Starting Your Social Media Journey in Real Estate
If you’re just beginning your social media journey, it’s important to know where to start and what to focus on first. Let’s be honest, the online world can feel completely overwhelming if you try to do everything at once.
After more than 30 years of experience owning and running real estate offices as well as training and coaching, I completely understand how you might feel. You already have enough to do without adding social media, video, or digital marketing into the mix.
And yes, you might be thinking, what if I do all of this and it doesn’t work?
The truth is, it’s no longer a question of if you should do social media, it’s about how and where to begin. Social media is mostly FREE and it’s one of the most profitable tools available to real estate agents today.
With the right approach, you can:
- Build a powerful personal brand
- Establish trust and authority in your local market
- Generate leads directly from social platforms
- Build genuine relationships with buyers, sellers, and investors
Where to Start
There are more platforms than ever before, but you don’t need to use them all. Start with the ones that give you the most leverage.
Here’s the order I recommend:
1 Facebook Profile and Business Page
2 Instagram
3 LinkedIn
4 YouTube Channel
5 TikTok (optional but powerful)
Why Start with Facebook and Instagram?
Real estate is a people-to-people business, and Facebook and Instagram are where most of your potential clients already spend their time. These are your digital shopfronts, the easiest places for people to get to know you, see what you do, and trust that you’re the right person to help them.
Post photos of listings, behind-the-scenes videos, community updates, and real stories about your clients. People want to feel connected, not sold to.
The Power of Video and YouTube
Video is no longer optional; it’s essential. Whether it’s YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, or TikToks, short-form video is now one of the fastest ways to build reach and engagement.
And it’s not just about property walkthroughs anymore.
Share videos on:
- Market updates
- Buyer and seller tips
- Local community highlights
- Agent training or coaching if you’re a leader
There are LOADS of creative ways to use video effectively in your real estate business.
LinkedIn and Professional Branding
LinkedIn helps with Google rankings.
If you work with investors, developers, or professionals, LinkedIn is a fantastic place to build credibility. Make sure your profile is complete, add your key achievements, and share thought-leadership content. Ask clients to leave recommendations; they act like testimonials for your professional reputation.
Other Platforms to Consider
TikTok and Threads are rapidly growing among real estate audiences. TikTok’s algorithm rewards personality, authenticity, and creativity and it’s perfect for agents who want to stand out and have fun while attracting attention.
Threads is more conversational and can help you network with other professionals and industry leaders.
Avoid the Overwhelm
Don’t try to master every platform at once. Focus on one, get consistent, and build momentum before adding the next.
Also, ignore every new app that pops up promising to “replace Facebook.” Your time is too valuable.
Watch what others are doing, but stay authentic to your own brand. Think about what kind of content you enjoy online and create that kind of experience for your audience.
Bring It All Together
Your website should connect everything, include links to your social platforms and make it easy for people to follow you.
And remember: you don’t need to know everything about every platform. You only need to know what you need to make it work for your business.
Once you are established, you can work on your website and blog posts..