49+ Best Real Estate Marketing Ideas for Investors in 2023
The majority of real estate marketing ideas are conceived and written with agents or brokers in mind.
Rarely will you see a list of marketing ideas specifically tailored to real estate investors.
Until now.
This post aims to be a go-to resource for real estate investors looking to gain an edge with their marketing. Some of these ideas you might’ve seen before, others you haven’t.
What are the Best Real Estate Marketing Ideas?
That’s a very nuanced question and “best practices” vary wildly across the industry.
This is a growing list of some of the best real estate marketing ideas you can implement for your business today.
1. Have an HVCO available
I’m not sure who coined the term, but HVCO stands for (High-Value Content Offer). A good HVCO can be as simple as a PDF, video training, or free report – anything that has high perceived value to your prospects but comes at low (or no) cost to you.
This high-value content is offered in exchange for a prospect’s information, usually an email or name/phone, and can net you some brownie points early in the relationship.
A good HVCO is a powerful – and cheap – way to provide value and collect emails for remarketing.
2. Build an impressive website
Every business needs a home base online, a site that represents your brand and your value to potential customers. An impressive website is an integral part of your marketing strategy, and if you can afford it, you should have a professional build you a fast, good-looking site.
Most prospects will look up your website and critique it harshly. Your customers are making (arguably) the single most impactful financial decision of their lives when they choose to sell their home; put their minds at ease with a great website.
Make sure to pack the main page with social proof, case studies, FAQ, and some fantastic imagery, and you’ll already have your best foot forward when someone looks you up.
3. Optimize for mobile
A large (and growing) number of web users are on mobile, so it makes sense that your website must look good and function well on mobile.
Most website builders will offer out-of-the-box mobile optimization options, but I’ve found that a little manual tweaking is often required to get your site truly mobile-optimized.
Courtesy of gs.statcounter.com
4. Invest in SEO early
Okay, so you have a great website – how do you get eyeballs on it?
SEO or (Search Engine Optimization) is the practice of ranking your website on search engines (think: Google).
Up to 75% of search engine users won’t go past the first page of results after they search; if you aren’t ranking in the top 10-11 websites, you likely won’t ever be seen by your ideal prospects.
The only way to get around having good SEO is #5 on this list…
5. Invest in PPC
PPC stands for (Pay-per-click); this is another way of saying “advertising that involves bidding on user clicks.”
Most search platforms nowadays have some form of PPC advertising on offer that will allow businesses to bid for the top 4-5 spots on a SERP (Search Engine Results Page) – this is the page that a Google user would land on after searching for a keyword phrase.
If your budget allows, you can use PPC ads to put your website or landing page on the first page of a targeted keyword pool.
6. Don’t sleep on Bing Ads
Bing is Microsoft’s in-house search engine, so it’s automatically set as the default search option for Windows users. While most users gravitate towards Google Chrome as their web browser, some people never install Chrome and will often stick with Explorer and Bing.
Don’t forget to advertise on Bing; it’s relatively cheap, and you could miss out on deals by putting all your efforts into Google.
7. Clean up your social media presence
Don’t be fooled; your prospects won’t just stop on your website, and when they dig into your business, they will undoubtedly check your social media presence.
An unprofessional, disjointed social footprint can be a major turn-off for people – even worse than having no social media presence at all.
Clean up your image on the “public forum” by aligning your imagery, branding, and messaging on every platform your potential clients hang out.
8. Join a Facebook group
Facebook (or Meta as they’re now known) continues to change their platform – usually for the worst – but Facebook Groups is one of the best things the company has ever released.
Many real estate investors make their social media home on Facebook because of the immense value of certain investor groups. You can think of these groups as a digital substitute for in-person networking events.
These groups can be proverbial gold mines for meeting other investors, sharing deals, and learning new tactics.
9. Join a Mastermind
A mastermind is like the “cool kids club” of real estate investing, and you’ll find a lot of big players in these select groups.
A good mastermind often holds in-person events that members can attend throughout the year. Events will usually feature professionals involved in every facet of real estate investing – sales gurus, marketers, top performers, influencers – grab a pen and paper because these people are on the cutting edge with their industry knowledge.
10. Share behind-the-scenes content
People want to do business with people, which is the fundamental basis for the trade of goods and services.
Unfortunately, when businesses advertise, they think they must appear hyper-professional and forget how to interact with their customers.
To come across as genuine in your messaging, you might need to humanize your marketing, and one of my favorite ways to do this is by sharing “behind the scenes” content.
Did your latest TV commercial take 37 takes to get right? Share the blooper reel.
I’ve seen a 45-second blooper reel generate dozens of leads and tons of engagement from a target audience, even outperforming the ad they’d been filming in the first place.
11. Create a personal brand
Real estate agents and brokers have been building personal brands for decades out of necessity, but this trend is only gaining steam, and it’s time for your business to hop aboard.
I’ll repeat this mantra 100 times: people want to do business with other people.
In the age of internet advertising, distrust and suspicion are at an all-time high, so you need to put your face on your marketing material.
12. Use HARO
Want to establish yourself as a go-to source in your market for anything real estate-related?
HARO (Help a Reporter Out) is a website where you can connect with journalists from TV, magazines, and newspaper publications. Offer your expertise, and they can often get you quoted, published, or brought on as an “expert” guest.
13. Comb tax records for out-of-state property owners
Your local courthouse or public records office will have tax records that you can search for out-of-state property owners.
Sometimes these are family members who inherited properties they may (or may not) know about or distant owners who aren’t emotionally attached to the property.
Take a personal approach to market to these people; they can be valuable lead sources.
14. Skip-trace lists
Combing through public records can be a chore when you’re building a list to market to; luckily, there are companies that skip trace and put together lists based on who your target audience is.
Want a list of tax-delinquent homeowners in a specific zip code? Easy peasy.
Here are a couple of skip-tracing services I’d recommend:
Note: I have no affiliation with these companies, but they’re top-tier in the industry.
15. Update your Google Business profile
Your Google Business Profile is what shows up on the map when someone searches for a keyword (example: barber), plus the phrase “near me”.
If you’re one of the closest “cash home buyers near me,” your profile will pop up for users to read more about and get driving directions.
This profile is often overlooked but can be a significant revenue source if you set it up correctly with reviews, up-to-date information, and flattering imagery.
16. Farm reviews, AKA. gather social proof
When was the last time you bought a 2-star product on Amazon?
The truth is: people put a lot of stock in those little golden stars beside a product name, and the more reviews they see, the better.
According to this report, consumers said they wouldn’t buy from a company with less than 3.3 stars, and they read more than five reviews before purchasing.
You must create a system to gather and manage as much social proof as possible to establish yourself as a dependable business. If you and a competitor have a 4-star rating, the company with more reviews will often win.
17. Prioritize video testimonials
Video content has become the premier media tool in 2022, so displaying video testimonials is a no-brainer for establishing social proof.
Consumers are three times (3x) more likely to engage with a video than a static image – which means your glowing review won’t be passed over as quickly as text would.
These videos don’t have to be – and often don’t benefit from – being highly produced. A simple, genuine 30-45 second video review will work just fine in most cases.
18. Spy on your competitor’s ads
While you never want to copy your competitor’s advertising, it’s a smart move to keep an eye on what they’re doing online.
For Facebook or Instagram ads, you can use Facebook’s Ad Library to show what ads your competitor is currently running.
For Google ads, you can use a tool like Spyfu.
19. Create a newsletter
A newsletter provides value to your market for almost no cost, gives the market an avenue to speak with you, and can function as a remarketing list for your PPC or social media ads.
Add a newsletter opt-in to your website to capture emails, connect it to some email marketing software (like Mailchimp), and send out bi-weekly or monthly “market updates” emails to your subscribers.
20. Email marketing
Ask any marketer worth their salt, and they’ll tell you that creating an email list and marketing to that list is one of the most effective forms of outbound marketing available today.
Once you have a list of subscribers familiar with you or your business, you can present them with various offers, referral programs, or upsells.
A newsletter or HVCO (see above) are great ways to build your first email list.
21. SMS blasts
Like email marketing, text marketing involves sending out automated texts to a large list of prospects simultaneously using software like SimpleTexting.
These text messaging campaigns are also known as “SMS blasts”.
22. Sponsor a local event or sports team
Sponsorships are great for getting your business seen by your local community and are often very cheap.
I prefer sponsoring local sports teams, as you get that advertisement opportunity for an entire season.
23. Host an event
No, I don’t mean you need to throw a masquerade ball or rent out the local event center.
Hosting an event could be as simple as getting a small group of investors, agents, or local business owners together for a Saturday morning coffee at the local java spot.
Small events can often be organized through social media and open up your network to people you hadn’t thought to include in your marketing strategy.
24. Host a webinar
Webinars are highly-effective marketing tools when done correctly and, once completed, can be automated and used for months without any additional work.
25. Driving for Dollars, but with a twist
Often a house in disrepair can indicate that the homeowner is absent, older, or tight on funds and, thus a potentially motivated seller.
However, a house in disrepair could also mean the homeowner is just too busy to get around to doing the repairs or hiring a contractor.
To avoid an awkward conversation or being brushed off entirely, offer your services as a property solutions company, not simply as an investor/wholesaler.
Suppose the homeowner is truly in a situation where you can buy the home and help them out; that’s great! If they’re just in need of a contractor, you can act as a middle-man and connect them with a local contractor who has the expertise needed to do the necessary repairs.
26. Buddy up with a local contractor
Developing a working relationship with a local contractor can broaden your value to the market and be a potential source of referral income.
27. Develop a relationship with a local agent/broker
Real estate investors and agents/brokers can both win big by teaming up, so don’t be afraid to partner up with a rockstar agent in your market.
You won’t be able to service every lead you get; there are always prospects who want retail value for their homes or feel more comfortable on the MLS. Refer these leads out to your partner; they can send referrals your way and help you find off-market properties that you might otherwise miss.
28. Develop a local network
Real estate investing almost always involves more than two parties to facilitate and process a deal. Consider networking with the people regularly involved in your real estate market to spread your influence.
Real estate agents and brokers, mortgage lenders, loan officers, developers, contractors, suppliers – the list goes on and on. Still, these people often have their finger on the pulse of what’s happening in your area and are worth your time getting to know.
29. Create a referral system
You need a referral system to incentivize people to send leads in your direction. No matter how much you think people like you for your personality, it pays to reward their loyalty with cold, hard cash.
30. Niche down
One big mistake investors make is trying to appeal to anybody and everybody. Instead, think about who your ideal clients are and paint a clear picture of them in your mind.
What would that ideal client want to hear from you? What kind of imagery would most appeal to that individual?
Don’t be afraid to focus your message on a personal level.
31. Use real estate-specific software
There are a lot of tools available to business owners and marketers today. Save yourself time and frustration by using software that is specifically for real estate investors.
Plus, happy tenants are your best form of repeat business. Streamline and improve the tenant experience with the right tech. There are apps for rent collection, maintenance schedules, and much more. Make tedious tasks painless, and your tenants will tell their friends!
32. Keep track of your data
Retargeting is a powerful marketing tool that can significantly boost the results of your paid ads and email marketing efforts.
Make sure to install tracking code (sometimes called a Pixel) on your websites and landing pages to serve retargeting ads to previous visitors. If big companies’ ad campaigns follow people home, so can yours!
33. Use AI to help write ads
Utilize advances in machine learning to help cut costs and improve the wording in your ads and promotional material.
A tool like Jasper.ai can help you write ad copy just as good or better than an experienced human copywriter (which can be extremely helpful for a small business owner with a limited budget.)
34. Leverage predictive analytics
Predictive analytics is the closest thing we have to real-life magic 8-ball.
There is software available today that uses advanced machine learning to look at historical trends in the housing market and then predict future trends for investors to capitalize on.
Want to know where and when the subsequent cash-buying frenzy will happen in your city? Predictive analytics tools can give you the inside scoop so you’re ready to go before any of your competitors realize what’s happening.
35. Automate with Chatbots
Chatbot software installed on your website and social messaging apps could save you or your team time answering FAQs and simple queries.
Bots can be programmed to recognize keywords, phrases, and user inputs from visitors, then further programmed with a pre-made set of answers.
When correctly set up, chatbots could save you money and the headache of customer relations.
36. Try out heat maps
A heat map overlay can give you indicators about which areas of your market might be ‘hot’ markets for you to buy and hold properties in.
Several heat map tools are explicitly fashioned with real estate investors in mind, and the better ones come included with a real estate software suite like Propstream.
37. Nurture your old leads
Real estate leads can have an extraordinary shelf-life.
A typical mortgage is between 15 and 30 years, so even if your lead doesn’t want to do a deal this year, they might be ready next year or five years later.
Invest in software that allows you to set up automated email and text check-ups for months or years without human involvement. It’ll surprise you how often a lead you thought long-dead will come back into your funnel six months later ready to do a deal because they’d been receiving regular check-ins from your nurturing sequence.
38. Use call-tracking software
Tracking your calls with leads is vital for quality control and helps you sharpen your marketing material. During these calls, you will learn about the critical pain points of your target audience.
Good call-tracking software will record, organize, and (sometimes) transcribe every call you and your team have, giving you an easy way to go back and review at your leisure.
39. Driving for Dollars, but with GPS
Driving around your city can occasionally produce the odd deal (read: lucky break), but if you want to create an effective scouting strategy, you should consider getting technical.
GPS tracking apps like Propelio allow you to plan a route, make notes along that route, and cross-check those routes on a larger map to ensure you aren’t leaving a single subdivision or cul-de-sac unseen.
40. Film vertical video content (Mobile friendly)
The massive number of mobile users combined with the public’s hunger for video content means businesses must start filming more content vertically.
Vertical video is easier for people to watch on the go, making your content easier to consume.
41. Put captions on all of your videos
A study done by Verizon Media showed that 69% of mobile users consume video content without sound.
Make sure your message always gets across by adding captions to your videos using transcription service providers like these:
42. Don’t be afraid to try new channels
Hundreds of Silicon Valley startups are trying to create the next social big social app.
Honestly, most of these new channels will fail, but you do yourself a disservice if you don’t explore some of these platforms as a marketing channel to find new prospects.
43. Do all the PR
You don’t always have to pay to be on TV – sometimes, you can simply call in and offer to be an “expert opinion” on the local real estate market.
This tactic works for radio, TV, podcasts, newspaper articles, blogs, and events – anywhere an expert is needed.
44. Answer questions on Reddit
Public forum-type websites like Reddit and Quora have passionate users who create online communities around many subjects and niches.
One way to establish your influence and offer value to your community is to join these sites and answer your local housing market questions, renovation tips, etc.
45. Influencer marketing
Influencers are everywhere in 2022; almost every niche, sub-niche, and sub-sub-niche has many influencers that build communities around the products or services involved with those niches.
Major brands spend millions on influencer marketing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of this powerful marketing tactic with a much smaller budget.
The most common influencer in the real estate niche is a real estate agent turned social media superstar. Despite their follower count or internet fame, you must remember they’re still agents and can be approached with referral offers or cash incentives in exchange for putting the word out about your business.
46. Hire a VA to do manual outreach
Sometimes a personal touch is needed to secure a deal or appeal to a particular type of prospect, but sending out hundreds of personalized messages is a daunting, time-consuming task.
You can hire a virtual assistant to send out personalized emails, texts, or direct messages on social media to save time.
No one has to know someone other than yourself is behind the keyboard, and the “extra” effort of sending out personalized messages can earn business you wouldn’t have otherwise won.
47. Start a blog
Creating a blog can benefit your overall marketing strategy – including helping with SEO, attracting new prospects to your funnel, and providing an evergreen platform for your content.
48. Purchase a Moving Truck
Providing a “free” moving truck as part of your offer can be the tipping point in closing a deal on a property, especially with a homeowner already struggling financially.
While not in use, the truck can be branded with your logo and contact details, then parked along a major thoroughfare like your own personal billboard.
49. Hire a professional photographer
If you want to look professional online, it pays to have actual professionals take photos for your website, advertisements, and social media.
Bite the bullet, take a day out of your schedule and have someone snap a few dozen well-lit photos for you to plaster everywhere you want to be seen online or offline.
Wrap Up (for now…)
That’s 49 marketing ideas to help your business stand out this year.
Try some of them or all of them, but understand that marketing is a fickle beast. As a result, the best tactics change before you are ready and more often than you’d like.
Keep an eye on this post for updated tips & tricks.
If you find a particular idea that works for you, please share your experience in the comment section below!
