Greenwich Time

Social media proves an effective marketing tool for listings and agents

- Amy Whitlaw, Sotheby’s Internatio­nal Realty, 203-869-4343 office, 203-536-6324 cell, amy.whitlaw@sothebys. realty

The real estate industry’s leveraging of social media has come a long way in the past decade. Many agents now find it more expedient than print advertisin­g, because informatio­n can be passed along in real time, allowing agents to provide the most current informatio­n, which is important in a dynamic, fast-paced market.

The home-buying search generally starts online, which means Realtors need to be out in front of that search. Social media not only enables them to promote their listings, but offers agents an inexpensiv­e way to promote themselves. Many agents create a personal brand that includes a logo and maybe a tagline and then consistent­ly post not only about their business, but bits and pieces about their personal life that can include hobbies, pets, travel and family. This allows potential buyers and sellers to learn a little more about them as individual­s instead of simply being one of many Realtors with “X” company.

Some very clever agents can gain followers because they not only offer a look at beautiful houses, but also a peek inside a fun and exciting lifestyle, which can be very effective in luxury markets like Greenwich.

Another great thing about social media is that agents can track how many views their posts receive and share this feedback with their sellers. There are also sites that allow agents to select certain markets so they can target their listings to specific demographi­cs.

Overall, social media has become an easy and affordable way to soft sell one's business to the public, without coming off as overly intrusive or pushy.

And it allows agents the flexibilit­y to keep their content fresh, and to present themselves in a profession­al, knowledgea­ble light, without spending thousands of dollars.

 ??  ?? Amy Whitlaw
Amy Whitlaw

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States