Whether you are just getting your feet wet with social media or if you are becoming a pro, there’s no denying that this is a significant way to look for leads and communicate with your current clients. As a matter of fact, social media is quickly becoming the modern day “word of mouth” for real estate clients. Use the tools within Agent Insight including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Google+ as venues to help build your brand.

Agent Insight can be a hub where prospective customers find you through organic search results and learn more about you through your insights and your agent profile.  By editing your profile page, you can add your social media links for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+. Customers can click through to these social media sites and become more connected to you and your business.

Further, using social media as tools for sharing knowledge about your market area, its amenities and special events can help build reliable connections with community members. This is a great tactic for getting the attention of prospective clients. You become a strong community resource and an expert who buyers can trust to help find homes in areas that appeal to them.

Did you know that every single photo and post can be individually shared to your social media audience? If you see a particularly beautiful photo or interesting insight you want to share, simply click on the share link attached to that insight, even if it’s an insight provided by another agent! If you share an insight to your social media audience, anyone who clicks through to Agent Insight from your shared post will be branded to you for any subsequent leads. This is a perfect way to bring people back to Agent Insight where they can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the real estate market in the communities you serve!

Remember that clients from Gen X and Gen Y always  have these tools at their fingertips, and a huge percentage of the Baby Boomers are very tech savvy. Before long the Millennials will join the home buying population, and they have never been without social media and its steady flow of information. These are powerful marketing tools and will continue to strengthen over time.

As an agent, you want consumers using the Internet to find you and your listings fast. You want to be at the top of the list. The continuous flow of insight submissions keeps your Agent Insight presence fresh and highly ranked, making it a strong part of your online marketing plan.

Being savvy about your submission placement gets you the highest visibility with Agent Insight. You want to have your photos and written insights appear on community pages throughout your market. Keep in mind that the larger places – metros, counties and cities  – may have the most competition for Google rank. Always maintain a balanced blend of presence on those pages as well as the smaller, local communities, such as subdivisions and school systems.

Steve Babbitt, RE/MAX Realty Group in Pittsford, NY, has been very smart with his Agent Insight submissions. He has regularly posted for many months and currently has nearly 450 photos and written insights. He has scattered them through 28 Areas of Expertise, including cities, subdivisions and school systems.  A quick Google search in early May of each of the subdivisions where Steve has a post revealed that Agent Insight ranked first on the list for seven of them and in the top five for the other two. Try it yourself:  search for “Graham Creek Heights Subdivision”  and you’ll see the first item on the list is the Agent Insight community page with Stephen Babbitt as the Featured Local Expert.

Steve likes to include historical information about his areas and his photos while also highlighting features of each subdivision. Take a look at four of his multi-season pictures of Graham Creek Heights.

Steve says he spends a few minutes daily adding posts to several of his social media sites, including Agent Insight, as soon as he makes the coffee and feeds the dog every morning.

“I know that a lot of agents say they just can’t find the time to make submissions,” Steve said. “But they really do! It takes very little time to shoot photos throughout the day or to write a few quick paragraphs. Then submitting them with your cell phone takes only seconds. You just have to be consistent to make an impact. It’s a continuous building process and it’s fun to do.”

Steve has been growing his social media network since 2007 and has had his own website since 1996. A real estate agent for 36 years, Steve reports that he is having his best year to date with 30 homes sold since the first of January.

We are frequently asked how an agent gets to be the Featured Local Expert on a location page.  Here’s the answer:    the featured expert’s name is drawn from a random selection of the last three agents who submitted a written insight for that location. If no written insights have been received yet, agents who have submitted photos are selected.

When visitors select the Explore Places to Live tab, they are directed to a page where three agents are pictured as Featured Local Experts. In the example shown here, the page is for the Birmingham, AL, metropolitan area and at the right are the three Featured Local Experts.  This group is randomly chosen from the last 20 agents who made a submission.

So, the answer is easy.  Just make submissions on a regular basis to keep your name and face up front. Put Agent Insight in your calendar reminders for one afternoon each week and give yourself an hour or so to write insights and submit the photos you’ve taken. Your fresh material will keep your name high on the rotation and it gives Agent Insight and RE/MAX a higher rank on Google and other search engines. Everybody wins!

There is a page for every county, city, subdivision and school district in your market area. Many of them have no submissions yet, so keep in mind that if you are the first person to send in a written insight or a photo, you will be the only person shown as the Featured Local Expert there. Go be the first!

The ability to present a whole neighborhood or community is one of the features that sets Agent Insight apart from other real estate websites that show only homes for sales.  If you have posted a submission or two about subdivisions where you regularly show houses, take time to expand those pages.

Entrance monument photos are usually easy to take and can often be visually stunning. However, your words and pictures should give clients much more to consider as they think about where to direct their house hunt. Show them common areas, the club house, sidewalks and walking trails, tennis courts, the pool and floral close-ups. Rather than submitting photos of individual homes, a nicely framed picture of several homes will provide more information on the character of a neighborhood.

James Simmons, RE/MAX Greater Princeton in New Jersey, took advantage of the reflection in the water featured in this Robbinsville, NJ,  neighborhood — so much more effective than just a shot of the front of one of these homes.

The nearly bird’s-eye view of the photo below taken by Jeffrey Decatur, RE/MAX Capitol in Albany, NY, presents a spectacular feel for the beautiful setting of the East Hills development.

Of course, you want to tell potential clients the style of homes in the subdivision and which schools the children attend, but give your article more color and interest by including information about neighborhood traditions. Do they have a July 4th parade or an Easter egg hunt? Are there block parties or a a swim team?  Do they sponsor a best lawn and garden contest in summer or Christmas decorations awards in December? Is there a neighborhood welcoming committee?

Kathryn Richards, RE/MAX Affiliates in Coralville, IA, tells about a warm, inclusive place with her insight about her neighborhood. Here’s an excerpt:

Country Living…Almost
Every summer we look forward to getting out of doors and “neighboring”. We always keep the lawn chairs close by for the impromptu gatherings and highly competitive lawn games. There has always been a nice mix of young families and retirees nearby to round out the adage “It takes a village.” 

Presenting all the features of the subdivisions in your market area is one of the strengths of Agent Insight. Potential clients can get a really good look at a neighborhood before they ever see it in person. They will also know that you are the agent who can tell them all about it because they see your name on your insights and photos.

One last word about entrance monuments photos:  if you want to include one of these in your pictorial essay of a subdivision, step out of the car and frame it well just like your other pictures.  So many entrance signs are beautifully constructed and landscaped and make a great addition to the subdivision page. This one by Lisa Kopp, RE/MAX Premier Realty in Prairie Village, KS, is an excellent example.

In honor of April Fool’s Day, we’re treating you to a little Agent Insight quiz.  See what you know about this easy and effective marketing tool.

You can send your submissions via
A.  Carrier pigeon
B.  Computer or mobile phone
C.  The US Postal Service
(Answer:  B.  It couldn’t be easier to shoot a photo or write an insight and send them along the electronic highway.)

The most effective written insights are
A.  First-person accounts of why you like your community
B.  Borrowed articles you find on your local city government website
C.  Bullet points (just the facts, ma’am)
(Answer:  A.  Nothing is more persuasive in making you an authority figure about your town and your market than telling it in your own words.  Also, remember that everything must be your original work; no borrowing from any other web source.)

The best length for a written insight is
A.  Several pages of brilliant prose
B.  One to three sentences
C.  One to three paragraphs
(Answer:  C.  If it’s too long, you lose most readers. Too short and you tell them almost nothing. As a rule of thumb, one to three paragraphs is a good length for presenting your subject.)

A nice choice for a neighborhood photo might include
A.  A shot down the street showing several homes, lawns and gardens
B.  Lots of smiling children swinging on the subdivision playground
C.  A close up of a cute dog being walked down the sidewalk
(Answer:  A.  A good street photo can give a potential client a feel for the character of the neighborhood. A picture of the playground is great, but make sure no face is identifiable if there are people in the picture. Dog photos can work well, too, but back up to show the  surrounding area and not just the adorable puppy.

How often should you send submissions to Agent Insight?
A.  Every day
B.  About once a week
C.  Post once and forget about it — at least your face is on the Agent Roster
(Answer:  B.  Every day is not necessary, but posting regularly and routinely keeps your picture at the top of the Agent Roster and in the rotation for the  Featured Local Expert positions. Regular posting continuously fills the pages with information and pictures to attract the attention of potential clients.)

Once a picture of a local feature has been posted, no other agent needs to take another shot of it.
_____ True
_____ False
(Answer;  False.  Often agents take pictures at the same location, each with a little different perspective. Also, the time of day and the season of the year will give the subject a completely different look.)

Agent Insight can be helpful to my current clients as well as to prospects.
_____ True
_____ False
(Answer:  True.  If you have a client who wants to see a neighborhood without snow on the ground or if they want to hear what people are saying about local restaurants and entertainment events, they can frequently find what they want to know on Agent Insight. Make use of this resource!)

A constant flow of new insights and photos boosts Agent Insight up SEO rankings, resulting in continuous generation of leads.
_____ True
_____ False
(Answer:  True.  Google and other search engines love to find something new and they love the unique format provided by Agent Insight.)

Agent Insight is all I’ll ever need to make myself known online.
_____ True
_____ False
(Answer:  False. Agent Insight should be part of a well-rounded marketing plan that can also include your personal website and other components such as Facebook, a blog , Twitter, Pinterest and others.)

We hope you scored well on our quiz while reminding yourself of Agent Insight’s features and benefits. This is a strong marketing tool that is easy and fun to use. Take advantage of the change of season that April brings to gather some great new photos and information about your market areas and get them submitted!

One of the primary goals of Agent Insight is to present you as the local real estate expert in your area.  One of the most effective ways of achieving this is to write an insight in first person.  This is a powerful way to give prospective clients information about your community.  You’re doing the talking, not just reporting the facts.

First person writing is more compelling, more interesting and, quite often, a lot more fun to read.  Telling the story from your point of view lets your readers know that because you have personal experience in your town, you are a super resource for them in their property search.

One of the easiest first person insights for you to write is to tell why you chose to live in your neighborhood or city. Here are a couple of excerpts from some excellent posts:

Battle Creek is where I choose to live, work and play. After all, what’s not to love? Whether popping into downtown’s very own Brownstone Cafe for a great cup of coffee and a laugh with the locals, or taking my lunch at Harper Creek’s Bridge Park, I am constantly being reminded of the quality of life we enjoy here.
Esther Owen
RE/MAX Perrett Associates, Inc., Battle Creek, MI

People often ask me “Red, why do you love living in the Hudson Tea Building so much?” While there are so many reasons, like my amazing neighbors, the feeling of community, modern conveniences we sometimes overlook, and a sense of overall well being in such an awesome space, it’s the little things that make you stop for a second and feel grateful for your home.
Danielle “Red” Drasher
RE/MAX Gold Coast Realty, Hoboken, NJ

Make it a regular practice to tell about all the features in your area in first person, whether talking about local businesses, schools or activities.  All of the next examples tell persuasive stories about amenities of these agents’ areas.

I really cannot stand to grocery shop. It seems the time it takes is always cutting into my fun.  And, I simply don’t want to fight massive crowds or have to sift through days-old produce to find fresh. Or park a mile away for bread and milk. The Uptown Market located in North Edmond across from Mitch Park has changed all that!
Kay Pratt
RE/MAX Associates Realtors, Edmond, OK

When my children were getting ready to start school, my wife and I did our homework.  We spoke with many parents.  Not only did everyone have good things to say about Elkhorn schools, they raved about them!  The enthusiasm was evident.  We were sold.
Rick Bak
RE/MAX The Producers, Omaha, NE

I recently visited the National WWII Museum’s “Boeing Center” in downtown New Orleans while on a field trip with my son’s 4th grade class. What an incredible time we had seeing the actual airplanes that were in WWII.
Luke Jones
RE/MAX N.O. Properties, New Orleans, LA

Put yourself into your writing as if you were talking to your client. First person is an easy style to write and when you do, your opinions and knowledge are on display. Don’t miss the chance to speak to prospects, even in your photo captions, like the one written by Mary Shelsby, RE/MAX Realty Group, Pittsford, NY,  for her beautiful photo shown below.

Agent Marty Perrea’s advice to anyone starting new in the business is to choose a neighbor-hood and become an expert there. Then, push out in concentric circles to build your areas of expertise.

“I started with my own neighbor- hood, Riss Lake in Parkville, MO. I have become a Riss Lake real estate expert and currently sit on eight out of every 10 listings there,” said Marty, an award winning agent who has been with RE/MAX Results in Kansas City, MO, since 2007,

He recommends growing a social media marketing plan the same way, by starting with a couple of on-line tools, such as your personal website and Facebook, and concentrating on those. Grow them well and gradually add other pieces:    Agent Insight, a blog , Twitter, Pinterest, Google+ and HOUZZ are all possible choices.

“It’s better to start with a couple of pieces that you do very well than to do too many things poorly,” said Marty. “Your social networking is a continuous effort and you shouldn’t expect to build social exposure overnight. This will be a day-by-day endeavor to put together an on-line marketing plan that will help you generate leads.”

Marty contributes regularly to Agent Insight and has currently amassed over 100 submissions with more than 20 areas of expertise. He says he is always searching for relevant information to include about his community and its resource to potential clients.

“I regularly peruse the Agent Insight pages to see where my posts are located,” he said. “I want to try to stay ahead of the game and not slip down too far in the list of contributing agents. I try to provide quality posts that will catch someone’s interest.”

Marty assigns part of his social media work to his assistant and between the two of them he estimates that they currently spend about 10 hours a month adding content and maintaining the various pieces of his social marketing program. He notes that agents have to view this as a regular on-line task.

“Consumers are bombarded with marketing from every direction so you have to keep your tools simple and easy to negotiate. I’m always searching for relevant information to include. I want my on-line tools to provide value by giving specific information about the area and its resources to potential clients,” he said.

You can visit Marty’s website at www.talktomarty.com. In addition to the Kansas City market site, his Agent Insight profile page appears on his website here.

Local history can provide excellent subject matter for your insights. Many people, including your potential clients, are very interested in area history. You’ll find so much anecdotal information to draw from:  early settlers, battlefields, your town’s oldest neighborhoods and elegant 100-year-old homes.

Philip Stock, RE/MAX Central in Manalapan, NJ, wrote an excellent insight on his town’s history. Here’s an excerpt.

 Some Historical Trivia about Manalapan
I don’t know about you, but I like to get some of the history if I am looking at a town. Yes, the schools are great and there’s no shortage of places to shop.  It’s an easy commute to NYC and an all round great place to raise a family, but did you know: The name Manalapan, pronounced “Man Al A Pan” not “Mana Lappen”, is derived from a word in the Lenape Indian language meaning “land of good bread” or “good land to settle on.”  Manalapan Township dates back to… Read more.

Annie Rodgers, RE/MAX Town & Country, Flushing, MI,  included information about the local historical society in her post.

Explore the Rich History in Taymouth Township
Taymouth has a rich history from Native American culture to early settlers to railroad depot to farming families. The past is preserved by the Taymouth Township Historical Society. Made up of history buffs of all ages, the historical society is very active. From hosting events at the opera house and at Cook Cemetery to fundraising for a veterans’  memorial, the volunteers in this community organization are hard at work preserving the past for the future. View post.

Local traditions and festivals that date back many decades make great subjects for your insights. Peter Montero, RE/MAX Acadiana, Lafayette, submitted an insight on Mardi Gras, one of the country’s most iconic annual celebrations.

The Origins of Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras time is again upon us. Its origins can be traced to medieval Europe. Passing through Rome and Venice in the 17th and 18th century then into the French House of Bourbons, where it was originally called the revelry of “Boeuf Gras” or fatted cow. Finally, the French tradition moved into the American colonies. In 1699, French Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville established…” Read more.

As always, remember that your articles must be original and not borrowed from a local historical society’s website. Have fun with these submissions, both written insights and photos. Your work will bring out a little history buff in everyone.

Photos provided by Suzanne Kostaris, RE/MAX Lifetime Realtors, Union, NJ, and Ann Allen, RE/MAX Advantage South, Birmingham, AL.

Annual events, festivals and celebrations held in your town  are excellent subjects  to share on Agent Insight. They give color to your writing and present a lot of appeal for your area. However, keep in mind that your insights are never removed, so try and write them to be informative about recurring events, without being too specific about the date or specifics of a single event.

For example, Tresa Flake, RE/MAX Elite in Norman, OK  writes about her town’s annual free summer concert series. Instead of listing specific dates and musicians, she tells why the concerts are popular and where they take place, then provides a link for those interested to look up more information about the event.

When I first moved to Norman, people told me about the Summer Breeze Concert Series in Norman and how it has become a Norman tradition. It features national and local musicians performing in Norman’s Lions and Andrews Parks.  These performances that run May through September on Sunday evenings are casual family-friendly events. Bring a blanket and picnic basket and enjoy! Listening to live music with family and friends is a favorite of mine!  View insight.

Another good strategy when writing about an annual event without emphasizing a specific date is to recap it after it has been completed. Here’s an excerpt from a submission about the Kansas City Plaza Art Fair written after it was over by Suzanne Steenkamp, RE/MAX 1^st Choice in Liberty, MO.

This past weekend was that time of year again for The Country Club Plaza’s 83rd Annual Art Fair. The Art Fair is an annual welcoming into the fall season in Kansas City. The Art Fair is one of the most anticipated art events nationwide…. Admission is free for this annual September event. Enjoy the link below to take a tour! The Fair is always a great way to embrace a local Kansas City tradition.  View insight.

Remember, the main purpose of your piece should not be to draw crowds to the event, but to inform your potential clients about them. Everyone wants to know what there is to do in their community and you are a great source to tell them. This is another way to use Agent Insight to show you are an expert about your area.

The main purpose of Agent Insight is to build your personal brand as a local expert. Be sure you are covering all the bases to make the most of this valuable marketing tool. A crucial component to give you a viable, visible presence is to write a good paragraph or two for your  profile page. This is a great space to introduce yourself, present your skills and to show potential clients your expertise and passion for the business.

If you haven’t written a profile, you will still have a serviceable introduction by your name:  RE/MAX agents are the most productive in the industry and deliver the real estate knowledge and service people need in New Orleans. Let Carolyn help you with your real estate needs in the New Orleans area . This is a good, positive statement about RE/MAX agents, but only your name and city are personalized. Take a few minutes and give this some meaning and sizzle!

These featured profiles, written by three different agents, each have a little different spin to emphasize their strengths.

Sara Snook, RE/MAX Revolution in Kansas City, MO, makes her profile very personal and appeals to a client’s hope of finding an agent who really cares about them and their hunt for a new home.  “It would be my pleasure to help with all of your Real Estate needs. I don’t just sell you a house and move on. I build a relationship with you and am there long after the sale.  I was born and raised in Kansas City, more specifically in Platte County. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Housing and Interiors & a Masters Degree in Management. I have extensive Project Management training and Negotiation skills.”

Carmen Lonardo, RE/MAX Realty Group, Pittsford, NY, opens his profile with a compelling statement about why he knows so much about his community and why he loves living there. “A Penfield resident for over 40 years I cannot think of anywhere else I would live, raise a family and participate in community activities. Why? The town and the area have grown so much since I was a little boy and the community resources continue to abound as well. The library, schools, parks, Little League fields, recreation and learning opportunities for all ages, dining locations, shopping and natural resources are exceptional and offer just about anything you could want from your hometown. “

Maureen Donohue-Conway, RE/MAX House Values 4 in Hackettstown, NJ, includes a short, interesting story about how she came to live in her town and became an enthusiast of historic homes. “She grew up in Bergen County, NJ, just a couple of miles out of NYC, and was used to the crowds, traffic and all of the red lights, and thought that was the way life was supposed to be, until, that is, one day she and her husband were on a road where there was no traffic, let alone any red lights, and Maureen suddenly felt like she was home.  That road was in Finesville, NJ, and they instantly decided to move there.  They lived in a “circa” 1806 stone farmhouse on Alba Vineyard, hence her appreciation of antiques and historic homes. “

You have your story to tell and your Agent Insight profile page is a great place to showcase it. This only take a few minutes, but the effort can have big returns as you look for your next clients.