Ideas & Tips for Virtual Real Estate Events
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Over the last few weeks, we’ve all been a part of a massive technology shift.
Now, it might have been thrust upon us as we’re adapting to working from home, but it is a huge opportunity as well. People who may have never attended a virtual meeting before, are conducting their own, and camera-shy people are getting more comfortable being on video.
As we move toward the future, we can leverage this new cultural approach to meeting and sharing content virtually in our real estate marketing. And to make your next virtual event as successful as possible, I have a few easy tips & content ideas.
Why Host a Virtual Real Estate Event?
A virtual event can be anything from an online meet-up or open house to you hosting a workshop or webinar. The difference in an event and a meeting, is that an “event” is something you can promote and invite multiple people to it.
And there are so many benefits to hosting a virtual event as a REALTOR. For starters, it removes barriers to you hosting it and people attending it. You don’t have to worry about securing costly event space. People can attend them on their own terms, and you might attract a whole new group of buyers and sellers that you wouldn’t have otherwise.
Use this as an opportunity. Come from a place of service while establishing yourself as the expert and growing your brand. This is your opportunity to build trust and a relationship.
How to Provide Quality Content
If you aim to provide quality content with your virtual event, then I know that you can be successful.
It all starts with choosing the right content for your audience. It’s so important to have a clear idea of who your ideal home buyer or seller is, what their struggles are, and how you can present information that would help them. To have the most successful event possible, you need to get into the head of the people attending and figure out what would make the most significant impact in their lives.
I have a straightforward exercise that you can do to figure this out. To start, download my real estate marketing plan. In this, I have a worksheet that will help you narrow down your focus and provide content that your ideal customer would find value in.
Content Ideas for Your Event
Now, let’s dive into some virtual real estate event ideas!
There has been a lot of talk about virtual open houses and home tours. I think these are awesome and will work in the future as well as an addition to your real estate marketing. However, I don’t want to cover those. Let’s throw some different ideas into the mix!
1. Webinar: “How’s the Market in XYZ Area?”
I love this idea because this is a question so many people are wondering. It’s also something that you can advertise to new people and use as a touchpoint for your sphere. Reach out to your past customers and invite them to this informative session. If you’re farming a specific area, this is another opportunity for personal branding while serving.
2. Workshop: “Learn the (Insert #) Steps to Buying a Home”
First time home buying seminars are not a new concept. However, I think more people will be willing to do this virtually than ever before. I also like the idea of not calling it a “first time home buyers seminar.” You might have somebody attend who hasn’t bought a home in 20 years and doesn’t know the process anymore. Also, by giving it a numbered set of steps, it makes it seem achievable. There’s a plan in place that’s easy to follow. (It might also be a great idea to get a lender involved with this one.)
3. Webinar: “What Savvy Home Sellers Know to Get Top Dollar in XYZ Area”
This is another one that can be promoted to your sphere and to the public as a potential lead gen. I like that the title is hyper-local, relevant to a seller, and peaks curiosity. You could even reach out and invite FSBOs or Expireds to this as well.
The previous ideas work well for lead generation, but your event goal might be engagement driven. In that case, you might want to try one of these events:
Interviews: Reach Out to a Specialist on A Related Topic
Interview an interior designer about home trends
Talk to a contractor about tips for remodeling projects
Reach out to your local government or chamber and find out about what’s going on in the community
When we’re talking about events solely for engagement, I would still use it as a piece of your sphere touchpoint strategy, and try to give it a real estate spin.
Once you’ve picked the topic for your event, let’s go over a few best practices to make sure it runs as smoothly as possible.
Best Practices for Virtual Events
Tip 1: Focus on the Quality of Your Presentation
If you’re hosting an hour event, I would budget at least 4-5 hours in creating the presentation. You can use this time to ensure that the information you’re sharing is something people will genuinely find beneficial. This will also give you time to make sure any materials such as PowerPoint presentations look their best and reflect your personal branding.
Tip 2: Practice Using the Tech
Whether you’re using Zoom or Facebook live, get comfortable and familiar with using the tech long before your virtual event date. Create a practice event and make sure you know how everything works and potential troubleshooting.
Tip 3: Do a Dress Rehearsal
If you’re nervous about hosting a virtual event, this step is a must. Go through your entire event, just like you’d be doing it live. Get used to the flow and to tweak what you’re going to say. You can ask somebody close to you for feedback, but be mindful of how their critiques could potentially shake your confidence.
Tip 4: Get a Virtual Event Buddy
Virtual events are so much easier when you have somebody helping you out. Whether they’re on stand-by to monitor the chat or troubleshoot any tech issues, you’ll feel much better having some support.
Tip 5: Encourage Engagement But Don’t Force It
Hopefully, you’re content will be so dialed in on what matters to your audience that they’re as excited as you are. Ask questions that don’t need an elaborate answer to encourage engagement, and if nobody speaks up, it’s ok. Feel free to move on and possibly ask your virtual event buddy to pipe in as needed.
Tip 6: Have a Clear “Next Step”
After your virtual event is over, what’s the next step for those who attended? While we might want people to call us right away, the next step might be to download another resource you offer or even attend a follow-up event. I’d recommend you tune into “Episode 14: The 10 Elements of a Successful Lead Capture” to learn how to do this.
BONUS: Interject Your Personality Into It
Don’t be afraid to show off who you are. This doesn’t have to be a stuffy presentation. Be the relatable version of yourself that people will connect with. Keep it entertaining and engaging, so people want to get to know you better or have you assist them with their real estate goals.
The Possibilities
The opportunities are really endless when it comes to hosting virtual events for your real estate marketing. You could use them as a way to capture leads and generate business or a way to connect with your sphere. And be sure to pick a topic that excites you, because your passion will come across in your event.
Keep in mind, the first step in creating and hosting a successful virtual real estate event is getting that date on the calendar. So do me a favor. Pencil one in right now.
Every time we try something new, we grow and get better at it. Virtual events could be the marketing idea that you absolutely excel at! Imagine how many new doors can open for you and your customers as well.
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