4 Tips for GREAT Real Estate Ads

Do you ever place classified ads for your listings in print or online? Classified ads can help you target a specific audience (readers of your local paper, for instance). Another benefit is that people who take the time to read the ads are usually actually looking for something, so you know you're reaching interested prospects.

Here are 4 tips to help you create real estate ads that get results:

1. Put Your Best Photo Forward

When you have the opportunity to include a photo, make sure to use the one that triggers the strongest response from prospects. This is almost always a shot of the exterior front of the house. One study found that 95% of viewers viewed the photo of the exterior of the home for a total of 20 seconds, more than double the time spent viewing any other photo.

If you have the budget, this is a great time to use a professional photographer—or to brush up on your photo skills. Of course we recommend using a fancy camera, but if you want to use your smartphone, we have some iPhone real estate photo tips for you.

2. Write an Attention-Grabbing Headline

No one's going to read the fine print if they don't like the headline! Appeal to the right buyers and stand out from the rest of the ads by writing a strong headline. You might want to create a few options that fit in the space allowed, and then run them by your friends and family to see what works best.

If you're selling an expensive condo, you could try:

• Lux Condo – View Today!
• New Listing: 2/2 in Gated Community
• Remodeled 2/2 End Unit, Peabody School District
• Move In Ready: Remodeled 2/2 w Mountain Views

3. Use Real Estate Abbreviations Wisely

Real estate abbreviations save space, which is great considering that you are usually working with a pretty strict character count. But not everyone can read real estate-ese, so be sure to use throw in some real words, too. We recommend pairing specificities, like top materials and brand names, with words that will drive an emotional response, like "views" and "luxury."

4. Always Include Your URL

In addition to a phone number, in today's digital world you should always include a URL for people who want to learn more online before making contact. Include a link to the listing's designated single property website if you have one. If not, include the web address of your real estate agent website. You can even use this to see how many leads you are getting from your ad, if you use domains for lead tracking.

We're sure there are lots of other ways to create a strong real estate ad. What are your top tips?

To view the original article, visit the Point2 Agent blog.