10 tips to boost your spring marketing

In real estate, seasonality works in our favor, especially spring. What makes spring so hot? Some of the top reasons include tax refunds, the school year is ending, the weather is typically favorable for hosting and attending open houses, and thoughts of summer break inspire people to list in spring to be “done” by summer. Spring is clearly a ripe time for marketing opportunities. 

How is this spring looking?

The National Association of REALTORS® had this to say about spring 2024: “Buyers are reemerging in the market. Mortgage applications to purchase a home—a gauge of future homebuying activity—are up nearly 8% compared to the week before, the Mortgage Bankers Association reports….Despite persistent inventory challenges, we anticipate a busier spring homebuying season than 2023.”

So, the headline for 2024 spring sales looks promising. See how you, as a real estate broker, can strategize your marketing efforts to tap into that potential.

Weichert® has 10 expert tips and insights to help you maximize your marketing efforts for a successful spring selling season.

1. Evaluate your customer base. Start with the pool of people you already have access to. Look for warm leads that have been considering selling their home. Think about recent sales and the power of referrals. Prepare emails and scripts that will remind your existing customers why spring is a smart time to list.

2. Plan for segmentation. Think about how you can divide your broad customer base into smaller, more specific groups based on various factors, such as demographics, zip codes, or interests.

• DO

  • Make it personal. A “one-size-fits-all” marketing approach rarely yields optimal results. Develop marketing strategies that resonate with specific groups. For example, if you know that your customers have children enrolled in the public schools, you can angle your marketing to really speak to how a spring sale can support seamless transitions and minimize disruptions for the family.
• DON’T

  • Over-segment. While specificity is good, creating too many minute segments can dilute your efforts.
  • Ignore segments. Just because a segment might be smaller or less lucrative initially, doesn’t mean it should be ignored.

3. Refresh your existing efforts. Nothing awakens a home’s look more than a fresh coat of paint. Apply this same, easy principle to your own marketing efforts, especially those that are already in place. For example, update your Facebook cover photo with a bright, new profile picture. Add a floral background to your website’s homepage. And make sure you’ve added some recent pictures of sold or available homes.

4. Create a bank of engaging content. Don’t wait for the season to create content as needed. Instead, prepare 8 to 10 weeks’ worth of compelling tips, how-tos, and other information that will continue to position you as a real estate thought leader while also providing real value for your customers. For example, send out a weekly spring clean-up newsletter with tips to help customers prepare their home for a speedy sale.

5. Run fun, springy contests. Try partnering with a related local business for a fun giveaway. Ask your social media audiences to follow both accounts and tag a friend in the comments for their chance to win. Create a gift basket comprised of goods and/or gift cards for services from local businesses. Look for spring themes to leverage, such as flowers, bunnies, pastel colors, and cleaning. Host an Easter egg hunt at the local park; or offer spring cleaning promotions, courtesy of your business partnerships, such as a carpet steaming company.

6. Make your open houses stand out. Host engaging open houses with open door times, refreshments, and interactive elements. Use springtime colors to add seasonal pop, such as floral cookies or festive balloons. (Our sunny Weichert yellow is especially in season during spring!) Utilize social media, email blasts, and yard signs to maximize turnout. Be sure to also offer immersive virtual tours that allow potential buyers to virtually explore properties remotely. This is especially valuable for out-of-town buyers or those unable to attend physical open houses. Consider holding homes open other than the traditional Sunday afternoon.

7. Offer spring incentives. You can utilize time-specific offers to incentivize your customers to buy or sell during this hot season. RISMedia suggests spring incentives to create a sense of urgency and make your property more appealing, which could include covering closing costs, providing a home warranty, or adding outdoor furniture to the sale.

8. Put technology to work.  A customer relationship management (CRM) system will help you put automation into play. Use your CRM to manage leads, track interactions, and nurture relationships. Automate repetitive tasks like email marketing and social media posting to free up your time for client interactions. And then be sure to analyze your marketing data to track campaign performance, identify successful strategies, and adjust your approach based on insights.

Not sure what a CRM is capable of? Ask us for a demo of our leading-edge CRM—myWeichert™ powered by kvCORE technology platform—available to all Weichert affiliates. It’s a combination of artificial intelligence, marketing automation, and complete mobile access to help broker-owners and their agents save time and sell more, wherever they may be.

9. Prepare to move quickly. There isn’t a moment to waste in your spring selling marketing. The season is just a few weeks long. Taking steps now to get all your initiatives in place will help you to make the most of every minute. You can also plan your schedule to remove any distractions during this time. For example, spring might not be the time to schedule agent workshops or an all-team retreat. Create an environment where everyone can be laser-focused on implementing a stealth spring selling marketing plan.

10. Be strategic, now and in the future. Spring 2024 is here. But then there’s summer… fall… winter. How will your marketing efforts continue to keep you one step ahead of the competition? Weichert can help you to stand out in all seasons of the year. Reach out today to start a conversation.