Bayut Academy: 8 Essential Instagram tips for real estate agents in the UAE
Many real estate agents don’t take advantage of the power of Instagram. Yes, most agents do have a Facebook or Linkedin account, but how many are using Instagram for real estate? Not only is Instagram the most popular social medium in the UAE, it’s also tailor-made for real estate. It’s visual, it’s quick, it’s easy and most importantly, it’s where everyone is. If your potential sellers, buyers, renters and landlords are there, why aren’t you? That’s why Bayut is bringing you today 8 effective Instagram tips for real estate agents in the UAE to help you up your game!
Before you get Instagram happy, let’s go through some features and practices many don’t know about. Then, you’ll be able to make the most out of Instagram for real estate.
8 IMPORTANT INSTAGRAM TIPS FOR REAL ESTATE AGENTS IN THE UAE
INSTAGRAM FOR BUSINESS ACCOUNT
The first step to using Instagram for real estate is to set up an Instagram for Business account. Here, you should post steady real-estate related content. Focus on posting quality and enticing photos. Have a Facebook for Business account? Then, you can switch your current Instagram account to a business account through the toggle switch in the settings. This is one of the key Instagram tips for real estate agents, because a business account activates contact buttons. This allows potential clients to email and call you directly from the app. But make sure to edit or remove any non-real estate related content. Another benefit of IG for Business is you have access to data on your social traffic, clicks, charts and demographics.
You can check out Bayut’s IG account @bayutuae for ideas!
HASHTAG HEAVEN
Instagram is all about the hashtags … so don’t hold back! Studies show that 11 hashtags are most effective on Instagram. For the uninitiated, hashtags are clickable word labels that allow users to search for certain topics. Certain hashtags, like #luxuryproperty and #mydubai have generated millions of posts! Others like #dubairealestate and #dubaimarina are popular real estate hashtags in the UAE and allow you to see what other agents and users are posting. Simply go to the search bar and insert a term to see how popular it is.
Instagram hashtags for real estate not only allow you to see what is popular, they also make your posts visible to others. An important Instagram tip for real estate agents: use hashtags to promote your properties as you build your following. For example, a property for sale in Dubai Marina could have the hashtags #dubaimarina #luxurykitchen #views #design #highriseliving #realestate #mydubai and #mybayut to reach a larger audience.
GEOTAGGING IS KEY
Geotags allow you promote within a specific location. Your geotag can be as focused as a specific apartment block or as general as Dubai. While geotags won’t help property searchers find your property per se, they will help you reach your specific base audience (for instance: Greens, Dubai Marina or JBR).
An essential way to use Instagram for real estate is to make sure you geotag all the properties you post. People looking for any content within that geotag will be sure to see your post.
INSTAGRAM STORIES
Instagram stories are snippets that only last for 24 hours. Instagram stories appear near the top of the app and many users now focus on Instagram stories and not traditional content. It’s an effective way of showing properties and the fun aspects of your day-to-day life. Post anything that you don’t want to clog up your main feed or take up permanent residence on your page.
You can also add stickers to jazz up your Instagram stories, so start taking advantage of this handy Instagram feature for real estate! Some of the stickers we love include questions, polls, mentions and locations.
PHOTO ALBUM FEATURE FOR MULTIPLE SHOTS AND VIDEOS
Did you know you can post up to 10 photos in a single post? Agents often use the photo album feature to post multiple shots of one property. Have some questions on how to use this feature? Click here to see the instructions from Instagram. This is a great feature on Instagram for real estate pros when you want to promote an entire property. But use this feature wisely as it can clutter your page if overdone.
INSTAGRAM LIVE
There’s a huge trend towards live video now, and real estate agents should jump on the bandwagon, too! Instagram Live videos appear in the Stories area and allow you to engage your audience in real time. A great way to use Instagram Live for real estate is by sharing an open house with your audience on this platform. Instagram Live lets you see your audiences’ comments as you’re live on the platform. As well, viewers can ask questions about the property, and you can respond right away on the live video! But should you want your content to stay for more than 24 hours, check out this Instagram tip for real estate agents below.
USE IGTV FOR LONG-FORM, VERTICAL CONTENT
Want to post longer videos? IGTV is your answer. Instagram’s handy new feature lets most users post videos up to 10 minutes long, while larger accounts and verified accounts can post up to 60-minute long videos! With so much engagement on Instagram at the moment, why not post long-form video when appropriate? And unlike Instagram Live, videos you post IGTV will remain on your channel until you delete. You can download IGTV as an app and we recommend doing so to make the most out of Instagram for real estate.
SCHEDULE YOUR POSTS
Yes, you’re an agent and your time is best spent meeting potential clients. But that doesn’t mean you can’t effectively use Instagram for real estate. Did you know you can schedule your Instagram content in advance? Planoly is one platform that allows you to plan, schedule, and manage your comments in one place. Achieve balance by planning ahead and sporadically adding spontaneous content. The key to success on Instagram for real estate agents is to be active on the platform!
That brings an end to the main Instagram tips for real estate agents in the UAE. Remember, Instagram is where the Millennial audience is. And Dubai is a Millennial city and those who are older and often savvy with social media, too! Are you an agent who needs some help getting started with social media for real estate? We have you covered. Bayut Academy holds monthly workshops on how to use social media as an agent. Contact us at academy@bayut.com today.
You may also be interested in Bayut’s guide to texting like a professional realtor or improving your real estate vocabulary. And follow MyBayut for more insights into gaining success as a real estate agent in the UAE!
