Homes & Land Blog

Movin' on up! Top 10 Google organic results for East Tennessee real estate terms.

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:29:54 -0600

Homes & Land has been working on our organic SEO for quite some time. Not only do we offer the finest quality print magazine in the area we provide excellent web exposure with over 20 national web partners and great Google juice! Here's some local results for the Greater Knoxville Area:

Google Top 10 organic SEO results

Alcoa homes - # 7

Crossville homes - # 3

Crossville land - # 1

Cookeville homes - # 3

Cookeville land - # 1

Cosby homes - # 3 and # 5

Cosby land - # 9

Dandridge homes - # 1

Dandridge land - # 2

Farragut homes - # 5

Gatlinburg homes - # 5

Gatlinburg land - #1 and # 4

Jefferson City TN homes - # 5

Jefferson City TN land - # 3

Knoxville homes - # 6

Knoxville land - # 1

Lenoir City homes - # 7

Lenoir City land - # 5

Maryville homes - # 4

Maryville land - # 1

Morristown TN homes - # 7

Morristown TN land - # 2

Newport TN homes - # 5

Newport TN land - # 4

Pigeon Forge homes - # 10

Pigeon Forge land - # 8

Sevierville homes - # 5

Seymour Tennessee homes - # 7

Tellico Village homes - # 3

Townsend TN homes - # 5

Townsend TN land - # 3 and # 9

My Top 10 marketing tips

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:24:18 -0500

Via Russel Ray, San Diego Marketing & Business Consultant (Russel Ray):

I had a Client ask me this week what my Top 10 marketing tips are.

I've never put together such a list because it would depend on the industry, on where the business was in its life cycle, the marketing budget, the expertise of the person owning the business, the goals of the business owner, and many more subjective variables.

Nonetheless, I took it upon myself to sit down to see if I could come up with a general Top 10 that might fit any business, and here they are, in no particular order:

Market yourself, in good times and bad, but especially in bad times. This means that you have to properly capitalize your company because some of the worst times that a company will go through are those first few days, weeks, months, and possibly years in business. If you want to be in it for the long term, you have to be able to survive the short term.

Do whatever works, as long as it is legal and meets your own moral and ethical standards. Some people don't want to be pushy like a used car salesman, but if it works, why not? Some people don't want to be the low-cost leader like Wal-Mart, but if it works, why not?

Create your unique selling point that will help you develop your niche market. This means that you might actually have to think about what you want to accomplish with your business, other than make money, of course.

Create two commercials, a presentation, and an infomercial. Your two commercials will be 30-second and 60-second commercials. Your presentation will be five minutes, and your infomercial will be 30-minutes. This allows you to meet the needs of any person or group asking "What do you do?"

Track everything you do. Everything! This means that you might need to either learn how to use Excel or hire someone who does. Perhaps you have a child who knows Excel or has the innate child computer ability to pick it up very quickly. For my Clients who are Realtors, I advise them to track everything about their open houses -- holiday weekend, weather, time, traffic, television competition, outdoor competition, etc. I do that because I want them to be in it for the long term, so next year when they are considering an open house to compete against the Chargers, or Padres, or the Over the Line tournament, or whatever, they'll have a good sense of whether it is worthwhile or not. After four or five years, you'll have a great indication of what works and what doesn't work, regardless of what you're doing.

Be persistent and consistent. This is probably the most difficult thing for people to do, especially those who are self-employed because one of the reasons why they chose to become self-employed was because they got tired of the same old, same old in the office every day. It's that same old, same old that made the office and the business work efficiently, and it's the same with your business. Whatever you choose to do, do it persistently and consistently.

Never assume you are the best. Prove it to each and every Client. This comes right back to being persistent and consistent. If you prove it each and every time, it will become a habit.

People prefer buying from people, not automatons or businesses. This means that you need to work on your speech and actions so that you can converse appropriately with prospective Clients. One of the reasons why I have such a wide variety of interests is because I want to be able to talk about anything with anyone. I don't have to be an expert; I just have to know what's going on in the world around me. That world is my world.

Listen to your Clients. Ask them about their needs, wants, and goals. And then listen! Once they are finished talking and you are finished listening, you can explain how you can help them obtain those needs, wants, and goals.

Find your Power Partners. That is, surround yourself with people who can help you. Your Power Partners probably have the same target audience as you do -- for Realtors, that would be people buying a home. Power Partners, then, would include roofing contractors, heating and cooling professionals, electricians, plumbers, door and window installers, painters, etc. To find your Power Partners, all you have to do is decide whom you would call to work on your own house. Would you decide based on price? Proximity? Time frame? How big the Yellow Page ad is? Referrals from friends? Your Power Partners know as much about your business as you do about theirs, and reciprocal referrals are plentiful.

We are ActiveRain!

**********

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Quit putting huge, gigantic, monster pictures in your blog. Now! (Help on resizing them)

Using YouTube videos without slowing down page loading

How to use the Active Rain system more efficiently

Need help with marketing? Join the Guerrilla Marketing Tactics Group.

Inspired by nature? Join the Inspired By Nature Group.

Classical music lover? Join the Classical Music Group.

Want to share a good book? Join the Active Rain Book Club

October Marketing Minute: New marketing mix, mortgage confidence, and more!

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:53:14 -0500

		October 2009
	From the Publisher October edition
	"When the real estate market turned down, I had to cut back on some of my advertising - including Homes & Land. However, I came back. I found that I missed the total advertising package Homes & Land provides. Because of the magazine, I'm branded. Everyone in Aspen knows who I am and what I do. Print also enables me to reach my past clients, and I'm able to successfully compete for listings." Carol Dopkin, President of Carol Dopkin Real Estate Inc. Read More
	The New Marketing Mix: The 4 Us by Larry Easto When studying marketing, one of the first concepts that we learn about is called the Marketing Mix: Product, Pricing, Placement and Promotion. Recently I came across the concept of the 4 "U"s: urgency, uniqueness, ultra-specific and usefulness. For the most part, people who buy your service or mine do not hire us because they want to. They hire us because they need our help with resolving a specific problem or achieving a specific goal or outcome. Read More \| Visit Larry Easto's Website
	Help Your Clients Gain Mortgage Confidence Your clients already look to you for advice in their home search. Why not offer them the same assistance in shopping and comparing mortgages? The Federal Reserve Board has created a website to help consumers understand the loan process and terminology. They have also provided a very handy worksheet for homebuyers to compare loans side by side. Share the information and resources located on "Looking for the Best Mortgage" with your clients and give them the tools to move forward with confidence. Download Mortgage Worksheet
	Real Estate Outlook: Recession is Over by Kenneth R. Harney, RealtyTimes Now it's official. The chairman of the Federal Reserve Board himself has said it publicly that it looks like the recession is over. One reason for the pick-up in consumer spending: People feel more confident about the direction of the economy in the months ahead. They see the stock market up, so their retirement funds and 401 K plans are bouncing back. They see home values stabilizing or growing in most areas, so their equity is beginning to increase again. Read Article
	Magazines in Public Places Have Great Appeal According to Magazine.org, magazines located in public places build audience and readership. Consumers are more likely to pay attention to magazines when they're in a doctor's office or waiting for a friend in a coffee shop. That's why part of the Homes & Land distribution strategy is placing magazines in waiting rooms and anywhere home shoppers work, eat and play. Think about your own experiences in waiting rooms. Wouldn't you like your listings to have that undivided attention? Magazine.org Public Places Study
Russell Haskins, Homes & Land Phone: 865-680-4233 or 865-680-5477 Fax: 865-966-1784 eMail : russell@homesandland.org Marketing Minute Edited by Adrian Amos

September Marketing Minute: EZ Tour now has voiceover, Facebook tip, and more!

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:00:55 -0500

		September 2009
	From the Publisher September Marketing Minute
	Homes & Land EZ Tour Just Got Easier With our new enhancements, Homes & Land's EZ Tour is better than ever. No special cameras or software are needed. Just upload six or more photos and an EZ Tour is created for you automatically. The new EZ Tour offers a variety of presentation options, runs on almost any screen size, and can include a voice over narration from you highlighting the benefits of the property. You can also email EZ Tours to prospects and post EZ Tours on your website. Learn More
	Real Estate Outlook: Case-Shiller Reports Reversing by Kenneth R. Harney, Realty Times When the Case-Shiller index reports that home prices have reversed course and are finally rising again, and you know that Case-Shiller has been the gloomiest, scariest-headline-producing monitor of the real estate market for the past three years -- some say: We have truly turned the corner here. Read Article
	Market your Listings on Facebook with Seller Participation By Michael Russer, a.k.a. Mr. Internet These days it seems to be all about Facebook. Social networking has become an unavoidable craze and as far as real estate is concerned, Facebook has definitely become a portal for marketing your properties, building relationships and staying in touch with past clients. We have begun using Facebook as a marketing tool and believe that it has the potential to connect you with new clients and even connect you with the key elements in making that sale! Read Article
	Use Your MLS ID to Generate Leads Integrating your print and Internet marketing is the best way to do business. Consumers see more photos and property details and you get more leads from motivated homebuyers. That's why it's important to include the MLS ID in your Homes & Land ad. Homebuyers can then go from your ad to HomesAndLand.com, type in the MLS ID, and see your listing with one click. To insert the MLS ID into your ad, fill in the MLS field on Online AdMaker. Then click the "Include MLS ID" link when adding your caption text. Congratulations, you're done!
	An interesting statistic from the National Association of Realtors says that 85% of property searches start online. I�m willing to bet that the catalyst for a large number of these searches came through print ads bearing website and e-mail contact information. Lyndon Burrell, Senior Marketing Manager Research in Motion, Blackberry
Marketing Minute Edited by Adrian Amos

8 Ways To Use Photos To Promote Your Business Online

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:01:41 -0500

Lots of good information here!

Via Kevin & Monica Ray Missoula Real Estate Specialists (Access Realty www.YourMT.com):

8 Ways To Use Photos To Promote Your Business - and best of all, most of them are FREE or LOW COST!

I didn't start out as a photographer, and I still wouldn't consider my photos "professional quality" although I see marked improvement each day. Since I've been in real estate, and especially since I started blogging, I have found that I really enjoy taking pictures of my community, events, and of course, of our listings. And, over the past two years, I have accumulated quite a collection of local photos on my computer which have been extremely useful for our marketing.

I take my camera everywhere I go and even have a small digital camera that I carry in my purse so I'm always ready when the "right shot" presents itself. Our whole family enjoys photography so it's become a great family activity.

Here's some of the ways we use photos in promoting our business:

1.) Help Sell Your Listings - The most obvious of course, is to help sell our listings. Most buyers are starting their search on the Internet and they want to see photos and virtual tours of your listings - the more the better. They say a good photo is worth a thousand words, and that is definitely the case in real estate. One thing that made a big difference for us was investing in a wide-angle lens which helps photograph small spaces.

2.) Improve Your Blog Posts - Blog posts are more interesting to readers when they have appropriate photos. Developing your own collection of photos will help improve your blog and can save you money if you don't have to buy stock photos or clip art.

I subscribe to Gerry Khatchikian from Red Lodge, MT on ActiveRain, he is able to use his photography skills to create a lot of interest in his area and his blog! He even has some photo quizzes that are fun. Check out Gerry's blog for some great examples of using photos for blogging.

3.) Get Into Video - You can create a local video with your digital still photos in a matter of minutes. We like Real Estate Shows but there are other great sites out there that will help turn your photos into a short video. We also use a Flip video camera for some videos but still like to use digital stills. Once you create a local video, Real Estate Shows will upload it directly to your You Tube account, or you can save the video to your computer and create CD's or upload to other websites or blog posts.

4.) Create a Photo Blog of your local area and post a new photo on a regular interval. We started the photo blog I Love Missoula a few months ago and have seen a huge increase in traffic to the site, which also links to our real estate site. If you tag your photos and use key-word rich titles, it will help optimize your search engine results.

We allow people in the community to submit their photos to us by email for possible use on the website. We are starting to get community photos and always give the sender credit, thanking them on the site.

5.) Post to Facebook - it's easy to create a photo album on your Facebook profile, so how about creating one of your local area? We have a photo album on Missoula, Missoula Nightlife, and Montana Living.

Another creative way to use your photos on Facebook is to create a Fan Page for your local area. You can post local photos and videos to your Fan Page OR submit a link to a great photo on your photo blog or regular blog. Fan Pages are easy to set up, and the best part - they're FREE!

Here's one of our Facebook Fan Pages - we have over 4500 fans in a short amount of time:

Missoula on Facebook

6.) Set up a Flickr Account - Flickr does an amazing job with search engines, and is a great way to showcase your photos. One important note however is to make sure you understand Flickr's Terms of Service - before you create an account - or you may end up disappointed. Flickr does not like the use of its site for commercial purposes. Make sure to read Matt's post, and understand what is and is not allowed on Flickr:

A Stern Warning (or lack thereof) Flickr is Watching You by Matt Stigliano

On Flickr, you are able to Geo Tag your photos so they will be even more likely to show up on Google when someone searches for that area or location. Groups are also helpful to join for networking and to gain exposure for your photos.

We have contacted local photographers on Flickr and asked for their permission to include one of their photos on our Photo Blog with a link back to them and have had success. Many times, people are flatttered by the request and it also helps to build community for your photo blog.

Flickering Local Photos - You Engaging Others (YEO) by Jeff Turner

7.) Upload Photos of Local Businesses & Food to rating sites such as Yelp.com. We use this as an opportunity to try new restaurants and just take a few quick snapshots on our visit. You can rate your experience at the restaurant or business and upload your photos to help people in the community get a feel for the location.

The photos can also make a great blog post down the road - I love photos that I can multi-purpose! We've turned this into a bit of a game and use it as an excuse to order a great dessert occasionally or a special drink.

Here's Our Review for Our Lunch at The Superior Soda Fountain

AND a Blog Post

Stop For Lunch at the Superior Soda Fountain

8.) Twitpic your photos or post them to Posterous - People love to look at photos and I'm still amazed at how many people click on photos when I send them across Twitter. Kevin uses Twitpic but I use a Posterous site that I set up - Missoula Real Estate.

Posterous tracks how many people view your photos and allows you to set it up so you can email a photo from your phone or computer to the site. Posterous can then automatically post your photo to your Posterous Blog, Twitter, Facebook and Flickr accounts - I told you, I LOVE TO MULTI-PURPOSE MY PICTURES! :) Posterous is a great way to automate posting to some of your sites.

It's fun to be creative in your marketing with the use of photos, and there are so many possibilities!

How do you use photos to promote your business? I'd love to hear what others are doing as well!

****************

Kevin and Monica Ray are Missoula Real Estate sales and marketing professionals for Access Realty in beautiful Western Montana. We provide services in, but not limited to: Missoula, Superior, Alberton, Saint Regis, Lolo, Clinton, Turah, Potomac, Florence, Corvallis, and Hamilton.

For more information on Missoula Real Estate or surrounding areas, they can be reached at 406-207-1185 or online at www.AccessRealty.net.

By TwitterButtons.com

August Marketing Minute: Home Tweet Home, Print adds credibility and more!

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:04:40 -0500

		August 2009
	From the Publisher Enjoy our August edition!
	Reach More Homebuyers with Homes & Land and Twitter With the help of Twitter, HomesAndLand.com now enables motivated homebuyers to get complete information about your properties sent to their smartphone. All the home shopper needs is the property's MLS # or street address. This means that a buyer looking at Homes & Land magazine or driving a neighborhood can immediately access information about properties they like. The next step is to call you for a showing. Thanks to Homes & Land, Twitter, and you - the buyer may soon find their next Home Tweet Home. Here's How \| What's Twitter?
	Understanding Segmentation and Absorption Rates Helps You Price More Effectively Today's sellers are predictably nervous about the selling process. Giving your clients realistic expectations based on market data can help alleviate their fears through confidence in your expertise. One way to do this is by understanding the absorption rate within market segments. Absorption rates can provide you with clear insight as to approximately how long a particular property will take to sell. It can also help you advise sellers on how to better position their property in terms of price. Read More
	The Case to Keep Print in Your Marketing Mix by David Mammano, FolioMag.com Having print at the core of your advertising adds credibility to your brand. It's almost like when someone publishes a book and suddenly becomes an expert- they realize print is a powerful tool for building brand credibility. But besides delivering branding opportunities, content to readers and leads for advertisers, our print magazine is also an amazing online traffic generator. In fact, our magazine is the number one driver of traffic to our Web site. It's like buying keywords, only better! I'm going to pitch this to David Letterman, but in case he doesn't pick it up, I'll share my Top 10 Reasons Print Should Remain a Vital Part of Your Marketing Mix. Read Article
	Stay In Front of Your Clients and Prospects Using Email Keller Williams Town & Country Realty, a Tallahassee, Florida based brokerage, uses a unique email campaign called "30 Touch" to stay in front of clients and prospects. The brokerage is owned by Gene and Rebekah Rivers, who maintain a database of about 9,000 past clients, current clients and prospects. Each person in the data base receives an email from the Rivers at least 30 times a year. What makes the Rivers' program so valuable is the quality of content included in the emails. Read More
	Give Your Listings International Exposure Homes & Land exports your listings to Enormo.com, one of the world's largest International real estate websites. International home shoppers are buying US investment and vacation homes, so make sure your listing is being seen by Enormo's 4.5 million visitors. Read More
Homes & Land Foothills Of East Tennessee Phone: 865-680-4233 Fax: 865-966-1784 / 675-0328 eMail : russell@homesandland.org Marketing Minute Edited by Adrian Amos

Are You Closing Your Internet Leads?

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:26:25 -0500

I'm not endorsing RealTag as I do not know anything about his service. However, everything else is awesome so it's probably worth looking into! :)

Via RealTAG .com (iLeads.com):

Closing in on Internet Leads

I've heard it over and over. Internet leads are this: (insert snide remark). Internet leads are that: (insert glowing comment). About the only thing that people seem to agree on is that Internet leads are by far the freshest sales leads yet devised, (next to referrals of course).

It takes only seconds for your web site to receive a request from an online consumer (and if you have the technology in place), validate the information provided by the prospect, and forward it to you.

An Internet lead is also uniquely self-qualified, first by initiating the search for a solution on the Internet and second by proactively filling out the form asking for contact. Not surprisingly, Internet leads are easier to close than other leads, but closing them still requires a blend of courtesy, empathy, aggressiveness, and persistence.

These common sense steps can get you from frustration to close, quickly.

Use email AND sign it.
Typically, Internet leads include an email address. The usual Internet real estate shopped is often very Net savvy and spends more time at the keyboard than the average person.

Email is their link to the world.

Send a personalized message, introducing yourself and your company. Let the prospect how you gained their contact information and why you think you can help them. If you do not already use an email signature, start now. Treat it as a mini-biography, telling your prospect your name, company name, and website address.

Clear your mind, and do your homework.
What do you know about this person? Have you done any homework on them via RealTAG (or any other online data repositories)?

For your mood, a bad day can adversely affect your call, so make sure you are in a positive frame of mind before picking up the phone. Focus for a moment on the prospect. This person is unknown to you, but you can help free them from their financial or other anxieties. You can be their hero if you set aside your own worries and focus on theirs.

In return, this stranger can help you on your road to success.

Do not delay...The early bird gets the...
You no doubt have many things to do, but calling your new lead has to be at the top of your priority list.

Depending on when the lead was sent to you, the prospect may still be online when you call. That means you can begin your conversation while the prospect is in solution mode. Besides, waiting even a few minutes opens the door to a competitor.

Persist...Persist...Persist...
If your system does not allow for you to receive your leads in real time, (and sometimes even if it does), the prospect may not answer your first call.

Stay positive, and direct your energy into being persistent!

Continue to call back until your make contact. You should call no less than six times in a day. Be sure to hit the key hours in a work day:

before the day begins (7 to 9 am),

during lunch (11:30 am to 1:30 pm),

check-out time (5 to 7 pm).

If you have not made contact by the end of the first day, leave a message. Most experts say that up to six calls on the first day that a lead is received can be needed to get a good contact rate.

Connect your call to their request.
The fact that the Internet lead initiated the contact with you is a huge advantage. Be sure to leverage this by immediately reminding the prospect of the action they have taken, and how you can help.

Identifying the Internet as the source of your call carries a bit of a "wow" factor that makes you look technology-forward, savvy, and capable of solving problems.

Be aggressive AND courteous.
After you have connected with the consumer, sell yourself, your solution, and your company.

Never assume that the business is yours. Stay aggressive and focused. Convince the prospect that you are their advocate, offering the best solution for their particular situation.

Most importantly...ask for the sale.
What do you do to ask for the business? When do you ask for the business? I believe that if a person has taken the time to ask for your help, (thereby becoming a lead) it's time to ask away!

Remember, if a consumer is out looking on the Internet, you might think that they are only interested in your services. The reality of the situation is that in the time that it took for you to decide when to call them, in all likelihood they just became a lead for your competitor as well!

Good Closing!

Drew Warmington
Managing Partner

iLeads.com

Reach More Homebuyers with Homes & Land and Twitter

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:41:40 -0500

Reach More Homebuyers with
Homes & Land and Twitter

With the help of Twitter, HomesAndLand.com now enables motivated homebuyers to get complete information about your properties. All the home shopper needs is a smart phone and the property's MLS # or street address.

This means that a buyer looking at Homes & Land magazine or driving a neighborhood can immediately access information about properties they like. The next step is to call you for a showing.

Thanks to Homes & Land, Twitter, and you - the buyer may soon find their next Home Tweet Home. Contact us to find out how Homes & Land and Twitter can connect you to motivated homebuyers. Here's How

HOW TO SEARCH BY MLSID

Make sure your mobile device is already registered with Twitter (see instructions below).
If you are looking at a home in one of our magazines, you may see the MLS Id in the property description. Look for something that looks like "MLSId: 7396326".
Text "@homesandland 7396326" to 40404. Remember to replace 7396326 with the MLSId of the property you want to see, and don't include the quotes.
Shortly you will receive a text message, describing the price, location, the agent to contact and a URL to more information about that property!

HOW TO SEARCH BY ADDRESS

Make sure your mobile device is already registered with Twitter (see instructions below).
If you drive by a home for sale, or just happen to know the address, then text the street name and city to @homesandland. The message format would be "@homesandland street, city". You can include the street number if you have it, but if you don't we will send you information about any homes for sale on that street.
As an example, text "@homesandland elm st, tallahassee" to 40404. Remember to replace "elm st" with street name, and "tallahassee" with the correct city.
Shortly you will receive a text message, describing the price, location, the agent to contact and a URL to more information about that property.

New to Twitter?

Registering with Twitter is quick and easy. Just follow these steps:

From your phone, follow us by texting the following to 40404 (40404 is Twitter's number): "follow homesandland" (without the quotes).
You will receive a message from Twitter asking you to text a new username (of your choosing) back to phone number 40404. For example, sallyjones.
Once you do this, you should receive a welcome message from Twitter.
Then text the MLS Id or address you want to @homesandland (see instructions above).
You should receive details about this property and a URL for more pictures and more information.

Already using Twitter?

Even simpler. Just follow homesandland with these instructions:

Follow us by texting the following (without the quotes) to 40404: "follow homesandland".
Then text the MLS Id or address you want by texting the follow.
You should receive listing details about this property and a URL for more pictures and information.
Note: To use an existing Twitter account from your phone, you must have your mobile device setup to receive updates from Twitter.

Homes & Land $100 gift card contest! Agents, you can win a FREE ad!

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:45:29 -0500

How to enter:
Send the following information to: contest@homesandland.org with the subject line: “I Used Homes & Land Magazine”

* Give us a brief story of how Homes & Land magazine helped you in your search
* First & last name of the potential property buyer along with their daytime phone number(s) and their e-mail address
* First & last name of real estate agent who showed the property and the company that they work for
* MLS # or property address of property shown
* Photo (at least 800x600 pixels), which must include the following…
* Potential property buyer(s) holding the Homes & Land magazine where the agent or property was found
(please be sure the cover shows in the photo)
* Agent that showed the property
* Photo needs to be taken at the yard sign of the property shown
* If no yard sign, take photo at front door

Rules:
* Open to potential property buyers that use Homes & Land magazine to lead them to their agent or property located in Tennessee.
*Agent (or their company) must have an ad in the Homes & Land magazine shown in the photo.
OR
* Property shown to potential buyer in photo must be advertised in the Homes & Land magazine shown in the photo.

Prizes:
* A winner will be drawn at random from all of the e-mailed photos.
* $100 restaurant gift certificate to potential property buyer.
* Free ad in Homes & Land to the agent pictured.

Selling your home? Check out WhyHomesAndLand.com to see why your home should be advertised in Homes & Land!

Winner will be selected in random drawing. Entry allowed for each home you view. No purchase required. By entering, you agree to allow
Homes & Land to use your name and photo for promotional purposes (including, but not limited to publishing in the magazine.)

July Marketing Minute - Includes smart tips to grow your business

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:33:39 -0500

		July 2009
	From the Publisher The July edition. Enjoy!
	The Smartest Things You Can Do To Grow Your Business By Julie Escobar "The smart ones ask when they don't know. And sometimes, when they do." Consider these wise words from Malcolm Forbes, a man who clearly knows a thing or two about surviving financial storms. Isn't asking what we're supposed to do when we don't know? So I asked: "What's the SMARTEST thing agents can do to build their business in today's market?" Fortunately, some of the top minds in the industry answered. Read Tips
	HomesAndLand.com Website Statistics HomesAndLand.com recently upgraded the website statistics to offer advertisers more detailed information in a user-friendly format. Information on listing views not only shows you in real-time the exposure Homes & Land provides you and your inventory, but it also gives you concrete information to take back to your home sellers. Watch this short video for information on accessing and using your listing statistics. Watch Video To enlarge the video, click the lower-right corner next to the audio adjustment
	"Stop Calling Our Company!" Is That the Message We're Sending? by David Knox, David Knox Productions, Inc. Phone numbers are on cards, signs, postcards flyers, websites and everything else to get the prospects to call. But what happens when we answer? It's time to develop proper telephone skills as a competitive advantage to gain business and provide superior customer service. David Knox offers real-world advice on using good phone skills to secure prospects as clients. Read Article
	New Features for Digital Editions of Homes & Land Digital editions of the Homes & Land magazine, affectionately referred to as "Flippy," are available at HomesAndLand.com. New features include larger photos and listing details, search properties by price range or number of bedrooms, automatic EZTours, and the ability to zoom and print listing information. You can use "Flippy" as a prospecting tool, as a way to keep in touch with past clients, and you can email it to your home sellers to show them how you are marketing their home. They'll flip. View the latest edition online \| Ask me how "Flippy" can work for you
	Real Estate Outlook: Mortgage Rates and Inflation by Kenneth R. Harney, Realty Times Most of the key economic indicators for real estate continue to be at least moderately positive -- home sales are up, prices are stabilizing or up, unsold inventories are down, and even new unemployment filings are down slightly. But there's a storm cloud looming on the near horizon that everybody needs to keep an eye on: Mortgage rates have been moving up -- fast. Read Article
Russell Haskins, Homes & Land Phone: 865-680-4233 or 865-680-5477 Fax: 865-966-1784 eMail : russell@homesandland.org Marketing Minute Edited by Adrian Amos

All "Print" is Not the Same

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:02:13 -0500

All "Print" is Not the Same

So-called "experts" lump all print into one category and then bluster that Print Is Dead. The facts tell a different story. It is true that newspaper readership has declined 18% since 1994*. However, the audience for magazines has increased, even during the period when the Internet became popular. From 1994 until 2008 the readership of magazines increased from 166 million to 188.9 million, a gain of 13%.**

That's because magazines deliver targeted content to a target audience. If you're interested in reaching active homebuyers and sellers, Homes & Land can help.

Sources: *Newspaper Advertising Association of America 1994 - 2007
**Mediamark Research Inteligence 1994-2008

Homes & Land offers it's advertisers international exposure with new web partner Enormo

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:55:17 -0500

Enormo gives international exposure to US media brand Homes & Land

Expanding further its network of alliances worldwide, 9th most-visited real estate website Enormo today announces a partnership with leading US media company, Homes & Land. The publisher, which prints 50 million magazines annually, will advertise approximately 154,000 properties on Enormo. Its brokers and agents across the United States and Canada will now be connected to 4.5 million homeseekers and investors.

“We’re delighted to be Homes & Land’s selected international channel partner, and to offer its clients a range of advertising options to bring leads from new locations”, says Enormo’s Business Development Director, Dominique Cerri.

“Homes & Land covers many vacation and resort communities that are popular with international investors,” stated Robert Wicker, Homes & Land Chief Marketing Officer. “The partnership with Enormo gives added exposure to Homes & Land’s listings in those popular tourist areas.”

Enormo currently indexes 9 million for sale and rental properties in 80 countries worldwide, and is ranked 9^th most-visited real estate site in the world by independent auditors comScore. The majority of the listings Homes & Land is advertising on Enormo are family homes, with a concentration on real estate in the southeast and southwest.

Enormo CEO Yannick Laclau adds, “Current conditions make the US an interesting market for our large, committed audience looking for cross-border buys. These types of partnership are, more and more, helping to drive global real estate back towards a positive place.”

June Marketing Minute

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:38:58 -0500

		June 2009
	From the Publisher Here's the June issue of Marketing Minute!
	Real Estate Outlook: Key Indicators Point Up by Kenneth R. Harney, RealtyTimes Each week the economic signs pointing to a recovery in the real estate market get stronger. In April, pending home sales jumped 3.2 percent, mortgage applications surged and the affordability index is continuing to hover near its all time best. Consumers are also viewing the market more positively - something potentially huge for anyone trying to sell property. Read Article
(Click to Enlarge)	All Print is NOT the Same So-called "experts" lump all print into one category and then bluster that Print Is Dead. The facts tell a different story. It is true that newspaper readership has declined 18% since 1994. However, the audience for magazines has increased, even during the period when the Internet became popular. From 1994 until 2008 the readership of magazines increased from 166 million to 188.9 million, a gain of 13%.* That's because magazines deliver targeted content to a target audience. If you're interested in reaching active homebuyers and sellers, contact me. Sources: Newspaper Advertising Association of America 1994 - 2007 *Mediamark Research Intelligence 1994-2008
	How Failures Are the Stepping Stones To Success by Michael Russer AKA Mr. Internet "Success is not the absence of failure. Success is what happens when you choose to move beyond failure." (Ralph Marston) If you are truly engaged and committed to what you specialize in, then the things that don't quite work out as planned are merely interesting stops along the path to success. Tips for Success
	Have Enough Listings? Think Again. In many markets homes are taking longer to sell, resulting in a record amount of available inventory. Some agents are under the mistaken assumption that they don't need any more listings. The thought is that if they take more listings, they will have to invest time and money to get the listings sold, and any possible closings could be months away. Why do you need more listings? One important reason is simple mathematics, another is online lead generation. Read More
	Attract Investors to Your Listings Investors are taking advantage of the current home prices and interest rates. How can you make sure they see your listings? Spotlight Ads on WallStreetJournal.com. Homes & Land advertisers can now spotlight, or feature, any listing on WSJ.com/RealEstate for only $20.00! There is no minimum listing price so you can not only upload your listing to WSJ.com but display it at the top of the search results page. Ask me how to get started today!
Homes & Land Foothills Of East Tennessee Phone: 865-680-4233 Fax: 865-966-1784 / 675-0328 eMail : russell@homesandland.org Marketing Minute Edited by Adrian Amos

May Marketing Minute - Tips to work with seller on pricing and more!

Tue, 05 May 2009 13:00:36 -0500

May 2009

From the Publisher
Here's the May edition of Marketing Minute. I hope you enjoy the articles!

Pricing Dialogs for Working with Sellers
by David Knox, David Knox Productions, Inc.
Working with sellers to price their home can be difficult. Sellers may want to price their home based on their emotions, attachment, and their investment. It could have nothing to do with what the home is actually worth or could be sold for in today's market. David Knox provides scripts to help you tactfully deal with sellers on pricing their home correctly the first time and why it's in their best interest to listen to your professional opinion.
Read Scripts

Listings $750,000 Now Uploaded to the duPont REGISTRY
If you work the luxury market, Homes & Land is the place to be. When you advertise with Homes & Land, your luxury listings priced $750,000 and above are automatically uploaded to duPontREGISTRY.com. This high-end site is the destination for readers of the duPont REGISTRY magazine. Each month, duPontREGISTRY.com reaches approximately 400,000 unique visitors in over 140 countries. You'll also benefit from HomesAndLand.com's high-end demographic. Over 67% of our visitors have household incomes in excess of $100,000. (Hitwise) Partnering with affluent sites like the duPont REGISTRY is one more reason why Homes & Land is your upscale marketing partner.

Grow Your Business One Lead at a Time!
by Julie Escobar, Realty Times
However you get your leads, unless you USE them, you tend to lose them. Our market is the perfect storm for lead loss. Why? It's simple. With reduced patience and the insistence of a higher level of service, consumers are no longer willing to wait for "good" or "good enough" responses. Here are some ways you can turn "good" responses into "excellent" communication with your prospects.
Read Article

The Opportunity to Be Number One is Right Now
In his recent article on TheNewYorker.com, financial columnist James Surowiecki explains how businesses that increase their advertising in a recession not only gain market share, but have the opportunity to become the industry leader. "Recessions make the strong stronger and the weak weaker, [and] create more opportunity for challengers, not less," says Surowiecki. "When everyone is advertising, it's hard to separate yourself from the pack; when ads are scarcer, the return on investment rises." It's also important to note that "benefits from recession advertising are often surprisingly long lived, with companies maintaining their gains in market share well into economic recovery."
So if you're not the top agent, now is the time to brand, advertise, and become one.

What Does Your Branding Say About You?
Do you come across as a polished professional? Or do you look too cheap to work with sophisticated buyers and sellers? These are extremely important questions because in real estate, YOU are the product you're selling. Homes & Land's quality magazine will create the personal brand you need to succeed in the ultra-competitive real estate industry. Contact me today to improve your branding

"Fires can't be made with dead embers, nor can enthusiasm be stirred by spiritless men. Enthusiasm in our daily work lightens effort and turns even labor into pleasant tasks."
James Arthur Baldwin

Homes & Land Foothills Of East Tennessee

Phone: 865-680-4233
Fax: 865-966-1784 / 675-0328
eMail : russell@homesandland.org

Marketing Minute Edited by Adrian Amos

HOMES & LAND PARTNERS WITH DUPONT REGISTRY

Tue, 05 May 2009 12:43:16 -0500

HOMES & LAND PARTNERS WITH DUPONT REGISTRY
Homes & Land advertisers gain exposure to affluent buyers

    Tallahassee, FL (May 1, 2009) – Homes & Land, the affluent homebuyer’s marketplace, announced today it has signed a listing feed partnership with duPontREGISTRY.com. The agreement provides that all real estate listings priced at $750,000 and above on HomesAndLand.com will automatically be uploaded to duPontREGISTRY.com.

    This high-end site, duPontREGISTRY.com, is a destination for readers of the duPont REGISTRY magazine. Each month duPontREGISTRY.com reaches approximately 400 thousand unique visitors in over 140 countries.

    “Our partnership with duPontREGISTRY.com exposes our luxury listings to affluent homebuyers and investors from around the world,” says Robert Wicker, Chief Marketing Officer. “The benefit to our advertisers is substantial because the duPontREGISTRY.com does a great job of targeting wealthy homebuyers. We will continue to pursue relationships that help our advertisers market their high-end listings.”

    The Homes & Land brand is visible in more than 30,000 communities across North America. Its website – HomesAndLand.com – is the number one real estate search site for affluent buyers. More than 67 percent of visitors to HomesAndLand.com have household incomes of $100,000 or more.*

    The duPont REGISTRY adds to Homes & Land’s more than 20 partnerships. Homes & Land also has partnerships with WallStreetJournal.com, New York Times, HomeGain, Truilia, and Yahoo! Real Estate.

Homes & Land is a category leader in real estate media. For more than 37 years, Realtors have counted on the brand to reach active homebuyers and home sellers. In addition to its flagship publication, the company also publishes Home Guide magazine, Estates & Homes magazine and Rental Guide magazine. Homes & Land is a leading resource of real estate information through its online portal HomesAndLand.com. Log on 24-hours a day to gain insight and perspective into the home sales market.
*HitWise

Busting popular media myths: Online vs magazines

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:19:57 -0500

Check out these charts, based on independent research, which shows why you should maintain magazine spending even if you plan to reduce your ad budget:

Magazines are the most consistent medium in driving results across the purchase funnel

Magazine advertising bests TV and online advertising in boosting purchase intent

Magazines out-perform other media at influencing consumers to start an online search

Print ads rank as the #1 offline source in driving “actionable” web traffic

Video on magazine websites led all other media in driving consumer visits to a store and to a company’s website

Magazine users have grown over the past five years at a higher rate than the users of all other media except online

More 18-34 year-olds read magazines and they read more issues on average than ten years ago

For more information or to download this in pdf format visit www.magazine.org/accountability

Print advertising can go places online can't... like to the top of a mountain! :)

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:47:01 -0500

On April 11th I made the 13 mile roundtrip hike to the top of Mt LeConte to deliver Homes & Land of the Smokies to the LeConte Lodge. It turned out to be a yucky day... foggy, rainy, cold, wet, you name it! Everything but pretty!!! But I was determined to deliver my magazine to the lodge so hikers and visitors would be able to find their next home here in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!

We took what I believe to be the hardest route up and down (Bull Head trail up and Rainbow Falls trail down). Mt LeConte still had snow on the ground because they had received 14 inches the week before! Most of it had melted which caused the trails to be extremely wet. Not good when you're not wearing waterproof boots! :) On the way back down, the Rainbow Falls trail was actually flooded out and we had to cross about a 10 foot section which was up to my knees! (see video below, it's right before we crossed! I wish I had shot the actual crossing!) Thankfully I have watched enough Man vs Wild to know you don't want to get your socks/shoes/clothes wet. So we took off shoes, socks, and rolled up pants to wade across the 30 something degree water. It was COLD!!! Thankfully we survived and I have a nice story to share here :)

Ok, ok... so I didn't make this trip ONLY to deliver Homes & Land. I really wanted to get some amazing photos/views from the top but unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate. However, I did take the magazine with me and place it at the Lodge so that my advertisers would get some great exposure at a place where they probably wouldn't get exposure any other way :) I hope they appreciate my dedication :)

If you'd like to view some additional photos of my hiking weekend you can look at them here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2022327&id=1386480624&l=77fb39afcd All the sunny pictures were shot on Sunday which was absolutely beautiful!

This was a daytime shot which I photoshoped to look like a sunset :)

Homes & Land Launches Rental Homes Program

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:36:43 -0500

Homes & Land Launches Rental Homes Program

Our new Rental Homes Chanel on HomesAndLand.com gives you an easy way to advertise homes for rent. With our online tools you can post rental rates and upload photos – and with six or more photos we’ll even create an EZ Tour for your property.

What are rental home listings?
Homes & Land now offers advertisers a way to highlight “homes for rent” properties for consumers.
For clarification, rental homes are homes listed “for rent,” and are distinct from “rental property for sale.” Therefore, you will now see two different property types:
• Rental Property for Sale: This property type describes rental property that is for sale. This can be found under the “Add/Edit Listings” link.
• House for Rent: This property type describes homes that are for rent. This can be found under the “Add/Edit Rental Homes” link.
It is important to understand that listings with a property type of “Rental Property for Sale” will be found in the “for sale” sections of our site, while the “House for Rent” listings will be found in the “for rent” sections of our site

What are the benefits of including rental home listings on HomesAndLand.com?
According to a recent article in PR Newswire, “Almost all Americans are renters at some point in their lives. Today, about one in three households - home to more than 75 million people - rent their homes, a number that is rising because of the foreclosure crisis and overall weak market for home sales.”
Homes & Land is now making it easy and convenient for advertisers to market their rental homes. Editing tools make it easy to post rental rates, upload photographs and floor plans, and provide EZ Tours for each rental home offered.
Advertisers benefit from increased exposure for your rental listings and the opportunity to generate additional leads.

Does Homes & Land export rental homes to partner sites?
Not at this time. Going forward, we will continue to look for ways to provide additional exposure for rental homes.

Are rental home listings imported via MLS feeds?
Some MLS’s do allow us to import rental homes. However, the data provided from some feeds have problems distinguishing “for sale” from “for rent” properties. We are working through issues related to rental homes on a board-by-board basis.

What were you doing 26 years ago?

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:10:33 -0500

What were you doing 26 years ago?
Were you in the real estate business? Were you alive!? :) We're proud to have been serving the real estate community of East Tennessee since our start in Sevier County in 1983. In fact, we're the only publication who still has the same name, same owners, and same great service we had when we started 26 years ago! Need someone you can count on? Turn to Homes & Land!

Did you know more offices/agents choose us than any other source? Homes & Land is the #1 choice of real estate offices/agents in East Tennessee! More offices choose to advertise with us every month than any other real estate publication. In fact, over 230 offices choose Homes & Land compared to 73 offices in our next closest competitor. Thank you for making us #1!

Homes & Land in Tennessee has been locally owned by Russ & Cheryl Haskins since our start in 1983. Through the years the Haskins have won many awards from Homes & Land for their hard work but none are greater than the honor they received from the Great Smoky Mountains Association of REALTORS® in 2003 when the board named the new addition of their building "Haskins Hall" in honor of what they've done for Sevier County.

Homes & Land is a family owned and operated business (son, Russell (blogger), daughter, Kristina Longmire, and son-in-law, Glenn Longmire). Kristina and myself have always helped with the business even when we were young doing small "paper work" tasks. As we grew older our tasks increased and now Kristina manages the office and production of the magazines while I manage the Foothills of East Tennessee and Knoxville editions and handle alot of the internet stuff! Glenn knew he was marrying into a family business so it wasn't long after he joined our family that we put him to work too. Glenn manages the Tennessee Valley edition and helps out in all aspects of the business. Joining the family team in 2005 is Russ & Cheryl's nephew, Kerry Haskins. Kerry helps out in all aspects of the business from distribution to customer service. We're all big Vols fans as you can tell! My Dad and I both graduated from UTK.

From left to right (Cheryl, Russ, Myself, Maddie & Cassie (Kerry's daughters), Kerry, Kristina and Glenn with their 2 boys Dean and Dennis.)
Not pictured are Debbie (Kerry's wife) and their latest addition John Colby.

A lot has changed since our beginning! There was no internet in 1983 but we were one of the first companies to post listings online starting in 1992. Remember Prodigy? That's where we started posted listings! Dial up modems, super slow connection, and no pictures! :) Homes & Land has stayed on the cutting edge over the years with products like Homes & Land EZ Tour and Homes & Land Video.

What do you remember about 1983? I was 7 at the time and don't have the best memory :) I know my Dad was working hard in Sevier County selling ads to kick off the first issue with 12 pages of a mostly black and white magazine except for the color front cover. We'd like to hear what you remember about the real estate business back then...

Need a better way to communicate?

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:20:26 -0500

Need a better way to communicate?

Make sure your message reaches active home shoppers by using Homes & Land's online banner advertising. Banner ads give you more opportunities for branding yourself or promoting open houses in your local market. Get motivated homebuyers and sellers to your website with a direct link from a Homes & Land banner ad.

Banner ads are limited to only 2 advertisers per spot. We have leaderboards and skyscrapers available. Contact your local publisher for details and rates.

April Marketing Minute: Tips, Outlook, and Value of Web Partners

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:10:36 -0500

$99 ads available! Advertise up to 3 listings! 4 weeks exposure!

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:56:03 -0500

Several layout options are available! Includes 1 agent photo, logo, and contact information.

Homes & Land now offers the Super Saver ad! Run up to 3 listings in full color print and online for a great value!

Option 1 - 3 listings (180 characters per listing)
Option 2 - 2 listings (235 characters per listing)
Option 3 - 1 large listing photo w/small inset (400 characters of type)
Choose any option for only $99!*

*You must commit to run the ad for 3 consecutive issues. You can change the ad every 4 weeks. Not available in all magazines. Call for details.

Call Russell Haskins, 865-680-4233, for more details.
Includes all the following:
• Nationwide exposure
• Listings posted to 25+ national websites
• Free personal website
• Copy of magazine mailed to your clients
• Qualified referrals (no referral fee)
• Targeted direct mailings
• The finest street distribution in East Tennessee
• Online ad submission
• Post open houses online FREE
• Professional, quality branding
• Ability to purchase featured listings on Wall St Journal and HomesAndLand.com

March Marketing Minute

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:08:55 -0600

Real Estate Outlook: Bottom in Sight?
by Kenneth R. Harney, Realty Times
Signs of a cyclical turnaround for housing are on the upswing. Sales are up sharply in many of the hardest-hit markets, and prices are firming in many others. Last week, Dr. Mark Zandi, chief economist for Moody's Economy.com, surprised analysts by announcing that "the bottom of the housing downturn is in sight for the nation."
Read More

The market may have hit bottom or may soon. When it does turn around, will you have the best advertising plan for your listings? Here is why Homes & Land offers you the best advertising value:

Our High-Quality Magazine Brands You as A Professional
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), consumers primarily choose agents based on reputation, or branding, and referrals from friends and family. Advertising with Homes & Land helps you accomplish both. Our high-quality, full-color magazine reflects the level of quality and professionalism your clients can expect. And quality marketing not only results in more listing opportunities, but also serves as a constant reminder to your past clients that you are still on top.

Our Marketing Mix Reaches ALL Home Shoppers
Finding information on homes for sale has never been easier. Consumers can go to a multitude of resources to narrow their search. So where do you as an agent turn to make sure your listings are in as many places as possible? Homes & Land. More than half of home shoppers are over age 45 and many prefer more traditional media like print. They also have higher household incomes on average and can afford the homes you're selling. Make sure your marketing mix reaches all home shoppers - not just the ones looking online.

HomesAndLand.com Makes the Internet Easy
HomesAndLand.com receives over 1.2 million unique visitors each month, 60% of which have household incomes of $100,000 and above. Not only can our visitors afford your listings, but we also provide them with the information they're looking for. HomesAndLand.com offers large photos, comparable home data, community and school information, mortgage calculators and instant virtual tours for each listing with six or more photos. And to ensure your listings get maximum exposure, we partner with over 20 of the best real estate websites reaching millions of home shoppers each month. Advertising on the Internet is a huge undertaking - Homes & Land makes it easy.

Reach Consumers with Immediate Real Estate Needs
Our targeted direct mail programs put your listings directly in the hands of the most likely buyers and sellers. When sellers list their home, they're confident it will sell and are already looking for the next one. What better audience for your listings? We also know that 70% of FSBOs will eventually become frustrated and list with an agent or use an agent to purchase their next home. We send them a magazine and encourage them to use a Homes & Land advertiser. Our magazines are also included in major employers' relocation packages, Chamber of Commerce mailings and targeted to professionals who have waiting rooms and are likely buyers themselves. Homes & Land targets all of these consumers and puts your listings directly into their mailboxes.

Use real video to WIN new listings

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:06:25 -0600

A recent story on Good Morning America talking about the use of video to help sell homes. Right now it's more important than ever to showcase your listings with quality marketing. A professional video will help you do just that.

Today, WellcomeMat announced they are no longer allowing slide shows on their site. A gutsy but right move. Too many slide shows are being misrepresented as video. If you're using moving pictures please don't call it video. It's a slide show. There's a HUGE difference between real video and photos with movement. There's nothing wrong with slide shows but if you want to stand out from your competition then upgrade to REAL video using a professional.

If you're looking for professionally produced videos in the Greater Knoxville area visit HomesAndVideos.com.

Listings powered by Homes & Land reach the world! Over 168 million unique visitors in Dec 2008!

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:28:44 -0600

HomesAndLand.com
Monthly traffic - 557,000 unique visits (Quantcast Dec 08)
Unlimited photos

Google Base – base.google.com
Monthly traffic - 123 million unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
One photo only

New York Times – NYTimes.com
Monthly traffic - 12 million unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
$ 750,000 or higher
First 8 photos

New York Times – NYTimes.com/Great Homes
$ 750,000 or higher
Multiple photos

Local.com
Monthly traffic – 7.6 million unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
One photo only

Yahoo! – realestate.yahoo.com
Monthly traffic - 4.6 million unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
One photo only

Oodle – oodle.com
Monthly traffic – 3.6 million unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
One photo only

Boston.com
Monthly traffic – 2.9 million unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
$ 750,000 or higher
Multiple photos

JustRealEstateListings.com
Monthly traffic – 2.8 million unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
One photo only

HomeGain.com
Monthly traffic – 2.2 million unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
No photos on search results page - photos on listing details

International Herald Tribune – IHT.com
Monthly traffic – 2.1 million unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
$ 750,000 or higher
Multiple photos

Zillow.com
Monthly traffic – 2 million unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
Multiple photos

Trulia – trulia.com
Monthly traffic – 1.6 million unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
One photo only

Wall Street Journal – RealEstateJournal.com
Monthly Traffic – 1.4 million unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
$ 700,000 or higher

Live Deal – livedeal.com
Monthly traffic – 578,000 unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
One photo

HotPads.com
Monthly traffic – 478,000 unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
Multiple photos

Vast.com
Monthly traffic – 402,000 unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
One photo only

Condo.com
Monthly traffic – 191,000 unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
Multiple photos

FrontDoor.com
Monthly traffic – 135,000 unique visits
[Quantcast Dec 08]
Multiple photos

HomePages.com
Monthly traffic - 86,600 unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
One photo only

CLRSearch.com
Monthly traffic – 41,600 unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
One photo only

UniqueGlobalEstates.com
Monthly traffic – 40,000 unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
Up to four photos

HouseLocator.com
Monthly traffic – 35,000 unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
Unlimited photos

BeatYouThere.com
Monthly traffic – 15k-30,000 unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
Up to seven photos

HomeScout.com
Monthly traffic – 5,700 unique visits [Quantcast Dec 08]
No photos

UNIQUE VISITS - A unique visitor is a statistic describing a unit of traffic to a Web site, counting each visitor only once in the time frame of the report. Websites subject to change. Posting criteria and frequency of updates may vary by website. These websites are owned and operated by third party companies and Homes & Land cannot guarantee that your listings will be displayed.


	Top 10 Tips to Get Listings by David Knox, David Knox Productions, Inc. David Knox offers his top tips for getting the listing, including having a strong pre-listing package, showing sellers they should select an agent based on competence and marketing - not price, and tips to personally connect with the sellers during your presentation. Read Tips 1-5 \| Tips 6-10
	Real Estate Outlook: Where Housing is Headed by Kenneth R. Harney, Realty Times We received an important indicator of where housing is headed last week, when new mortgage applications for home purchases and refinances suddenly surged. Read More
	Time Management Productivity Tips Sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day for everything you need to do. These four practical tips are easy to incorporate into your daily routine and can help you manage your time more productively. Read Tips
	Signs of Life From the Real Estate Market by Prashant Gopal, Yahoo! Finance In ZIP codes across the country, as once-inflated property prices bottom out housing sales are increasing dramatically. In many markets, foreclosure sales are driving down prices and cash-ready investors and first-time buyers are making multiple offers on distressed properties. At the same time, the accelerating sales pace appears to be finally cutting into inventories of unsold homes. Read More
	The Value of Homes & Land Web Partners Homes & Land's online partners save you time and money. We upload your listings to 20 other websites, so your properties are syndicated all over the world wide web with no extra maintence on your part. If something in your listing data changes, you only need to edit it one time - not ten or fifteen. Also, not all real estate websites are free. With Homes & Land there's no keeping up with various time periods your listings are displayed or when you need to renew. See the Value of Homes & Land
	"Most of the high-tech agents we surveyed confessed that as much as 50 percent of their traffic came from offline marketing. It's a bit counterintuitive but the best way to succeed online is to market your website offline." Gary Keller, co-founder and chairman of the board of Keller Williams Realty International in his new book Shift: How Top Real Estate Agents Tackle Tough Times