The Do's and Dont's of Instagram for Real Estate

Instagram is one of the most popular platforms in social media when it comes to the real estate industry, and there are some very good reasons why that's the case. The first is that Instagram is a highly visual medium, and real estate is a natural source for attractive, shareable photos. Just as importantly, Instagram is directly integrated with Facebook, which remains by far the most common, popular social media site on the planet.

Success on Instagram may not be instant, but you can speed up the process dramatically by learning the "do's and don'ts" of Instagram for real estate.

Instagram for Real Estate: What to Do, What Not to Do, and How It Works

Doing your research is one of the most important steps to finding success on any social media platform, so you're already off to a good start! Remember that there is also plenty of room to customize your Instagram presence, as long as you work from the proven tactics of social media for real estate.

What to Do:

• Pretty Pictures – This one probably goes without saying, but you will need a steady supply of appealing images to keep the attention of your audience on Instagram. The cost of professional photography can be a serious expense, and a decent digital camera should get you solid results without needing the pros. In addition to real estate images, you can include local sights, photos of your team, "how to" photos, and data-rich infographics.
• Video Tours – Instagram does not require you to stick to static photography, and video tours tend to play very well with real estate audiences. Tours should be short, sweet, and focused on the home itself. In addition to home tours, Instagram audiences enjoy videos that go "behind the scenes" of the real estate industry to shed light on how the process works.
• Facebook Integration – Instagram's integration with Facebook is one of the biggest perks of the platform, so be sure to use it. You can set the photos you share on Instagram to post to your Facebook feed as well, which saves time and expands your reach.
• Instagram Engagement – Responding to comments, joining conversations, and commenting on the photos of others is a huge part of Instagram success, so don't skimp on engagement. Remember, just about every person you interact with on the site has the potential to become a new client.

What Not to Do:

• Fake Followers – Just as with most social networks, there is a small industry for buying fake followers on Instagram. Never, ever make this mistake. Social media is more about quality than quantity, so a smaller group of devoted followers is much better than a larger group that doesn't care.
• Over-Editing – Instagram gives you a ton of tools for editing photos and adding effects. While they're fun to use for personal photos, editing your real estate photos too much can actually obscure the little details that make the image special.
• Stock Images – Instagram users prefer the unique, so stock images really aren't going to move the needle. You really won't need to spend much for a decent digital camera, and your results will be much better than any boring stock image.

Working with the right team is an easy way to simplify your life on Instagram, and get maximum return on your investment in social media for real estate. Contact Delta Media Group for help with Instagram, real estate social media, and all of the tools we use to make your real estate business shine online.

To view the original article, visit the Delta Media Group blog.