I often listed to the Podcast called Marketing Over Coffee and one of their recent articles on their blog brought up some interesting data regarding pop up ads (interruption-based ads).
I'm not a very big fan of interruption advertising because I find it annoying to have to stop what I am doing to read an ad that's just popped up in my face. I shouldn't even say that I stop to read them because really what I do is quickly look to see where the x is to close out the window.
Marketing Over Coffee showed a very clear case study on how interruption advertising was in fact successful in increasing conversion for a photography site. Please read on...
Putting up, shutting up, getting data
In a ranty post over the weekend, I argued against interruption-based ads as a way of proving your value. One of the commenters, Takeshi, said that so many affiliate sites do it because it probably works. When I asked for links to data and resources, Takeshi did what so few people do – he came up with the goods.
The folks over at ProBlogger put up a case study of using interruption advertising to drive lead generation on a photography site. Their study results compared lead generation for a free newsletter using a prominently placed sidebar signup (like the one here on Marketing Over Coffee) with a middle of the page, in your face advertisement.
The results, including some nice graphics, are impressive. Out of 192,000 monthly visitors at the time of the experiment (checked this morning with Compete.com), two disliked the popups enough to complain about it. TWO.
Here’s the kicker: the site went from about 40 signups a day for their newsletter to about 350, a 900% increase in conversion. That’s about 125,000 signups a year. That also meant that out of their 4,300 visitors a day (approximate), they took conversion from about 1% to about 8.1%.
I don’t know about you, but getting visitors to convert at that level would make me happy. That’s beyond beer-money sized audience to a newsletter. Heck, that’s beyond pay-your-rent money and well into pay-for-your-private-yacht money.
Two lessons here:
1. Be like Takeshi. When asked for data, he came up with the goods, and I love that. Opinion is nice, but data is gold.
2. As a result, I’ll be shutting up now about in-page popup ads. I still think they diminish the usefulness and helpfulness of a web site, but those numbers, those hard data results, are very difficult to argue with. Does that free newsletter still need to provide value? Of course. But the popup ad in page is clearly and unquestionably working for them.
For more details on this Article please visit Marketing Over Coffee.
9.01.2009
8.25.2009
Take Photos That Get A Home SOLD!
With more than 87% of buyers going online first to search for a home, it's never been more important to have top notch photos of a home for sale. The first impression a potential buyer gets of your home is typically the photo they see online, so why would you not want to have the best photos possible for them to preview.Digital cameras have enabled more agents to be able to take their own photos, but it takes a little more than just point and click to show off a home's features.
House photo tips:
- Declutter the home (interior and exterior) - Remove cars from driveway, close garage doors, put water hose away, kid's bikes, etc from yard. Inside the house, make sure the house is not cluttered. Put clothes, dishes, wires, etc away. If a holiday, remove decor when taking photo or it will date the house while on the market.
- Lighting - Have the house well lit. Try not to use a flash if you don't have to because it tends to make a room look flat in the photo. Use natural light, but not if you have sunlight shining directly into the room. Turn on all the lights in a room. Take the photo in the daytime. Exterior photographs should be taken either late in the day or early in the morning when there is sunlight striking the front of the house.
- Show full house with yard - Make sure you show the entire exterior of the house in your main photos. If you cut off part of the house and don't show the yard, then a potential buyer doesn't get a good idea of what size the house is and what the yard looks like. (Even if it's a condo, show the whole building, not just the door of the unit for sale.)
- Architectural Features - If the home has any special features, make sure you show them off in the photographs. Nice fireplace mantel, arch doorways, marble counters, etc.
- Digital Cameras - If you are using a digital camera, which most people do these days, remember you can take as many photos as possible in order to get a few great shots. Don't be afraid to take too many shots so you can narrow them down to the best.
8.10.2009
Did you know...
- Nearly 90% of homebuyers use the Internet to find a home, and a real estate professional?
- 70% of consumers work with the first agent to respond to their inquiry?
- 21% of Internet buyers expect a real estate sales associate to respond instantly to an inquiry
- Another 23% expect a response in 30 minutes or less?
- 50% of consumers who submit Internet leads never get a response?
- The average response time to a real estate inquiry is 54 hours?
Now that you have this data, what are you going to do to gain a competitive edge in your community? Use this knowledge to put yourself in front of potential clients first, give your clients the quick feedback and response they need and to make sure you are online where the consumers are.
**Data provided by CENTURY 21®
7.15.2009
Social Networking Online
Are you feeling a little overwhelmed by Online Social Marketing?
Try to look at social marketing online as having a conversation. It is a conversation between you and others in your network or group. Sometimes the conversation can be one on one or it could be a message that is sent out to everyone in a group. It's a great way to find out what trends are going on in your industry by talking to those in your network. Socializing online is just another tool used for communicating and networking. Who knows what the next tool will be in a few years from now.
The best thing to do if you wanted to just get familiar with what's out there is to explore and see what's available. There are many websites and mediums for social networking, but if you are in it for business then you need to write our your goals, evaluate the sites you feel would fit into helping you attain your goals, look into your return on investment and write out a long term plan for participating in those sites. Not all sites will be the right fit for you as a REALTOR®. But regardless of whether you participate or not, you at least need to know what your peers are doing and be familiar with the online commmunities that are available.
Some popular sites for real esate agents to get you started:
ActiveRain
Blogs
6.01.2009
10 Tips for Mastering Phone Etiquette
You use the phone everyday in real estate but could you be turning off potential customers with your poor phone etiquette? Follow these basic strategies to make sure your phone behavior is up to par.
In fact, 68 percent of Americans say they observe poor cell phone etiquette—such as with overly loud conversations—at least once every day, according to a national poll from market research group Synovate.
Could you unknowingly be one of these offenders?
Here are some basic cell phone etiquette rules to keep in mind when interacting with colleagues and customers:
1. Remember who you’re working with. How would you feel if you were having an important conversation with a sales associate, and she broke off the discussion every time her mobile phone buzzed? Your customers are your boss. They want your attention, and you're compensated for the time you spend with them. Block out all other issues while you’re working with them and make sure you give them your full, undivided attention during the appointment.
2. Bluetooth headsets are not meant to be permanent. It’s good to use hands-free devices such as Bluetooth headsets, especially when driving or multitasking—but they don’t have to be affixed to your head 24/7. If you’re showing a property, attending a meeting, or simply having lunch with a client, get rid of the headset! Bluetooth is fine when you’re alone in your office or driving in your car, but try to avoid keeping it in your ear all hours of the day.
3. Talk at a normal tone. Seventy-two percent of people in the above-mentioned Synovate survey said the most annoying cell-phone violation is people who talk too loud. Most cell phones can pick up very quiet noises. Not to mention, most people around you don’t want to hear your entire conversation. Some experts suggest a 10-foot zone, meaning you should try to be at least 10 feet away from other people when talking on your cell phone. While this rule may be difficult in some situations, try to practice speaking at a soft and normal tone.
4. Don’t forget vibrate or silent modes. Next to the “loud talker,” the most annoying cell phone habit is a loud, annoying ring, especially when it blares during a meeting or other relatively quiet function. Make it a habit to check your cell phone regularly when entering a meeting or important gathering to make sure your cell phone is either turned off or switched to the vibrate position.
5. Avoid goofy ringtones. Hearing your favorite song every time your phone rings may seem cute to you, but it could be construed as offensive, obnoxious, or simply unprofessional to others. Stick to generic-sounding ringtones when programming your phone.
6. Don’t text and drive. Chances are that you've passed someone on the highway that is driving and trying to text. Don’t be that person! (And don't be near that person, either!) This is dangerous and should be avoided at all times. Plenty of major road accidents involve texting. If you must text in your automobile, do so while your car is parked.
7. Don’t reply to a missed call with a text. In general, if you miss a phone call from someone, avoid responding with a text like, “What did you need?” This rule can be broken in certain situations, however. For example, you might be in a movie where you need to reply with a text indicating you will call back as soon as possible, but do so sparingly. (Read more: The Art of Texting)
8. Avoid talking on your cell phone in certain places. Most people will agree that certain places are off limits to talking on your phone—for example, at the movies, in elevators, while standing in line at the bank, and during a meal at a restaurant. If you have to think twice about whether you should use your cell phone, you probably are not in a good place to be talking on it—so put it away.
9. Don’t multitask unless you need to. We’ve all done it, but it’s bad phone etiquette, and the person you're talking to can tell when you're distracted. Sometimes its inevitable. But when possible, stop your other tasks, focus, and give the caller your full concentration.
10. Let callers know when you’re using your cell phone. In many circumstances, it’s good to remind or inform the other party that you're using your cell phone in case distractions or a disconnection arises. Plus, some information may be confidential, and your client or customer might not want to share sensitive information if she knows you are communicating through a mobile device. When applicable, take the time to let your callers know you are speaking on your cell phone, and if they have any important or confidential information they wish to share, you will call them back from a land line or meet them in person.
In any case, the next time you reach for your smart phone, be sure to remember some of these simple phone etiquette strategies—your customers, and those around you, will be glad you did.
Article from Realtor.org
by John D. Mayfield
In fact, 68 percent of Americans say they observe poor cell phone etiquette—such as with overly loud conversations—at least once every day, according to a national poll from market research group Synovate.
Could you unknowingly be one of these offenders?
Here are some basic cell phone etiquette rules to keep in mind when interacting with colleagues and customers:
1. Remember who you’re working with. How would you feel if you were having an important conversation with a sales associate, and she broke off the discussion every time her mobile phone buzzed? Your customers are your boss. They want your attention, and you're compensated for the time you spend with them. Block out all other issues while you’re working with them and make sure you give them your full, undivided attention during the appointment.
2. Bluetooth headsets are not meant to be permanent. It’s good to use hands-free devices such as Bluetooth headsets, especially when driving or multitasking—but they don’t have to be affixed to your head 24/7. If you’re showing a property, attending a meeting, or simply having lunch with a client, get rid of the headset! Bluetooth is fine when you’re alone in your office or driving in your car, but try to avoid keeping it in your ear all hours of the day.
3. Talk at a normal tone. Seventy-two percent of people in the above-mentioned Synovate survey said the most annoying cell-phone violation is people who talk too loud. Most cell phones can pick up very quiet noises. Not to mention, most people around you don’t want to hear your entire conversation. Some experts suggest a 10-foot zone, meaning you should try to be at least 10 feet away from other people when talking on your cell phone. While this rule may be difficult in some situations, try to practice speaking at a soft and normal tone.
4. Don’t forget vibrate or silent modes. Next to the “loud talker,” the most annoying cell phone habit is a loud, annoying ring, especially when it blares during a meeting or other relatively quiet function. Make it a habit to check your cell phone regularly when entering a meeting or important gathering to make sure your cell phone is either turned off or switched to the vibrate position.
5. Avoid goofy ringtones. Hearing your favorite song every time your phone rings may seem cute to you, but it could be construed as offensive, obnoxious, or simply unprofessional to others. Stick to generic-sounding ringtones when programming your phone.
6. Don’t text and drive. Chances are that you've passed someone on the highway that is driving and trying to text. Don’t be that person! (And don't be near that person, either!) This is dangerous and should be avoided at all times. Plenty of major road accidents involve texting. If you must text in your automobile, do so while your car is parked.
7. Don’t reply to a missed call with a text. In general, if you miss a phone call from someone, avoid responding with a text like, “What did you need?” This rule can be broken in certain situations, however. For example, you might be in a movie where you need to reply with a text indicating you will call back as soon as possible, but do so sparingly. (Read more: The Art of Texting)
8. Avoid talking on your cell phone in certain places. Most people will agree that certain places are off limits to talking on your phone—for example, at the movies, in elevators, while standing in line at the bank, and during a meal at a restaurant. If you have to think twice about whether you should use your cell phone, you probably are not in a good place to be talking on it—so put it away.
9. Don’t multitask unless you need to. We’ve all done it, but it’s bad phone etiquette, and the person you're talking to can tell when you're distracted. Sometimes its inevitable. But when possible, stop your other tasks, focus, and give the caller your full concentration.
10. Let callers know when you’re using your cell phone. In many circumstances, it’s good to remind or inform the other party that you're using your cell phone in case distractions or a disconnection arises. Plus, some information may be confidential, and your client or customer might not want to share sensitive information if she knows you are communicating through a mobile device. When applicable, take the time to let your callers know you are speaking on your cell phone, and if they have any important or confidential information they wish to share, you will call them back from a land line or meet them in person.
In any case, the next time you reach for your smart phone, be sure to remember some of these simple phone etiquette strategies—your customers, and those around you, will be glad you did.
Article from Realtor.org
by John D. Mayfield
5.28.2009
Many Resources Available for Going Green
One of the fastest growing trends in real estate is the "Green Movement"!
There are many reasons why people feel the desire or need to "go green", but two big reasons why this is a quickly growing trend are:
1) We have limited resources available and we would like to have these resources still available for future generations to enjoy, so we are searching for ways to be less wasteful.
2) Cutting energy expenses in this economy is quickly becoming a priority.
How much do you know about Going Green, about Green Building, Your Carbon Footprint, The savings involved in green systems and materials, etc?
NAR now has a Green Designation that will teach you about the Green Movement.
The following information I pulled directly from the NAR Green Website
NAR’s Green Designation is the only environmental real estate designation addressing multiple specialties. It is also the only green designation for agents AND property managers recognized by the National Association of REALTORS®.
Close to one-half of all greenhouse gas emissions are produced from buildings. Green building isn’t just responsible; it’s necessary. Both consumer demand and government policy are making this happen and shaping the future of our industry. Join them in the green movement and lead your community to a more sustainable future with NAR’s Green Designation.
Don't let people in your industry get ahead of you. It's important that you at least go on to the NAR green website and see what others in your industry are quickly learning!
NAR Green Website
There are many reasons why people feel the desire or need to "go green", but two big reasons why this is a quickly growing trend are:
1) We have limited resources available and we would like to have these resources still available for future generations to enjoy, so we are searching for ways to be less wasteful.
2) Cutting energy expenses in this economy is quickly becoming a priority.
How much do you know about Going Green, about Green Building, Your Carbon Footprint, The savings involved in green systems and materials, etc?
NAR now has a Green Designation that will teach you about the Green Movement.
The following information I pulled directly from the NAR Green Website
NAR’s Green Designation is the only environmental real estate designation addressing multiple specialties. It is also the only green designation for agents AND property managers recognized by the National Association of REALTORS®.
Close to one-half of all greenhouse gas emissions are produced from buildings. Green building isn’t just responsible; it’s necessary. Both consumer demand and government policy are making this happen and shaping the future of our industry. Join them in the green movement and lead your community to a more sustainable future with NAR’s Green Designation.
Don't let people in your industry get ahead of you. It's important that you at least go on to the NAR green website and see what others in your industry are quickly learning!
NAR Green Website
5.19.2009
20 Internet Marketing Trends for 2009
This time of year is refreshing, in that it affords us time to reflect, analyze and develop strategies for our companies for the coming year. For example, now is a great opportunity to identify the major Internet marketing trends for 2009, and to develop corresponding marketing plans to capture market opportunities and to maximize revenue accordingly.
To that end, the following is a list of 20 major Internet marketing trends taking shape for 2009: (For complete details on each trend visit Startupnation.com)
#1 Recession Marketing
Marketing message speaks toward saving money during down economy...
#2 Internet Marketing-Palozza
More cost effective to market online...
#3 The Customer Voice
Customers are demanding to be heard...
#4 Video Marketing
Having videos can increases web traffic and time on site...
#5 Blogging
Blogging is still great avenue to get message out...
#6 Social Marketing
Trended toward targeted environments for social marketing...
#7 Mobile Marketing
40 million people in the US access email on a mobile device...
#8 Behavioral Targeting
Online ads targeted toward consumer's specific interests...
#9 Behavioral Analytics
Analyze why people go to the pages they visit online...
#10 Widget Marketing
Interactive web applications...
#11 Innovation
Getting creative...
# 12 Back-to-Basics Marketing
Messages are more clear and specific....
#13 Relationship Marketing
Companies moving toward building long term customer relationships...
#14 Verticalization
Marketing Channels getting more targeted to the audience...
#15 Personalization
Customization not cookie cutter...
#16 Multicultural Marketing
Reaching out to the untapped potential of the Spanish speaking market
#17 Mixing Display Ads & Search Marketing
Combining strategies to improve online conversions and traffic
#18 The Long Long Long Tail
Strategy of businesses that sell large number of items, in small quantities...
#19 There's No Place Like Home
Home Based businesses growing...
#20 Speed
Response time is getting quicker...
Action Plan
Is your business ready? Based on the above Internet marketing trends, explore and define ways that your small business can leverage the opportunities in the upcoming marketing landscape so that your company grows and you achieve your 2009 business objectives.
For more detail on each trend and the complete article, visit Startupnation.com
Article from Startupnation.com
To that end, the following is a list of 20 major Internet marketing trends taking shape for 2009: (For complete details on each trend visit Startupnation.com)
#1 Recession Marketing
Marketing message speaks toward saving money during down economy...
#2 Internet Marketing-Palozza
More cost effective to market online...
#3 The Customer Voice
Customers are demanding to be heard...
#4 Video Marketing
Having videos can increases web traffic and time on site...
#5 Blogging
Blogging is still great avenue to get message out...
#6 Social Marketing
Trended toward targeted environments for social marketing...
#7 Mobile Marketing
40 million people in the US access email on a mobile device...
#8 Behavioral Targeting
Online ads targeted toward consumer's specific interests...
#9 Behavioral Analytics
Analyze why people go to the pages they visit online...
#10 Widget Marketing
Interactive web applications...
#11 Innovation
Getting creative...
# 12 Back-to-Basics Marketing
Messages are more clear and specific....
#13 Relationship Marketing
Companies moving toward building long term customer relationships...
#14 Verticalization
Marketing Channels getting more targeted to the audience...
#15 Personalization
Customization not cookie cutter...
#16 Multicultural Marketing
Reaching out to the untapped potential of the Spanish speaking market
#17 Mixing Display Ads & Search Marketing
Combining strategies to improve online conversions and traffic
#18 The Long Long Long Tail
Strategy of businesses that sell large number of items, in small quantities...
#19 There's No Place Like Home
Home Based businesses growing...
#20 Speed
Response time is getting quicker...
Action Plan
Is your business ready? Based on the above Internet marketing trends, explore and define ways that your small business can leverage the opportunities in the upcoming marketing landscape so that your company grows and you achieve your 2009 business objectives.
For more detail on each trend and the complete article, visit Startupnation.com
Article from Startupnation.com
3.10.2009
Have you been Twittering lately?
If you haven't gotten on the Twitter band wagon, now is a good time.
Okay, so what exactly is Twitter?
It is a social networking service that allows its users to communicate between one another with a quick text exchange. You can view the text posts on the user's profile page or they can be delivered to other users who have signed up for them.
This is a great way for co-workers, clients, friends and family to stay connected and is a quick way to let someone know what you are up to; if you are late for a meeting; you can share tips and ideas; etc. You can get creative with how you need to use Twitter and how it can benefit you.
We recently got an email from CENTURY 21® saying they are starting to twitter. They are using it at the international convention in order to share tips, resources and ideas that are coming from the convention.
Click on Twitter to get started.
3.02.2009
Photograph a Home to Sell
Today when you market a home, you are going to do the majority of that marketing online. This means that your photographs of the home will be the main thing potential clients will look at.
If you decide to take those photographs yourself instead of hiring a professional then it's important to keep the following tips in mind.
Do it Yourself Tips for photographing a Home
1) Use a tripod. It provides steadiness and allows you to operate your digital camera’s controls — specifically, shooting interiors at a slower speed.
2) Strive for even lighting. Professionals use strobe lights to brighten the dark spots. One of the mistakes that amateur photographers make is to shut all the blinds and turn on every artificial light in the room. This creates “halos” around each lamp. Don’t shoot when sunlight is streaming in from the windows. And use the flash on the camera to even things out.
3) Remove all clutter. Also remove all personal photos. The goal is to have potential buyers envision themselves living in your house; your family’s photos interfere with that process.
4) Wet down the brick patio and concrete pool surround to avoid it being too bright in the photo. Wetting it down also brings out the rich color in the brick.
5) Don’t be afraid of the shade. Gardens look richer when they aren’t shot in the blazing sun.
6) Leave no detail unattended. Tape the folds of the dining room tablecloth so it doesn’t pucker out. Position chairs uniformly (about 1 foot) from the table’s edge.
7) Shooting a pool presents special challenges because of the reflective nature of the water. Use a flash and try your shot in late afternoon or early morning.
8) Change the Perspective for exterior shots. If you shoot the home from the traditional front on shot, it is generic. Be creative and make the pictures memorable.
9) Consider using a software program such as Photoshop to touch things up. It is a way to eliminate telephone and electric wires. Ditto for punching up colors and obscuring some less desirable elements.
10) Tell a story. Your photo’s still may not win awards but the key thing is to create an impression that this house will be someones home. Remember the end in mind, the goal of every picture is to sell the home. Even if you use an outside photographer, tell them the idea’s you want to get across and the target market.
Bonus Tip: Take your camera every time you visit the home. Nobody said that the photo’s you put up on the site have to remain forever. If you see a great shot that shows off the home, take it and change out the pictures. Small improvements lead to great results.
These tips are fairly easy and most come from top photographers in the field. If you are selling homes and marketing them on the internet, photographs are your best friend. Get out of the mindset of minimalist classified advertising and make your website rich in information. Big photographs, soaring descriptions, and educational video’s will turn your internet efforts into stellar results.
Tips came from therealestatebloggers.com
If you decide to take those photographs yourself instead of hiring a professional then it's important to keep the following tips in mind.
Do it Yourself Tips for photographing a Home
1) Use a tripod. It provides steadiness and allows you to operate your digital camera’s controls — specifically, shooting interiors at a slower speed.
2) Strive for even lighting. Professionals use strobe lights to brighten the dark spots. One of the mistakes that amateur photographers make is to shut all the blinds and turn on every artificial light in the room. This creates “halos” around each lamp. Don’t shoot when sunlight is streaming in from the windows. And use the flash on the camera to even things out.
3) Remove all clutter. Also remove all personal photos. The goal is to have potential buyers envision themselves living in your house; your family’s photos interfere with that process.
4) Wet down the brick patio and concrete pool surround to avoid it being too bright in the photo. Wetting it down also brings out the rich color in the brick.
5) Don’t be afraid of the shade. Gardens look richer when they aren’t shot in the blazing sun.
6) Leave no detail unattended. Tape the folds of the dining room tablecloth so it doesn’t pucker out. Position chairs uniformly (about 1 foot) from the table’s edge.
7) Shooting a pool presents special challenges because of the reflective nature of the water. Use a flash and try your shot in late afternoon or early morning.
8) Change the Perspective for exterior shots. If you shoot the home from the traditional front on shot, it is generic. Be creative and make the pictures memorable.
9) Consider using a software program such as Photoshop to touch things up. It is a way to eliminate telephone and electric wires. Ditto for punching up colors and obscuring some less desirable elements.
10) Tell a story. Your photo’s still may not win awards but the key thing is to create an impression that this house will be someones home. Remember the end in mind, the goal of every picture is to sell the home. Even if you use an outside photographer, tell them the idea’s you want to get across and the target market.
Bonus Tip: Take your camera every time you visit the home. Nobody said that the photo’s you put up on the site have to remain forever. If you see a great shot that shows off the home, take it and change out the pictures. Small improvements lead to great results.
These tips are fairly easy and most come from top photographers in the field. If you are selling homes and marketing them on the internet, photographs are your best friend. Get out of the mindset of minimalist classified advertising and make your website rich in information. Big photographs, soaring descriptions, and educational video’s will turn your internet efforts into stellar results.
Tips came from therealestatebloggers.com
2.25.2009
Videos online can help your Website placement
For years now, agents have been using search advertising as a way to generate leads and sales. However, with keyword pricing on the rise, online video has quickly become a preferred method of marketing. Search engines like Google, MSN, AOL and Yahoo! have begun to index video higher up in search results, increasing visibility for their campaigns.
In addition, the number of people watching videos online is on the rise. Roughly 129.5 million people watched online video ads at least once a month, according to an August 2008 study by eMarketer, and that figure is estimated to increase more than 40 percent to 183.3 million in 2013.
Rule Number Three: Make sure people find your videos. Now that you know what the content should be and where to place it, the next step is helping people find it on the Web. The lesson here is putting in the right “metadata,” or keywords in the title fields, description and “tags” with which search engines use to match search queries. When writing a headline, keep it short and simple. Some easy things to keep in mind are to include your company name, basic product description and any brand names associated with your business. When conducting basic searches for real estate, most prospects will include their location to narrow results, so include that as well.
Rule Number Four: Keep it short. While more and more people have broadband connections and fast computers, online videos may still take some time to download and slow down other applications. Think about conveying your message in short videos, or risk losing the attention of your target customer.
Conclusion: Sound like a daunting task? Actually, developing and launching an online video ad campaign can be fairly painless and very affordable. The result can not only provide a higher level of engagement and connection with your core customers, but can also lead to a wave of new business. So in short, jumping on the online video “brandwagon” could give the competitive edge you need for survival during this tough economic time.
In addition, the number of people watching videos online is on the rise. Roughly 129.5 million people watched online video ads at least once a month, according to an August 2008 study by eMarketer, and that figure is estimated to increase more than 40 percent to 183.3 million in 2013.
Here are six simple rules to help you develop your own online video, and capitalize on this growing opportunity.
Rule Number One: Ensure the content resonates with your target audience. Unlike TV viewers who are primarily watching for general entertainment or news in a passive way, Internet users are usually task-driven and actively looking for very specific content. Find out how Internet users got to your company home page. Look at the keywords they used and create a video that speaks them. While they are looking for quality content, people who watch online video don’t usually demand the highest production values or high-definition quality. The important thing is to have relevant content that resonates with your target buyer.
Rule Number Two: Place your video on your Web site and across multiple sharing sites. Now that you know what the video should include, find a place on your Web site to host these videos. Choose a noticeable, but unobtrusive place on your site’s first page or “home” page, and make sure the video doesn’t launch as soon as someone accesses the page. When a viewer first visits your site, they typically want to have control. In addition to hosting your video on your own Web site, distribute it across the major video destinations, like YouTube, MySpace TV, Metacafe, and others. Your goal is to be anywhere your target buyer may be, and ensure they are able to find your agency when they’re looking for the services you offer.
Rule Number Three: Make sure people find your videos. Now that you know what the content should be and where to place it, the next step is helping people find it on the Web. The lesson here is putting in the right “metadata,” or keywords in the title fields, description and “tags” with which search engines use to match search queries. When writing a headline, keep it short and simple. Some easy things to keep in mind are to include your company name, basic product description and any brand names associated with your business. When conducting basic searches for real estate, most prospects will include their location to narrow results, so include that as well.
Rule Number Four: Keep it short. While more and more people have broadband connections and fast computers, online videos may still take some time to download and slow down other applications. Think about conveying your message in short videos, or risk losing the attention of your target customer.
Rule Number Five: Track your viewers and measure response. The goal of tracking your viewers is to understand them better, and turn them into potential buyers. Video hosting sites like YouTube now provide sophisticated reporting tools that yield deeper insight into the origin, geography, demographic and viewing behavior of your video. This type of data can help you determine what types of videos to produce in the future, which takes us to the next rule.
Rule Number Six: Refresh your videos. Many of the sharing sites allow users to subscribe to your videos, so updating them is a good way to keep your company top-of-mind for customers that follow you. Even without a new product/service, you can use different testimonials, or show how your company is connected or relevant to news trends. And again, using customer feedback to develop new types of videos is important.
Conclusion: Sound like a daunting task? Actually, developing and launching an online video ad campaign can be fairly painless and very affordable. The result can not only provide a higher level of engagement and connection with your core customers, but can also lead to a wave of new business. So in short, jumping on the online video “brandwagon” could give the competitive edge you need for survival during this tough economic time.
2.18.2009
A Website that makes Stumbling fun!
For those of you who love to surf the web or for those who are just looking for some interesting facts in your favorite subject, the website below is for you.StumbleUpon.com was created to help people share and discover websites with others who have similar interests. When you initially set up your page it will ask you to check off various topics that interest you from their selection and then you will ask the site to start stumbling. It will seek out sites that have similar interests to the ones you selected. When it pulls up a site, you can tell it you like it or you don't and it will continue the search based on your feedback. It's a lot of fun and it guides you to sites you may not have discovered otherwise.
This is one time when it's okay to stumble around.
2.11.2009
What will 2009 Bring?
We talk a lot about the importance of the internet when it comes to your marketing campaign, but don't forget about some of the other trends of your potential consumers. There are many ways to reach them and get more exposure for yourself. Many "forecasters" believe 2009 to be a year of consumer budgeting and concern for the environment. How does that tie in with your advertising and marketing programs? Here are a few ways to include it in your marketing:
The value of free. 2009 will be the "year of the freebie." As people look to save money they will hold onto a free shirt, tote, mug or cap much longer, and place more value on it and the business that gave it to them. Make sure you're the one providing these items, branded with your logo or message. When they're kept and used longer you get extended play of your message.
Green is the word. People want to save the environment, as well as their money, and will lean towards companies who share their earth-friendly views. A shift to eco-friendly living is forecast, meaning the green movement will gain more traction in 2009. Promoting your business with biodegradable, recyclable or sustainable items will find favor with the public. Learn more about going green.
Keep it simple. A year of more simplistic lifestyles is also predicted. Instead of going out to a restaurant employees might bring a bag lunch to work. Items like totes, backpacks, lunch sacks, travel mugs and sports bottles are primed for maximum use and brand exposure.
Information came from Vernon Company
The value of free. 2009 will be the "year of the freebie." As people look to save money they will hold onto a free shirt, tote, mug or cap much longer, and place more value on it and the business that gave it to them. Make sure you're the one providing these items, branded with your logo or message. When they're kept and used longer you get extended play of your message.
Green is the word. People want to save the environment, as well as their money, and will lean towards companies who share their earth-friendly views. A shift to eco-friendly living is forecast, meaning the green movement will gain more traction in 2009. Promoting your business with biodegradable, recyclable or sustainable items will find favor with the public. Learn more about going green.
Keep it simple. A year of more simplistic lifestyles is also predicted. Instead of going out to a restaurant employees might bring a bag lunch to work. Items like totes, backpacks, lunch sacks, travel mugs and sports bottles are primed for maximum use and brand exposure.
Information came from Vernon Company
2.02.2009
Text Messaging for Real Estate
It’s a pretty sure bet that you have a cell phone. What about text messaging, do you use it? If you don’t, consider yourself in a very small minority. Nielsen Mobile surveys shows that by the second quarter of 2008, text messages had exceeded the number of cell phone calls by an impressive margin.And, if you think it’s all just teenagers who don’t buy or sell real estate, think again. The facts show that every age group up through 44 years old sent more text messages than they made cell phone voice calls. And it was close on the 45 to 54 group. The plain truth is that text messaging is becoming a wildly popular way to exchange information. And, huge marketers and retailers are now doing text message marketing to bring in consumers. You can actually get a coupon text message and show it in a restaurant for a discount.
That’s nice, but we’re not selling burgers you say. True, but we are in a service business that is very dependent on making contact with our prospects and clients. And, we market high dollar products. If a burger sale justifies expenditures on SMS text message advertising, then why wouldn’t a home listing? The good news is that there are uses in our business for this medium, and they can cost as little as nothing, zero, free.
How many people do you think drive by your listings every weekend? Do you use a brochure box? Is it empty every time you check it? Who took them, and what was their level of interest? Can you contact them again? How many wanted a brochure but didn’t find one in the empty box? What if:
- Every person who drove by and had an interest could have text messaged a code to get price and other information?
- You never have to fill a brochure box again, AND you get the information out when they want it?
- You never print brochures but you end up with the phone number of the person who asked for more information?
- You could text that person again if the price is reduced?
All of this is currently available technology. You can get the basics for free with an account at
4info.net. There you can set up to text out your listing details from a sign rider code. And, you can even send out text alerts to subscribers of market news from your website or blog. Or, let them know when you list a new home. Now, 4info is free, so you don’t get the phone number of the person who asked for the information, or a color website for the listing. Or, for another free solution for getting out sales data, new listings, or market alerts, you can use Twitter.com. It will issue text message alerts for you.If you want to take it to the next level, another service at UGotItFirst.com will set you up to send text alerts from the yard sign, but there is more. You can also get their phone number, and they can subscribe to receive your alerts in the future. They also get a link to a color presentation on a website for the listing. Those who are web-enabled will be able to look at the home in all its glory.
The point is that SMS text messaging is wildly popular, and it’s just getting more so. If you do not have a plan to implement it in your marketing, you’re falling behind already. And, it’s not just about texting out your listing data when they’re in front of the home. It’s about alerting your interested prospects of important market news or real estate statistics. You can place a box on your site where they can subscribe to get text alerts of price drops or other market news.
One Realtor in a vacation home market has a popular alert service to let interested investors or buyers know of values on the market. This broker realized that he was reading the Hotsheet every day, seeing some great price reductions on properties that weren’t his listings. By subscribing for these alerts, the broker is free to send them out, though not his listings. These are bargain hunters who want to know about deals as soon as they hit the market. He reinforces his knowledge and value by choosing real deals, sending few alerts. But, they generate business precisely because they point out true value.
Start looking at how you might use SMS text messaging to bring your message to the new consumer. It is for all ages, and they appreciate the ability to tell you what they want and when they want it. And, if a buyer prospect is sitting in front of your listing and wants to know more, get the information to them in seconds as a text message and/or a link to full rich web content.
Article written by Peyman Aleagha with GeekEstateBlog.com
1.22.2009
The Hottest New Item in Technology
I recently came across this incredible small projector that I have to share with you.
It fits in your purse or in your pocket!
3M Micro Professional Projector.
It's small, but it's mighty!
Imagine being with a buyer and linking this overhead projector to your phone, camera or computer and showing your clients various listings, MLS data, etc. in a larger format.
Imagine being at a listing presentation and showing your PowerPoint presentation in a larger format instead of everyone huddling around your computer.
Imagine taking a video of your son at his soccer game and being able to show a replay of the game to your son and his friends in large format after the game.
Watch this demo to get more ideas on the uses of the Micro Projector!
Visit 3mmpro.com for more information or google "micro projector" and see what kind of deals you can get.
Now get out there and get creative with your Presentations!!
It fits in your purse or in your pocket!
3M Micro Professional Projector.
It's small, but it's mighty!
Imagine being with a buyer and linking this overhead projector to your phone, camera or computer and showing your clients various listings, MLS data, etc. in a larger format.
Imagine being at a listing presentation and showing your PowerPoint presentation in a larger format instead of everyone huddling around your computer.
Imagine taking a video of your son at his soccer game and being able to show a replay of the game to your son and his friends in large format after the game.
Watch this demo to get more ideas on the uses of the Micro Projector!
Visit 3mmpro.com for more information or google "micro projector" and see what kind of deals you can get.
Now get out there and get creative with your Presentations!!
1.13.2009
The 10 Commandments of a Successful IDX Solution
I was reading through some articles on geekestateblog.com and came across this article that may help you make your website become more effective.
The Internet is changing the way that Realtors do business and market themselves to such an extent that some will just not be around in a few short years. Survival of the fittest is the way of the world, and the fittest in real estate will be those agents and brokers who understand the new Internet consumer and how to engage them from first contact through a commission.
The very first contact that most of you with websites or blogs will have with a consumer will usually be their visit to your site to search for listings. And, you will probably never know that they were there. They come anonymously, and they want to stay that way. They want to find homes or land that meets their requirements and, on this first visit, they do not want to be contacted or to talk to you. If you ever want to talk to these people, ever, then pay heed to the TEN COMMANDMENTS OF IDX.
I. Thou shalt not underestimate IDX.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s a buyer or seller visiting your website or blog for the first time. Surveys have shown that 95+% of first time visitors for listing searches want to see all of the listings in the MLS, not just yours. Not having IDX will cost you huge amounts of future web-generated business. Again, no IDX, no leads, no business.
II. Thou shalt not make assumptions about your visitors.
Successful Web real estate lead generating site owners will all tell you the same thing. They have had clients tell them that the business came to them because other online Realtors dismissed, ignored or underestimated them. They were visiting the sites months before they were ready to talk to anyone, and the site owner didn’t serve them well in this phase. Though they aren’t ready to get into the car with you right now, they do not want to be ignored until you think they are a “hot” prospect.
III. Thou must take ownership of your IDX.
Do you think you’ve diverted a bullet, getting an IDX link for your web presence by linking out to your broker’s site? Would you take every one of your walk-in prospects into your broker’s office, introduce them, and leave them there to be served? Don’t send your prospects off to be served by others by not having an IDX solution ON your site.
IV. Thou shalt not secret away your IDX.
How does a site visitor get to your IDX search page? Don’t make it a tiny button, or make them go through several clicks to find it. If you’re doing PPC, bring them straight to the search page if that’s the key phrase you’re marketing. Make it a highly visible one-click link from your home page.
V. Thou shalt make IDX easy to use.
Web visitors are not patient people. They want to locate listings by characteristics, location, price, school systems, and in other ways. Make the search process easy for them to find homes the way they want to find them.
VI. Thou should be generous with other information and tools.
If you were buying a home in a new area, what would you want to know? Give your visitors interactive maps, calculators for mortgages, gadgets for climate information, shopping and banking locations, and more. Give them easy access to information and tools to determine what it will be like to live in the home on the screen. And, lots of photos!
VII. Thou shalt deliver.
Once a visitor has decided that your IDX search is a good one for them, don’t lose them to another who makes it even easier to use. Give them the ability to create custom searches with their criteria and have new listings delivered to their email. This is the delivery that will keep them coming back and keep you on the top of their mind when the timing is right.
VIII. Thou shalt promote your visitors to management for leads.
Once these visitors are using your site and IDX, give them the ability to log in to manage their accounts, including multiple saved searches. This is great for them, but it’s even better for you … now you have that email address lead to market.
IX. Thou shalt always be right there.
No matter what screen they are looking at, no matter how many homes they view, always have an easy one-click link to email you. When they are finally ready to ask a question and get personal, don’t make them search around for contact information.
X. Thou shalt never sit still.
The most difficult target to hit is the one that’s moving, and the Internet and your prospects are moving constantly. Use an IDX solution provider who understands this and stays on the leading edge of Internet consumer engagement.
There you are. If you can live by those 10 IDX commandments on your website or blog, success will be yours in online real estate business generation.
Article written by Peyman Aleagha from geekestateblog.com
The Internet is changing the way that Realtors do business and market themselves to such an extent that some will just not be around in a few short years. Survival of the fittest is the way of the world, and the fittest in real estate will be those agents and brokers who understand the new Internet consumer and how to engage them from first contact through a commission.
The very first contact that most of you with websites or blogs will have with a consumer will usually be their visit to your site to search for listings. And, you will probably never know that they were there. They come anonymously, and they want to stay that way. They want to find homes or land that meets their requirements and, on this first visit, they do not want to be contacted or to talk to you. If you ever want to talk to these people, ever, then pay heed to the TEN COMMANDMENTS OF IDX.
I. Thou shalt not underestimate IDX.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s a buyer or seller visiting your website or blog for the first time. Surveys have shown that 95+% of first time visitors for listing searches want to see all of the listings in the MLS, not just yours. Not having IDX will cost you huge amounts of future web-generated business. Again, no IDX, no leads, no business.
II. Thou shalt not make assumptions about your visitors.
Successful Web real estate lead generating site owners will all tell you the same thing. They have had clients tell them that the business came to them because other online Realtors dismissed, ignored or underestimated them. They were visiting the sites months before they were ready to talk to anyone, and the site owner didn’t serve them well in this phase. Though they aren’t ready to get into the car with you right now, they do not want to be ignored until you think they are a “hot” prospect.
III. Thou must take ownership of your IDX.
Do you think you’ve diverted a bullet, getting an IDX link for your web presence by linking out to your broker’s site? Would you take every one of your walk-in prospects into your broker’s office, introduce them, and leave them there to be served? Don’t send your prospects off to be served by others by not having an IDX solution ON your site.
IV. Thou shalt not secret away your IDX.
How does a site visitor get to your IDX search page? Don’t make it a tiny button, or make them go through several clicks to find it. If you’re doing PPC, bring them straight to the search page if that’s the key phrase you’re marketing. Make it a highly visible one-click link from your home page.
V. Thou shalt make IDX easy to use.
Web visitors are not patient people. They want to locate listings by characteristics, location, price, school systems, and in other ways. Make the search process easy for them to find homes the way they want to find them.
VI. Thou should be generous with other information and tools.
If you were buying a home in a new area, what would you want to know? Give your visitors interactive maps, calculators for mortgages, gadgets for climate information, shopping and banking locations, and more. Give them easy access to information and tools to determine what it will be like to live in the home on the screen. And, lots of photos!
VII. Thou shalt deliver.
Once a visitor has decided that your IDX search is a good one for them, don’t lose them to another who makes it even easier to use. Give them the ability to create custom searches with their criteria and have new listings delivered to their email. This is the delivery that will keep them coming back and keep you on the top of their mind when the timing is right.
VIII. Thou shalt promote your visitors to management for leads.
Once these visitors are using your site and IDX, give them the ability to log in to manage their accounts, including multiple saved searches. This is great for them, but it’s even better for you … now you have that email address lead to market.
IX. Thou shalt always be right there.
No matter what screen they are looking at, no matter how many homes they view, always have an easy one-click link to email you. When they are finally ready to ask a question and get personal, don’t make them search around for contact information.
X. Thou shalt never sit still.
The most difficult target to hit is the one that’s moving, and the Internet and your prospects are moving constantly. Use an IDX solution provider who understands this and stays on the leading edge of Internet consumer engagement.
There you are. If you can live by those 10 IDX commandments on your website or blog, success will be yours in online real estate business generation.
Article written by Peyman Aleagha from geekestateblog.com
1.06.2009
Google Tools and Real Estate
I just read some great tips from Amy Chorew, a national speaker for the real estate industry who often speaks about marketing strategies and new technologies available.
She recently spoke at the NAR convention on "Google Tools for Real Estate" and here are 5 of her top ten Google tools for Real Estate.
Google Gmail offers email with up to 25 GB of storage per custom email address, mail search tools and integrated chat. It is the poor mans’ synch with an email enabled phone. Aggregate all your email accounts to Gmail and then send them to your email enabled phone with the special program you can download on your phone. There is less spam, plus Gmail groups all replies with their original message, creating a single conversation or thread. So much easier than searching your Inbox for related messages.
Google Docs Create and share documents without managing attachments. Upload PDFs, PowerPoint, Word and Excel documents. It is a great place for online storage for all digital documents. Always have access to your important real estate documents even when you don’t have your computer.
Google Alerts Set up alerts for key words, like your name, your business area. Google will email updates of relevant Google search results based on your choice. Great way to keep tabs on the competition. Every time someone mentions me in their blog or website, I get a Google alert. I then go to that blog and comment on their post. Great “PR”.
Google Sites allows you to collaborate Google gadgets like picasa to add photos, google calendar to show Open House dates, and a file cabinet to store documents related to the property. All of this is secure in the Google environment where you can control who has access to the site to both collaborate or to just view. You can equally use these sites to create public pages that ANYONE can access, even WITHOUT a Google account. Single listing websites anyone?
You can get more information at sites.google.com
Article taken from Agent Genius Magazine online.
She recently spoke at the NAR convention on "Google Tools for Real Estate" and here are 5 of her top ten Google tools for Real Estate.
Google Gmail offers email with up to 25 GB of storage per custom email address, mail search tools and integrated chat. It is the poor mans’ synch with an email enabled phone. Aggregate all your email accounts to Gmail and then send them to your email enabled phone with the special program you can download on your phone. There is less spam, plus Gmail groups all replies with their original message, creating a single conversation or thread. So much easier than searching your Inbox for related messages.
Google Docs Create and share documents without managing attachments. Upload PDFs, PowerPoint, Word and Excel documents. It is a great place for online storage for all digital documents. Always have access to your important real estate documents even when you don’t have your computer.
Google Alerts Set up alerts for key words, like your name, your business area. Google will email updates of relevant Google search results based on your choice. Great way to keep tabs on the competition. Every time someone mentions me in their blog or website, I get a Google alert. I then go to that blog and comment on their post. Great “PR”.
Google Sites allows you to collaborate Google gadgets like picasa to add photos, google calendar to show Open House dates, and a file cabinet to store documents related to the property. All of this is secure in the Google environment where you can control who has access to the site to both collaborate or to just view. You can equally use these sites to create public pages that ANYONE can access, even WITHOUT a Google account. Single listing websites anyone?
You can get more information at sites.google.com
Article taken from Agent Genius Magazine online.
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