Top 10 Ways to Use Instagram in Real Estate

April 20, 2022

Every Real Estate professional should be on just about every social media platform available. One of the fastest growing social media sites to use in real estate is Instagram. What many agents don't realize is that Instagram can be one of the most useful tools to grow their business...when used correctly. I pulled my top 10 ways to use it from a recent article.

Through Instagram, real estate agents not only have the ability to showcase the features of their listings that can attract prospective buyers, but it also allows agents to connect with their audience and build brand awareness to generate a following and pull in more leads.

With that said, I pulled my top 10 ways to use Instagram for real estate from a recent article. In addition to these tips for using Instagram for real estate, this post will teach you why Instagram is a great tool for agents, strategies for Instagram marketing for realtors, and more.

Is Instagram Good for Real Estate Agents?

While all forms of social media are beneficial for real estate agents, today we’re going to discuss the power of Instagram. Instagram for real estate gives agents a platform to grow their business through a single post. If you’re hesitant to start using Instagram for real estate, consider these benefits:

Price: There’s nothing better than a free real estate agent tool, and Instagram is just that. By simply entering your account information, you can create a free Instagram profile that allows you to connect with your audience and share your listings without spending a dime.
Post listings: While you can post your listings in local newspapers and other print media, these forms of marketing don’t always reach the right people. By posting your listings to Instagram, you can showcase your client’s properties to a wider audience.How? Because virtually anyone, anywhere can view your profile, and you never know who may be interested in moving to your area, whether it’s a community member or someone across the country.
Generate leads: When you post a picture on Instagram, you can see which followers or users are consistently liking your posts, which may indicate they’re interested in buying or selling. You can then reach out to these followers via Direct Message and share your elevator pitch to generate leads.
Grow your brand: By gaining more visibility, you’re able to grow your brand, which is easy to do through Instagram. This is because Instagram often rewards users who post consistently, thanks to its algorithm. The more you post, the more your profile may show up on the Instagram Explore Page or as a user’s Suggested Follower, which can boost name and brand recognition.
Ease of use: Instagram is extremely user-friendly, which means you don’t need to be a professional to curate an aesthetic Instagram feed. You can use in-app features to edit your photos, and can even post your listings straight from your phone.

These are just some of the many benefits of using Instagram for real estate that can help you take your business to the next level. Now that you know why Instagram marketing for real estate agents is important, let’s explore the different ways to begin using this social media tool in your practice in the next sections.

Ways to Use Instagram for Real Estate

Instagram gives you the opportunity to highlight the key features of your listings to find potential buyers faster. However, there’s a right and a wrong way to use Instagram for real estate. Take a look at how to use Instagram correctly with our tips below:

Do: Post your own photos & videos

Your audience follows you to keep up on your listings, hear your thoughts, and see what your clients have to say about your business. That’s why posting content that is actually taken by you is essential! By posting your own photos and videos, you emphasize your authenticity and show users that a real person is behind the account; not a corporate firm. Through original photos and videos, you can build trust and rapport with your clients and leads that can help you close more deals.

Check out an example of how one of our rockstar clients, Tim Smith, is using Instagram to promote his listings. Follow him at timsmithrealestate for even more great examples!

Don’t: Use or alter stock photos

Appealing real estate photography detailing your actual listings is the only way to get users to become followers and actually check out your real estate marketing. Snap a few shots of your listings here and there to stockpile visual marketing collateral. However, stay away from using stock photos. Your followers can spot a stock photo from a mile away, which can easily deter them from engaging with your content, as it isn’t seen as original.

Don’t: Edit listing photos to the point they become unrecognizable

Generally, editing photos for your real estate marketing purposes is a big no-no. Fixing bad lighting is one thing, but avoid using various filters. The point is to show off the home as it is. The last thing you want is for a potential buyer to show up to your listing and not recognize the home because it’s drastically different from the one they viewed online. As always, stay honest, especially with the pictures you post.

Do: Get past clients to participate in testimonial videos

A great way to use Instagram for real estate is by showing your followers how you’ve helped people in similar situations. Getting previous clients to give a testimonial is an excellent strategy to build trust and show professionalism. Most clients will be happy to give a short 15-second blurb on what they loved about your business. Don’t be shy to ask them!

Don’t: Use a million hashtags or inapplicable ones
One of the top social media rules is to avoid using too many hashtags. Using too many hashtags can come across as spammy, and they take away from the focus of the post. Yes, you may get a few more followers but you’ll lose those you actually want following your account and instead gain random users following your account by going hashtag-crazy. Stick to a few relevant and popular hashtags! Instagram built in a 30 hashtag limit to prevent you from going too crazy.

Do: Automatically share most photos to Facebook & Twitter
Although not every picture posted on Instagram needs to be across all of your social media platforms, it’s important that most of them are. You can easily select which other social media sites you want to share pictures and videos on each time you post.

Do: Show off your personal side from time to time
It’s okay to show off your fun side on occasion via your Instagram account – the trick is moderation and knowing when to post such content. Posting a picture of your agency’s annual summer BBQ or a selfie with old clients can do wonders for your image. Just make sure these pictures tie into your day-to-day life!

Don’t: Give up on your account! It takes time.
It takes time to build an audience on Instagram. Don’t get discouraged if it’s taking a while to realize your desired number of followers. Having said that, if you’re not generating any likes or followers, it may be time to switch up your strategy and apply the tips we have given you. In time, you will find the kind of posts, hashtags, and post frequency that appeals to the audience you want.

Instagram Marketing Tips for Real Estate Agents

In addition to our tips on using Instagram for real estate, there are a few strategies for Instagram marketing for real estate agents that can prove useful. Once your account is up and running, implement these Instagram marketing tips:

Create a business account: If you haven’t created your account yet, make sure it’s registered as a business account. However, if you created your profile and it’s a personal account, switching to a business account is free and simple.You want your real estate profile to be registered as a professional business account because it allows you to post ads without using Facebook’s ad tools and look at key metrics like the number of users you reached with a certain post and your profile growth.
Optimize your Instagram profile: A top tip for Instagram marketing for realtors is optimizing your profile. To do this, make sure you create an informative and engaging bio that describes what you do and upload a professional picture for your profile picture.
Use targeted ads: One of the top features of Instagram is the ability to post targeted ads based on your budget, which allows your posts to reach more users than just your followers.

When making an Instagram ad, make sure users can engage with it, and that it includes a call-to-action that can lead to the desired behavior, such as booking an appointment or signing up for your newsletter.

Instagram for real estate agents is an excellent way to generate more leads and grow your business. If you found this guide on using Instagram for real estate helpful, check out our other resources, such as our blog on social media content ideas that can help you create your first Instagram post.

Click here to read the full article from Placester for more Dos and Don’ts of using Instagram for real estate.