4 Tech Trends to Watch in 2018

By Joe Sesso, National Speaker for Homes.com

RISMEDIA, Friday, February 23, 2018— We're more than a month into a new year, which means it's the perfect time to look back at your goals to make sure you're still on track. Some agents make goals about managing their time better or connecting with a certain number of clients each month. A great way to boost either of those goals and many others is by looking to technology for help.

Before diving into technology, think about what you hope to accomplish. What are some goals you plan to achieve this year? What do you want to do better? Where do you or your business need some extra support? This will help you figure out what kind of technology is best for you. Here are four suggestions to help you get started.

1. Mobile Devices
You've had your phone for years, but are you using it to its full potential? Communication is the most important way to keep in touch with your past clients and connect with new ones. If you don't currently have a communication strategy, this could be a great place to start ramping up your technology use. Personalized texts, phone calls, and messages through a platform like Facebook can help you form genuine connections with people. In the long run, this could be the most effective way to boost your numbers.

2. Voice-Assist Devices
If you're looking for something more techy, voice-assistant devices became extremely popular toward the end of last year. In fact, the number of households in the U.S. with smart speakers grew 49 percent from June to November 2017. Voice-assist devices, like Google Home and Amazon Echo, can be used in a number of ways. Primarily, these devices are productivity tools. Make life easier in the office by using a device to schedule your next meeting, order more paper clips, remind you to call your newest client, or even adjust your thermostat.

Another great way to use voice-assist devices is by bringing one to your next open house. Incoming viewers can ask for details about the surrounding neighborhood, such as the closest coffee shop or the distance to their child's school. This allows potential clients to stay occupied while you're working with other people. In addition to this, both Google Home and Amazon Echo save any queries that were asked. That means you can go back and view what people were searching for, so you know what they value. This can help with engagement later.

3. Virtual Reality
While virtual and augmented reality still don't have a major presence in the real estate world, there are still hopes that they will make a breaking debut in the near future. With that being said, there are some options now, such as HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Google Daydream. While the first two come with a hefty price tag, Google's version is less than $100 and uses your phone to create the virtual reality effect. Paired with a program like iStaging, your clients can now "walk" through your listing. Virtual reality gives clients the ability to experience a property without having to physically be there, which can be a great selling point.

4. Smart Advertising
We know that advertising is a top way to connect with new clients and stay top of mind with previous clients; however, the way we advertise is shifting because consumer preferences are beginning to change. While we're used to bold banner ads that grab your audience's attention, many have suggested that it's time to move to a more subtle approach.

Homes.com's native ads let you connect with the right clients in the right way, without being overly demanding or pushy in their online space. The purpose of native ads is to allow your marketing to fit in seamlessly with the rest of the content on the page. They are designed to fit with the surroundings so they're relevant and look like they belong there. This means users are more likely to share the ad or click through to your site.

Once you start using a new technology, decide whether it's helping your process or just creating another step in your already busy life. If something doesn't work, don't be afraid to let it go and try something different. Remember, the goal of using these new tech tools is to simplify your life and make your business even better while connecting you with local quality leads in your area. Homes.com's Local Connect is an affordable way to connect with more buyer and seller leads. Secure your zip code today!

For more information, please visit connect.homes.com.

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