How to Incorporate Instagram in a Real Estate Social Media Plan

I’m sure you have heard the old saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words”.  In today’s supercharged world of social media, this is as true today as it was back in the turn of the century.  We provide simple tips to create a winning real estate social media plan.

Not surprising, just yesterday it was reported that Instagram is growing the fastest of all social media sites worldwide, increasing its active user base by 23% in the last six months with the millennials (anyone born after 1980) leading the charge.

Instagram and Real Estate Social Media Marketing

If you haven’t heard, photos and video control the web and they need to dominate your social media posts – and that is especially true in real estate.  Without photos, who would come see any of your properties? This is where Instagram and social media come into play. Although it was designed to help people connect through photography, Instagram has launched outside of the social sphere and into businesses – including real estate.

In real estate, being the expert in your local market from the local deli, the best place to get a cup of coffee, to where the school district lines are help position you as the local authority. Everything you do in social is helping to build your brand. So what is your brand?

It’s easy to be ‘all things to all people’ but it’s even more valuable to be focused on what you are good at and enjoy. Typically, agents who focus on their core community where they live love and breathe – this is where they find true success.

Use Instagram to Take 30 Photos in 30 Days

Like Foursquare, Instagram is its own unique network and it is supremely easy to build a local brand on Instagram using photos you take around your community. Try taking “30 Photos in 30 Days.”

The concept is this: what if you spend a few hours driving around your community and you took 30 amazing photos – the local park, the historic building, the Main Street sign, etc. Then you took those 30 photos and “Instagrammed” them – there you now have 30 days of amazing LOCAL content that you can also share onto your other networks – Facebook, Twitter and G+.

How to Repurpose Instagram Content

An RSS feed of your Instagram content will provide flexibility to extend the reach of your images and video taken inside the app. Read more on: How to Create an Instagram RSS Feed and 3 Ways it can Instantly Boost Traffic

How to Avoid Becoming Obsolete – Keep Up with the Millennials

The need for real estate professionals to adapt to changing technology is critical to assist the next generation of home buyers – the millennials or first-time home buyers. They are my children and trust me; they are using social media.  Gone are the days when you can sit back and wait for customers to walk in.  According to Pew Internet Research, Instagram resonates with Millennial consumers more than any other age group.

Don’t just listen to me.  This infographic from Infographic Labs gives the insides and outs of Instagram:

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Is Instagram part of your real estate social media plan? Tell us about your success or struggles.