From Likes to Listings: Instagram Tips from Agent Influencers

It’s the goal that every real estate agent should strive for.

A thumb-stopping Instagram that is both personal and professional, entertaining and educational.

And, according to NAR, it’s also the most important when it comes to finding new clients. In a recent survey, social media was cited as the best source for generating high-quality leads among agents, followed by multiple listing service (MLS) websites.

So, how do you build out a perfectly curated feed that not only looks great but sends the right message?

You look for a little inspiration from some of the biggest and best real estate Instagram influencers.

Here are three of our favorite social-savvy agents to help inspire you.

With more than 20,000 followers, it’s clear that Keri White, a real estate agent in Los Angeles, has mastered the art of mixing business with personality.

In an age where 74% of people find their real estate agent through social media, prospective clients are looking for more than experience. They want authenticity and relatability.

While her feed may feature plenty of “just listed” and “sold” posts (she is a real estate agent, after all), you’ll also find a great mix of personal snapshots, hometown shoutouts, buying & selling tips and testimonials.

White says that she tries to adhere to the 80/20 rule: 80% of her posts are personal and 20% are business-related. While listings might sell houses, personal posts sell you, and that’s really what clients buy when they decide to hire you.

“Remember, people work with you when they like and trust you. The only way they can do that is if they get to know you. Build your brand through social media, this is not about showcasing house photos.”

Pro tip: If you don’t feel comfortable showing off your life on social media, take the opportunity to show off your community. Highlight local businesses, share your favorite parks, or feature some neighborhoods.

If Chris Kwon didn’t have “realtor” in his Instagram handle, you would probably assume he was a lifestyle blogger. But that’s what makes his strategy so effective. As an agent in ultra-competitive Irvine, California, standing out among the crowd is what helps get you listings.

Scrolling through his posts, the only thing that would give you the impression he’s one of the top agents in California are, well, the listings. What you see more is that he’s a father, a Peloton-owner, a donut-lover, and a photography aficionado.

He also takes plenty of chances to offer homebuying advice like using a drone to check a roof or phone cases that double as camera lenses (who knew?). This sends the message that he is the agent who will go above and beyond to walk you through the buying or selling process.

Even if you don’t have a drone, there are simple ways for you to also accomplish this.

Here are a couple of ideas:

• Common misconceptions about buying & selling (down payment, FICO scores, etc)
• Real estate ABCs
• Client success stories

Relatability is key to building out an Instagram strategy that wins over clients. Keep it light, positive and professional, and you’ll have a feed like Chris’ in no time.

As Henry Ford once said, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.”

Social media is one of the biggest parts of today’s real estate industry, and it’s only anticipated to grow in importance. If you want to build out a social media strategy that not only sells your houses, but also sells you, then take some pointers from these three agents.