Instagram is the most visual of all of the social media platforms but is often the one that is overlooked by the real estate industry. Which is a shame because it can be precisely the right place you need to be focusing on if you are looking to sell homes.
Instagram has over 1 billion users, 35% of whom are in the 25-34 year age range, and overall the audience is aged 34 years or younger. Social media is the first place successful millennials go to when they consider purchasing a home.
This generation likes to do their homework before reaching out to a professional, so if your company is not present on social media, then it’s going to be more challenging to connect with them!
The first thing you need for a great Instagram Feed is Professional Photos
When people are looking at photos on Instagram, only the best of the best will catch their eye. Meaning your photos should showcase the listing’s best features to make it appealing to your ideal customer.
The photos you feature of a listing should be high quality and realistic. Attention to detail is essential because pictures of listings that are cluttered, dark, or from weak vantage points will not stop the scroll!
Your Instagram account should be an extension of your brand. While, of course, every listing won’t look the same, there should be the same “feel” to the photos that reflect on your brand aesthetic.
One of the advantages of hiring my company, Virginia Architectural Imagery; as our partnership grows, so does my understanding of your business. The result is photos you are proud to use, reflects your desired brand aesthetic, and that gets their properties moving fast!
Don’t Just Feature Photos Every Day!
If you’re just posting photos and a few lines about the listing, your feed will not be nearly dynamic enough to set you apart. You want to think about your Instagram feed as a wholly updated version of your website, right down to color schemes, logos, and any other branding you use.
The Highlights Section
Think of the highlight section as the place for your business insights and philosophy. Anything posted in this area of the feed should be “evergreen” or always true of your business. You can purchase custom highlight buttons with your branding from sites like www.etsy.com. Here you can add in videos about yourself, your agents, and testimonials you have gotten.
Instagram Stories
Stories are a great place to expand on those great listing photos you have in your feed. Encourage people to get a more in-depth look into the property by checking out your stories and have more detailed information in the stories about the property. Stories are meant to be fun, so don’t be afraid to add some exciting elements such as GIFS, polls, and of course, be sure to tag your location.
A Word About Hashtags
You’ll need to do a little research on hashtags used for your area, or if a particular hashtag is trending for real estate. Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags, but it’s better to go for quality hashtags over quantity.
Linking on Instagram
Unlike Facebook, Instagram does not allow you to post URLs in a post. So, to drive people to your website or another page on the web that you want them to go to, you need to have that link in your bio that you set up. If you have multiple places you want them to go, then a service like www.linktr.ee is excellent because you can list many URLs. Then all you have to do is say “Link in Bio” in the text, and the potential buyer will know where to go.
Calls to Action
Don’t forget to tell them how to get in touch with you or an open house! Every post you do should have a call to action letting your potential buyer know exactly how to get in touch with you or how to find out more.
Professional Real Estate Photography in Richmond, VA
If your real estate listings need quality professional photography, get in touch. I have many different levels of service depending on what you and your agency needs!
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