Realtors: Use Tiktok, Reels & YouTube Shorts to 10x Your Appointments

This statistic from Wyzow shows 73% of customers prefer watching a short-form video to find out about a service or product. This overwhelming preference for bitesized video content has transformed the businesses connect with their customers. Realtors that have adapted to these consumer habits have access to an unprecedented audience size and potential clients.

Social media platforms that promote vertical videos of 90 seconds or such as Tiktok, Instagram Reels & YouTube Shorts are hitting new milestones in user activity every quarter with no signs of slowing down.

With so many eyes up for grabs (without even have to pay for ads) it’s time to become comfortable with making this type of content.

A short-form video strategy done right will be the number one ROI for your real estate business which is why many realtors have taken a Reels/TikTok first approach to their social media strategy.

You’re likely already seeing Reels and TikTok’s as part of your own social media habits and perhaps starting to implement them within your business. But for the uninitiated or those looking to better grasp the world of short-form content we’ve prepared this page as an introductory resource covering almost every facet you need to get started with TikTok & Reels.

What is a Short-Form Video?

A short-form video is generally 60 seconds or less in length but the maximum length varies across the social platforms optimized for this format i.e Tiktok is up to 3 minutes, Instagram Reels in 2023 are up to 90 seconds, IG stories are 60 seconds and YouTube Shorts are 90 seconds.

The videos use a vertical format aspect ratio of 9:16 which is the perfect size for media consumed on a smartphone.

The content itself can be anything from property tours, giving industry commentary or insights, answer questions, share tips, even talking about topics unrelated to real estate to showcase your personality and humanize you to your audience. Re-purposing your long form content i.e 10min + videos to a series of shorter videos is an excellent way to produce engaging content. The possibilities are endless.

Reasons for Realtors to use Short-form Content

Virtually shake hands with potential clients everyday

As a realtor or a real estate company connecting consistently with potential clients has a big impact on the number of appointments booked.

Whether you are looking for specific types of clients, such as For Sale By Owner (FSBO) listings or if you offer broader services that include property flippers, or first-time buyers there is a way to capture their attention with Reel’s and Tiktok’s.

When posting daily, short-form videos help you stay recent in your audiences mind. The more your audience sees the more rapport you share and this builds trust overtime.

Tiktoks and Reels are what your audience is already watching

Marketing reports show consumers are spending an average of 45 minutes per day watching short-form content. Some simple and obvious advice “be where your buyers are” and “use the right bait when you go fishing.”

When considering approximately 84% of people watching these short videos are either Gen Z or Millennials, individuals that make up a large segment of the first time home buyer market means TikTok and Reels is opening up a huge doorway for realtors to connect with both buyer and sellers they couldn’t reach before.

A 60 second video might sound short but attention spans are rapidly declining and the demand for concise information is increasing. The short duration actually means people are more likely to watch the whole thing.

These shorter videos can have a huge impact with the right editing, content pillars, captions and hooks.

Short-form videos build trust and comfort with your audience

A challenge that exists with realtor marketing  is allowing your audience to move past seeing you as a sales person and into seeing you as someone they can trust and relate to. Social media and specifically shortform video allows realtors to show their human side, from personal stories to simply being vulnerable enough to put yourself out there on platforms such as reels, youtube shorts and tiktok builds trust with your audience.

You don’t have to be perfect in front of the camera, in fact it’s better that you’re not. If you don’t feel like talking their are tons of creaitve options for non-verbal content instead. The main thing is to personalize your videos to help you stand out of the crowd and high quality editing can help a lot with that.

Turn existing long-form videos into bite-sized lead gen assets

Some realtors doubt themselves that they’ll be able to come up with content ideas but soon realise how easy (and fun) the creative process is. Especially after taking inspiration from what other people are doing with competitor research.

However for those with creative cold feet that’s no reason you shouldn’t be benefiting from a shortform content strategy.

Chances are you are sitting on gold with the existing video content you use on property listings sites such as Zillow. This content can be transformed into multiple clips to build an audience on TikTok/Reels. Any longer videos on YouTube such as property showcase videos can absolutely be edited into a serious of engaging clips that have you audience eager to book appointments with you.

According to a survey conducted by Biteable, real estate listings that use video content earn as much as 403% more inquiries than those that do not. If you don’t have the time to do this yourself you can  hire a Reels or TikTok service such as our own to take care of editing, posting, content idea research, captions and hooks – simply book a Free consultation.

Which type of content should realtors make for TikTok, Reels & YouTube Shorts?

When getting started with a short-form video strategy most people working in real estate overestimate how difficult it is to produce content. Even for those wishing not to talk in their videos their are plenty of options such as using B-roll footage. Really all you need get started is your smart phone (although a few other items can come in handy). There are free editing apps you can use or you can hire a professional video editor to save you the time

Coming up with ideas can be as simple as looking at your competitors and putting your own spin/voice on what’s working for them. There are a ton of proven content ideas that work great to nurture and grow your audience so keep reading. We also offer a service that delivers to you winning ideas each week that saves you time and energy.

• Share the real-life of your business – A day in the life video or behind the scenes of a photoshoot or homestaging.
• Educational / Q&A sessions.
• Reality vs. Instagram expectations Reel/TikTok.
• Share the story of how you got started in the the business or a funny experience with a client.
• Show a before and after transformation of a property.
• Participate in the latest trends and ride the viral wave.
• Spotlight your community and introduce your employee’s/colleagues.
• Testimonial from existing clients or respected members of the industry to validate your expertise.
• Home Tours: A full tour sped up or highlight clips of a home. Overlay text and add a trending song.
• Tips for Buyers: Use short clips to answer burning questions, provide market updates and general FAQ’s.
• Tips for Sellers: Help sellers avoid common mistakes and reduce their stress with expert guidance,

What is trending content on Tiktok & Reels?

A TikTok or Reels trend is an original clip of a sound, dance, hashtag, or video format that goes viral. When a trend gains momentum, it gives creators the possibility to ride the viral wave and grow their audience. Since trend format is essentially a template to add your own flair to it’s a great way to create new content when you’re lost for ideas.

You can grab new ideas each week from later.com plus they have a huge back catalog for inspiration as well but the latest trends usually perform best.

Try POV Reels and Tiktoks

Realtors posting short POV videos can showcase a humanized, behind-the-scenes look at their daily lives, making the profession more relatable. By adding humor to these snippets, realtors can connect with audiences on a personal level, fostering trust and building rapport. Such videos break the stereotype of the ‘formal real estate agent’, offering a light hearted self-deprecating perspective.

Through comedic scenarios, realtors can highlight challenges, successes, and quirky moments they encounter, making their content both entertaining and memorable. These clips resonate with people working in real estate, your potential clients and the public in general so their is a lot of potential reach for this content type.

Example of POV Content

What is B-roll footage and how Realtors use it for Reels & TikTok

B-roll content is a style of video footage that moves away from speaking directly to the camera. It captures natural, unscripted moments, adding authenticity to visual storytelling.

B-roll footage can be anything from behind the scenes shots of you conducting a house viewing to you simply sat at your laptop getting on even something as mundane as ironing your clothes. These everyday moments can serve as visual canvas to share your message.

The magic is that you don’t need to talk during this type of content, whatever your b-roll footage is you can place text spanning any topic you want. Share valuable real estate insights or trending meme humour related to your work. Pair your footage with trending audio and you have a recipe for a scroll-stopping Reel or Tikok.

This style is incredibly accessible and is easy to combine with trends so you can make new content in just a few minutes.

Examples of B-roll Content

Meme Video Content For Reels & Tiktok

Realtors leveraging meme content on platforms like Reels and TikTok can harness the power of internet culture to bolster their brand’s reach and relevance. Memes, inherently viral and relatable, speak the digital language of today’s homebuyers, particularly millennials and Gen Z. By integrating memes, realtors can present property insights, market trends, and even intricate real estate concepts in a light-hearted and digestible format.

The humor of memes allow realtors to connect on a personal level, breaking the formal barriers often associated with the profession. This strategy not only boosts engagement but also cultivates a modern and approachable brand persona in an industry that thrives on trust and relatability.

You can check out some popular meme formats and then come up with your own message to attach to them (we’re experts at doing this if you don’t have time).

Examples of Meme Reels & Tiktoks for Realtors

Day in The Life Content For Reels & Tiktok

‘Day in the life’ style videos on Reels and TikTok have a fantastic impact on personal branding and client relationships. These videos humanize realtors by providing candid glimpses into their daily routines, from morning rituals to end-of-day reflections, participation in the local community, attending industry events, dealing with paper work, time with family etc.

Your audience can be shown property sneak peeks, sparking curiosity about new listings and highlighting neighborhood features. They can showcase challenges faced, such as unexpected cancellations, and their innovative solutions, like pivoting to virtual tours. The key is showing you’re a real person with a multifaceted life and a passion for helping your clients.

Property Showcase Content For Reels & Tiktok

Property showcase videos on YouTube Shorts, Reels and TikTok allow realtors to rapidly capture attention, highlighting a property’s standout features. Their concise nature delivers essential property details efficiently, perfect for viewers with dwindling attention spans. Realtors can ride the wave of popularity by integrating trending music and effects. These bite-sized showcases are easily shareable and can exponentially increase property visibility. 

These showcase videos can be filmed on your phone or repurposed from existing footage from platforms like YouTube. Unlike longer videos that might lose a viewer’s interest, the shorter format ensures focus remains on property highlights. Through answering comments, direct messages and driving call to actions realtors can streamline the process of addressing inquiries, scheduling viewings, and gathering invaluable feedback. Make use of this format in your social media strategy to start booking more appointments.

You might think you need to hire a professional photographer or video maker to film an effective house walkthrough video but you can easily use your smartphone to film one yourself using this guide.

How to use hashtags for Reels and Tiktoks

Just like with any other content type you post ustilizing the best hashtags for your short-form videos will ensure your content is seen by your target audience. If you choose the right hashtags their is the chance your potential clients are already subscribed to and following those hashtags.

Where to add hashtags on reels?

You can include hashtags them in a comment for the reel or in the caption. We recommend putting them in the caption to ensure they are picked up by Instagram Analytics to make it easier to track performance, however, some people still opt to include them in the comments to make their caption less cluttered with a list of tags.

Where to add hashtags on tiktok?

The concensus on Tiktok hashtags is that it’s best to add them in the caption and not in the comments.

Which hashtags should I use for real estate?

A good strategy is to use a mix of broad AND more targeted hashtags. Going too broad topically might mean your post gets lost in the results i.e #Realestate has almost a million posts, that doesn’t mean not too include this hashtag because you could catch a viral wave but also include more precise hahstags to ensure your target audience see’s your content. We want to include hashtags that are relevant to our local markets and don’t have thousands of other posts to compete with.

On Instagram you could start by typing in a seed hashtag such as #Texashomes (287,000 posts) into the explore search bar, from there we see related hashtags such as #texashomesforsale which has 42k posts likely making it a more feasible option.

Where can I find trending hashtags?

To find some trending tiktoks hashttags you can open Tiktok and click on the discover compass icon.

What are some examples of real estate hashtags to use?

#realestate #realtor #realestateagent #home #property #investment #forsale #realtorlife #househunting #dreamhome #luxury #interiordesign #luxuryrealestate #newhome #architecture #house #homesweethome #realestateinvesting #luxuryhomes #realestatelife #business #design #realestateinvestor #realty #sold #entrepreneur #mortgage #broker #homesforsale #justlisted

Content Pillars For Realtors to Use in Reels/TikToks

Content pillars are essentially themes or topics that you create and share regularly to your audience. They help to provide a cohesive expectation of your content for your audience and shape your content strategy.

Below are some examples which also borrow from interior design; researching content pillars of related industries can help you grow your audience and reach new people.

Examples of content pillars realtors can use

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