Google Ads For Realtors Guide - The Ultimate Playbook To Win More Listings Fast

online search engine so realtors can outrank zillow

If you’re a real estate agent in 2025 and you’re not using Google Ads, you’re leaving listings on the table. Period. This Google Ads for Realtors Guide isn’t just a surface-level overview. It’s a tactical deep dive built specifically for real estate professionals looking to dominate Google search results, capture high-quality seller leads, and position themselves as the go-to agent in their market.

This guide was created by Digital Dream Homes, where we specialize in building luxury, SEO-optimized real estate websites designed to convert clicks into closings. Pair your site with what you’re about to learn, and you’ll become unstoppable. Don’t feel like reading? Take a look at a behind the scenes look of a campaign I’ve been running. This particular campaign got the realtor 10 closings in her first year and she reported she made $200k from this campaign in 2024. Click here for the video

Why Google Ads Work So Well For Realtors

Before diving into setup and strategy, let’s clarify why Google Ads outperform nearly every other paid lead source:

  • Intent-Based Traffic: Unlike social media ads where people are scrolling aimlessly, Google Ads target people who are actively searching terms like “Sell my home fast in Scottsdale” or “Top realtor in Naples FL.” These users are ready to take action.

  • Hyper-Local Targeting: Google Ads allow you to show up only in the ZIP codes or cities you care about, maximizing ROI.

  • Immediate Results: Once your ads are live, you’re instantly in front of people searching for an agent. No waiting months for organic SEO to kick in.

If you’re not already running ads, this guide will help you start. If you are, you’ll learn how to optimize.

Step 1: Set The Foundation With Keywords That Convert

The first (and most overlooked) step in running successful Google Ads for realtors is choosing the right keywords.

What To Target:

  • “[City] Realtor”

  • “Best real estate agent in [City]”

  • “Sell my house fast [City]”

  • “Listing agent near me”

These are high-intent keywords, meaning the person typing them in is ready to talk to an agent.

Why It Matters:

Many agents waste money bidding on broad or generic keywords like “homes for sale”—those attract buyers who aren’t ready. You want seller keywords, especially if your goal is listings.

How To Find More:

Use Google’s Keyword Planner (free inside your Ads account) or tools like Ubersuggest or SEMrush to uncover hidden gems.

Step 2: Build Landing Pages That Actually Convert

Sending traffic to your brokerage website? That’s a mistake.

Your landing page should:

  • Be laser-focused on one goal: getting the visitor to contact you

  • The saying I use is “Make your landing page so easy to use that your grandma can do it. Meaning, make 1 call to action and make it so the page visitor has no where else to go. THE ONLY THING THEY CAN POSSIBLY DO IS FILL OUT YOUR LEAD CAPTURE FORM.

  • Highlight your experience, reviews, and past sales

  • Have a fast-loading design that works on mobile

At Digital Dream Homes, we specialize in building custom landing pages tied to home valuation tools and IDX-powered listing showcases that match your ads. Want more seller leads? You need a landing page that does the heavy lifting.

Learn more in our Real Estate SEO Best Practices Playbook.

an seo expert hired to get realtors more seller leads

Step 3: Use Location & Demographic Targeting Like A Pro

Google Ads lets you pinpoint exactly who sees your ads.

How To Do It Right:

  • Geo-Target Specific ZIP Codes: Focus your budget only on your local farm area.

  • Layer Income Targeting: Google Ads allows targeting based on household income brackets. Prioritize the top 30-50% for luxury listings.

  • Use Exclusions: Block clicks from areas you don’t serve or keywords you don’t want (like “Section 8 housing” if you’re focused on luxury real estate).

  • Some negative key terms we use so our clients DO NOT show up for these types of searches are as follows: renting, classifieds, rentals, cheap rentals, murder, fraud, haunted, etc. You get the drift. I do not want to put too many negative key terms in this post to hurt my SEO haha.

This hyper-targeting prevents wasted spend and boosts lead quality.

Step 4: Write Ad Copy That Sells You Instantly

Google search ads have limited space, so your copy has to hit hard and fast.

Formula To Use:

  • Headline: [City]’s Top Listing Agent | Free Home Valuation

  • Description: 5-Star Rated Realtor. $10M+ Sold in 2024. Get A Free Market Report Today. No Obligation.

Why it works:

  • You’re stating authority

  • You offer a value (home valuation or report)

  • You remove pressure with “no obligation”

Test multiple versions to see which wins.

Step 5: Leverage Conversion Tracking & Call Extensions

Most agents skip this. Don’t.

You need to know:

  • Which ads produce calls

  • Which keywords produce leads

  • What your cost-per-lead is

Add These:

  • Google Call Extensions: Lets people call you directly from the ad. Beware – this could skyrocket your cost per click so proceed with caution.

  • Conversion Tracking Code: Installed on your thank-you page so Google tracks form submissions. What this means is once someone fills out a form on your website and you get a lead, you want to take them to a thank you page. A page that says “thank you for your submission, I will reach out asap to help you with your valuation.” You want to install your tracking code on THIS page and do not display the thank you page on your website. Only people that fill out that form will ever be on the thank you page. That way, your google conversion tracking code will tell you how many leads you actually get and you can determine which ad copy and areas produce the best leads for you.

The more data Google has, the smarter it gets at finding the right people.

Step 6: Retargeting – The Secret Weapon Most Realtors Miss

97% of visitors won’t convert the first time.

Retargeting lets you show your ads again to people who visited your site but didn’t contact you.

Use Display Ads and YouTube pre-roll to follow them around the web with:

  • Your branding

  • A reminder of your free home valuation

  • Testimonial clips

This builds familiarity and trust—key ingredients in choosing an agent.

What Budget Should Realtors Start With?

You don’t need a massive budget to win.

A Good Starting Point:

  • $6 – $10/day is enough to start testing

  • Focus on ONE geographic area and ONE offer

Once you see which keywords and ads work, you can scale confidently.

If you’re just starting out, we recommend pairing this strategy with our Best IDX Plugins For WordPress blog to make your website as effective as your ads

Final Thoughts: Google Ads Are The Realtor’s Shortcut To The Top

The days of waiting for referrals or relying solely on Zillow are over. Smart agents are building their own pipelines using Google Ads, and those that do it well are taking over.

You now have the blueprint.

If you want help putting this all together—from a high-converting landing page to a properly optimized ad campaign—Digital Dream Homes is here to help. We build stunning websites and lead funnels and drive the correct traffic to you using google ads. If you are looking for a one stop shop to have you outranking zillow and everybody else in your area in as little as a week, book a call here. We will see who is running ads in your area and help you get a slice of that business.

Have a question about google ads? Contact us here and we can help you!

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