In this social media age, businesses are constantly taking their marketing efforts to new heights by maintaining a strong online presence on as many social media channels as possible. Aside from Facebook, Twitter, and real estate specific websites such as Zillow and Active Rain, Yelp is also a good alternative to consider where you could start your marketing campaigns and generate leads from.
Yelp is a networking, customer review and local businesses search site, and according to their fact sheet, “had over 50 million unique visitors in March 2011” and “Yelpers have written more than 18 million reviews to date.” Yelp connects visitors to local businesses and allows people to make reviews on various companies, services and products. As such, the site has an excellent SEO structure and reviews on Yelp rank high on search engine results. More importantly, real estate agents can use Yelp’s services to generate more leads.
The site has a real estate category that lists subcategories such as properties, real estate agents, home staging, real estate service, property management etc. Here are some quick tips to get you started:
- Maintain an updated profile. First, you need to create a profile and make sure that it’s complete and updated. Include your best listings and make sure that your descriptions and contact info are complete. For further details, include your URL address to direct people to your real estate website.
- Make offers. Yelp has an Announcements and Offers directory, where you can post your latest offers. Use this to announce any special features on a new listing or exclusive courtesy services.
- Get social. Use Yelp to invite people to attend local festivities on a new community you’re promoting. You can also encourage them to meet up with you at an open house you’re hosting or attending.
- Respond to reviews. Aside from helping to build a community between you and your market, responding to reviewers gives you the chance to address negative feedback. If someone posts a negative feedback, this is a perfect opportunity to interact and ask them how they think you can improve your services.
- Build your reputation. Get recommendations from colleagues and past clients about your expertise. Yelp also has tools meant to help you maintain contact with reviewers and people from related businesses.
For more advice on social media for real estate or tips on internet marketing, visit us at Agent Image and subscribe to our Agent Intelligence newsblog.
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