With ad costs rising and competition fiercer than ever, many real estate agents are turning to affiliate marketing as a low-cost, high-reward strategy. Below are reasons why real estate agents can benefit from affiliate marketing and how to start earning commissions.
What is affiliate marketing?
Affiliate marketing is performance-based marketing where affiliates earn a commission for each sale they generate. This type of marketing is prevalent in eCommerce websites and has also become popular in other industries, especially the real estate sector.
There are two main ways real estate agents can take advantage of affiliate marketing. First, they can create a landing page or blog post that promotes their services. Second, they can partner with other companies that sell products related to real estate. For example, a realtor might partner with a mortgage lender or home improvement store. The realtor will then refer customers to those partners.
The Benefits of affiliate marketing for real estate agents
In addition to generating revenue through sales, affiliate marketing provides several benefits to real estate agencies. These include:
Improved SEO
If you’re not familiar with SEO, it’s the process of improving your website to rank higher in search engines. When people search for keywords associated with your business, your site should appear near the top of the results. By partnering with an affiliate company, your site gains access to more traffic.
Increased conversions
Promoting another company’s product increases the chances that potential clients will buy something. If someone clicks on one of your links, they may be interested in purchasing a property from you. This means that you could potentially close more deals.
Increased brand awareness
When people see your name on an affiliate website, it increases your visibility. It’s like having a billboard right next to your office!
How to start earning commissions as an affiliate marketer
To begin earning commissions as an affiliate marketer, you need to:
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Find a company that sells real estate-related products you want to promote
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Sign up for their affiliate program
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Build a list of interested prospects
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Direct them to the partner’s website
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Earn a commission when they make a purchase
How to find affiliate partners
Finding a good partner isn’t always easy. There are many factors to consider when choosing a partner. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Does the partner offer quality content?
A great way to find a partner is by searching online for blogs, articles, videos, etc., that cover topic relevant to your industry.
Is the partner reputable?
Look at reviews and testimonials to determine whether the company is trustworthy.
How much does the partner pay?
Make sure that any affiliate program pays a fair amount of money.
What percentage of sales do you get paid?
Some programs pay a fixed rate per sale, while others pay a percentage of sales.
Can you customize the link?
Many affiliate networks allow you to customize your links. This makes it easier to track which leads came from your website.
How long has the affiliate been around?
You don’t want to join an affiliate network if it hasn’t been around very long. Look for partnerships that have been active for at least three years.
How much control do you have over the affiliate network?
You want to work with an affiliate network that gives you complete control over how you run your business. Some affiliates prefer this type of structure because they feel like their brand is being promoted without interference.
How much support can you expect?
Do you want to work with a company that provides excellent customer service or wants to take care of everything themselves?
How much training do you get?
If you decide to become an affiliate marketer, ensure that you get enough training before you start promoting other companies’ products.
Are there any tools available to help you?
If you’re looking to automate specific tasks, look into tools that can help you manage your entire affiliate marketing campaign. For example, you might use Google Analytics to see what pages people visit on your site after clicking on an affiliate link.
What are the best ways to make money through a real estate affiliate program?
There are several ways to earn money through a real estate affiliate program. Here are 4 of the most popular options:
1. Referral commission
You get a commission when someone signs up for one of your partners’ services using your referral code.
2. Lead generation
You get paid if you create a landing page that generates leads for an affiliate partner. This could be done through banner ads, email campaigns, etc.
3. Email marketing
You send emails about a particular topic to subscribers on your list.
4. Continuing education
You partner with a real estate course provider who has a large audience. You then promote the courses on your website.
Boost your listings and revenue with Virtuance
Affiliate marketing has become a popular way for real estate agents to make extra income. It allows them to promote products and services that they believe in while earning commissions when someone purchases those items.
Just like using the right affiliate partners can boost your reach, using high-quality marketing tools can elevate your listings and attract more clients. Virtuance provides professional HDReal® images, virtual tours, and a full Marketing Suite to help your properties stand out online, giving you the edge you need to succeed. Get started with Virtuance today and showcase your listings like a pro.
FAQ
Absolutely. Many real estate photography companies, including virtual tour and floor plan providers, offer affiliate or referral programs that reward you for sending other agents their way.
You can include affiliate offers (like discounts on moving services) in your newsletters. This gives subscribers useful resources while keeping them engaged with your emails.
Yes, as long as you’re transparent. Disclose when you earn a commission and make sure the services or products you recommend genuinely benefit your clients — that builds trust instead of damaging it.
