Social media gets a lot of flak, especially due to privacy issues and the proliferation of fake news. However, used properly and intelligently, social media platforms become powerful tools in talent acquisition in real estate (and indeed, in any industry). This is because, at its core, social media is meant to connect people. Indeed, real estate recruiting can be made faster and ultimately better by applying social media best practices in posting and making ads. It can even be argued that social media is not only a valuable but a necessary tool in recruitment.
So, without further ado, here are just a few reasons social media is one of the best tools in real estate recruiting:
It Increases Visibility
Millions of people are on social media every single day; in fact, Facebook alone has an active user base of more than 2 billion people. You simply can’t ignore that kind of reach, knowing that some of the most talented real estate agents may be hiding in that crowd. What’s more, you can’t expect your target audience to simply gravitate to your job advertisements online after you post it. As a recruiter, you need to be the one doing the “chasing.”
By posting on social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, you take advantage of an already-engaged community. While 2 billion might seem like an overwhelming number, there are tools built-in to these social platforms to make searching easier. Make sure to use such features such as hashtags, location tags, and more to fine-tune your posts and ads.
It Builds Your Brand
Many consumer brands use social media to build their brand and you definitely should be doing it, too. After all, one of the deal makers (or breakers) for real estate agents is a company’s culture. With the help of social media, you have a ready stage to showcase this culture to potential recruits.
Be creative. Don’t just post photos, but also craft videos to highlight the company’s values, passions, and advocacies. Doing so has the potential to attract applicants even before you get in touch with them. As a bonus, posting such content on your social media pages can also paint you in a good light in your clients’ eyes.
It Delivers High-Quality, Targeted Sourcing
When you post recruitment ads, whether offline or online, there’s no way to know for sure that they’re reaching the right people. With social media, you can choose to show your ads to a specific group right at the outset. With various features that allow the hyper-targeting of posts, social media platforms help you source those candidates with a high probability of responding favorably.
Sourcing and recruiting through social media can also produce higher-quality candidates. This is due in part to the above-mentioned hyper-targeting capabilities. There are also existing online communities for professionals, which you can join to find more rising superstars. In addition, the potential hires you find through social media are likely more knowledgeable in the digital space. This is a definite plus in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing landscape. Last but not the least, social media platforms can give you access to in-depth candidate data,
It’s Allows for Easy Engagement
As earlier mentioned, social media platforms already have an engaged user base. All you have to do is to start and/or participate in a conversation. Through different interactions such as comments or even live video discussions, you can already conduct a preliminary check if the candidate is a good fit. Constant engagement with helpful content also pushes your company to the forefront. This helps build trust, which can increase the likelihood of a positive response in terms of applications and referrals.
It Can Help You Find Passive Candidates
Sometimes, that talented real estate superstar you’re looking for isn’t interested in making a career move at the moment. These passive candidates are some of the most important people that recruiters should keep an eye on. Through social media, you can target them with relevant content to keep them engaged. Therefore, when the time comes that they’re ready for a change, you’re already a top-of-mind choice. Of course, remember to craft your message carefully so that you don’t appear too on the nose. It’s also a good idea to tailor your contents based on the platform where you’re going to engage.
It Reduces Cost Per Hire
Traditional recruitment methods can cost a lot of money. On the other hand, social media recruitment isn’t necessarily free but it’s definitely much cheaper. In terms of visibility alone, a single Facebook or LinkedIn ad can already net you more exposure than ads on job boards or even classifieds.
This is not to say that traditional methods are no longer effective. Indeed, they can prove to be more useful in certain situations. However, if you’re aiming for efficiency, social media recruitment almost always delivers more value.
As you can see, social media sites aren’t just for personal socialization. With careful planning, you can unleash its potential to be the ultimate real estate recruiting tool.
