Real Estate Marketing

By now it’s no secret that real estate search engine optimization and real estate marketing will literally make or break your real estate business. While grandiose direct mailing campaigns and purchasing billboards may be options on the table for the big cheese, many smaller real estate companies rely more and more on their websites, blogs and online ads to generate leads for them at a much lower cost.

The problem with many real estate websites is clutter. There are tons of banner ads, pop-ups, unprofessional scripting and links to click on at the top, bottom and sides of the page. Nothing scares away potential buyers like confusion! While you don’t need to be a web developer to create a simplistic, functional site, you may want to get a second opinion on the design you’ve chosen. If people can’t find the link they need within ten seconds, you’ve lost them. Try to limit your links to one area – either the top OR the side, not both. Put one large, colorful photo on your homepage, with your photo in the upper corner perhaps and some article or listing-type content as well. Limit distracting ads. Websites like RapidListings.com specialize in attractive real estate themed templates. You can start free here and upgrade as your business grows. If it seems overwhelming, then outsource it. A few dollars early on will pay off in the long run with a truly professional product.

Adding valuable content is the second most important facet to your site. Be sure your home listings have as many details as possible. Don’t just list bedrooms and bathrooms. If this is Tudor Revival style architecture, then list it! If there are floor to ceiling windows in the solarium, exposed brick in the kitchen or brand new plumbing, list that too! Sell, sell sell! You may want to include articles, testimonials, past sales, your background in an “About” section and a mortgage calculator. The more content you have, the more people will keep coming back. For example, one successful trend is to include “neighborhood profiles” and local statistics for the districts you represent. This can assist people looking to relocate from out-of-state or across town and as of right now, it’s an under-reported niche. A second trend is the addition of “Virtual Tours” to your site. This allows buyers to preview the inside of apartments and housing units as if they were actually there. The beauty of virtual tours is that it saves both the buyer and you, as the realtor, loads of time.

A good way to boost your search engine ranking is to publish articles on a real estate blog. You can post articles or just new listing profiles. Blogger.com and Wordpress.com offer free blog hosting and easy set ups. In addition, EzineArticles.com and HomeBuyingInstitute.com both accept articles written by real estate professionals, which may be a less time-consuming option than contributing daily to your blog.

Online advertising, while it could get costly, should not be overlooked. To get started, you can check IIProperty.com for tools on posting to multiple sites. A great place for free ad listing is Craigslist.org, which is the end-all be-all of rental property searching for many young people today.

It’s not too late to learn a thing or two about the Internet and expand your current marketing strategies. Don’t get suckered into spending huge money off the bat. Be patient, test your options and talk to a few friends first. A little can go a long way on the world wide web!