Digital Marketing Plan for Real Estate: How to Grow in a Competitive Real Estate Market

By: Tiffany Bowtell | Last Updated: 18th Mar 2025

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The real estate market has shifted, with buyers and renters now searching online before speaking to an agent. Traditional marketing no longer delivers the same impact. A digital marketing plan for real estate gives your agency the structure to grow, set clear goals, use the right tools and track performance. This guide shows you how to build a high-performing plan by analysing your market, defining your audience, choosing the best channels and setting measurable goals. It also covers content planning, budgeting and workflow integration—providing a complete roadmap to grow your agency in today’s digital-first landscape.

Why Your Real Estate Business Needs a Digital Marketing Plan

A digital marketing plan helps your business stay consistent and competitive. It provides direction and structure, so you can focus your marketing efforts where they count. With a solid plan, you’ll reach the right audience at the right time and deliver a stronger client experience.

What Your Plan Should Cover

  • SEO for search engine visibility
  • Paid ads for targeted reach
  • Content marketing to build trust
  • Email marketing for engagement
  • Social media to grow your brand

Market Research: Build Your Plan Around Real Data

Before you plan campaigns, you need to understand your market. Research helps you tailor your plan to local demand, competition and buyer behaviour.

What to Analyse

  • Property sales and rental trends
  • Active competitors and their digital presence
  • Listing volume and buyer activity
  • Client feedback and common concerns

Tools to Support Market Research

ToolUse
CoreLogic RP DataProperty trends and pricing insights
Domain InsightsLocal activity and suburb performance
Google TrendsKeyword and search interest data
CRM dataLead behaviour and audience patterns
Social AnalyticsEngagement tracking and content reach
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Know Your Audience Before You Launch Your Plan

Effective marketing starts with understanding who you want to reach. Clear audience profiles help you tailor your message and improve lead quality.

Define Your Ideal Clients

  • First-home buyers
  • Investors
  • Downsizers
  • Landlords
  • Commercial tenants

Build Customer Avatars

Include demographics, goals, property interests and typical pain points. This helps shape your content and delivery.

Avatar TypeFocusMessage Example
First-home buyerProcess clarity, affordability“Let us help you find your first home”
InvestorRental yield, growth potential“Maximise your property investment returns”
DownsizerSimplicity, comfort“Move into comfort without compromise”

Core Elements of a Digital Marketing Plan

A structured plan helps you stay focused, track performance and drive results. Include these key components:

  • Marketing goals: Set targets like lead volume, listings or brand reach.
  • Audience profiles: Tailor your messaging for each segment.
  • Budget allocation: Assign spend by channel and track ROAS.
  • Platforms and tools: Choose CRMs, ad platforms and email tools that support delivery.
  • Delivery timeline: Outline when tasks, campaigns and reviews happen.

Planning for Listing Life Cycles

Match your marketing activity to each stage of a listing.

StageTactics
Pre-listingSocial teasers, blog articles, email alerts
Active listingPaid ads, listing videos, open home invites
Post-saleReview requests, referral offers, case studies

Applying the 4 Ps of Marketing in Real Estate

The 4 Ps help you structure your marketing efforts clearly and consistently.

ElementReal Estate Example
ProductSales services, property management, leasing
PriceCommission models, flat fees, promotional offers
PlaceWebsite, listing portals, physical locations
PromotionEmail campaigns, SEO, paid ads, social content

Content Planning to Support Your Plan

Content drives traffic, builds trust and supports every other part of your marketing plan.

Types of Content to Include

  • Blog articles: Buyer/seller guides and tips
  • Suburb reports: Local market insights
  • Videos: Walkthroughs, agent intros
  • Email content: Newsletters, listing updates

Sample Content Calendar

WeekFocus AreaFormat
1Buyer educationBlog post
2Suburb spotlightSuburb report
3New listing promotionVideo
4Landlord engagementEmail series
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Integrating Email Marketing Into Your Plan

Email marketing builds trust and drives consistent engagement. It’s a low-cost, high-impact channel to include in your plan.

Segment Your Audience

  • Buyers: New listings and tips
  • Sellers: Market updates and guides
  • Landlords: Rental insights and service offers
  • Past clients: Referrals and check-ins

Funnel Stages and Email Types

StageEmail Focus
AwarenessBlog links, suburb insights
InterestListing showcases, FAQs, testimonials
ActionAppointment prompts, free appraisal CTAs

Tips to Improve Results

  • Clear subject lines
  • One call-to-action per email
  • Mobile-friendly layouts
  • A/B testing to refine timing and content

Structuring Your Plan Around Online Platforms

Your plan should map out how to use each platform for maximum impact.

PlatformBest Use
Google AdsSearch-driven lead capture
YouTubeBrand awareness and video engagement
MetaListing promotion and local visibility
LinkedInCommercial outreach and brand presence

Track results by CTR, conversion rate, cost per lead and ROAS to optimise spend.

Measuring What Makes Your Plan Effective

Tracking the right KPIs keeps your plan on course.

Key Metrics to Monitor

  • Leads generated
  • Listings secured
  • Conversion rates
  • Website traffic growth
  • ROAS by channel
  • Email open and click-through rates

Review these monthly to adjust your plan and improve outcomes.

Setting Goals That Keep Your Plan Focused

SMART goals help you measure progress and stay aligned with business outcomes.

GoalKPITimeline
Grow listingsNumber of new listingsMonthly
Improve lead qualityConversion rateMonthly
Boost online reachWebsite traffic growthMonthly
Raise engagementCTR on social/emailWeekly
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Scaling Your Plan Through Outsourcing

Outsourcing helps you deliver your plan without burdening your internal team.

Tasks to Outsource

  • Blog and email content writing
  • Graphic design for ads and posts
  • Paid ad management
  • CRM data entry and lead tagging
  • Video editing for tours or reels

A Real Estate Marketing Assistant from PMVA can manage these tasks so you stay focused on the client.

FAQs: Digital Marketing Plan for Real Estate 

How Has The Digital Age Changed Real Estate Marketing?

The digital age has reshaped how agents connect with clients. People now expect fast answers, easy access to listings and a strong online brand. Digital marketing for real estate makes this possible. It helps you stay relevant and meet client needs in real time. Including digital tools in your plan keeps you ahead of your competition.

What Are The Most Effective Digital Marketing Strategies?

The most effective digital marketing strategies focus on reaching the right audience at the right time. These include SEO, social media campaigns, email marketing, paid ads and content creation. These strategies work best when used together in a comprehensive marketing plan that supports consistent lead generation and brand growth.

What Are The Best Strategies For Real Estate Agencies To Stay Competitive?

The best strategies for real estate include a clear content plan, strong SEO, targeted email campaigns and smart use of social media. These tools help you reach more people, generate real estate leads and improve engagement. Combine these tactics with data tracking and CRM tools for better results. We’re here to help you build a plan that works.

Take Action and Grow Your Real Estate Business

A strong digital marketing plan helps your real estate business attract clients, grow visibility and drive results. To stay ahead in a fast-moving market, take action now—define clear goals, tailor your message, use the right tools and track your KPIs. Review your current strategy, refine what works and scale your efforts for lasting growth.

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Tiffany Bowtell

Tiffany Bowtell is the CEO and Founder of PMVA, renowned internationally as a property management expert. With over thirty years in the property industry, she has excelled in roles including Head Trainer at Console and certified partner with PropertyMe software. A skilled business coach, keynote speaker and Property Management Author. Tiffany's innovative approaches to training and software integration make her a distinguished leader in real estate outsourcing and process automation.