Pinterest In Your Real Estate Business

Social media provides a range of tools to reach out to leads and clients.   Though Facebook and Twitter are often used by real estate professionals, an important, yet commonly overlooked site is Pinterest.  On average, a Pinterest visitor will spend over an hour on Pinterest for each visit.  This presents a great opportunity to reach users during their Pinterest browsing.

Current Photos

Real estate websites rely to a large extent on visuals.  Whether you’re posting before and after shots of a great home staging, photos of your newest listing, or video tours featuring the highlights of your top home, you likely already have a significant number of visuals available to users.

Though it’s important to have these images on your website, Pinterest can provide a more powerful opportunity to share these photos.  When you “pin” something, it appears to all your followers.  If one of those followers chooses to “re-pin” it, your name stays associated with the image.  This is true even if it re-pinned again by a follower of that original follower.  Each re-pin will display your image to a larger number of people, all the while keeping your business displayed.  This is an incredible way to help brand your company.

Interesting Photos

In order for the chain of re-pinning to begin, you have to gain followers.  One great way to do this is by creating boards that are both specific and interesting.  You could, for example, create boards for each area you market to pinning neighborhood events, demographics, etc.  Or a board of celebrity or luxury homes, in which you display over-the-top homes that some users may enjoy looking at.  You could also post funny looking homes, ugly homes, beautiful homes, or any other type you can think of.  The more interesting you can make your boards, the more people will want to follow you.  When you then post pictures that are more directly relevant to your business, there’s a higher chance they will be seen.

Word of caution: you will not get good engagement and followers if you only or primarily post your listings. You must offer other interesting and helpful information.

Useful Graphics

Something that has been gaining popularity in recent years is the use of infographics.  These are basically colorful charts that summarize important statistics, ideas, or advice.  Oftentimes, a visitor will be more likely to spend time reading through an infographic than reading a lengthy post.  Pinning useful infographics you find online or even creating your own helps to establish your brand and draw more leads to you.  Consider what would be helpful to your clients and search for interesting ways to display that.

Interactions

As a social media platform, Pinterest works best when you are social.  Follow boards that are relevant to your business and re-pin interesting pins.  Additionally, encourage clients and leads to follow you by incorporating Pinterest follow buttons into your blog and website.  You can also bring followers in by launching contests and promotions on Pinterest.  Ask users what their favorite home or decoration style is.  Anything you can do to get people talking about your business will help brand it.

Pinterest is a valuable social media tool for real estate professionals.  Take some time to optimize your Pinterest presence and encourage people to follow you.