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5 PR Hacks to Boost Your Brand and Your Business
Do you ever wonder why the same real estate agents in your market are quoted in the local news every time? Do you want to learn how that agent can be you? Kevin Hawkins, an award-winning communications consultant specializing in PR and media relations for the real estate industry, shares the power of PR in five PR hacks you can use immediately to help you grow your brand and your real estate business. Understanding Public Relations and Its Value Public relations, or PR, in its simplest form, is about storytelling and relationship-building. It's the art of communicating your brand's narrative to the right people at the right time, creating a rapport with your audience. For you, as a real estate agent, it's a pathway to position yourself as the local authority in your market and the go-to agent in your community. The true value of PR lies in its ability to create credibility and trust with your target audience. Unlike paid advertising, PR offers a third-party endorsement that can be far more powerful in attracting and engaging potential clients. Think of PR as your personal megaphone, not merely to amplify your voice but to fine-tune the message reaching your audience. Its value lies in its ability to shape perceptions, manage reputations, and cultivate a community presence that resonates with your client base. Leverage local media Local media outlets, such as newspapers, radio stations, and TV stations, are often interested in stories about real estate and typically seek out a real estate expert for their coverage. You can use PR to pitch your expertise or local market knowledge to media outlets and potentially secure coverage to reach a large and targeted audience. Moreover, you can establish yourself as a go-to expert in your area by providing valuable insights and commentary on the local real estate market. When crafting your pitch to reporters, consider the unique aspects of your local market and how your expertise can provide value to the media outlet's audience. For example, if your area is experiencing a surge in home sales, you could offer to give commentary on the factors driving this trend and what it means for buyers and sellers. Or, if you specialize in a particular type of property, such as luxury homes or eco-friendly buildings, you could pitch a story idea focused on that niche. Consider what you can offer, such as insight on market trends, housing advice, or community insights. What are the local trends? What is happening with property values, a trend towards home improvements, or a new development proposed that will impact your community? Become the voice the media turns to when a housing story calls for a knowledgeable, trustworthy, and local expert. Pro Tip: When pitching to local media, success requires a compelling story angle that offers unique insights that will capture the attention of journalists and their audience. Be prepared to offer statistics, anecdotes, and examples to support your news angle and demonstrate your expertise. Utilizing social media Social media platforms, particularly Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, can be powerful tools for sharing your knowledge and expertise with a wider audience. By regularly posting valuable content, such as market updates, home buying tips, and insight on local real estate trends, you can establish yourself as a thought leader in your market – and that can attract the attention of reporters who cover real estate. To maximize the impact of your social media efforts, develop a content strategy that aligns with your brand and target audience. Test the types of content that will resonate with your followers, such as educational blog posts, inspiring success stories, or fun and engaging short videos. Use eye-catching visuals, such as high-quality photos and infographics, to make your posts more shareable and increase their reach. Remember to share any news coverage you are included in on all your social channels, as media coverage often begets more media coverage. Pro Tip: Remember to track your social media posts closely and engage with your followers by responding to comments and messages. Boost your most successful post, as a small ad spend of $50 to $100 can help attract a few thousand more eyeballs. Networking with other professionals Good PR isn't limited to creating publicity. Use the principles of good PR to build relationships with other professionals, such as mortgage brokers, investment planners, and attorneys, who can refer business to you. Networking and building mutually beneficial relationships can increase your exposure and reach new potential clients. Attend industry events, join local business associations, and consider hosting your own networking events to connect with other professionals in your area. When attending networking events, come prepared with a clear and concise elevator pitch highlighting your unique value proposition and the types of clients you serve. Be genuinely interested in the people you meet and look for ways to add value to their businesses. Follow up with the contacts you make after the event to continue building those relationships and explore potential partnership opportunities. Pro Tip: When networking, focus on building genuine relationships rather than simply trying to secure referrals. Establishing trust and credibility with other professionals will make you more likely to receive high-quality referrals in the long run. Consider offering reciprocal referrals to professionals who complement your services and share your commitment to excellent client service. Participating in community events Attending community events, such as charity fundraisers or local festivals, can be an excellent way to increase your visibility and build relationships with potential clients. You can demonstrate your commitment to the area and attract new business by getting involved in your community. Consider sponsoring a local event, volunteering your time, or hosting a booth to showcase your services and connect with potential clients. Keep in mind that many high-profile events will earn media coverage. If you are involved in the event's organization, offer to support its PR outreach and act as one of its spokespersons. When selecting community events, look for opportunities that align with your brand and target audience. For example, consider sponsoring a school-related event or team if you work with many families. If you focus on luxury properties, look for events that cater to high-net-worth individuals, such as charity auctions or golf tournaments. Pro Tip: When participating in community events, have plenty of business cards. Better yet, learn how to share your contact information with your smartphone. Offer to email them your newsletter or monthly local market report: it's a great way to grow your sphere. Utilizing online reviews and ratings Online reviews and ratings can be a powerful source of PR for you, as powerful client endorsements can be priceless. As a service-centric agent, you must leverage your success by encouraging satisfied clients to leave positive reviews on platforms like Facebook, Google, Zillow – and even Yelp. These reviews can help you establish a positive online footprint and attract new business when others search online for local, reputable agents. Provide satisfied clients with direct links to your profiles on various review platforms to make it easy for them to leave reviews. A best practice is to send a follow-up email immediately after closing a transaction to thank them for their business and request a review. You can even share examples of what others have said to help them get started. To encourage them to participate, offer to make a small donation to a local nonprofit in their honor to show your appreciation for their feedback. Pro Tip: Be sure to monitor your online reviews regularly and respond to any negative feedback in a professional and constructive manner. This will demonstrate that you value your clients' feedback and are committed to providing excellent service. Unlock the secret power of PR The hidden power of public relations can amplify your brand – an essential addition to your promotional activities. By engaging with local media, you can be the sage voice of your local housing market. On the digital front, your social media can help showcase your local expertise and build trust with your followers. Networking—online or offline—isn't about handshakes or drive-by "liking" but connecting to create strategic alliances with like-minded professionals to extend your reach. Contact Tech Helpline for assistance if you have general questions about social media or any tech devices questions. Participating in community events can help you deepen your local roots, showcasing a commitment that transcends transactions. Client reviews online provide concrete examples of why people like to work with you. Each of these takeaways doesn't just add a layer to your brand—they fortify it by strengthening your visibility, credibility, and genuine connection that only PR can provide. By incorporating these PR strategies into your marketing activities, you can help grow your business and establish yourself as "the" trusted authority in your local real estate market. To view the original article, visit the Tech Helpline blog. Related reading What Is Public Relations? Collaborating with Media and Reporters for Brand Awareness in Real Estate 5 Surefire Ways to Keep Your News Releases from Being

How to Generate Renter Leads and Maximize Your Qualification Process
Leads are the lifeblood of real estate professionals. You must know how to effectively generate, respond to, and qualify them to succeed in this market, especially before you start receiving referrals. Working with renters creates a great opportunity for you to quickly build relationships and develop essential skills as a real estate professional. They also allow you to complete more transactions, as those deals typically happen faster. How do you generate renter leads effectively? There are several ways to generate renter leads, but we will focus on ads. Posting ads with listings online generates results quickly, allows interested renters to engage with your listings 24/7, and provides you with an easy and repeatable process when you secure new listings. Here are the best practices you should follow when posting online: Know your market: Understand factors such as rental prices, location, and average rents to control the quality and quantity of leads. Create a plan and be consistent: Develop a consistent and disciplined plan for ad posting activities, aiming for at least three days a week with the goal of doing at least five ads per day. Test and track results: Experiment with posting times and track the posts that receive the best responses. Iterate and improve to attract the best leads for your listings. Use photos and clear descriptions: Craft concise descriptions (around 400 words) with clear highlights to capture renters' interest and use high-quality photos that showcase the best features of the listings. Explore areas for additional visibility: Look for opportunities for additional visibility by exploring local schools, corporate sites, or bulletin boards where renters may be present, and inquire about posting ads in those locations. Have a lead response and qualification process: Develop a system for promptly responding to leads and efficiently managing the qualification process to avoid losing potential business. Make sure you have permission to post ads for the listings. Emphasize the value proposition such as increased visibility and reduced lead work for property owners. What are the best practices for lead response? What do you do now that you have your ads set up and are getting leads that need responses? Renters tend to be less patient than buyers, so it's important to have a process to remove the guesswork on why, what, and when to respond, increasing the likelihood of closing that deal. Lead conversions are 391% higher when you call within a minute of an online inquiry. Consider having a diverse set of outreach methods to increase the odds of contact: Text your client about their inquiry and set a time to talk Send them a follow-up email after the text Call them at the stated time If you miss them, text and email again, and set a different time to talk Repeat the process at least three times Cut bait after at least three times On average, it takes seven outreach methods before a sale is closed. Go through this process at least three times to ensure you're making your best effort to communicate with the lead and maximize your chances of conversion. If the client doesn't want to talk to you, move on. How do you qualify a lead? There are three primary stages to conducting a successful qualification call: The introduction: Your goal is to ensure that they know you are qualified to help them and specialize in working with renters. The qualification: You need to determine if this is a solid lead and what are their rental needs (see table below). The closing: Discuss any questions the lead may have about working with you and set expectations on the next steps. Follow up the phone call with an email that includes several listings they may be interested in. What are the next steps? To get started, check out the resources linked below. Decide who your ideal target is and create short/long-term goals to help you reach them. Begin posting ads for renters at least three times per week for an hour or for a certain number of posts. Implement a lead response and qualification system to maximize your lead generation efforts and catapult your real estate business to the top! Resources to get started: Guide to Posting Ads on Craigslist Guide to Posting Ads on Facebook How to Handle Lead Response Lead Qualification Questions Lead Response Plan To view the original article, visit the Rental Beast

Innovative Strategies for Geographical Prospecting with RPR
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 9:00 AM PDT In today's competitive market, staying ahead means not only finding new clients, but engaging them effectively. Join us for a dynamic session where we'll dive into modern strategies for geographical prospecting in real estate. Take this class and learn proven methods to build and sustain your pipeline of clients! Discover how to: Analyze and select your farm area Identify "hot" neighborhoods and compare turnover rates Generate mailing labels and export Create lead generation content using Canva Stay on top of market trends We'll help you understand how to utilize RPR to make your prospecting efforts as effective as possible. Register