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What's Missing in This Newspaper Article?

Yesterday in the Cleveland Plain Dealer's real estate section on the front page was an article titled "Builders and Realtors Weather the Storm with Progressive and Innovative Practices".

I was intrigued by the word "innovative" and quickly read the article, sure that I wold find many references to a stronger on line presence and the use of social media to promote our business and innovations. But there was nothing about that. Nada. Zip.

There was mention of:

*market research to determine what buyers are looking for

*adjustments to products and pricing

*green home tour

*use of stagers

*return phone calls promptly

*educating consumers and business associates

All of the above ideas are great, but are they really progressive and innovative? (green home excepted).

Call me crazy but the title did not appear to match the content. And what good is all the above for a company or agent if the public doesn't know you do it or have it?

If you would like to buy or sell a home in the southern communities of Cleveland Ohio, please call me at 440-263-7496, or you may want to visit my website for more specific information on the communities I service: Brecksville Ohio Real Estate, Broadview Heights Ohio Real Estate, North Royalton Ohio Real Estate Independence Ohio Real Estate, Seven Hills Ohio Real Estate, Parma Ohio Real Estate, Parma Heights Ohio Real Estate and Middleburg Heights Ohio Real Estate. Information is obtained from Neohrex and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Posted by Barb Szabo E-pro Realtor Cleveland Ohio Homes on 10/26/2009 06:57 PM

Comments (12)

On Line Marketing to Promote Ourselves in the ActiveRain Channel

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Originally posted at: Barb Szabo's Blog: What's Missing in This Newspaper Article?

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12 Comments on What's Missing in This Newspaper Article?

OCT

Hmmm, agreed! Maybe they were recapping the 'innovative' practices of the last 5-10 years? I would be puzzled too, thanks for sharing!

I agree wrong title for some good ideas - but where was the mention of blogs and embracing social media?

Seems to me that these things should be done anyways? Love the "return calls promptly" as being innovative. Actually.. "Educating consumers"...NOW THAT IS INNOVATIVE!

Barb - that is funny. I was interview by a local paper some time back about innovative marketing and we discussed blogging etc. for a long time. The title of the article for Texting for success - LOL HUH??? ~Rita

Sadly, returning calls promptly is a little bit of an innovation...

I called a listing agent 4 times in the last week trying to get into a property.

And that's not all that rare.

Barb, I wonder if it isn't because newspapers advertising dollars are already so threatened by the Internet, they've just decided to put blinders on.

Barb, the newspapers are just not going to be hip with blogging and social media like you.

Ashley, I found it interesting to say the least.

@Laxson associates, That's what so amazed me. It wasn't there.

Jerry, Exactly, there was really nothing innovative.

Rita, That IS funny. The article was puzzling and somewhat discouraging from my point of view.

Julia, While I know it's a problem between agents, the person being quoted was talking about calling potential clients back..but maybe you're right, maybe that's becoming innovative.

Gary. Good point. I had not thought of it that way.

Gary, Ah to be me!!! LOL I wonder if other papers print similar articles?

OCT

Newspapers have fired all their really talented staff recently because they do not have any income to pay real reporters. Sales of newspapers was reported yesterday to have fallen off the charts again. Some newspapers have dropped another 30% in sales. The quality of what has been left is really very sub-par.

Barb, so funny that you wrote about this article as I was thinking the same exact thing when I read it Sunday AM. I suppose a consumer may possibly see some value in reading this, but calling these techniques innovative was a stretch. Sometimes I think that all they do for these articles is interview some agents who advertise with them and print quotes without giving much thought to content. For agents like us, I suppose trade magazines and places like Active Rain are much better sources to read about really innovative marketing techniques. Returning phone calls is hardly innovative, and in fact it should be expected by anyone who wants a successful career in real estate. Thanks as always for the post.

Jim. I knew that sales were down but I guess I still expected something more up to date.

Hi Dan, I'm glad you read it and concur. For the longest time, the front page articles were all about what a seller should do in this market. It was overkill.

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