What is a real estate virtual assistant and do you need one?

In the age of the internet, real estate virtual assistants are an important factor in keeping a competitive edge. They understand how to pitch and manage. Additionally, real estate software development plays a crucial role in this landscape, facilitating the creation of innovative tools and platforms.

Having a real estate virtual assistant allows any real estate agency to stay lean and mean via needs-based contracting. Some tasks are just too expensive to handle in-house, such as data processing, graphic editing, and online marketing.  

Outsourcing is also more cost-effective than permanently expanding your staff. Given that you are not limited by geography, you have a nation-wide talent pool at your disposal.

What does a real estate virtual assistant do?

As a general rule: tasks that require a discerning eye and/or human creativity cannot be automated by a robot, as of yet. 

Similar to any profession, real estate virtual assistants can have multiple specializations. Our advice is to select a contractor whose skills match your needs. Of course, some well-rounded professionals can handle all of the following tasks.

Social media management

If used correctly, marketing on social media platforms can be a beneficial means of promoting your brand, announcing company news, and attracting traffic to your lead funnel. Organic social media exposure would cost you a pretty penny using more traditional advertisement spaces.

It’s also seen as a more laid-back medium. On social media, a good real estate virtual assistant can experiment with humor, content writing, photography, editing, etc. Wit in advertisement is like an ear for music: you either have it or don’t.

Either way, real estate virtual social media management can quickly become a full-time job. However, it pays for itself many times over. 

The same logic applies to email marketing campaigns or HARO pitches.

MLS uploads

Listing uploading is one of those tasks that does not scale well with size. By themselves, Multiple Service Listing uploads do not take much time. However, this process cannot be automated, and it can devour a lot of time if you have a large number of listings.  

You can pass the information along to your real estate virtual assistant and all of the data is verified and double-checked by the VA; then it is uploaded.  

Managing clients

Your real estate success will hinge on your ability to connect and relate to clients. Yet, the backend of holding meetings and taking phone calls can get a little messy. It is easy to lose track of everyone’s schedules and appointments. 

Time is a factor, and rushing can cause you to make amateurish mistakes like sending misspelled words in emails, forgetting names, and even unintentional ghosting. 

CRM and fluff

Modern economies run on a combination of tangible services and data gathering. As this engine churns, you will need to gather your own data.

A CRM (customer relationship management) database represents all clients’ aggregate details – and with software such as Paperless Pipeline it’s easy to manage the tasks and processes involved in real estate transactions.

While you can use software to update this database automatically, the process isn’t perfect. Multiple sign-ins can create duplicates, and specific details need to be updated. Your real estate virtual assistant can comb through tangled strings of data. 

In terms of fluff, you can go the extra mile. It is possible to keep track of special days such as anniversaries or birthdays. Small tokens of esteem such as birthday cards, messages, and emails can go a long way in building a loyal client base. Companies can be aware of the names of important family members, pets, favorite sports teams, etc. 

Whatever your data entry needs may be, you can rely on your assistant to handle it. Small demonstrations of personalization and outreach will give you an edge in sales.

Conclusion

It is possible to fill a large book by explaining the benefits of delegating your secondary and tertiary tasks to a real estate virtual assistant. I just skimmed the surface.

The ultimate conclusion is that all of the tasks handled by the real estate virtual assistant are not optional. Most are relatively simple, yet indispensable. Similar to chores, they can be time-consuming and can quickly pile up into a mess. 

It is easy to let repetitive tasks pile up because you are focused on your core business processes like sales, this, however, is a slippery slope and can cause you to burn out. Hiring new staff to handle “chores” is not optimal, and maybe you cannot afford another in-house member. 

Outsourcing your secondary/repetitive tasks while maintaining your core competencies inhouse is ideal. It is cheaper, and you benefit from a broader candidate selection pool. 

Advertising flyer examples to create a strong flyer advertising strategy 

You can use flyers to attract new customers, create awareness about your company’s services, and prompt them to take specific action. Your company flyers must be professional, and you should remember to state concisely what you’re offering along with any special offers and conditions. 

Listed below are five major advertising flyer examples to help you get the best out of advertisements with flyers.

Flyers that tell a story

One important thing to do before creating a flyer is to determine your target audience. This would help you to properly construct and deliver your message in a way that catches the attention of customers you want to reach. 

Storytelling through flyers is one of the most captivating ways to hold your audience’s attention. People’s brains are tuned to respond to storytelling, so if your flyer is telling a story suitable for the targeted audience, you are sure to penetrate their minds. 

In the flyer example above, the handwritten fonts, retro fonts, and images create a dream-like feel that brings to mind memories of the 90s. If targeted to an audience in that age range, it is sure to get their attention.

Flyers with attractive fonts and colors

Color and unique fonts help you effectively divide your flyer into sections, making it more readable and attractive. It also helps to prevent the flyer from looking monotonous.

Using different fonts and colors helps draw the viewer’s attention to the different elements of your design.

In the flyer example above, the brand uses colorful images to highlight the key services of the company. Bright colors give the company a welcoming appeal, and the distinct fonts help to stand the company name out so that it remains at the fore of the viewer’s mind. 

A good tip for using fonts and colors for flyers is to try not to use too many so that the flyer does not look choked up or messy.

Flyers that call out pricing information

Many people get discouraged when they see an advert for a product they want to purchase and discover there is no pricing information. If your flyer is advertising products or services, leaving out prices in your flyer information can cause your potential customers to lose interest.

Except in cases where the purchase is unique to each individual and cannot be specified, it is best to be transparent on your flyer at all times. If there is a promo code or a ɗiscount, it should also be included in the flyer. This makes your flyer more informative and appealing.

Flyers with a distinct call to action

After providing information to your customers about what you have to offer, what exactly would you like them to do with this information? 

Flyers that include a call to action within the information on the design stand a better chance of spurring the target audience to action. A call to action (CTA) is a short phrase that summons your customer to do something about the information they have just received.

The CTA could be as short as “call now” or “visit us today,” this is clear, straightforward and points the reader towards what step to take next. This could go a long way to help you connect with a potential client. 

It’s best to use a distinct color or shape to highlight your call to action to make it stand out from the rest of the text on the page, like in the flyer example above.

Flyers that use eye-catching images

Humans are visual creatures. Adding an impressive image to your flyer ups the chances of attracting your potential customers. Creative images are an excellent way to keep your prospective customers’ attention. 

The image can give your customer a good idea about what you have to offer before they even go through the information on the flyer.

An image of nice shoes or accessories speaks volumes and tells your customers what kind of business you’re into without having to say much. For example, the real estate company in the flyer example above used an eye-catching image of the house available for sale to attract interested buyers.

Why you should use advertising flyers

With the advertising flyer examples listed, we’ve already proved that advertising flyers are eye-catching on many levels. Hence, there are many reasons why you should start using advertising flyers to promote your business, and below are a few of them.

They are affordable

Flyers are a cost-effective way of spreading awareness about your brand. They are not expensive to produce and distribute.

They are tangible

Using flyers to advertise is important because they are things that people can touch and keep. It won’t get lost or forgotten in a digital folder with so many emails or messages.

They complement digital marketing efforts

You can use flyers to reach potential customers that are not on social media platforms. Printed materials work alongside digital marketing, each working to strengthen the message of the other.

Conclusion

Every kind of company can use flyers, from small-scale individual-owned businesses to large companies. We have gone through five top-tier flyer examples that you can work with to help your flyer advertising yield results. 

By following these simple advertising flyer examples, you can make outstanding flyers that will attract customers and bring great Returns on Investment (ROI). Get started today and make your company stand out.

The material of your packaging matters

According to an Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of the Paper and Packaging Board, which is overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the material you use for your packaging matters. 

The material is a key part of packaging design, so it is important that you choose the right material for your products. 

Key findings of the survey include:

• 67% of those surveyed said the materials used to package a product often influence the decision to purchase.
• 67% also said paper and cardboard packaging is more attractive than other materials used for packaging.
• 63% said paper and cardboard packaging makes a product appear to be a high-quality premium product.
• 81% agreed that packaging design influences their purchasing decisions when buying gifts.

Premium packaging design matters

According to a survey by Dotcom Distribution, 61% of people surveyed said they are more likely to buy a luxury product more than once if it comes in premium-looking packaging. 

So, if you are selling high-end, luxury products like jewellery or perfume, ensuring your packaging design looks luxurious can help you attain more sales. 

On the other hand, if you package a premium product in the same packaging used for low-end products, it can drastically put off consumers.

Unique packaging can help to get your brand known

Packaging has become more important since the advent of social media because plenty of people now post photos or videos of them unwrapping newly arrived products, and those posts get a lot of views. 

In turn, that means the companies who sell the products get free exposure and are more likely to see a spike in sales. 

According to the Dotcom Distribution survey, 40% of consumers share images of their packaging on social media when the packaging design is unique or branded. 

So, by adding branding to your packaging or coming up with a unique and interesting design that will get people talking, you can enhance your brand reputation, get word-of-mouth exposure, and sell more products.

Transparency on labels matters

According to Catalpa, 74% of consumers report transparency and honesty in product labelling help them to gain trust in a brand. 

Being transparent about the information on your packaging labels is of the utmost importance in this era. If you want to build your brand, you have to build customer trust. Paying attention to your labelling is one sure-fire way of doing that. 

A product that is honestly and clearly messaged also helps consumers to determine which products they should buy based upon their specific personal needs and desires.

Think twice before you change your packaging designs

This last statistic is perhaps the most important. According to Westrock, 52% of consumers have changed the product brands they buy due to new packaging designs. 

So, if you do not think it is worth investing in an overhaul of your packaging design, think again. 

However, it is important that you research how customers feel about your existing packaging and how they respond to any new packaging design considerations before you launch your new packaging design. 

In addition to thinking about the material you use, whether your product is premium or not, how unique you can make your packaging, and how open and transparent your labelling is, you need to consider every aspect of your packaging to get it right, build more customer trust, and shift more products. 

That means you need to look at the visuals, colours, graphics, logos, fonts, information, and every bit of the design process to ensure you come up with an effective packaging design that your customers will love and shout about. 

Therefore, it can be helpful to learn graphic design basics before you proceed. You also need to consider the type of packaging you will use. For instance, you could use boxes, round containers, or pouches. 

Thankfully, it is easy to come up with customised designs for packaging pouches to ensure you create unique and memorable designs that are sure to get noticed by your customers.

Conclusion

Now you have an idea of what consumers want from packaging and how they respond to different packaging designs, you can take the first steps in creating customised packaging designs that will help you compete in the marketplace and sell more products. 

Though, you will also need to get the pricing right for your products.

Explore different packaging options, take your customers’ wants, needs, and expectations into account, and make sure your packaging design matches your branding well. You could then soon see your products flying off the shelf.