Generating leads for real estate agents is a challenging task. Some leads no longer pick up the phone, and some home sellers and buyers now turn to Google first. Therefore, many real estate agents are now establishing an online presence to generate leads.
However, even after you set up your real estate website, it will take months, if not years, to increase traffic and attract clients, which is inconvenient for a job with quotas and deadlines. Rather than waiting months to find leads through organic search engine results, you can use Google Ads to reach the top of the listings and be top in the Google search results in minutes.
At the end of this blog post, you’ll understand why you should use Google Ads for your real estate website and know how to set up a Google Ads account to generate leads.
Google Ads
Google Ads is an online advertising platform where advertisers bid to display brief advertisements, service offerings, product listings, or videos to web users.
Google Ads is an online advertising platform for real estate professionals who want to start pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. Because it can quickly reach people interested in your services, it’s one of the most effective ways to drive immediate traffic to your real estate website. Google enabled this by displaying advertisements in search engine results, such as Google Search, and on on-search websites, mobile apps, and videos.
How Google Ads works
Because the feature employs the PPC advertising method, you will be charged each time someone clicks on your ads. PPC advertising is a bidding system in which you will bid for a specific keyword. When someone searches for your keywords, Google will display them.
4 easy steps to setting up your Google Ads account
Now that you understand the basics of how Google Ads works, you’re ready to set up your Google Ads account for your real estate website. Take these steps:
1. Create your Google account or use an existing one
You’ll need a Google Account to use Google Ads. You might already have an existing one, but feel free to create a new account. Ensure you’ve verified your phone number and set up 2-factor authentication and recommended security measures.
Most real estate agents prefer creating a new Gmail account, mainly for Google Ads Management. It will help you track your progress without any unnecessary emails or spam flooding your personal inbox.
2. Sign up for Google Ads
After creating a Google account, you can now sign up for a Google Ads account here. First, you’ll be asked to pick an account. After choosing your account, you’ll be redirected to make your first ads campaign. Carefully check all the details you’ve included so you won’t have to make any changes when you review them.
Google Ads will first ask you about the main advertising goal for your campaign. Ideally, the best option for your real estate business is to “Get more calls” or “Get more website sales or sign-ups.” Both options can effectively secure a client. Phone calls are more personal, whereas direct sales or sign-ups guarantee revenue.
Next, you’ll need to provide your real estate business name and web address, specifically your landing page. Your clients will be redirected to this landing page after clicking your ad, so be sure to link your best opening content to immediately catch their attention. Google will then scan your website to verify its authenticity and find out what type of content you have. After Google completes the scan, you’ll see an overview of the landing page you specified earlier, with mobile and desktop viewing options.
Once you’re satisfied with your website overview, click “Next” to proceed to the ads campaign setup window. Because Google has already scanned your website, you will receive three headline suggestions and two descriptions. You may provide 15 headlines and four descriptions. Make sure to include unique headlines and avoid using limited-time offers, as clients may perceive them as a scam.
3. Add keywords
After you complete those steps, you will be a few clicks away from finishing your Google Ads account. The next step is to add keyword themes relevant to your real estate business. Google will provide you with keyword themes based on how they view your website, and you can choose from the readily available keywords or create new ones. This is your chance to take full advantage of the Google Ads system by including commonly used keywords.
Keep in mind Google typically provides the top keyword theme recommendations. However, you can either follow Google’s recommendations or add new ones. Keep your keyword list to between seven and ten keywords to get the best results.
4. Finalize your ads
Finally, select your ad’s target location and budget and the duration of your campaign. Afterward, Google will show you a preview of your ad campaign. You should carefully review every detail to ensure you’re on the right track. If satisfied, you can enter your billing information. You’ll then have completed all the steps for setting up Google Ads.
Google will review your campaign, which usually takes about an hour. After they’ve approved it, you can freely edit your campaign and track the progress of your ads.
Why you should utilize Google Ads on your website
Better results than search engine optimization
Google Ads gives exposure to your website, increasing the likelihood that it will appear at the top of search results. High website traffic is primarily due to search engine optimization. Your real estate website can reach hundreds, if not thousands, of people daily, growing exponentially through organic results. Google Ads will provide more backlinks and higher website traffic than SEO.
Enhances website branding
When asked about a product or item, the brand may come to mind first. Your website name is your digital brand, and you’ll put a lot of time and effort into making it credible.
You can experiment with various methods to improve website branding to attract more customers, but Google Ads is one of the best ways to improve your website’s branding.
Aside from generating traffic, Google Ads is an excellent tool for improving your website branding because it constantly emphasizes your website’s name and reputation. As a result, potential customers who ignore your link will still see your website’s name and services, possibly piquing their interest in your business.
Maximizes ROI
Even if you have the best services, earnings will come and go without a proper marketing strategy for your real estate website, and we don’t want that to happen. The Google Ads team developed the CPA bidding strategy to maximize the ROI for your luxury real estate business. In this marketing tool, Google increases your website’s exposure to people who are likely to use your services or subscribe to your newsletter. Google limits your ads to less likely people, lowering your costs while increasing your chances of earning revenue.
By completing the four steps, you officially become a certified advertiser with a growing real estate business. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get your first client right away. Instead, prepare for that first client, do your best, and stay consistent because the rest will follow.