Social media is a great resource for real estate agents to generate leads. While it’s true that Facebook is a must-have for most agents, it can be easy to forget about the other social media platforms that are out there. Here are 5 tips for generating real estate leads using Instagram.

1. Utilize your bio to get leads

When you’re creating content on social media, your bio is the first thing people see. Make sure you’re using that space to your advantage. You can include your website, any social media links, and any contact information. This is also a great place to display any awards or recognitions you’ve received.Recently, one of my clients, Jeff, was looking to expand his network. Before you get overwhelmed by Instagram, there are plenty of tips you can use to make the most out of it. For example, Instagram pages usually have more followers than Facebook pages. Keep this in mind when creating your account and following numerous accounts.

Instagram Stories

Stories is a newer feature that lets you post up to 30 photos from your posts. The problem with adding a number of pictures is that it makes it hard to determine if you’re showcasing success or a failure in real estate. Ultimately, the influencer who publicly shares your story will decide if it spreads or not. In order to build your story, you have to post stories consistently.

Instagram stories only show once per day so that the post can be seen by new followers as soon as it’s published. That being said, you can use the private mode to post only to a specific type of account. If you’re looking for a way to select your specific users, then this is a great feature.

Many of my clients post simple pictures that illustrate how their work improves their lives. Other accounts are more promotional, like using ads and signatures. It’s important to create accounts that will display your brand, in order to drive more traffic to your page.

Instagram is a great platform that’s becoming a goldmine for real estate agents. At the end of the day, it’s great to be on top of your game on social media. Having a presence on Instagram will allow you to generate new leads for your business and stand out from your competitors.

2. Post pictures of your listings with captions that include a URL

If you have a great picture of the house for sale, post it on social media with a caption that includes a link to the listing. Do the same for any other properties you have for sale. If you have a real estate agent, post your listings on their accounts as well. You want as many people as possible to see what you’re selling.

Make sure your post contains a link to your listing on your website, so your first impression is as good as possible. 

Add an extra line or two at the beginning of your caption to allow the reader to navigate through whatever content they choose.

For some extra inspiration on what to post about, here are 11 great tips on how to build a Trust Level with Influencers On Social Media.

Tip #1: Use Your Cell Phone for Marketing

If you have an iPhone, you can use the Page Builder within the Facebook Ad Manager to post multiple pictures at once. Each picture enables the advertiser to specify which village, city or neighborhood to target. When you create a new post, you’ll have the option to upload all your pictures or just upload one at a time. This might be more intimidating to some but it allows you to create a description, include geo-targeting and keywords, then advance through pictures until you have the desired number of posts done.

You can also use the Instagram share feature to post a schedule of upcoming events. In this way you also can sync your content with events you’re hosting in your area.

Tip #2: Help Out Your Local Community (those near you)

Instagram is generally known for its user-generated content. If a homeowner is looking for help on a house, offering to answer questions for a small amount of money is an excellent way to get in front of their potential clients.

Have you ever helped someone out of a sticky situation? What was the outcome? Tell them on Instagram.

3. Interact with other users by liking and commenting on their photos

You can also interact with other users by liking and commenting on their photos. The more you interact with other users, the more likely it is that they’ll interact with you too.1. Create useful content in your photo.Click through rate is pretty important when it comes to getting in front of the right eyeballs. If you’ve ever taken a look at your Facebook feed, you’ll know that you take notice of content on Facebook, and if it attracts your interest, you’re likely to click on it.

When taking a look at your Instagram feed, utilize useful content—good, funny, and informative content. Here are a few posts that appeal to my generation:

4. Use hashtags. Hashtags are a great way to engage your Instagram audience. This is evident by the photos that garner a lot of likes and comments.

It is always a good idea to use hashtags on your photos. They have a tendency to become your most popular content. Here are a few examples of Instagram hashtags:

#newyearsday

#bethelovespell2016

#myheroes2016

#mitt romney

#carsonrhodes2016

5. Post frequently.Getting an image in front of thousands of users is a lot harder than just grabbing a few hundred users and posting a creative piece of content. Post frequently to build up your audience. This goes for your entire account, as well.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve vigorously posted photos to my account. I went from zero prior to generating 30-60 leads per week, all because I posted a few times a week. Stay consecutive… tag 3-5 folks in your field that do not mind you tagging them and is relevant.

6. Use hashtags that are relevant to real estate (and not just Instagram)

The best hashtags for real estate include location-based tags like #newyork, #brooklyn, and #newjersey, as well as industry-related tags like #realestate, #home, and #homes. And although Instagram is a visual-based platform, don’t forget to use relevant hashtags for Instagram as well.

Here are five tips for using Instagram for your real estate business:

Changing the look of your photo or video simultaneously increases the exposure in your actions. People will look at your photo or video feed and will want to know more about you so that they can take the next step in your appointment. Professional photos will help you capture clients’ attention on your real estate photos and video.

Every real estate state has its own unique set of features and rules, which often differ from state to state. Make sure you have the proper tagging rules, whether it’s an emoji, hashtags, or a proper addressing of your listing.

Instagram allows you to choose the profile image that appears in your social stream. Don’t forget that when engaging with other members, like friends of prospects, it’s important to follow their updates and describe what you are doing. Pictures and videos of you holding open homes and parties can generate serious leads for a real estate agent, making you more visible than competitors without any real estate offers on the table.

Don’t miss out on opportunities to add hashtags to your profiles. The hashtags you use can be very impactful when you really engage your audience in your real estate business. By using hashtags, the real estate community can help you to create videos, interviews, and testimonials for your business that can increase your exposure and build awareness about your brand.

Just like anything else, creating infographics goes beyond pretty pictures and videos — it can really help you stand out in your market. Check out this infographic created by iQiyi detailing the value of infographics for real estate investors.

Embed content on your website to help your followers find your Instagram properties.

7. Compile all of your posts into an album for potential clients to view later

People are busy and may not have time to view your entire portfolio while they’re still deciding on hiring you. So it’s a good idea to compile your best work into a single album so that they can view it later, when they have the time.

Sometimes it’s hard to know if your Instagram post is meant for one audience or the entire country. One way to ensure your posts reach a larger audience is to limit the number of posts based on the region your client is located in.

When posting your most recent post, it’s a good idea to include the hashtag that corresponds to the area you’re in. For example, #ND75 would post a photo of New Denver, Rocky Mountain House and Hire in Wyoming.

Only post what you have professionally developed and fine-tune. Spamming accounts doesn’t work anymore. If you focus on building a reputable account, it will take you less than 24 hours to earn a client’s trust.

Instagram newsfeeds often feed users advertisements when they can’t find what they’re looking for directly. If you like content, show it to others. Building relationships with other real estate agents and fellow entrepreneurs is how you are going to create an Instagram account that caters to everyone.

Getting updates or finding tips on Instagram can be a nerve-wracking endeavor. While it can be tempting to scroll through all of your followers to find new accounts to follow, try reposting your most popular posts. This way, you can get better acquainted with the creators and easily discover new accounts to follow. You can also connect with fellow realtors on Instagram and use those accounts as a resource to grow your portfolio.

Not every agent has numerous accounts. There are probably dozens of accounts that you recognize as those of top agents or real estate professionals. Don’t despair. You can create a new account to represent your area or even create your own brand and showcase your best posts. You can also join specific Instagram groups and communities.