How REALTORS Can Attract More Attention On Social with FREE Photos

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When you post on social, you want people to stop and take notice. 

The last thing you want is for people to keep on scrolling and completely miss what you're sharing. That's where the right photos come in. They can help you build your brand as a real estate agent, attract your ideal buyer or seller, or even establish you as the expert in your niche. 

The problem is that social is a busy place, and coming up with eye-catching images to share can be overwhelming. But when you have that perfect image, people will stop and take notice. They'll be more inclined to read your caption, check out what the post is about, and more importantly, engage with you. 

You don't need to be a professional photographer or spend a ton of money to have a social feed full of scroll stopping photos. In this episode, I'm revealing easy ways to get images for free! 

Photos can make or break your real estate marketing.

They set the aesthetic for your website, create a tone for your brand on Instagram, drive more people to your site on Facebook, and are simply the visual backbone of your marketing. I'm sure you know from personal experience that when you take a beautiful photo, it will get more attention on social when you share it. That dark photo of your dinner last night just isn't going to get the same attention as the dreamy sunset vacation photo you shared. Images allow people to escape and experience what you're trying to share with them. 

And there are many ways that you can use photos on social to promote your business. 

• You might share a photo of yourself for self-branding

• Highlight a listing for sale

• Engage people with home & decor content

• Share photos of your farming area

• Use images as the entry point to an ad you are running 

If you want to create a profile worth following on Instagram, the content you share makes all the difference. If you want your post to stand out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, an eye-catching visual is what's going to get people's attention right away. 

Before we begin, I want to remind you about my episode 7 - "What to post on social for real estate agents." Be sure to check out that episode and download the social media plan, so you have a social strategy to go with your images! 

So, let's dive into seven ways you can get eye-catching photos to use in your real estate marketing for FREE. 

1 - Use Modern, High-Quality Stock Images

These aren't the unappealing photos of the past! There are many stock image sites today that offer creative, beautiful photos at no cost to you. My favorites are Unsplash.com and Pexels.com. Both have a wide variety of photos to choose from that you can easily download to your computer and work into your branding choices. 

2 - Choose Model Homes & New Construction 

Model homes shine online, just like they do in person. With the latest in home decor and trends, they'll be sure to be the ultimate representation of your local market. 

You can take your own photos while you're out with clients or make a day of it where you plan to tour homes and take pics. You'll not only be able to get content for your social media strategy, but you'll also have that time to increase your knowledge of the communities. Another option is to reach out to the builder's marketing department and ask if you can use their photos to promote the community or share their photos straight from their social accounts. You could also screenshot their post on Instagram or Facebook and tag them in the caption to credit the photo source. 

3 - Get The Most Out of Listing Photos

Your listing photos shouldn't be free, because you're paying for professional photography in your real estate marketing, right? But what about the homes you've sold in the past? Be sure to reuse striking photos and neighborhood amenity shots. You could also ask a fellow real estate agent if you can promote their listings or use an old listing photo of theirs. 

4 - Share Community Content from Local Organizations 

Your local chamber of commerce and government often share top-quality photos of the area. After all, they want to promote living and working in the area! Share their content and credit the image back to them. 

This strategy not only helps you find content for your real estate marketing but it also helps keep you up-to-date on what's new and trending in your local area, further establishing you as a local expert. 

5 - Shoutout Local Businesses

Small businesses would love and appreciate your support, especially right now. Highlight one of their product photos, a delicious dish, their charming storefront, and tag the business.

6 - Take Photos Yourself and of Yourself

Make it a point to snap photos & videos while you're out and about. Touring homes? Snap pics. Around popular shopping or dining? Snap pics.

In a community with great amenities? Take pics. You get the idea! 

I'd highly recommend that you do a personal branding photoshoot. It doesn't have to cost any money and can be fun to do! Take a look at my Episode 26: "Growing Your Personal Brand & Social Following with Branding Photos" to learn all my tips and tricks! 

7 - Create an Image Collective 

You're not the only one who needs images for social! Create a shared drive (google/dropbox) with fellow agents, teammates, or even supportive friends and family. This folder will be your go-to spot for images that all contribute and upload photos to. As you take pics, upload them there and ask other like-minded individuals to do the same. Before you know it, you'll all have more to use! 

The images are out there. The photos are there waiting for you to take them and use them in your real estate marketing. So, I have a challenge for you after listening to this episode or reading the blog. 

Pick a few of these ideas and see if you can't get 30 images to use in your marketing. That might sound like a lot! But if you use these ideas, I'm sure you can even do it in 30 minutes max. Just be sure to save them somewhere that you can access them later. . 

Because the right photo in your real estate marketing just my catch the eye of your next home buyer or seller 

This blog is even better as a podcast!
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I’m Heather Colby, host of the “Ideas for Real Estate Podcast.”

If you like what you read here today, I’d encourage you to take a listen to the episodes. :