As a real estate agent, you love what you do and are eager to return to your work. But even with all that positivity, returning to work after a long weekend (and no to mention gorging on mass amounts of food) and getting back to the grind might be the last thing you want to do. Returning to work means the holiday that we looked forward to for so long is now over. The freedom of little structure and having no set routine or concept of time has come to an end.

Of course after a few days those feelings of dismay and longing for another day off will fizzle out, and the normal routine of the everyday work environment will settle in. But what can we do to make the transition easier? Real estate virtual assistants want to make sure you are on top of your game no matter what. While everyone enjoys a little time off, it’s even better when we can make a swift recovery upon returning to what we love…work!

Here’s how you can accomplish it:

1. Time it Right: If you travel during the holidays, make it a point to return home a day or two before starting work. This will give you some down time to prepare yourself for what’s ahead. If you have been sleeping in for a few days, this extra time will help you get back into the routine of waking up early. Arriving home the night before at 11:00pm will not help your cause of being fresh and rearing to go at 7:30am the next morning.

2. Stay in Touch: Keep in touch with your colleagues over the holidays. While some people prefer to completely disconnect during their time off, others like to keep involved. It’s actually beneficial to stay in touch with work matters during time off, to prevent being bombarded with an unexpected workload upon your return. Luckily, our smart phones and other modern technology allow us to keep abreast of work progress while we are away.

3. Use Your Brain: When we have some time off, we tend to neglect some of daily activities that are non-work related as well. During the next holiday, keep your brain working while you’re off by keeping up with the news, completing puzzles and reading books. This way, your brain won’t be totally confused when you have to start using it again.

4. Plan a Weekend Getaway: Plan a weekend getaway somewhere in the near future immediately after returning to work. Whether or not you actually go is immaterial, but the concept of getting away will keep you in good spirits. If taking another weekend off is out of the question, plan daily, weekly or even monthly activities that will give you something to look forward to. This might be a fitness class, taking your dog to the park, or a scheduled lunch rendezvous with a friend. In the end, it’s these little things that keep us going.

5. Talk with Workmates: When you return to the office, swap holiday stories with your coworkers. This will keep the atmosphere light end friendly while you’re getting back into the nitty-gritty of things. Not only will this lighten the mood, but it will keep the spirit of the holidays alive just a little bit longer!

6. Friendly Reminders: If you’re tempted to crawl back under the covers when your alarm goes off, remind yourself of why your job is awesome. Your job is important to you, you’re good at it, and it holds value and purpose. You’re lucky to have a career that brings you security, fulfillment and happiness!

Hopefully these tips will help all of us ease back into the working life. If not this year, there’s always 2012!

Have an awesome day!

Contact Carrie 
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Four Steps to Getting the Most from Your IDX

Search engines, are constantly crawling sites, looking and comparing information to determine the best results to return to users searching for a particular set of keywords.  By using a few simple strategies, you can leverage your IDX for content:

Step #1: Ensure your IDX resides on your site. 

Most do this now because of the high demand for it, but if you don’t start from this premise, the rest of this article is a moot point for you.  When it does, then every individual listing in the MLS can be viewed as a page of content on your site – and this is the central crux of the matter.

To see how many pages you are being credited for, try this… In a Google search, type site:yourdomain (in the example below, site:onlinedominance.com).  In light gray writing at the top of the page, you will see the words “About ______ results returned.”  So Google finds 1,340 pages of unique content associated with Online Dominance^TM.

You can get “content credit” for all those listings in your MLS, provided you follow the next steps.

Step #2: Create predefined searches and install them on your site. 

Having just a form for people to fill in with their search preferences, while vital, is not sufficient for this purpose because search engines are just an algorithm and are not interested in completing preference forms.  So, if you want the search engine to see your content, you have to make sure the data from the MLS is being actively pulled onto your site.  By creating predefined searches, such as by price, location, or even type of property, you are setting up a stream of constantly linked data of every listing that falls within those parameters.

Step #3: Create unique content describing that search

One of the more recent “gotchas” initiated by Google is an update that finds “low quality” pages, which is basically information it determines is syndicated from one source to many different sites.  So, unfortunately for you, this means you can’t have just the predefined search.  But you can end run this by taking the time to write a paragraph or two of custom content and add targeted title tags, so when the search engine indexes the page it may see some syndicated material but this will be offset by the unique content.

OK, you’re almost there!

Step #4: Link often and well

If you want the search engine to think a page is valuable, you have to treat it as if it IS valuable.  So, every time you write something that relates to one of these searches, for instance a blog post about a recent upswing in sales in a certain price range in your market, include a link to that predefined search result page.

How this Helps Get Traffic to Your Site

So I know right now you are saying “Sure, I understand how to strategize the IDX, but what about the traffic and visitor engagement?”

Well, when the search engines find more pages of relevant content that is frequently updated, it helps your page ranking.  Also, having lots of related third party sites (such as Trulia, Active Rain, etc.) link back to multiple points on your site helps not only ranking but the likelihood of people finding you.  Finally, since every listing is viewed as a page on your site, searches on specific addresses (like when someone drives by and sees a yard sign) will yield your site as a result, so you don’t have to rely on over-used or highly competed for keywords.

As to customer engagement, people love the convenience and instant gratification of being able to see properties in the ranges or categories they prefer with the click of a button.  Often, they aren’t sure exactly what they are looking for until they see some results, and having to go back and adjust information in a search form can be a bother.  You will get more clicks on saved searches that then allow the user to sift and sort their specifics from there.

A Few Words of Advice

You have the step by step plan to get your IDX SEO optimized, and as always the next step is to implement.  But be aware of a few more things before you do!

• Do Not Sock Google – Google is like the referee in a game, it watches to see if you are playing by the rules, and will throw the red card at any suspected foul punch.  So, if you had say, 30 pages on your site one day and then next had 20,000, what do you think will happen?  That’s right!  So, pick the top 2 or 3 searches you think would be most effective in your area, and start adding those, going through all 4 steps to get them strategized.  Add slowly to make your results most effective.
• Use the language your users use – People will tend to type search terms that they use in natural language.  Name your predefined searches that same way to increase the match rate and hence your page position.
• Get a help in executing this over time – This is the perfect kind of task, low-level and long term, to get a VA to help you execute.  Set up the process, set your priorities, and give a VA marching orders.  You will see the results as they are added to your site, while freeing you up from worrying about maintaining the flow of information.

So, there you have it!  Make sure you are getting the most out of your IDX’s capabilities when it comes to site traffic and visitor engagement by consistently initiating these strategies over time.  The best thing is, since that IDX resides on your site, it will all be for your greater good!

Special thanks to Brad Carroll of Dakno Marketing for his contributions to this article.

Mr. Internet is the alter-ego of Michael J. Russer, an internationally recognized Internet speaker, trainer, author, and strategic consultant to the real estate industry. He’s dedicated to helping real estate professionals leverage their people skills into profit on the Internet. Send your Internet questions to help@askmrinternet.com or you can visit his Website at http://www.OnlineDominance.com and Facebook page at Facebook.com/OnlineDominance

This article is reprinted in its entirety from the October 2011 issue of REALTOR® Magazine by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright © 2011. All Rights Reserved other than mentioned above. Mr. Internet® is a registered trademark of RUSSER Communications.

Have you stopped to think how technology driven our society is today?  It seems worlds away from where we were twenty, fifteen, even ten years ago!  In fact, there’s a whole generation of people who don’t even know what life was like before the internet.  They’ve grown up with immediate access to an abundance of information at their fingertips, a fast paced social life and are novices as quickly sorting through the best and most convenient path to take in any given situation.  They’re call “Millennials.”

So, how do you reach this 17-34 year old, on-the-go generation? Since they are the next wave of home buyers and sellers, being able to capture their attention and speak their language is vital!

Two of the key aspects are to be mobile and be social.

Millennials aren’t tied to a desk top, but reliant on their smartphones, tablets and laptops.  Being as mobile as they are will help you keep their speed.  Being social reaches them where they spend the majority of their time and will help keep you at the forefront of their mind when they do decide to enter the real estate market.

Here are five main ways you can reach the Millennial generation with your marketing as pointed out by Matt Britton, founder and CEO of Millennial generation marketing agency Mr Youth.

Utility: Millennials are multitaskers. They have 15 tabs open in their Chrome browser while their iPhones push Twitter alerts and their Facebook feeds are blowing up. They don’t want their time to be wasted, so you’re best suited by offering tools to help streamline their day, as opposed to adding one more thing to check.

Keeping on top of your Twitter and Facebook accounts can help streamline their online time as you feed your blog and other social media sites through these hubs.

Entertainment: The average YouTube user spends 15 to 25 minutes per day on the site; we like being entertained. And since traditional media consumption is being turned on its head by streaming services, companies need to find a new way to get in front of their audiences and entertain them.

Having a custom YouTube channel for your listings and community videos will spark their interest and give them that visual entertainment they’re searching for.

Information: We are bombarded daily by information online, and one huge reason we use the web is to find more of it.  The information you provide on your blog and other social media sites needs to be current and relevant in order for the Millenials to take the time to read it.  They’re smart and will quickly dismiss any information they feel like they’ve heard a thousand times.  They simply don’t have time for it.  Fresh and pertinent information is key!

Rewards: Rewarding is most effective as a retention tool, and not an acquisition tool, Britton says. Offering a prize to your 200th follower might get you a few more fans, but they’re only there for the free stuff and not because they’re huge fans of your business. On the other hand, rewarding your existing fans is a great way to bolster their connection to your company.

Whether you’re offering an exclusive coupon or a prize, be sure to reward the existing fans who got you are past clients or current leads. These are your loyal fans who are most likely to stick with you and use you again in the future, unlike a fair-weather follower who only showed up for the latest contest.

Recognition: Be appreciative of your fans’ interest and support of your company (it doesn’t have to be monetary, even a “thank you” will go a long way). Branding isn’t just important for companies as millennials are all building their own personal brands, too.

If you have a current client who is showing in a local gallery; recognize their accomplishment on your sites!  Having your recognition and interest in their lives will show them you care and show others that you’re a real estate agent who will go above and beyond.  This will give them even more reason to tell their friends about you and your services, which could result in even more leads for you in the future.

Now, it may sound like it will take a lot of extra time and effort to reach out to this next generation of home buyers, but taking it a day at a time will go a long way.  If you find you don’t have the time needed to reach out to this demographic in the way they need to be reached, your Real Estate Virtual Assistant will be a great resource in helping you achieve your goals!

Contact Carrie 
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So, you’re getting ready to launch your new website.  You’ve spent a few grand in the process of building a custom real estate website and you’re excited to showcase it to the world.  The only thing you’re still debating is the domain name.  You want to highlight that you’re a real estate agent and the area you service, but you also want people to become familiar with your name.  How do you decide?  You may think it simply comes down to making a decision and going with it.  But that’s not the case!  In fact, choosing the wrong domain name can bring your whole business to ruin if you’re not careful!

If you’re not sure what to include in your name or a little leery of buying a domain, here are a few Do’s and Don’ts that will help guide you!

Do: Location and Key Words- Include your main key words in your domain name if at all possible.  Noting your location and what you do is imperative for SEO.  For instance, www.NorthofBostonRealEstate.com is a great way to get noticed by those searching for real estate information in the North of Boston area!

Do: Auto Renew- While you may feel leery about having your domain auto renew because you’re not sure how long you’ll have your current website or business; forgetting to renew it can lead to disaster.  The moment a domain name is not renewed it’s seen as available.  If you have a great domain name, like the one mentioned above, someone could easily buy it and you’ve lost your suddenly lost your domain. This, in turn, would mean having to reprint any business cards and other print materials along with having to build up your following all over again.

Do: Own Your Domain- Having someone else register your domain for you is fine, but make sure that your name is noted as the business owner and administrative contact.  That way, if you hire a new assistant or web contact; you’ll ensure that your domain is your property- no questions asked.

Don’t: Make it Hard to Remember- While you may think using “4” instead of “for” is catchy or that a misspelled word as in “real estate sellz” is memorable; it’s not.  Any time you use a number, misspelled word, abbreviation or punctuation, it will be harder to remember.  Oftentimes, people will only hear the your domain name mentioned in passing and will try to look it up; however they’ll wind up empty handed.  Keep your site name simple and it will be far more memorable.

Don’t: Forget the Past- You always want to check into your domain names’ past.  There are millions of websites out there, and even if a domain name is available, it may be too similar to another websites name and can run into legal trouble.  Always verify your domain name before purchasing.

Don’t: Buy Every Extension- Unless you feel that your site name is common enough that it will be used again, you don’t need to buy every extension of your domain name; .com will be sufficient.  Buying .net, .info, etc… will only add up to additional costs that aren’t necessary.

Phew!  Well, that’s quite a list but one that can save you from heartache down the road!  If you have questions about registering your domain, or have been considering getting a new website in place, let your Real Estate Virtual Assistant know!  Some REVA’s are experienced with the ins and outs of domain management and can even create the custom website of your dreams!  Your REVA can help you brainstorm a domain name, build a customized real estate site and come up with a marketing plan to showcase the results to your current and potential clients!

Contact Carrie
Visit us Online at RealSupportInc.com
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Static HTML is a free Facebook app that let’s you create these custom tabs very easily.  It also gives you the ability to create “fan” and “non-fan” versions of each tab with any kind of Web content you can imagine.  And, just as importantly, these tabs are still visible to those visitors who have logged into Facebook via the secure method.

Using this app to create custom tabs is very straightforward.  However, if you would like to see a brief step-by-step tutorial on how to use this app to create your custom tabs just go to www.Facebook.com/OnlineDominance and click the Free “How To” Videos! tab (yes, I created it with Static HTML) and watch the first video.

Your ability to stand out and generate new business via Facebook is changing almost daily.  I will continue to do my best to help you discover and implement the best of these.  The key word here is “implement”.  The only useful tool is the one you implement.

On the other hand, there are those websites that seem somewhat mysterious and finding any type of contact information feels like a treasure hunt with a dead end.  After a minute of trying to figure out where the real estate agent is located or attempting to contact them to ask them a question about a property, you give up and find another more user friendly site.

So where’s the middle ground?  How can you grab your audiences attention without “yelling” at them?  How can you provide clear information in a compelling way?

There are two simple elements that can completely change how visitors view your website: contact forms and calls to action.  Let’s take a quick look.

Contact Forms

Gone are the days of merely having your phone number and email posted somewhere on your home page.  Today’s consumer wants to have an easier way to contact you.  Consequently, the contact form has become a staple of cutting edge real estate websites.  

Here’s what you’ll need:

1. A clear, easily accessible contact page.  This should be a tab on your website that is easy to find.

2. This contact page will be a fill-in form that will feed directly to your email inbox.

3. You can also put your contact information on this page, but your main focus will be the contact form.

4. State clearly near the top or bottom of the contact form that their information will be kept confidential to make them feel at ease and built trust.

5. To make it even easier, a link at the bottom of each page of your website to your contact page will allow for even more immediate interaction.

Calls to Action

Our culture has become so used to the responsiveness of social media sites that they come to expect the same thing from a website.  While you may not be able to respond right away once someone has filled out a form, you can give the feeling that your site is just as interactive.

Calls to Action are words that encourage readers to take action.  You’ve all heard of them, but sometimes taking the time to get to the basics allows you to look at something from a fresh perspective.  Imagine if you were visiting your site.  What type of call to action would catch your eye and make you take time to fill out your information?

Here are a few key elements for creating effective Calls to Action:

1. Action words will instinctively draw in your readers. Words like subscribe, call, view now, search, etc… will provide a definitive action.

2. Offer an incentive.  People will not freely give out their personal information, so a “trade” will make it easier to evoke a response.  Provide a free market analysis, e-book of your community, or anything else you feel would interest your audience.

3. Graphical buttons are great for calls to action. Create buttons that complement the look of your site, but still stand out on the page.

4. Limit the number of calls to action. If you have too many on your site, visitors will get overwhelmed with the amount of choices.  Three to five is usually an ideal amount as it offers variety, but keeps your calls to action from crowding up your site.

5. Keep it simple, yet creative. A short phrase or sentence will draw the reader in and will force you to choose your words wisely.  Creativity in the graphic and wording will be the most effective call to action.

While often overlooked on a website, these two elements are essential for creating a website that reaches out to today’s audience.  If you have more questions about creating a contact form or calls to action for your website, or need someone to create them for you; let your Real Estate Virtual Assistant know!

Contact Carrie
Visit us Online at RealSupportInc.com
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Yet we all know this type of buzz about you and your business will not just happen overnight.  It won’t even necessarily happen if you’re simply a great agent!  Your selling record may far exceed your area competition and you may be able to assist first time home buyers with an efficient home purchase, but if no one knows; it won’t help you gain any new business.

So how do you create a local buzz about you and your real estate business?  How can you pull ahead of the competition and be seen as a great real estate resource in your community?  Below are five simple and cost-effective ways to jump start the buzz and put you on the path to real estate celebrity status!

1. Network- Opportunities for networking are all around you.  Begin with building your support system with family and friends and express your desire to grow your business.  They’ll be the first to jump on board and will want to talk about your services at any chance they get!  Most cities have networking events that you’ll want to be sure to attend.  These are ideal for making those professional connections which can be invaluable for recommendations.

2. Have Fun- Everyone loves a great contest and starting one that you can advertise on your website, Facebook, Twitter and blog is a great way to draw attention.  Whether it’s real estate related or not, prizes like a free dinner or a night at a hotel is something that alot of people would want a chance to win.  Have them enter on your Facebook page to gain new fans!

3. Socialize- Making sure your social media sites are enhanced and being posted to on a regular basis is a given in today’s marketing endeavors.  Interacting with comments and people who are your fans will help your buzz gain even more momentum.

4. Reward- Giving your clients a gift after a successful home sale or as a house warming present for their new home will go a long way.  It’s a way of rewarding their loyalty!  It may seem small, but these little touches will stick in their mind and you can bet they’ll be calling you for their next real estate transaction!

5. Publicize- You can publicize you and your business without spending a dime!  Look for opportunities to submit press releases about recent awards, designations you’ve received or community events or charities in which you’re involved.  Local papers are always looking to highlight people in the community who are doing great things for the area.  You can also let local newspapers that you’d love to be a real estate resource.  You never know when an opportunity for an interview might come up!

These five tips should get you started on the path to creating a great buzz around you and your real estate services!  I hope you can utilize a few, or all, of these tips!  If you’re already doing something that’s working for you; let us know!

Your Real Estate Virtual Assistant is there to lighten your work load and help you build a successful real estate business!  Let them help you create the buzz you deserve!

Contact Carrie
Visit us Online at RealSupportInc.com
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Does this describe your blog?  It should!  A great real estate blog can act as the center of your business- it’s heart and core- if you let it!  Now, many of you may be thinking, “wait a minute… I thought my website was the most important thing.”  It is.  Without a strong website that offers valuable information, your real estate listings, what you’re about and calls to action, your real estate business will quickly fade in this technology driven society.

Let’s think of it this way:  your website is a riverbed and your blog is the water.

Having your “constant” is foundational.  You need your website to be the base of the information about your business.  Typically, your website will not change on a regular basis (unless you’re updating listings), and will probably need a “refresher” every 6-12 months.

Your blog on the other hand is the water that brings the riverbed its’ life!  Without water, the riverbed is dry, and without a riverbed, the water is chaotic and has no rhyme or reason.  They work together to form a beautiful, lively river.  They need each other.

So how can you make your blog a hub that brings life to your website?  Your blog should be constantly changing and moving great information through its pages.  It needs variety, quality and consistency. Below are a few great ways to turn your blog into a real estate hub.

1. Real Estate Content- Whether you’re providing selling tips, home improvement information, the latest market news, monthly statistical reports or advice for first time home buyers- the base of your blog should be real estate information.

2. Listings- Allow your readers to see the great new home that you’re listing or the one that you just sold!  Showcase what’s going on with your business and the activity that makes you successful!

3. Community Highlights- Let your audience know that you’re in tune with what’s going on in the community that you serve.  Upcoming events, local news that portrays how unique your city is, residents who are making a difference in the community, a feature of the great new restaurant in town- all make for interesting community blog posts!

4. Expert Interviews- This is unique way to draw local attention to your blog.  Interview a community mortgage lender, the owner of a lawn care shop, a local home improvement contractor, etc… You get the idea!  Grab your readers attention by providing them the information they want for things pertaining to their home or future investment.

5. Videos- Many agents are beginning to utilize this medium, and it’s ideal for our visual society.  Whether you’re taking your audience on a tour of your town, highlighting a local bakery or are just giving a market update; videos will always be more of an interactive experience than simply reading a post.

Of course there are many things you could post on your blog- there are really no rules!  The key to each post, however, is to make sure it’s still professional (not crossing any personal, political or racial boundaries).  You always want to keep in mind that this is still a reflection of your business.

I hope these tips will you in turning your blog into the lively hub that it should be!  If you have any questions or need help with your blog, ask your Real Estate Virtual Assistant!  They’d love to bring life to your blog and boost your website and online presence!

Contact Carrie
Visit us Online at RealSupportInc.com
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Getting “Facebook block” can be incredibly frustrating, as you feel as though you’re wasting time trying to find something unique to post, but at the same time, you don’t want your page to go unpopulated for the day. This is a dilemma that is all too familiar. So, here they are…the things you should post when you run out of ideas:

• A good quote. People love quotes. Whenever we post them for our clients, someone almost always “likes” it, comments on it, or retweets it. A good quote motivates the person who reads it and makes them want to get up off the couch and do something with their day. At RealSupport, we really like the website BrainyQuotes.com. All quotes are broken down into categories, and we browse the “Success”, “Work”, “Business”, “Inspirational”, and “Motivational” categories daily. While you don’t want to post quotes every day, it can be a nice change of pace once in awhile, and it’ll also show your fans how much you value success and motivation. The best part about posting a quote is that it doesn’t take much time, and you’re practically guaranteed to get interaction.

• Ask a question. While posting articles about real estate tips and events going on in your community is great, it doesn’t always invite interaction. Asking a question is always smart because it’s telling your fans that you care what they have to say and that you want them to participate on your page. Your fans want to engage with your page, or else they wouldn’t have “liked” it! Asking a question essentially invites your fans to share their thoughts and feelings on certain issues, and the sooner you start getting interaction on your page, the more likely it is that those fans will continue to interact with you. Try to make your questions relevant to what is happening in the world right now. For example, the end of March Madness is coming up for the NCAA Basketball season. You could ask your fans which team they want to win it all! Since it’s the beginning of spring, you could also ask them what their favorite part about spring is. Questions like that are easy for your fans to answer, they’re things that the world is interested in at the moment, and they’re guaranteed to get the interaction you want from your fans. It’s also a good cure for any form of “Facebook block.”

• Tell everyone what you’re up to! If all else fails, share a tidbit about what your company is up to! People love to hear success stories and updates about the people that they know, so sharing some exciting news about your business is always a great idea for a Facebook post. Are you hiring new team members? Have you had any closings lately? Any new clients? Are you attending a seminar any time soon? Sharing these things with your fans every once in awhile shows that you want to keep them informed on what is going on in your business, and that you want to share your successes with them ! At RealSupport, we call these success stories and updates “Kudos.” Your fans will love hearing what you’re up to, and we bet that you will get a few congratulatory comments, too.

  

• Think outside of the box…what’s the world talking about? We want our posts to be appropriate, professional, and interesting, but that doesn’t mean you have to confine every post to real estate tips, community events, and home improvement ideas. Sometimes, it’s good to take a second to think outside of the box of what you could post.One good way to do this is to sit down and think, “What is the world talking about?” For example, just a few short weeks ago, the iPad2 was released on the market. While this isn’t exactly real estate related, it’s something that everyone knew about, was talking about, and was anxiously anticipating. It would have been a good idea to post about the new iPad and see what your fans had to say about it. Another good example of “out of the box” things to post about are upcoming events that the whole country tends to get involved with. For example, in January, you could post about the Super Bowl. In July, you could post different barbecue recipes for Independence Day. If you know of a good sale or Groupon for the day, you could post about that. These are all things that people enjoy reading about, and they’re also things people care enough about to respond to. Sometimes, with a little thought and the willingness to expand your horizons, you could come up with great posts that aren’t confined to the “real estate” or “community” category.

This is just the beginning of the list of possible ideas to cure your “Facebook block”. While it can get frustrating when you run out of ideas in the real estate and community realm, these four ideas are great alternatives that will still get your fans talking and interacting. Not only will they help you populate your page when you’re out of ideas, but you’ll also find that it’ll help you get more of a variety of content on your page, and that can only spark your fans’ interests even more.

Remember, if you’re having a hard time thinking of things to post about, just take some time to think outside of the box.  Your Real Estate Virtual Assistant can (and should!) maintain your social media presence for you!

Contact Carrie
Visit us Online at RealSupportInc.com
Join Our LinkedIn Group
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• Have an eye-catching graphic. The generic Facebook ad that you can run just has your business page’s profile picture as the ad’s graphic. While we’re sure that your profile pictures are very nice, the key to getting people to look at an ad is a unique graphic that is eye-catching and different. Whether it’s a stunning picture of your city’s skyline or a breathtaking country view, you want the picture to be able to stand out amongst a group of other ads. You might also want to put some sort of text over the picture in an interesting, colorful font. The text should be enticing, making the viewer curious about what the ad is about. Whether it’s a question or a promise of a discount, the text should make someone want to read your ad and click on it. It doesn’t necessarily have to be real-estate related, either. Your graphic can be more about your geographical area, niche marget, or target demographic. After all, you want to be seen as both a real estate expert AND community resource.

• Intrigue potential fans with the ad copy. You have a 135 character limit for the ad copy on Facebook ads. That is less space than a tweet! You have a limited amount of room to summarize what your page is all about and include your geographic area, too. That means that when it comes to Facebook ad copy, you have to get creative. You want your ad copy to be just as enticing and intriguing as your image. This can be difficult, but you might want to start by picking a few key words or phrases that summarize your geographic area, niche, and what your page is about. For example, if your area is in South Florida and you target golf communities, you might want to include, “Golfing”, “Sun”, “Easy Living” and “Real Estate” as key phrases in your ad copy. You will also want to include your geographic area, (South Florida, in this example), and also entice the person viewing your ad to like the page. You’ll have to play around with the phrasing, but your end result could be something like “Golfing under the sun. Easy living. Quality real estate. Wouldn’t you “like” to join our Florida community?” This ad copy is within the 135 character limit, paints a picture of what your geographic area and niche is, and also gives the person clicking on the ad an idea that this is a real estate related page. It’s also worded and phrased in a way that’s enticing and interesting, and people would be intrigued to see what your page is about.

• Know your target demographic, and use it. The best part about Facebook ads is how targeted they are. Their targeting is incredibly specific, so you can cater each ad you run specifically to the select group of people who you would want to be your next client. You can target your ad based on geographic location down to the city. You can also go even deeper and select the age range, gender, marital status, and languages you want to target. If your clients are largely a Spanish-speaking group, you can cater your ad to target only Spanish-speaking users! You can also select your demographics based upon your client’s interests, level of education, and even what specific company or workplace they work in! As you continue to target your ad, you will see a column on the right side of the page that says “estimated reach.” This tells you how many people will be able to see your ad, based upon the demographics you’re putting in. The more specific you are, the more the estimated reach goes down, and the more targeted your ad becomes. The idea of being as specific as possible with your targeting is to narrow the scope of who sees your ad. The reason you want to narrow down your target demographic as much as possible, instead of making your ad available for all of Facebook to see, is because you want anyone who becomes a fan of your page to be your next potential client. In order to do that, you really need to target your ad specifically to that group. If you only have 200 people on Facebook who can see your ad, after you put in the demographics, you can be assured that those 200 people are the type of people who would be your next client.

To put it all together, having the right image, ad copy, and specific demographics are the three key elements to getting the results that you want from your ad. Used correctly, Facebook ads can be an essential tool to getting you more fans. The more fans you have, the sooner the viral effect will start, and your fan base will start growing more rapidly! These are the three pieces of the puzzle that you need for an effective and successful ad that gives you the results you want, and with a little time and creativity, it’s possible for you to create one! If you feel as though you can’t sit down and spend the time to make an ad that looks and sounds great, your real estate virtual assistants are happy to help! We’re all about building up your social networking presence.

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