Times are changing, and technology has really modified the way that we do things. People no longer use rotary phones bolted to their kitchen wall, but cell phones that can go anywhere they go. Social media pages like Facebook and Twitter have replaced instant messenger, and electronic mail has replaced those old letters that used to be delivered via the United States Postal Service. Texting and emojis have become more convenient than actual out-loud conversations. There are some REALTORS that have been in the business for over 20 years, and they should absolutely be respected for their experience and wisdom—- but some of them need to get with the new normal.
If you are still relying on advertising solely via snail-mail, cold calling new referrals, or hanging flyers up on the local bulletin boards — you are losing out on a huge audience and a large potential target market. For starters, millennials purchased over 35 percent of homes in 2016, and that trend is growing in 2017. They are mostly first-time home buyers, they have graduated college, they have good jobs, and most importantly, they have money to spend — and they do not respond well to old methods of marketing. Secondly, millennials aren’t the only ones who use social media. Social media is used by almost all demographics these days, and its influences on consumers marketing decisions are through the roof. For example, did you know that over 30 percent of people made purchasing decisions from Facebook? Or that people check Facebook more each day over their e-mail, news, and sports websites combined (1.32 billion people)? And that 71% of consumers make their purchases based on social media recommendations? What if some of that traffic came to your real estate business?
You absolutely have to set up a Facebook business page, Twitter page, Pinterest, Instagram, and LinkedIn account. The more, the merrier. Additionally, don’t just share text — pictures and videos are key for engagement these days. People want to feel like they have a first-hand experience of something, and they also want something that has a little more personality in it.
If I haven’t convinced you yet, here are a few other reasons why digital marketing is so much trendier than traditional marketing:
- Digital marketing is much cheaper than print marketing – Think about your last print campaign, you probably spent over $100 on flyers alone. Digital marketing is possible for pennies on the dollar, and sometimes free.
- Digital marketing is extremely cheap, compared to advertising campaigns — Hiring an ad company could cost you thousands, while a very good Facebook Sponsored campaign starts at just around $5.
- Digital marketing saves time with templates, and by not having to run around. — You don’t have to go to the copy store, paper shop, or office supply store every single time. Additionally, you can save templates on your computer so the next time you can simply adjust a few pieces of information and you’re good to go.
- Digital marketing is instant – It reaches the consumer in seconds, as opposed to hours spent flying or days spent in the mail.
- You can build a digital marketing archive — People can search for you and see past marketing campaigns. You can also put marketing flyers, videos, or photographs on your website and social media pages, so that people can reference them later, or show their friends, without having to fish through their Rolodex or file cabinet.
If you enjoyed this post, please comment below. I love feedback! You can also private message me at any time. Please subscribe to my YouTube channel and blog.
