Running Google Ads is like navigating a maze - it’s complex, but when done right, you’ll find the path to new leads and a growing client base. For real estate agents, this can be a profitable way to scale your business, but only if you use the right strategies. In this article, we’ll dive into some of the best Google Ads strategies for real estate agents in 2024. These tips will help you spend smarter, not harder, and attract clients ready to make moves in the housing market.
Why Search Campaigns are a Must for Real Estate Agents
If you’re new to Google Ads, the first thing you should know is that search campaigns are your best friend. Google may push you toward the latest fancy ad types like Performance Max campaigns, but for real estate agents, sticking with search campaigns is the way to go at the beginning. Why? Because search campaigns put your ads directly in front of people who are actively looking for real estate services.
Think of it like fishing in a well-stocked pond—search campaigns help you catch clients who are already "raising their hands" and searching for what you offer. Once you’re seeing steady conversions (think 30+ high-quality leads per month), then you might consider expanding into Performance Max. But don’t rush it—get the basics right first.
Targeting the Right Audience with Refined Search Terms
Now that you’ve set up your search campaign, the real work begins. It’s not enough to just select keywords like "real estate agent near me" and hope for the best. You’ll want to dive into the specific search terms users are typing to find you. Google provides a nifty tool called the Search Terms Report that shows you exactly what people searched before clicking on your ad.
This is where you can sharpen your strategy. Start performing search term audits 2–3 times per week, especially in the first few months. If you notice that people are clicking on your ad after searching for irrelevant terms—like "cheap apartments in New York" when you sell luxury homes—add those terms to your negative keywords list. Negative keywords help block irrelevant traffic, so you’re not paying for clicks that won’t turn into leads.
Real estate agents have seen dramatic reductions in cost per lead by regularly fine-tuning their search terms. For instance, by removing irrelevant keywords, businesses have cut their cost per conversion from over $700 to under $100. That’s real money saved.
Aggressive Ad Copy to Pre-Qualify Leads
Let’s be real—not everyone clicking on your ad is a good fit for your services. But here’s the kicker: you can avoid wasting money on the wrong leads by using aggressive ad copy. I’m not talking about pushy sales tactics, but rather, being crystal clear about what you offer.
For example, if you specialize in high-end properties, say so right in the ad. Use phrases like "Luxury Real Estate Services" or "Starting at $500,000." If you only work with first-time homebuyers or specific neighborhoods, mention that too. This simple adjustment filters out people who aren’t a match, so they won’t click on your ad, saving you from spending money on clicks that won’t convert.
Think of your ad copy as your first line of defense—it helps ensure only serious buyers reach out, while others move along.
The Smart Use of Remarketing
Remarketing can be a game-changer for real estate agents, but it’s a tool you want to use wisely. In case you’re unfamiliar, remarketing involves showing ads to people who have visited your website but didn’t convert. It’s like a friendly reminder to say, "Hey, remember us?"
However, don’t jump into remarketing right away. First, focus on building up a remarketing audience of at least 1,000 visitors. Once you have this base, you can start a display remarketing campaign to follow these leads around the web.
Here’s a pro tip: exclude app placements and irrelevant sites. You want your ads to show up in places where your potential clients actually are, not on random apps or unrelated websites. As a rule of thumb, aim to allocate around 5–10% of your total Google Ads budget to remarketing.
You might not see immediate results—remarketing campaigns can take a few months to ramp up—but the payoff is worth it. Over time, remarketing can significantly increase conversions because you're targeting people who are already familiar with your brand.
Maximizing the Benefits of Enhanced Conversions
As you start getting leads and fine-tuning your campaigns, it's important to understand how enhanced conversions can take your results to the next level. Enhanced conversions allow you to upload offline data (like people who actually closed on a house) back into Google Ads. This gives Google a more accurate picture of which clicks are leading to actual deals, not just form submissions.
Why does this matter? Because real estate is a long game. Unlike e-commerce, where a click can lead to an instant purchase, it may take weeks or even months to close a real estate deal. Enhanced conversions bridge that gap by telling Google, “Hey, this person who clicked on our ad actually turned into a homebuyer,” which helps Google optimize your ads for future clicks that are more likely to lead to closed deals.
To set this up, you’ll need to work with your CRM or transaction software to capture the final conversion data (such as when a deal is closed or a contract is signed). You can then upload this data into Google Ads manually or automate the process using Google’s API. This may sound a bit technical, but the effort is worth it because it gives Google a clearer picture of which leads are truly valuable. Over time, this can lower your cost per acquisition (CPA) and boost your return on ad spend (ROAS).
Analyzing Campaign Performance for Continuous Improvement
Google Ads isn’t a "set it and forget it" platform. Once your campaigns are running, you’ll need to regularly check performance metrics to ensure everything is working as planned. This means looking beyond just clicks or impressions and diving into key metrics like cost per conversion, click-through rate (CTR), and conversion rate.
For real estate agents, the cost per conversion is especially crucial. This metric tells you how much you’re spending to get a lead that could potentially turn into a sale. If your cost per conversion is too high, it might be a sign that your keywords aren’t targeted enough or your ad copy isn’t specific enough.
Similarly, keeping an eye on your click-through rate (CTR) can tell you whether your ads are engaging enough to attract clicks. If your CTR is low, it could indicate that your ad copy needs to be more compelling or that your keywords aren’t aligned with what people are actually searching for. A high CTR paired with a low conversion rate, however, could signal that your landing page isn’t doing its job of converting visitors into leads. Make sure your landing page has a strong call to action (CTA), is easy to navigate, and loads quickly.
Regular campaign audits are key. Set a schedule to review performance weekly, especially when a campaign is fresh. Focus on making small tweaks, like adjusting bids, adding or removing keywords, or testing new ad copy, to continuously improve. Over time, these optimizations can lead to better results and a higher return on investment (ROI).
Geo-Targeting for Local Real Estate Markets
One of the most powerful tools Google Ads offers to real estate agents is geo-targeting. As a real estate agent, your market is typically local, so you want to make sure your ads are reaching people in the specific areas where you operate. Google Ads allows you to target by city, zip code, or even a radius around a specific location.
Geo-targeting helps you avoid wasting ad dollars on people who are too far away to be potential clients. For example, if you’re selling homes in Dallas, you don’t want people in New York seeing your ads. By narrowing your focus, you ensure that every click has a higher chance of turning into a qualified lead.
You can take this strategy a step further by using location-specific keywords in your ads. Instead of just targeting “real estate agent,” try “real estate agent in [city]” or “homes for sale in [neighborhood].” This can improve both your ad’s relevance score (which can lower costs) and your conversion rate.
It’s also a good idea to use bid adjustments based on location. For instance, if you find that leads from certain zip codes are more valuable than others, you can increase your bids for those areas to ensure your ads show up more frequently to the most profitable audience.
Leveraging Google’s Ad Extensions for Real Estate
When you’re running Google Ads, you’re given a limited amount of space to make your pitch—just a headline and a short description. This is where ad extensions come into play. Ad extensions are extra pieces of information that can be added to your ad, such as your phone number, location, additional links, or even a call-to-action button. They not only provide more info for users, but they also increase the size of your ad, making it more noticeable on the search results page.
For real estate agents, here are a few key ad extensions to consider:
- Location Extension: This is essential for real estate, as it shows your office address, making it easy for potential clients to see where you’re based.
- Call Extension: This allows users to click-to-call directly from the ad. Many people still prefer to call when inquiring about real estate, so make it easy for them.
- Sitelink Extension: You can add links to specific pages on your website, such as “View Listings” or “Meet the Team.” This can help guide users to the most relevant part of your site and increase the likelihood of conversion.
- Callout Extension: This is a great way to highlight special promotions, unique services, or key selling points—like "Free Market Analysis" or "Over 10 Years of Local Experience."
Using ad extensions can improve your click-through rate by providing more ways for people to interact with your business, while also giving them more reasons to choose you over the competition.
Conclusion
If you want to make the most of Google Ads for your real estate business in 2024, it’s all about focusing on the right strategies and continuously optimizing your approach. Start with search campaigns, refine your search terms, and use negative keywords to block out irrelevant traffic. Write aggressive ad copy that filters leads before they even click, and don’t forget to set up enhanced conversions to track real business outcomes, not just leads.
Once you have a steady flow of traffic, you can introduce remarketing and ad extensions to boost engagement. Remember to geo-target your ads to the areas where your potential clients are, and analyze your campaign performance regularly to ensure you’re always improving.
By following these strategies, you can lower your cost per acquisition, increase your return on investment, and build a steady pipeline of high-quality real estate leads in 2024. It’s all about working smarter, not harder, when it comes to Google Ads.
