At the Mid-year Meetings, the National Association of REALTORS wrote about a few free and low-cost tools that real estate pros can quickly and easily integrate into their businesses.
Are You the One and Only?
Develop a robust social media strategy, just like you would any other marketing program. Make sure your social profile is complete and as similar as possible across platforms. Here’s a free service that will make sure your profile identity isn’t already in use by someone else. “Namechk is a website to see if your cutesy name is going to be available across all social media,” she said.
A Handful of Video Options
Here’s a plethora of free and low-cost video tools real estate pros may want to try. Here’s a selection:
- TimeLapse is an iOS app that allows you to create sped-up videos true to the tool’s name. Riedmann loved the fact that this free app gives users the ability to edit out any flaws that might creep in during the extended filming process. “You can show a major event without having to be stuck on your phone the whole time,” she said, adding that the format is a favorite for consumers. “People love time-lapse video. It’s pretty popular.”
- Eyejot. This free service allows you to embed short videos directly into e-mails with great return and open rates!
- If your brokerage is thinking about taking the next step up from iMovie editing, considerWeVideo, Riedmann said. It has an option that will allow branding across videos and collaboration among sales associates and clients. The company offers a team approach with $20-per-month packages specifically for real estate pros.
- For those who are already using the Adobe suite, Animoto is a way to integrate still photos and video in a seamless way. The service offers templates specifically made for real estate agents and licensed music tracks to take a simple slide show to the next level.
Composing Social Poetry
Looking for a more striking way to post on social media? Textagon is a way to turn a simple update into “visual poetry.” The free macro generator app is a good way for real estate pros to construct more appealing text and photo updates about everything from how your afternoon is going to new listings: “It makes you look like you really know what you’re doing with graphic design.”
Wondering whether you should use Snapchat in your business? Check out the debate about this up-and-coming tool from the Emerging Business Issues & Technology Forum.
Stay Safe
Stressing the importance of using technology wisely, noting that video and check-ins specifically put real estate professionals at risk. If you’re putting it on the Internet, it’s public. Technology products such as bSafe can help boost security, and it’s free! The tool offers the ability to send location-enabled alerts to friends if you’re in danger or schedule fake check-in calls to help you remove yourself from a situation where you don’t feel secure. You can even start automatically streaming if you’re in trouble.
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