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6 Tips for a High-Octane Instagram Account

Reblogger
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Realty NRDS # 146013739

If you have not started using Instagram, you may want to check it out.  I don't use my phone much for social media. It would be too addicting everytime it beeped or vibrated but ocassionally I do share a pic. 

However, I found a program called "Uplet" that you can drag and drop multiple pics onto to share on Instagram along with a comment. It is so simple to use - drag, drop and click. Before any pic from my computer archive would have to be transferred to my phone to send. Not gonna happen! Uplet eliminates all of that. 

Read what Rich has to say about Instagram. He gives you some great tips for a "High-Octane" performance!!

I personally use Ixact Contact and find it to be a great CRM for my purposes. I have incorporated it right into my website on my contact page. Send monthly newsletters and you can personalize email campaigns. 

Original content by Rich Gaasenbeek

As social media continues to evolve and grow in popularity, Instagram is the platform on steroids as it dominates the social media game, making it the fastest growing social media platform across the planet. Consider this, in less than six years, we’ve shared over four times more photos than there are human beings on earth! It’s mind boggling how much our society loves to consume enthralling media – and businesses have long understood the power this visual storytelling behemoth holds for brand building, user engagement and what it could mean for their bottom line.

Instagram by the numbers:

  • Instagram has over 700 million active monthly users. ·     
  • Instagram users share an average of 95 million photos and videos per day.
  • Over 250 million users are using the stories feature daily.

Now that we understand the ubiquitous power that Instagram holds, let’s delve a bit deeper into the granular as to how you can supercharge your Instagram account as a real estate agent.

Create eye-catching visuals

This is rule number one in the social media game – your content has to be exciting! Don’t fall into the trap of posting something for the sake of doing so. The fact of the matter is that the real estate world is not a boring place – it’s quite literally the opposite. So use that to your advantage. Inman suggests highlighting the “behind the scenes” look and peel back the curtain for users.

  •          Share your experiences preparing one of your listings before it goes live.
  •          Capture the lifestyle of a local community that you’re in.
  •          Showcase happy clients.
  •          What does a day in the life look like for you?

Leverage a strategic bio link 

Instagram allows you to have a URL in your bio section of your profile, but not in individual posts. Which is why you’ll see [link in bio] at the end of a post, directing users back to their main profile where there is a clickable URL.

Use this to your advantage and change the link to go to your website, to promote a recent blog you wrote, a 3rd party article that was written up on you or to connect to a landing page. Your bio link is a great marketing tool - so make sure you’re leveraging it strategically to drive them to your funnel.

Don’t be lazy with the description

75% of Instagram users take action, such as visiting a website or a landing page, after looking at an Instagram post or an ad. Instead of taking the easy route and leaving an uninspired, “Happy Friday” as the caption, take this time to tell a story or educate your visitor to add on to what the image is saying.   For example, if you posted content about a recent home you staged, you could continue the message about tips and tricks on staging, the psychology behind it and how to keep a house looking spotless. Then once you’ve earned their attention, drive them to your link in the bio, which goes to a contact form, a landing page for an eBook or to promote a recent blog post. Either way – it’s like a fuel injector for propelling them down your funnel.

Mix up the content 

A healthy and diverse Instagram content strategy should use a combination of videos, layout pictures and boomerang style photos. You can take advantage of the various filters on the application, demonstrate short video tours of properties and even go live on Instagram!

Going live on Instagram is perfect for the real estate industry. Whenever you walk through a new listing, go live, and talk about each room. What you like, great features and things that make the listing unique.”

This feature also helps you connect on an intimate level with your audience and build an authentic connection with them. It’s like having your own broadcast studio in the palm of your hand!

Engage in the comments section

Don’t worry – this isn’t a YouTube comments section where trolls come out of the woodwork and get in arguments with each other – although you might see some detractors. That’s okay! It’s important to be active in commenting regularly to those that engage with your content and build a rapport with them. There’s nothing worse than a business that doesn’t personalize their content by ignoring those that engage with them organically.

Be socially intelligent

As with other social media channels - Instagram isn’t just about you. Having a social intelligence feature that allows real estate agents to get one-click access to all their contact’s social media platforms is perfect before jumping on a keep-in-touch call to research their social media activity.

Even better, IXACT Contact’s Social Intelligence feature makes this process a snap with one-click access to all your contacts’ social media channels – including Instagram.

Quick takeaway tips

  •          Cross-promote with others – share the love and tag those you work with.
  •          Create a business page (here’s how)
  •          Use trending Hashtags – see what’s popular in the ‘Explore’ tab.
  •          Geotagging your location helps add exposure.

Social media success means actually being social! Instagram is a major lead generator, and when harnessed correctly, it can drive leads to your CRM where they can be nurtured and ultimately converted.

 

 

IXACT Contact - Real Estate CRM and Marketing Made Easy

Call us at 1-866-665-0018 or email us at info@ixactcontact.com.

 

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Comments (12)

James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Good mornning Sheri.

Idon't have an account with Instagram.  Maybe it's time I check it out, never heard of Uplet either

Jul 22, 2017 04:07 AM
Steve Bracero
Heisler and Mattson - Shrewsbury, MA
First Time Homebuyer and Investor Specialist

Hi Sheri Sperry - MCNE® , great read! this is a very good breakdown on how IG can be used for those involved in real estate. 

Jul 22, 2017 04:29 AM
Sham Reddy CRS
Howard Hanna RE Services, Dayton, OH - Dayton, OH
CRS

Not tried instagram yet, Social media is too addictive!!!

I don't use my phone much for social media. It would be too addicting everytime it beeped or vibrated but ocassionally I do share a pic

Jul 22, 2017 04:34 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Hi Sheri... I moved over to IXACT a few months back. Care to share the secret of how you incorporated it into your website?

Jul 22, 2017 04:42 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Sheri, I do have an Instagram account, and should do more, but there are only so many hours in a day!  

Jul 22, 2017 05:47 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I have an Instragram account, but I certainly do not do all of that, haha.  I guess I should try it.

Jul 22, 2017 06:56 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Our newsletters are consciously of the "old school" though we call it "GOLD School" paper and postage variety.....this is worth a peek !

Jul 23, 2017 01:30 PM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Sheri

I have been thinking about instagram, your re-post will jump start me into getting more information for instagram.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Jul 23, 2017 06:31 PM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

This is something I will be working into my marketing and social media balance. Something however will have to go.

Jul 23, 2017 07:24 PM
Amanda S. Davidson
Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group Brokered By Real - Alexandria, VA
Alexandria Virginia Homes For Sale

Sheri, we really dove into Instagram this year and it's turned out to be a great marketing tool. I enjoy connecting with others and it's a great way to market listings. Thank you for the re-blog!

Jul 24, 2017 05:43 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Sheri

Thanks for a terrific reblog. I have been using Instagram more but I can use all the help I can get to improve what I do with it.

Off to read and comment!

Jeff

Jul 24, 2017 04:33 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Sheri what a great reblog, in all fairness, FB, LinkedIn, Instagram, Activer Rain and the list goes on and on... I do not have the time even to do ten blog posts on Active Rain and not enough time to always comment twenty or more times in a day.... so needless to say my Instagram takes a back seat...Endre

Jul 24, 2017 10:24 PM