The use of marketing in real estate is rapidly rising in importance. Various marketing tools and strategies found their way into the real estate realm. While some may work better than others, here are some of the best real estate marketing trends that have gained traction over 2017:

1. Going Mobile

Mobile communication with clients has admittedly been used for at least the past decade now. However, with the increased popularity of smartphones and mobile apps, the real estate market is taking the term “going mobile” to a whole new level. Agents can FaceTime with out-of-state clients, conduct meetings virtually, and allow clients easy access to their website through the creation of company applications. So many aspects of real estate can be done on a smartphone nowadays, which is extremely appealing to customers.

2. Drones

Drones are being used extensively in the modern real estate. They have an ability to capture pictures and videos of homes from angles that normally were not possible before. With drones, agents can upload aerial shots of homes to their website, so potential clients can see a home from different perspectives.

3. Content Marketing

Content marketing is a fairly new concept used by brokers and team leaders in order to ensure that the most important content is being advertised by the company. This is generally done through marketing automation (also listed below) to guarantee that clients are viewing the content that best fits their interests. This also warrants that ad budget is not being wasted on the wrong groups of people who may have little to no interest in these ads.

4. Rebranding/Retargeting Advertisements

Rebranding and retargeting are extremely important concepts in real estate right now, as the market is drastically changing and growing. Because of all the improvements that are now underway, rebranding is necessary in order to show a company as more efficient, accessible, and overall more modern. This, in turn, necessitates retargeting. Different groups of potential clients are entering the market thus initiating new trends (environmentally friendly housing, multigenerational homes, etc.) so it is important to make sure that each group views ads tailored to their specific tastes, financial capabilities, interests and so on. No need to waste ads on people who are not even remotely interested in the kind of real estate you’re offering.

5. Virtual Reality Open House Tours

This has become increasingly popular, especially in regard to out-of-state clients. Virtual reality open houses allow clients a life-like perspective of being inside a home when they can’t be there physically. This is an incredibly important trend in real estate, because prospective clients can view a house they may be interested in from the comfort of their current home.

6. Marketing Automation

More and more companies are using marketing automation to determine what target market to focus their attention on, as well as what demographics make up the bulk of their business. Apps like Zillow, BoomTown, or Great Agent help with marketing automation by providing an agent with precise information about the clients they are catering to in order to ensure that all their specific needs are accommodated for.

7. Live Chats

Website live chats have also been around for quite a bit, but they are becoming more and more popular in the real estate field. By having an agent on standby to chat with a client that may have a question regarding the property you are selling or a general inquiry about your website, you can make each and every client feel welcome and accounted for. This is a great tool for guaranteeing contact with an agent and maintaining positive experience for your users. Live chats are a smart way to assure visitors every question gets answered and an agent is always within reach.

8. 3D Listings

Much like virtual reality tours, 3D listings are also on the rise. This too creates a “real life” experience of viewing a home. With new tools such as panoramic cameras, drones, and HD video, agents can post a listing with 3D-esque photos instead of the traditional 2D pictures. This is an eye-catching feature that tends to attract and intrigue most clients.