Online Marketing for Real Estate 101
August 7, 2008
By: Chad Huck
Author's Website: http://www.ChadHuck.com
Authors of blogs, like Geek Estate, often forget that others may not be up to speed on online marketing for the real estate industry so I’m going to hit the pause button and now hit the fast rewind button.
Welcome to the beginning of Internet Marketing for Real Estate. Glad to see you are interested in the new wave of marketing that will be around for a while (at least while you and I are alive). Here you will find the basic tips (101 tips) of advertising your listings online, where 70% (and counting) of real estate buyers and sellers are searching for real estate information (we’re now at 90+% of online information seekers).
First, you must have an online presence. Whether it be a static website or a blog, it’s your choice. If you have time and willingness to learn (which I’m assuming you do because you’re reading this), I would suggest a blog. For advice on starting a blog, RSS Pieces is a great place to start. It’s smart to remember that often your website or at least web presence is a person’s first impression of you. So make it a great one.
Next, participate in Social Networking. I use participate for a reason because you can’t just sign up and expect business to come to you… if it were only that easy. When you sign up for Facebook, twitter, Trulia Voices, Zillow Discussions, or the many other sites that enable you to have an online voice, make sure you maintain your presence. I often compare online networks with offline networks. You don’t get business the first night you attend a Chamber of Commerce meeting, and signing on a social network is the same… don’t expect same day business. It takes time and participation. Join groups that peek your interest, or start one of your own. Participate in the ongoing dialogue. Answer and ask questions inside those groups. One big no-no is to solicit business, especially before you get a feel for the group and get accepted. Once people get to know and trust you, they will send you business.
Lastly or once you get listings, put those listing in a syndication website like ListHub, vFlyer or Postlets. Those sites will push your listings to many listing websites like Zillow, Trulia, Google Base, HotPads, etc. Most even provide a code that you can Copy and Paste into Craigslist to display your listing there. You’re seller will be so happy with you when they see their property in front of millions of eyes vs. the few that still read offline print.
Hope you enjoyed the quick tutorial of getting yourself up to speed with online marketing for real estate. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.
- Stumble it!
- Categories: Marketing
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Comments
8 Comments so far
g. dewald on August 8, 2008 8:12 am
Great post. It’s good to remember that there are plenty of folks just starting and more every day.
Why not have both a static site and a blog? Doesn’t have to be an either/or. From an SEO standpoint there are 10 results per page. From a customer standpoint, the static business site can often answer basic questions faster than digging through blog posts.
Sean:
How about you ask that same question at the forum you’re wondering about?
Chad Huck on August 8, 2008 9:32 am
Currently, it might be a feasible to have both a blog and a static site, but we’re starting to see, a mashup of sites that include parts of a static site and a blog.
If a blog is created correctly, it will have pages that are the “static” part of the blog for useful information. I would say see my site for an example, but I’m currently redesigning it so it’s kinda bare-boned right now.
Jeff in Hawaii on August 8, 2008 2:16 pm
I think the ultimate website would be a great static website with an awesome real estate search plus a built in blog. Something that is seamless (not a framed in IDX solution) and flows from one to other with a professional look and feel. Don’t forget a great lead follow up system as well
Also has to be very easy for the user to use and navigate.
I am currently working with a development team to create that for me. Hoping they will pull it off!
g. dewald on August 8, 2008 2:48 pm
Good luck with that Jeff. Check out this site maybe?
http://www.brianboardmanvt.com/
Jeff in Hawaii on August 8, 2008 6:17 pm
Thanks for sharing that g. dewald. That seems to have it all and one of the better ones I have seen out there.
Jamey Bridges on August 9, 2008 9:27 pm
Glad you provided an introductory for everyone. I think it’s a great idea to get a variety of opinions and “Join the conversation” before settling on product. A large part of internet market is testing, so checking out what others are making work is a great way to get a speed pass to success.
Joseph Bridges on August 11, 2008 11:00 am
I think more agents will be moving to the blogsites or blogs that are also websites. A company that has been doing some great work and is quite affordable is http://www.realivent.com. They are supportive and provide a nice product as well.
Chad Huck on August 11, 2008 11:10 am
@Jeff You are right on the money. If you can do that, more power to you. Dare we call it Web 3.0?
@G Great site! I note that you created it too. We might need to talk.
@Jamey I hope you enjoyed the post. Guess I might need to do more 101 articles. Have an idea for another post? Let me know.
@Joseph I agree. Realivent is a great company and provides some great widgets for blogs. I use a few of them myself.