Part 1 – Technology Series
How Real Estate Agents are using TECHNOLOGY in everyday life for everything!
Today we discuss how real estate agents are using technology.
We discuss this in chronological order.
We start with the most obvious tech just to show how much it has crept into our everyday life and that we now take for granted.
To pre-frame… what we talk about in the next few episodes, remember that EVERYONE is at very very different stages. Some know nothing about technology at all.. some have been using tech for years.
Also, we are not experts, we are just reporting what we know and what we are using.
And what we discuss is not everything of course.. There is far too much out there to cover.
Why embrace tech?
We have to embrace tech, It’s not going away, especially because of covid.
We need to make ourselves as pandemic proof as possible.
How do agents that are NOT using technology feel about it?
Scared?
They can feel irrelevant and feel left behind.
It can feel like it’s hard to compete.
They can feel like they are in the slow lane on the highway!
We want to help those agents catch up.
Because with tech, real estate is more complicated.
AND
It’s harder for sellers to copy what we do.
Rather than fear tech – Consider that Tech could be the thing that SAVES our industry.
Technology Toolbox.
The basics
- Smartphones are with us every second of the day
We can tap into EVERYTHING.
Makes our life so much easier.
- A great camera with lots of memory. Mic for videos
- A fast computer with great graphics.
SSD drive not a HDD drive.
- A laserjet multifunction printer
- A great CRM
- Fast wifi
Apps – This is the topic of another podcast.
Some apps that are amazing….
- GPS
- Electronic diaries – shared diaries
- Google drive, icloud and dropbox – Cloud storage eg Anyone can access documents from anywhere in the world
- Edit documents collectively
- Huge storage capabilities
- Upload photos
- Security – the safety of data not only being in a physical copy.
- Virtual worlds
Virtual meeting places like exp has with Virbella – (Microsoft licensed it for their staff to keep them connected). Lead generation
Lead Generation
Ideally use social media and all your marketing (online and offline) to direct and capture leads to your own website with the details going to our CRM.
Benefits – We own the real estate.
We control the Lead generation and data capture.
We do that through Buyer alerts / opt-ins.
Agents can engage companies to –
- Canvas a postcode through social media offering a free report passing the leads to an agent.
- Auto valuation sites that offer agents a 20% -30% referral fee for leads
- Portals – Via Sold property marketing – request an appraisal
Social media lead generation
- To find leads for appraisals
- Retargeting potential sellers that have engaged with you
- Organic Lead generation through Youtube, FB, tiktok, IG, linkedin, social proof, video testimonials etc. General marketing
- Remember that the number one goal is to drive traffic to your website.
Emails lead generation
- email lists to generate leads – follow-ups from your CRM
Electronic Newsletters – from your database
SMS – lead generation
- Offering property updates etc
Advising property sales and asking if they would like an appraisal
QR Codes to assist with Lead generation
- Send people to your website to Opt-in for what’s your home worth?
- You can have QR codes on flyers, signboards, brochures, business cards and on display at open homes etc
*** Best way is to generate a unique link to send people to a page on your website – you can track how many people have viewed the page. You are able to see how effective it is..
Independent V’s franchises
Cruise ships and Jetskis
Due to tech, independents are feeling more empowered – they can pivot with tech much faster!!!
Technology has also allowed the work from home model
And reduced costs substantially.
If you do it smart.
Or
It’s become a whole lot more expensive.
Next week – we are going to talk about how agents are using tech to list the property.
