SoCal Has Become a Social MediaInfluencer Paradise
The rise of social media use in real estate is plain to see. As an app that’s all about visual appeal, Instagram has naturally been integrated by real estate agents into their marketing arsenal. Platforms like Instagram are powerful tools, they change how we interact with each other, share information, and now how we shop online. From fashion to furniture, and now also in the housing market, Instagram’s visual concept is perfectly suited for marketing.
SoCal’s Social Media Collab Homes
In Los Angeles, the City of Angels has quickly become the City of Influencers. From creative collab mansions to homes tucked in the hills that look like a preschooler’s dream home, social media has turned LA’s housing market into an influencer haven.
There’s one upside to all of this craziness, and that’s marketing these fabulously expensive homes utilizing influencers. Real estate agent Rochelle Atlas Maize created a genius strategy for selling Julie Steven’s Santa Monica home. By listing the house available for free for influencers to film inside, Maize incentivized a wave of interested influencers who recognized the rare opportunity. Two weeks later, the home was in escrow and received multiple offers.
“I had just read a story about how young influencers had been making money and purchasing homes,” Maize told The Wall Street Journal. She created a plan to allow creators to film there in exchange for using specific hashtags to help advertise the property.
For the full story, read our blogLuxury Real Estate in the Age of the Social Media Star.
The Rise of Instagram and Mobile Use in Real Estate
By now, you’ve heard the countless reasons why you should be using Instagram as a real estate agent, and how using social media can grow your real estate business. However, the important opportunity to see here is the rise of mobile use in real estate searches, and exactly how much time people spend on their phones.
“Nine times out of 10, when I speak to an agent, they don’t have any strategy for the content that goes into their Instagram,” says Danielle Garofalo, Chief Business Development Officer at CORE Real Estate in New York City.
Most agents don’t see the potential the apps hold, and they don’t understand how they can use the app as a tool to generate more leads. The average person spends half an hour every day on Instagram, and it’s an ideal space for you to connect with potential clients.
Consider these key Instagram stats before creating your social media marketing strategy.
Key Instagram Stats
- 500 million daily active users of Instagram Stories (official statistics)
- Gender split of Instagram users estimated at 51% female to 49% male
- 140 million Instagram users in the U.S.
- 70% of Instagram users are under 35
- Instagram can generate over 4x more interactions on Instagram compared to Facebook
- Users spend an average of 28 minutes a day on Instagram
If you follow any big-wig successful real estate agents, social media is a skill they have mastered, getting people’s attention and time to consume their content.
Time and Attention
In today’s digital age, time and attention are the new currencies that brands are competing for.
When you consider this important factor, know that any potential buyer or seller is spending a great deal of time researching their next move. On average, homebuyers spend 10 weeks searching for a new home. During that period, 93% of people visit websites when searching for homes.
According to the National Association of REALTORS®, 81% of older millennials, 80% of younger millennials, and 78% of Generation X found their homes on a mobile device. Around 68% of younger Boomers did the same.
How Agents Can Utilize Local Influencers
While this sounds crazy, influencers (when chosen wisely) do in fact have an influence on their audience. These individuals have amassed a large follower base that spans hundreds of thousands if not millions of followers. What better way to market a listing? After all, expansion and awareness have never hurt a listing’s lifecycle on the market.
A quick Google search can help you find the top influencers in your city, which will help you make the connection with either the influencer or possibly their agent (yes, many professional influencers have agents).
If you’re on the fence about influencer marketing, but still want to upgrade your social media marketing, check out our blog on the Top 3 Social Media Platforms for REALTORS®.
The content provided on this website is deemed accurate at the time of creation.
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