you should direct most of your marketing time and efforts to online activities so that you can meet the needs of leads and clients. Whether you're a newbie or an old hand in this industry, every real estate agent should take a good look at their marketing plan and see where they can amp up their online presence.

Here are 5 things you need to do online to sell more real estate in 2015.

Every marketing activity you undertake should drive traffic to your website; if your website doesn't deliver an optimal experience, you risk missing opportunities to attract and convert leads. Improve your site visitors' experience by offering concise but engaging content and a CTA (call to action) on every page.

Your Zillow profile page works hard to prompt leads to contact you. Update your profile and then make it a habit to do so on a regular basis. Refresh your photo, update your bio, and review your listings and past sales for accuracy. Most importantly, make sure your complete contact information appears on your profile page.

Hone your acting and directorial chops and add videos to your website, blog and social media platforms. You should have a library of video tours for every listing as well as "commercials" that feature you demonstrating your experience and expertise; better yet, get client testimonials discussing your customer service and results. Don't forget to optimize your videos for viewing on mobile devices.

Home buyers and sellers use social media for gathering advice and suggestions on the buying process, viewing real estate agent profiles, and reading reviews about them. You need to be where buyers and sellers spend their time. Your social media posts can attract bigger audiences when you mix sales messages with human interest content such as articles on a neighborhood's signature features, decorating on a budget or restaurant reviews. And yes, it's okay to post an occasional listing, too.

Websites like Zillow offer a variety of online advertising options for nearly any budget, and make it easy to get started and maintain your profile. Many sites provide a mobile app so that leads and clients can find you anywhere, anytime. You can also advertise on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, and on search engines like Google and Bing.

In a recent study, 92 percent of home buyers surveyed indicated that they used the Internet in their home search process. Sellers are there, too, going online to find and compare real estate agents. Given the overwhelming online trend, it's more important than ever that you are well-versed in how home buyers and sellers use the Internet, what they do online, how you can be everywhere they are - and how you can contribute to a great experience.

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