Online Real Estate Marketing: The Benefits of Having Your Own Website:
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13th July, 2009, 21 Views
Online Real Estate Marketing: The Benefits of Having Your Own Website:
The advantages of advertising on the Internet are endless for any industry - in particular the Real Estate industry. Having you own website allows you to take advantage of all the benefits of online marketing. Here are only some of the ways that your website will work for you:
Target a Global Audience
Internet Advertising has no boundaries as it reaches a global audience or at least everyone with access to the Internet – a staggering 1.4 billion people or a quarter of the global population. Not only does your listing stretch globally but also ensures a targeted audience – because only those who are interested in property will find your site. Your “shop” will also be open 24/7.
Enjoy Superior Cost-Effectiveness
Owning a website is far cheaper than conventional advertising. You are bound to cut the cost of those expensive listings published in the local newspaper and you will be able to use a bigger space, meaning more images and detailed descriptions. Communicating to clients via email is also cheaper and makes it possible to keep in touch with past clients.
Measure Your Results
Marketing on the web means is easy to track your results and the best part – it is FREE. Programmes like Google Analytics gives you information like how many visitors your site had, how many pages these visitors viewed, how long they stay on your site, how the got to your site etc. This makes it easy to improve your site and helps measure the return on your investment.
Save Time
Your own website makes it possible for potential buyers to go through almost double the listings and narrow down the search to their desired ones faster. You will save hours on property viewings and buyers can browse for properties in the comfort of their own home. Time is money – not just for you but most likely for you clients too. The Internet also shortens the time it takes real estate agent to track potential buyers.
Internet Users are Buyers
Those looking for property on the Internet can be seen as wealthier and ready to buy. They are also well informed about the whole purchasing process, and an online trend reveals that they communicate their needs better to real estate agents.
Easy Ways to Market Your Property Website Offline:
Marketing your website is as important as having one. That’s why many real estate agencies spend a large amount of time and money promoting their websites online through search engines optimisation, email marketing, and pay-per-click campaigns. These all-important strategies are great ways to direct traffic to your site but the marketing of your website will be incomplete without offline advertising. The good news is that there are easy ways to effectively market your website offline. Here are some ideas:
1. Use Corporate Stationary
It is extremely important to use every opportunity you get to market your website. Always print you web address on all your corporate stationary. This includes letterheads, fax coversheets, envelopes, business cards, email signatures etc.
2. Drive Advertising with Company Vehicles
Printing magnetic decals with your company logo and web address is a cheap and effective way to advertise your website. An even cheaper alternative is to stick a ***per sticker with your details on your car or company transport.
3. Wear Your Website
Buy t-shirts and print you web address on it. Ask your employees to wear these t-shirts to the gym or make Fridays your t-shirt day at work. This is a fun and inexpensive way to market your company’s website.
4. Spread Flyers
Distribute flyers with you website’s details on it wherever you go. Carry a role of tape and flyers with you and put it up when you see an opportunity. Ask friends and family to help you distribute flyers by displaying it at their place of work.
5. Let your Voice Message Speak for You
Leave your website address on you voice message and encourage callers to visit the site for information. It is really as easy as that.
6. Utilise For Sale/On Show Boards
All real estate agencies use boards to indicate property for sale or show houses. Make sure that your web address is printed on these boards. By using a small space you can market your property listings effectively.
7. Mark Marketing Materials
Brochures, flyers and ads in the newspaper can be use to advertise you website. These marketing materials reach a large audience and can be very effective to drive traffic to you site.
8. Give It Away
Promotional giveaways are a great way to market your website offline. Promotional gift can be anything from mugs and pens to calendars and fridge magnets. These are things that people use everyday and provide you with a great opportunity to market your website.
9. Become a Sponsor
Sponsor the local school’s soccer jerseys and let them display you web address on the back of the jerseys or sponsor the prize for a competition. This will give you a change to give your website more exposure.
10. Use Digital Billboards
High traffic areas usually have a digital billboard next to the road. This is a golden opportunity for a real estate agent to market his or her website.
11. Stamp Your Mail
Make sure your website address is display on all mail and packages. Design a stamp with your URL engraved in it. Use red ink to stamp your website’s address on the envelope or package to make it stand out.
12. Network
Always carry your business card (with your web address printed on it) around with you. Attend networking events and hand out your business card to other business owners or contacts.
13. Word of Mouth
Ask family, friends and employees to tell potential clients about your website and the services you render.
Tips for Writing Effective Property Listings:
A lot of potential buyers look to the Internet and magazine and newspaper listings when looking for property. For this reason it is imperative that your property description is as well written and attractive as possible. The last thing you want to do is waste valuable advertising space and money with a boring listing. Here are some tips to make you listings effective in selling a property:
Start with a Catchy Subject Line
As with most things you have a limited period to grab a potential buyer’s attention. When writing property listing, the subject line is where you make the first impression and it is essential to make it eye-catching. Don’t use words like “3 bedroom” or “2200 sq. ft.” or the property’s address in the subject line, as this information will be displayed in property features and facts section. Rather use the words like spacious or roomy to describe this feature. The sentence shouldn’t be long, so use your words wisely.
Sell The Area In Your Description
The description should rather focus on information regarding location, such as the fact that it is close to the beach, or 20 minutes from the city centre, close to schools in the area and other amenities. This will give the potential buyer a better idea of where the property is
About Author
Taiwo Oluwafemi is the CEO of Propertiesng.com and is open to suggestions from viewers and users of this website.
