Nowadays, it’s virtually impossible to make a career out of real estate without implementing a social media marketing strategy. Regardless of the platforms you choose to use, the best way to reach a wide—but still relevant—audience is by harnessing the power of hashtags. Here’s a closer look at how to #upyourgame.

What Are Hashtags?

On all the most popular social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, hashtags essentially categorize posts. If users want to see several different posts on the same subject, they can simply search by hashtag. Comprised of an octothorp followed by one or more words with no spaces, a hashtag lets scrollers know what the post is about or #whyitmatters.

Each site has a different algorithm for monitoring hashtags. On Instagram, for example, you can include up to 30 hashtags before the site will penalize the post for being spammy. As such, it’s wise to review the rules for the sites you use so you can make the most of every post. 

What Makes for a Good Hashtag?

Generally speaking, the best hashtags are short, informative, and specific. Consider what buyers and sellers in your area might search for in order to find a reputable real estate agent, and start there. For example, #realtorinyourlocation, #propertysales, #homeselling, #homebuying, and #dreamhomesinyourlocation. 

Try to use a few hashtags that are fairly popular—or even “trending”—to ensure lots of views. Include a few that are incredibly specific as well to boost click-through rate (CTR). CTR refers to the number of people who actually click on your posts.

Naturally, this number matters a lot. If thousands of people see your post but not a single person clicks on it, you don't have a very effective marketing strategy. As such, it’s just as important to appeal to a relevant audience as it is to reach a large number of people.

Which Hashtags Should Every Post Have?

Every post should include your name, the name of your real estate agency, and your location. If the post is advertising a particular property, include a hashtag with the name of the neighborhood it’s in and a few listing its distinguishing features, like #brandnewdevelopment, #greatschools, or #gothicarchitecture. 

If you have a tagline, you may want to include that in each post, too. Branded hashtags may not draw much attention while you’re still establishing the business, but over time, they’ll increase visibility. 

For more help establishing a thriving real estate business, turn to EXIT Realty Upper Midwest. The fastest-growing firm in Iowa, this non-traditional company offers franchise opportunities for ambitious professionals. Their proven business methods will help you get started on the path to success, and you'll have access to exceptional systems and tools—not to mention protected territories—every step of the way. To learn how you can get started, call (651) 505-3570 or reach out on their website.