To be competitive in today’s real estate market, you need to establish credibility and authority that gives you leverage over your competitors and allows you to generate motivated seller leads more consistently, for cheaper.

How to Build Credibility as a Real Estate Investor in 2023

Author: Jacob Hicks

Because there are more and more real estate wholesalers and investors popping up, establishing your company's credibility online is no longer a choice, it’s a necessity. While having an online presence in general helps to establish some credibility, how you build out your online presence is what will separate you from your competition and that’s exactly what we want to talk about in this blog. Below, we look at some powerful ways to build your online credibility profile as a real estate wholesaler or investor.

4 Easy Ways to Boost Your REI Company’s Credibility

1. Promote Your Business with Google Business Profile

Google Business Profile is a free tool that increases your chances of showing up in Google's search results, such as Google's Local Pack, Google Maps or the organic search results. With your Google Business Profile account, you can connect with motivated sellers, post updates to your business profile, and see how potential sellers are interacting with your business on Google.

Once you've completed the signup process and verified your business, it's time to optimize your profile to increase visibility and make your listing more attractive. Here's how to start optimizing your profile:

Add your business description.
Add a cover photo 720 pixels wide by 720 pixels high.
Add more photos (3 minimum) and include descriptions.
Include hours of operation.
Post media and content to your listing.
Monitor and respond to Google Reviews

With Google Business Profile, you attract and engage sellers and even other real estate professionals when they search for your business name on Google. In addition to showing up for your business name, you can also show up under generic searches. The best way to increase your visibility with this tool is by collecting Google reviews. Make it a goal to hit ten reviews from sellers you’ve helped as soon as possible.

As you get reviews, it is highly recommended that you respond to them. It’s also recommended that you post photos of your latest house purchases, renovations & listings you’ve done plus any new content you may have published to your website such as a blog. Overall, the more active you are with your Google listing, the more exposure it will get and the easier motivated sellers can find you.

2. Elevate Your Credibility With Video Testimonials

Video testimonials have a greater impact than written testimonials simply because they leave no doubt as to actual seller experience. Plus, seller’s who have had a positive experience can convey their thoughts with emotion, inflection, and body language - something that connects with viewers far more than words alone.

While you're at the closing table, ask the seller if they wouldn't mind answering a few questions about their experience working with you. You can even offer them an Amazon gift card for helping. If they agree, ask them these five questions:

Tell us about your situation and how you found us.
Why did you decide to sell your house to us?
Were we able to meet your expectations?
What were the greatest benefits?
Would you recommend us to family or friends?

When recording the video, make sure the video and sound quality are good and that the seller is relaxed. If you’re using your phone, which is totally fine, make sure you hold it sideways for formatting purposes. You want the review to feel natural and authentic, not rehearsed or contrived. Make sure you thank the person for their review.

3. Create an Introductory Video About You and Your Company

An introductory video can add transparency, relatability & credibility to your website and landing pages. Personalized videos with you and your team in it help you stand out from your competition and puts you ahead of investors who do not take the time to personalize their brand. We get feedback from many of the investors that we personally work with that it was this very introduction video that led to the seller calling them versus calling one of their competitors. Stop hiding before your computer screen and get out there!

What should you include in your introductory video?

Who you are, real estate background, credibility, local, family owned, etc
Types of properties you buy & situations you help people out of
Benefits & advantages of working with you vs. other cash buyers or agents
What does your process look like? What can they expect by calling or submitting the form?
CTA: Call us or complete the brief form on this page for a fast, fair, no-obligation cash offer

You can also add a thank you video that the seller can view after they complete a contact form.

Thank them for completing the form on the previous page
Invite them to give you a call to share more information about their property.
Explain the next steps once you have all of the additional information
Reinforce benefits of working with you vs. other options
You look forward to speaking with & helping them soon

You are more likely to increase your conversion by simply adding personalized videos to your website. Give it a try!

4. Get Accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB)

Being accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) can be beneficial for your business in several ways. Some of the main benefits include:

Increased credibility: BBB accreditation is a widely recognized symbol of trust and reliability, and having this accreditation can help increase your business's credibility in the eyes of potential customers.
Enhanced reputation: The BBB has a long history of promoting ethical business practices and helping to resolve disputes between businesses and consumers. By being accredited, your business can be associated with this positive reputation.
Increased visibility: The BBB website receives a high amount of traffic, and being listed there can help increase your business's visibility online.
Access to resources: As an accredited business, you will have access to various resources and support from the BBB, such as business education and networking opportunities.
Dispute resolution: If a customer has a complaint about your business, the BBB can help mediate a resolution.

Apply for BBB Accreditation and show customers that your company operates honestly and with integrity. When you sign up you get features such as the BBB seal for your marketing materials, access to BBB marketing tools, and additional features to attract motivated sellers.

Why Is Credibility Important for Your Business?

Credibility Leads to Authority

Part of your ability to close real estate deals lies in how you are perceived in the industry. If you are seen as trustworthy, hard-working, and ethical, you are more likely to gain the confidence of home sellers, other real estate professionals, and potential business partners. However, if you are seen as a renegade or a person who lacks stability, just landing your first deal can be a sizable challenge.

So, how do you establish authority online? There are several strategies that you can integrate, including:

Focus on a specific or topic area.
Put in the hours with your online marketing channels.
Become a blogger or hire a blogger.
Create vlogs, live video streams, or a radio show that gives value.

Your Audience Will Judge You by Your Website

Have you ever driven in front of a store that you assumed was closed or probably in bankruptcy, only to find out that the business is thriving? What caused you to assume that it was doing poorly? It was likely the condition of the property. The grounds may have been neglected, and the building is in desperate need of a paint job. The signs may be outdated and the inside dirty or unorganized. Don’t be surprised if the business is missing out on hundreds of potential customers simply because of the way the property looks.

The same thing applies to your online presence. Viewers will judge your professionalism and credibility based on how well your website is designed and updated. When building a website, consider these suggestions:

Outsource your web design and maintenance – leave it to the professionals.
Update all images, photos, and graphics (no stock photos).
Update the written content and continue to add content regularly.
Spend a little extra for a clean, modern, professional layout.
Make sure the website is easy to use and navigate.
Make sure that all information is accurate and current.

Your Competition Is Already Way Ahead of You

As of July 2018, 53% of people in the U.S. use mobile devices compared to 43% on desktop. Nearly 80 percent of all people use the internet to search for a product or service. In addition, 75 percent of people making purchasing (or selling) decisions are influenced by something they see while browsing online. Companies that respond to these statistics by deploying effective marketing strategies are pulling ahead of the competition.

Another way to look at it is this: if you are not online, your business doesn’t exist. Even if you work harder, develop your skills as a negotiator, and even have a few contacts in your network, you can’t compete with the investor who reaches more people with less time, money, and effort. Your competition will be perceived as more credible even if they are not simply because they are online.

You Can Quickly Convert Visitors into Leads

Once you develop your “online credibility profile” through your website and various channels, your next step is to create an online marketing strategy that leverages that to generate motivated seller leads more consistently into your REI business.

There are numerous ways to improve your conversion rates and reduce your bounce rates on any digital platform. For instance, know your selling points, refine your message, and target your preferred audience. Use social proof such as testimonials, videos, and influencer endorsements to give you build your credibility as you go. Also, make sure you take care of the technical issues that could plague your site’s performance. Improve your loading speeds, make sure all links work, and all tools perform correctly.

Start Generating 15-30+ Inbound Motivated Seller Leads Every Month

Magnyfi can help you get more motivated seller leads through various paid and organic online marketing strategies. Learn more about how we can help you implement the Motivated Sellers Marketing System in your area.

To check the availability of your market, fill out our application form or contact us at 877-540-4248, and we will walk you through the process. We only work with a limited number of investors per area, so claim your market today!

If you are a real estate investor with the highly coveted ability to attract a high number of motivated seller leads, you need to ask yourself two primary questions:

"What is my process for leads that come in?"
"How many leads turn into contracts?"

2022 brought a lot of challenges to the real estate market. Both buyers and sellers faced inflation, higher interest rates, housing shortages, supply shortages, and greater competition in the marketplace. Regardless of how successful you were over the last year, it’s imperative that you assess your REI business and prepare for the upcoming year.

When developing your marketing strategy for attracting motivated seller leads and converting them into real estate deals, you want to employ a multi-faceted approach that includes as many different traditional and digital marketing channels as possible. You also want to develop a system that allows you to track and analyze the progress of your marketing campaigns within each channel.