Boost Your Real Estate Facebook Business Page Engagement With These Five Tips

For some real estate agents, finding increasingly interesting and engaging ways to post on your Facebook business page can become overwhelming.

I’m here to help it not be overwhelming. In fact, I’m here to help make it fun for you.

Today you are going to learn five ways to create Facebook posts that drive more engagement on your Facebook business page.

Are you ready?

Then let’s get going . . .

Give them a blank to fill in . . .

Oh yes. Facebook fans love fill in the blank options. It’s an easy one word answer for them.

Simply use a short sentence and leave out one word. It can be a noun or verb, either one will do. Just leave out one word and see what happens.

For example:

When it comes to Christmas decorating, ________ is always best.

Another example:

My dream home has a(n) _____ .

Here are some tips when using “fill-in-the-blank” Facebook status updates on your page:

• Using fill in the blank posts is really about getting to know your fans. It allows you to interact with them, learning what drives them, what interests them.  Always remember this when posting.
• A fantastic way to use a fill in the blank post is to coordinate it with a specific event. A holiday? School’s out? Vacation season? First snow fall?
• If you make it awkward or funny, even better. Fans get more personal.

Use photos to solve your prospects problems . . .

As we already know, a picture is worth a thousand words.

What “problem” might your prospect have? What solution might you have for that problem?

Here’s an example:

Moving is stressful.  What happens when the closing of your old home is several hours, or even a day or two, before the closing of your new home?

What do you do with all of your fridge and freezer food?

Here’s how to keep yourself organized and not toss money down the drain…

Forced Feedings

Here are some tips when using photos to solve a problem on your Facebook business page:

• Use larger photos – they tend to get more engagement (likes, comments and shares).
• Make sure you use the “upload photo” button to publish a photo directly to your post instead of using a link that shows a thumbnail
• Optimize your photos. make sure it is sized to fit 403 pixels by 403 pixels.
• Use PicMonkey to quickly and easily optimize your photos. plus, it’s free.

The proverbial photo caption post . . .

What’s not to love about these? When you combine a gorgeous or enticing photo with your fans love of interaction, you can’t go wrong.

Consider what your goal is. What emotion do you want to trigger? Choose an image that evokes that emotion and makes it nearly impossible for your fan not to participate.

Here’s one by National Geographic.  They use photo caption extremely well.  Just look at the 70,000 interactions they got for this one.

Here are some tips when using photo captions on your Facebook business page:

• Be inspiring, thought provoking, provocative, funny. Use photos that evoke those emotions.
• Want to really boost interaction? Run it as a contest and offer a prize.
• Ideally, take and use your own photos, from around your local area. You’ll get a higher rate of involvement with your niche. If that doesn’t work for you, use iStockphoto or Shutterstock (make sure to comply with all copyrights).

Involve prospects with a question . . .

Everyone wants to know someone is listening. They want to know that they are being heard. They love the opportunity to give their voice to the conversation.

Have your fans help you. Have them name your newsletter, describe memories and moments associated with buying or selling a home, etc.

People enjoy participating. Give them a reason to participate.

Here’s an example.  While it’s a bit longer than most, it still got 53 interactions (not including comments).

Here are some tips when using questions on your Facebook business page:

• Make sure to keep your questions simple. Simple as in, yes or no, or a single answer. The more thought the fan has to put into answering, the less likely they are willing to participate.
• Focus your questions on your ideal client’s lifestyle. What do they like to do that a new home will allow them to do?
• To find some specific ideas, monitor feedback on other posts and comments. Check out homeownership forums, DIY networks, etc. Also, watch twitter to find question ideas.

Utilize quotes . . .

Quotes are one of the easiest ways to get people to engage. If they like your quote, it’s a quick click on the like button to tell you so. If they love your quote, it’s just as easy to share it on their own profiles or pages.

Quotes have this wonderful ability to make emotional connections between you and your fans.

You can say something of your own that they can share as a quote, or, you can quote others.

Here are some examples:

Here are some tips when using quotes on your Facebook business page:

• Just make sure the quote is accurate and faithful. Do your research. Quotes are easily misrepresented, reworded and inaccurately attributed.
• Use quotes that fit your business. Quotes about homeownership, net worth, etc. are perfect for real estate agents.
• Every so often, use a photo, or imprint a quote over a photo.

So, how many of these do you use? How often? What have been your results?

Christina Ethridge is the founder of LeadsAndLeverage.com, helping real estate agents capture, convert and close Facebook leads.