5 Common Marketing Questions Asked By Real Estate Agents

How do most real estate agents feel about posting on social media? It can best be described as pure dread. Although the agents who are active on social media constantly tend to be the loudest, they are actually quite rare. 

In fact, I work with agents daily on their marketing strategies and projects, and am typically met with confusion and hesitation around social media. But much of that confusion comes down to a few simple questions. 

The goal of this post is to clear up some of that confusion once and for all. If you’re curious about some of these topics, you’ll find this post useful. If you’ve never considered them at all, then this is a great starting point. 

Question #1: “I Google myself and can’t find anything actually about ME. How do I fix it?”

To start answering this question, let’s first define the acronym most commonly associated: SEO. Defined as Search Engine Optimization, SEO is the process of working to be recognized by specific search inquiries on Google. Not only might you want Google to populate your information when someone types in “Your name + Real estate agent”, but you may also want to appear for other relevant search inquiries like “Your city + Real estate agent” or “luxury listing agent + your area.” 

Best case scenario, you have the resources and knowledge to run your own website. You then are able to optimize the website so it shows up for your target search inquiries. Is this realistic for most agents? No.

Even if you do not have your own website, there are things you can do to stack the odds in your favor. A great starting point is making sure you have a Google Business Page setup for your real estate business. This blog post will walk you through the simple process step-by-step. Not only is it easy and free to set up, but it’s fully in your control to update. You can also use your Google Business Page to house client testimonials, which goes a long way in attracting potential clients who have not been referred by friends or family. 

Perhaps your Google Business Page is all you have time for when it comes to SEO, and that’s okay. At least, now, you know when someone Googles your name that they will be met with accurate contact information. That’s a major win!

Question #2: Do I need an agent website with MLS search and the works to be relevant online?

Now that we’ve touched on the most basic SEO optimization you can do, you may be wondering what’s next. Do you need a website of your own? Before you go through the financial and energetic push of building a website, do the work to refine your online presence. 

What else shows up first when you Google your name? Most likely, you’ll find your social media profiles. Here’s another chance to show clients who you are with minimal effort. We will get into social media more below, but first up is making sure your name and profile details are correct and include information about your real estate business. Don’t bury the lead! Make sure your business is front and center, and anyone can easily contact you if they’d like.

Question #3: “Should I create a blog?”

This question comes up often for teams and agents with robust existing websites. If that’s not you, feel free to move onto the next question. 

As someone who runs a blog (hi, you are reading it now!), I will tell you that blogs are time-consuming and/or expensive to run. If you already have an SEO-optimized website and active social media pages, and have more resources to allocate, then a blog is the next thing for you to check off your list. If you’re still chipping away at those things, you may want to hold off.

Once you are ready to start your blog, do the legwork to decide which keywords you’d like to target. Consider outsourcing the writing and editing, but keep the strategy close to home. A blog without goals and a strategy, won’t be anything more than a nice to have.

Question #4: “I hate using social media. Do I need it?”

As a real estate agent, you need a social media presence. Does that mean you need to be an influencer? Absolutely not. Does that mean you should be posting regularly? Yes.

In this business, you are selling yourself as the product. Clients aren’t buying into certifications or total transactions. They are buying into the fact that they like and trust you as a person. In this day and age, social media is the first place they look to find out more about you.

If you’re not sure where to start with social media, find other small business owners and agents who you are drawn to online. What are they posting about that makes you like them? Take notes on what they say and how they say it. Write down categories of posts they use. Then, use this to formulate your own posting calendar. Be willing to get uncomfortable and try something new. Start by posting 2-3 times a week, and make sure to engage and comment on other posts. The more active you are, the more your posts will show up on the feeds of others. 

Question #5: “I don’t have time to make any of my marketing look/sound good. What do you suggest?”

A lot of agents are simply overwhelmed with people trying to sell them marketing. You could spend your entire budget and more on marketing before you even earn your license. So what is actually worth creating and how can you do it on a budget?

We recommend that you invest in some quality, real estate specific Canva templates and build out your marketing materials yourself. Once you have the budget to invest in outsourcing, that is always an option. However, if you can get started on a budget with no skill needed, why not give it a try?

When you decide to move forward with a marketing project, allocate a budget for at least 90 days. One of the biggest mistakes we see agents make is to invest in something new and give up immediately if it doesn’t work out the gate. This is true for any new technique you’re trying out for your business. 

Above all, don’t get caught up in marketing being the end-all-be-all of your business. Make the sure the foundation of your business is strong, get your communication dialed in, and marketing will be the icing on the cake.

About the Author

Katy Peer writes about all things content, marketing, and real estate branding. She is the Head of Content Marketing for SellWell, lead editor for The Well, and a former copywriter and senior editor for a spattering of tech and media brands. Find her articles on social media, writing agent bios, and more here on The Well.