How much digital marketing budget should a real estate office have?
A healthy starting point is close to the office's current monthly portal spend, because the goal is to shift that budget over time from the portal to your own channel. The first three months are a learning period. In this period it is more efficient to keep the budget small and measure which area and budget range actually converts than to start big and spend in the wrong place.
Should I drop the listing portals completely?
No, at least not at first. Portals still bring volume and the aim is to reduce dependence. As your own channel starts producing demand, you gradually lower the portal budget and move the difference to your own channel. If you ever do leave the portal, you still keep your own site, your own list and your own visibility.
I run a small office. Is this work right for me too?
Yes, and the effect is even clearer for small offices. Competing with large chains on general searches is hard, but in neighbourhood level searches a local office has a much stronger position. Keeping the scope tied to your area and concentrating the budget in a narrow field is the strongest move a small office can make.
My portfolio changes constantly. Will the site stay current?
The site is built together with portfolio management, so you add, update and remove listings from inside the office. The page of a sold listing does not turn into a dead link, it is redirected to the relevant area page. That way the visitor never sees an empty page and the search engine equity is not lost.
Do you also work on finding property owners?
Yes, and it is the channel most offices skip. The person looking for a buyer and the owner who wants to list a property search for different things and are convinced by different messages. We build a separate landing page and a separate ad setup for each. Owner acquisition usually gives lower cost and more lasting results.
When will I see results?
Enquiries start arriving in the week the ad channel goes live. The real difference appears in the second and third month, when it becomes clear which segment converts. Local SEO and area pages work more slowly but last longer, and usually start producing demand independent of ads after the third month.