The Art of Being Responsive: Why Engaging with Clients Matters in Real Estate Blogging
Recently, I shared five blog strategies for realtors looking to connect with future clients. This week I’m deep diving into the third tip: BE RESPONSIVE. It’s a philosophy you can apply to any blog post you write, no matter the subject.
Connecting with real estate clients is key to building a successful business. Where is everyone? They’re online. Reaching buyers and sellers with billboards à la Peter Klaven in I Love You, Man is so 2009. Now, people want to connect with you online while they pretend to watch Jeopardy!, phone in hand.
Engaging blog content that prompts conversation is the first step to building a relationship with readers considering buying or selling a home.
Why being responsive matters to your blog readers
When potential clients visit your website, they want information and guidance. They may have questions about buying or selling a particular home. They'll click away if they don't find the answers they need. If they reach out to you and don't get a timely response, they'll move on to another realtor.
Being responsive is more than prompt responses to emails or phone calls, although that's certainly important. It's also about being available to your clients in other ways, such as social media and comments on your blog. Clients who feel you're accessible and take their concerns seriously are likelier to trust and work with you.
How to show clients you're available to help
One way to show clients that you're available to help is to make it easy for them to contact you. Include your contact information in prominent places on your website, and consider using a Facebook chatbot integration or other messaging platforms to answer common questions quickly. Be sure to reply to emails and phone calls swiftly, and set expectations for when clients expect to hear back from you.
Another way to be responsive is to use social media to connect with clients. For example, post regular updates about the local real estate market, share helpful tips for buyers and sellers, and engage with followers who ask questions or leave comments. Being active and engaged helps build a following of loyal readers who trust and value your expertise.
✦ Blog Post Idea ✦ Connecting with My Community: How I Use Social Media to Keep You in the Know About Local Real Estate News
Your readers may not know you are available on other social platforms. In this post, you can tell them where you hang out online and what information you share. Then, invite them to follow you and reach out with comments and questions.
Encouraging client engagement through comments
Comments on realtor blogs often go unanswered. Think of a comment as you would any other lead. They are an opportunity to start a conversation with a potential client. If you quickly reply with a helpful answer or a friendly thank you, your reader is more likely to remember you and feel comfortable reaching out again.
It's essential to respond to comments promptly and thoughtfully. When you reply to comments, give them direction for what they can do next. For example, should they schedule a coffee date with you? Is there another blog post on your site that would help with their question (and show off your expertise)?
Even negative comments are opportunities to show off your people skills. If someone leaves a criticism or complaint, responding respectfully and helpfully can turn that person into a future client.
Most readers are hesitant to leave comments. It's best if you encourage engagement. Ask for comments at the end of each post. You can also pose a question or invite readers to share their own experiences related to the topic you've written about.
Creating a conversation with polls and quizzes
Polls and quizzes are fun to engage readers and learn their needs and interests related to real estate and your community. You can use polls to ask for feedback on a particular property or market trend or to get an idea of what topics your readers are most interested in. Quizzes are a great way to educate readers about the buying or selling process or to provide tips for home maintenance and improvement.
When creating polls and quizzes, make sure they're easy to use and mobile-friendly. Then, share the results of polls and quizzes in a future blog post or social media to keep the conversation going.
TypeForm and Interact are two popular options with free, bare-bones quiz makers for you to experiment with. Please know most quiz makers will limit the number of responses you have before charging a monthly fee.
By making it easy for clients to get in touch with you, using social media to connect with local clients, encouraging engagement through comments, and creating conversation with polls and quizzes, you'll build a loyal following of readers who trust and respect your expertise.