If you walk around your town, what draws you to a business? Chances are, the signage is one of the biggest reasons you walk inside.
That's why sidewalk menu boards are so popular with coffee houses and cafes -- they work!
Since the first electric sign illuminated New York City at the turn of the 20th century, they've been a mainstay in American advertising. Electric signs have come a long way since Henry J. Heinz first boasted about his packaged foods with 1,200 incandescent light bulbs.
Today, signs -- like everything else in the modern world -- have gone digital.
Restaurants display menus using digital signage. Coffee shops, retail shops, and even churches do too.
You probably haven't thought about having digital signage for your real estate business, have you? Well, we're going to explain why you should.
Take a look at how you can benefit from having real estate digital signage and some ideas of what to display!
Benefits of Having Real Estate Digital Signage
As you know, real estate professionals use signs daily. Putting a "For Sale" on a newly-listed property is still one of your biggest marketing tools. When you get to switch that "For Sale" to "Sold," you've established yourself as an authority who's trustworthy and competent to get the job done.
But having real estate digital signage can also improve your marketing. It can also increase your in-house communication. There are many ways digital signage for a real estate office can make a huge difference.
Take a look at just a few of them below.
Change Your Content for Your Clientele
One of the biggest benefits of digital signage for realtors is the versatility it offers you. You already know who your audiences are, so put that information on your digital displays.
If you're planning to meet with commercial buyers or sellers, you can tailor the content to display information relating to their specific needs.
What are the market projections for the property they're interested in? What does the local tax history over the past decade look like?
Changing your content is quick and easy. Which is another reason to consider digital real estate signs...
Complete Control Over Your Message Boards
You'll have complete control over the message and content you want to display. You won't wait for an outside company to design your signage, create it, then install it. You'll do everything in-house with a few keystrokes.
You can change your content as often as you'd like.
Easy Installation
Installing digital signage is much easier than you think. All you need is a few TV screens, an Internet connection, and a downloaded app. Yes, that's it!
It's also cost-effective. For a low monthly price, you'll have everything you need to display any content you'd like.
You don't need an in-house IT team or a staff of a dozen graphic artists. The app will walk you through the steps, like how to use Google Slides for your presentation.
Real Estate Digital Signage Ideas
Now that you know why digital signage is a great addition to your office, it's time to talk about how you can get the most out of them. We've compiled a list of 10 ways that you can best use digital signage in your real estate office.
Showcase Your Properties
More than six million residential properties sold last year in the U.S. That doesn't include commercial properties. Considering there are about two million active real estate licenses, it means competition is fierce.
What better way to stand out than displaying all your current listings on your digital signs?
People enlist the help of a real estate agent to help them buy or sell a home. But, sometimes they don't know what's available.
While it's true more buyers search online for houses, they don't have access to the same information a real estate agent does. Mainly, the MLS. Even after initially looking for properties online, they still turn to agents to help them with the process.
You can start by showing them what's available in your area. If you know ahead of time which neighborhoods they prefer, you can display what meets their criteria. You can also pinpoint it to size, price, and other preferences.
You're offering them a unique service that's personalized to them while still giving them expert advice.
List of Community Events
As a real estate agent, you need to have a connection to the area where you buy and sell houses. That means staying on top of community events.
Is there a carnival coming through town soon? What about any upcoming farmer's markets? Will there be a Christmas tree lighting in the town square?
Advertise all the events a new resident should know about. Showing them everything your town has to offer will get them excited to lay down their roots there. That means, more commission in your pocket!
Show Different Demographics
Like showing the upcoming community events, there's also value in sharing the area's demographics. Again, knowing the neighborhoods your buyers have an interest in goes a long way.
You can feature the relative school information, nearby shopping centers, churches, and parks. You can use Google maps to show an aerial view or design a PowerPoint showing the local tax and utility rates.
Display Social Media Feeds
Social media has been very kind to the real estate industry. Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram have all helped agents sell houses.
It's also helped the same way an MLS has over the years. Displaying your firm's Instagram feed has the same benefits displaying your listings does. But it does it in a way that shows your clients you're on the cutting edge.
Share the Latest Mortgage Rates
Of course, this is fluid information but posting the current mortgage rates can help your buyers decide on a true price range for their new home. You can also include information about mortgage lenders you feel are reputable and easy to work with.
Giving them as much information about the buying process will increase your chances of closing the deal. The buyers will trust you and feel you have their best interest at heart.
Post Some Decorating Ideas
Your real estate digital signage isn't only relegated to selling houses! You can have a lot of fun coming up with custom content.
If you work with an interior designer or home stager, ask them if they'd like to contribute to your digital content. You can display slideshows of their work or record videos of their decorating advice.
If your area has a variety of different housing styles, ask if they'll provide enough content for a series. You can display the individual content according to the buyer's preferred housing type.
Let Them Know What to Expect
Not all clients will be experts at buying or selling houses. Why not give them a hand and display what they can expect during the process?
You can post a timeline for sellers and each step they'll have to go through while their house is on the market. Do the same for the buyer, except list the things they'll need to finalize the deal at closing.
You can even post a Q&A with the most common questions you get asked.
Display Client Testimonials
84% of people say they trust online reviews as much as the advice of their friends. Gather up some of your best online reviews and post them!
You can also show video testimonials from happy clients. Offer them an incentive for going on camera, like a gift certificate to a local restaurant.
Meet the Team
Let your potential clients get to know the professionals they'll work with by choosing your brokerage firm. Film a short bio or Q&A session with your team members, including everyone from your office assistant to the lead broker(s).
It's a fun way to meet and greet without having your entire staff there at all times.
Improves Office Communication
Having digital signage in your office doesn't only benefit clients. You can make office communication more exciting than sending out dozens of emails.
For example, if your office keeps tracks of agent sales through a leaderboard, display the leaderboard at the end of every day.
You can post industry information, resources, and pertinent news. If there are any upcoming workshops or conferences, include those too.
You can also display reminders -- like the company picnic coming up. If someone's going on vacation, you can post who will handle their duties while they're away from the office.
Your communication will be more fluid and more fun.
What Are You Waiting For?
Now that you know how important real estate digital signage is, are you ready to add them to your business?
Don't get fooled by salespeople with elaborate presentations. You don't need specialized monitors or system to have digital signage in your office.
At OptiSigns, we make it easy for you while putting the control solely in your hands. You control your content and the frequency in which it changes.
You can install our technology in minutes using your own TV screens! So, what are you waiting for? Get started with free 30 days trial today.
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