No one expected 2020 to be the year of a global pandemic. Up until the initial months of the year, everything was business as usual (with a few exceptions). But now COVID-19 has changed the way we live our lives. And has also changed the way we do business. This is especially true when it comes to realtors. Social distancing and mandatory lockdowns have forced realtors to transition from open-houses to more modern and innovative approaches to showcase properties. In consequence, realtors have taken advantage of a tool with immense power for brand awareness, engagement, and influence: Social Media.
In the first quarter of 2020, realtors were still conducting their businesses and attending their buyers the same way they have been for years before. The real estate market was a predominantly “in-person” industry. Property viewings, signings, and notarizations were actions that needed to be done in person. There were alternatives, they just weren’t paid too much attention.
On January 1, 2020, the state of Florida passed House Bill 409 and became the 21st state to adopt Remote Online Notarization (RON). This new bill allowed real estate professionals to close transactions, even if one of the parties were not physically present. For this, audio and video communication is used to notarize the signer’s electronic signature on electronic documents. However, in the first quarter of the year, very few realtors were registered to take advantage of the bill. It wasn’t a priority for the times. But this changed with COVID-19.
With quarantine orders putting a halt on the real estate market, realtors hastily searched for alternatives to keep their businesses in full swing. Insert the recent increase use of Virtual Showings, 3D Virtual Real Estate Tours, and Social Media.
Social Media is the perfect solution for realtors to face the problem of getting in front of their clients. Besides the fact that through Live Broadcasts, realtors can showcase a property to a considerably larger amount of people than possible in person. Many have already started implementing the use of Facebook Live and/or Instagram Live to display their listings, answer questions or doubts, and provide any extra information.
In addition, through Social Media, you also have the benefit of being able to reach a broader audience. The more followers, subscribers, or “friends” you have on Social Media, the more chances you have to find high-quality clients that are ready to purchase. It also allows you to interact with clients, increase engagement with your content, and be more likely to be recommended to other buyers. There are virtually no limits to the growth you may have on Social Media. And those who have an active social network are the ones who are getting the buyers, listings, and transactions. However, not everybody is highly tech-savvy, and the change in the industry might be harder for some to assimilate than others.
If you are looking to take advantage of Social Media to impulse your business, here’s what you need to do:
- Make sure your profile is up to date. Irrelevant profiles will not get attention and interest from buyers. Check that your social accounts do not have outdated information and have a fresh and modern look.
- Post great content. Provide your followers with content they can benefit from, in a very fashionable manner. Make sure you have images and videos that are visually appealing and provide the viewer with information that they will be happy to receive and share with others.
- Get involved with local Facebook Groups. Your buyers are on Facebook. That’s an absolute certainty. Join local Facebook Groups to interact with the local community and promote your services.
- Do a Live Broadcast at least once a month. This allows you to interact with followers directly, get a sense of what your audience is looking for, and showcase yourself as a realtor that is updated to the times. There are many options for live broadcasts, but the most recommended are Facebook Live and Instagram Live.
- Engage with your audience. Answer questions, provide insight, comment on their posts, and consider showing the “behind the curtains” life of your business. This will make you seem like a real person in the eyes of the buyer instead of just a business. In short, be social.
- Participate in our periodic Social Media Classes. We offer Social Media classes for realtors to learn the newest and most relevant practices and techniques to grow their business online. Signup to our newsletter to get updates on our classes.
It is no secret that these are challenging times. The industry has changed. The old way of doing things is no longer effective and we have all been forced to overcome different levels of adversity. But those that put in the effort to adapt to the new way of conducting business will see the results they desire.
We, at Title Partners of Florida, write and support the real estate transaction closing, including the issuance of title insurance policies through Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund. We also coordinate searches, title products, and a variety of other services for our clients. Contact us with any questions about our real estate closing services by phone (844) 321-6168 or by email at titleinfo@titlepartnersfl.com.
