How to Choose the Right Days to Market your Real Estate Services Online
Effective real estate marketing online has a lot to do with timing. There has been a lot of research conducted, mainly for industries outside of real estate (i.e.retail, hospitality, automotive) on the best days and times to market services and products online. Implementing the right timing to deploy marketing campaigns into your online marketing strategy is an effective way to ramp up your results.
Here are 5 tips on choosing the right days to market your real estate services online
1. Tweet Midweek-
You can tweet everyday of the week but for maximum effect make sure to tweet on Wednesdays and Thursdays as they are the most active days of tweets and retweets as found by HubSpot's State of the Twittersphere June 2009.
Frequency of great original content is still important in building your readership and traffic to your blog. I recommend to my clients that they blog a minimum of 3-5 times per week to be considered as a true content provider in the eyes of their readers.
That being said when is the best time for a blogger to publish their meatiest, most important blog posts? Darren Rowse of Problogger addresses the timing factor in When to Publish Blog Posts-Timing Considerations,
"If I have a very important post that I want to get as much attention as possible I generally will publish it on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning (my time)."
Rowse's post also gives some advice as to publishing posts on weekends and holidays that is worth the read as well as the comments on the post (82 so far).
Clearly publishing your most important blog posts midweek is a winning strategy.
3. The Weakest Link for Email Marketing is Saturday
You may have several email campaigns in your real estate marketing campaign: email flyers, email follow-up, email newsletters. Email marketing is a heavy hitter for real estate professionals but when is the most effective time for you to deliver your messages to your prospects and customers?
According to EMarketer.com the best days of the week to send email marketing are Mondays and Tuesdays and the least effective time by nearly 50% is Saturdays.
The best advice I found and agree with is to survey your email subscribers and ask them when they would like to receive emails from you.
**Allow me one deviation~ What I find more or equally fascinating is the 6.49% CLR (Click Thru Rate) of marketing campaigns such as polls and incentives that are run on Facebook business pages. Fans are clearly interacting with their friends on Facebook in a big way and their interactions are also being seen by their friends.**
"LinkedIn use is predominantly an 8AM-Noon activity with very, very little activity in the evening. Of particular interest is that LinkedIn users tend to arrive at work earlier than Facebook users do....Those serious early morning LinkedIn users will spend an average of 29 minutes reading real Email before they get around to checking your connection request which they could have read first if they wanted to."
While this is a small sampling of members on LinkedIn and their behavior I can attest that this mimics my LinkedIn use. The first online activity I do in the morning is to check my email(which of course includes my blog activity) and the first social network site I check is LinkedIn and this occurs normally between the hours of 7:30-8:30 a.m.
Take into consideration the times and days that people are online and engaging in these online activities when you create and implement your online real estate marketing strategy.
Once you taken action use an analytics tool to measure the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns. Tweak the times you deliver your marketing messages based on your analytics and direct feedback from your recipients.
Get your game on and use the 5 tips on choosing the right days to market your real estate services online.
** UPDATE FROM PUBCON VEGAS 2009-Post Your New Videos on YouTube on Thursdays and Fridays for the weekend traffic**
Rebecca D. Levinson is a real estate marketing consultant with 17 years of experience serving real estate industry professionals.
If you need assistance with online marketing, offline marketing, social networking, or blogging contact Rebecca D. Levinson at #262-203-5231 or email rebecca@bloggingintherain.com.
Great blog Rebecca! I knew the time of day was important, but I never considered the day of the week. I like your blog so much, I'm going to reblog it so even more people might see it. Great work.
Hi Rebecca - Now I'm tempted to go back and see which of my posts have the most activity and see when I posted them. I can see that often when I post something I think is important, it gets little attention, yet other times I will have tons of comments on something less important. Must be due to when I posted them.
Rebecca - very interesting, although I never paid attention when is the best time for me to write a blog or all the other marketing campaigns you wrote about. Have to look into this - thanks :)
Rebecca - This information is extremely helpful! Thank you for sharing - I often consider when to post what information where... Especially with the email blasts.
well you have just helped me set my on line strategy for when to blog, facebook, LinkedIn and do email blasts. I was having a hard time developing a schedule and you have so nicely done that for me. thank you!! thank you!!
Hi Rebecca ~ Great post. I had considered the timing of blog posts, but definitely not in any depth. You've convinced me to take it much more seriously.
Rebecca-I had no idea that any time was better than another for all Internet activities. I guess I'm not surprised but had really never given it any thought. This is great information. Thanks so much~
Fascinating research, Rebecca! Looks like we should focus most of our social media activity on Tuesday through Thursday, leaving the weekends free for showing and selling homes, and Monday for following up on paperwork (and Monday Night Football).
Rebecca: Thank you for all the great information you provided on this important topic. Timing is everything! I have noticed that when I post to AR on the weekend, I get much fewer comments. Also, Twitter is less active and the unique visitor count to my web site is lower on the weekends.
I send out a monthly newsletter to local real estate agents and I find I get the best response on Wednesday mornings.
Terry- Awesome, I am glad that you found my blog post then:)
Carol- Happy to provide the information all in one post. There are so many great resources on the internet to use to improve our blogging and online marketing efforts. I was happy to see the resources publicly available.
Rebecca: This market study information is powerful. Thanks for sharing it with us. At the end of the day ... it's better to do any of these things anytime than to not do them at all!
Jane and Tori- No problem and thank you for reading.
Susan- Timing is definitely one factor in the amount of traffic you can/will receive.
Petra- I am glad this got your attention. We really need to think about our marketing hubs, be it a blog or a website, in terms of storefronts. If you can put that visual in your head it makes the other online marketing channels and components make sense.
Gathering this information is something I don't think I would have thought about. So thanks for doing the thinking and the arranging, plus the research and the writing. Onward.
Emily- Glad to post it and glad the information wasn't hidden behind a very costly curtain:)
Barbara- Thank you I appreciate your kind words.
Cheryl- Lol, uh oh now I am going to have to live up to that<<<SMILE>>>> I really enjoy blogging and marketing is not only my career but my passion....that it is mostly for the real estate industry, well that is my choice and I love it.
Fascinating information, who knew that my procrastinating personality is perfect for blogging and getting noticed on Tues/Wed. Does time factor in ? I prefer to blog after I've had my coffee.
Denise- I am glad. There is timing to consider in all facets of marketing.
Rich and Elizabeth- You are welcome thank you for reading and your kind comment.
John- Yes. You can still post at those other times, but maybe just make it a bit easier on yourself like a recap of your posts on Saturday or an extra thought you had about a post you read and a Speechless Sunday post. In all marketing it will be important to test your own results and not be to where you won't tweak anything.
I would use this as a baseline and go from there. But what you're saying is good news right?:)
Rebecca, This is some great information you are sharing in this post. Timing is key and posting at the wrong time can make your blog almost be invisible.
Michelle- So you're telling me you're no stranger to analytics whic is great and shows a lot about your marketing prowess. Analytics are a friend to every marketer.
Kristi- Well thank you for sharing that nice tidbit on this post.
Kathleen- I agree, Consistently producing good content- First. The other actions are important also though because you could have the best widget in the world, but if you keep it a secret it doesn't do a ton of good.
Thilina- You are very welcome.
Sherry- That's my job and I thank you for your thanks.
Hi Rebecca ~ Super post and I look forward to following through and reading the articles you linked to. While this makes a lot of sense intuitively and at least as far as weekends go reflects my blog's activity, I hadn't given it any thought in terms of posting. I sure will now.
Mike- Hi there, lol, that's fun to know isn't it. For timing I would gauge your analytics.
Certain groups that are active also may tend to have activity during a certain time period....for instance, when I post late night/early morning I always post to Robert Swetz's group, Late night Early morning on ActiveRain.
I normally prefer to have my blog posts published early morning or by afternoon as I syndicate to other networks like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn where I look to get traffic from.
Start loving your analytics if you haven't already.
Alison- Testing and timing are good tools for any marketing plan.
Russ- And so you should.
Brenda- You are welcome....now keep in mind that you still should shoot for a goal of 3-5 posts/week, I firmly believe that. Having a schedule to manage your online marketing activities is important.
Judy- Thanks for saying, I appreciate that. I am primarily and above all the student that loves to teach and the teacher that loves to learn.:)
Lane-When you look at it you kinda shake your head like...yeah that makes sense, right? Not everyone is online as much as those of us who market what seems like 24/7 so perspective always helps.
Hi Rebecca- thanks for the post. I use Constant Contact for my e-Newsletters and I believe they also suggest Tues. or Wednesdays for sending them out. With the exception of Speechless Sundays, I've found that any post I write on the weekend gets fewer comments.
This is very interesting.. Always wondered about the best time to post.. I usually do alot of late nights and this does not seem to be the best for me.
Rebecca, That's fascinsating information, Thanks for compiling it all. I'm not sure if it's going to effect when I post, although I may forego posting on the weekends from now on.
Rebecca - great information! I've noticed that my website activity is highest during the hours of 8:00-5:00 M-F. Proof prositive American is online instead of working. :)
Hi Rebecca.....very good information here for us all to pay attention too...no more late night early morning blogging for me :O)) Especially in the Rain, no one is here at 2 in AM
Thank you for sharing. It is so interesting the effective days of various forms of media. I will definitely keep this in mind and pass along to the rest of our group.
Kathy- The one thing Problogger mentioned is that on the weekends the upside of posting is that is seems to be easier to "get on Digg"----I am thinking this might be a good time for a simple list post that is easy to generate but useful. List posts are very popular.
Roland- I don't post many late night but when I do I put my posts in Robert Swetz's group here on ActiveRain- Late Nights/Early mornings on ActiveRain.
Rich- At the very least maybe it is helpful to know that the weekends aren't as productive for flow of traffic. Either way I hope it helps in some way:)
Gerald- Please do.
Casey- You are so very welcome. Aloha.
Megan- Fantastic I am wishing you greater numbers.
Lina- I know I got a chuckle reading that because as I was compiling these stats that is what I thought too.
William- You're very welcome, always good to have a plan.
Fred- You are welcome...I would also like to add that you should also look to see what the habits of your readers are and you can't do that without analytics.
Dianne- You are welcome and it wouldn't be fair for me to say...I actually have Craigslist on my research list because there is a whole system involved, but what I can say is, future post.
Very interesting! I also find Craigslist to be a valuable spot for advertising. I get my best results when I post just after lunchtime, and just after dinner.
When I lived in Texas, posting in the early morning, as people were getting to work, was also quite effective. This isn't really the case in Miami for some reason.
Thanks for this great information. If we're going to take the time to blog/post, knowing when it's most effective is key. I notice today is a Tuesday - morning!
Thanks, Rebecca. Talk about timing! I'm meeting a friend that wants to get into on-line social networking and this is perfect for me to print and take to him. I get good results from Craig's list if I post my listings first thing Friday AM. I was still trying to figure out the best time to blog. Thanks for the tips!
Great information and I will definitely incorporate it into my marketing!
I was especially interested in timing of email marketing, so went to the Lyris site to read more detail. I'm not sure whether it matters much because we all need to check our own stats; but the stats in the chart refer to "when" emails are sent - not when/if they are opened. The emailstatscenter.com shows that the highest open rates (read rates) were Wednesday (27%), Monday (26%) and Thursday (26%).
Of course, if you use a service like AWeber, ConstantContact, etc., you can track your own stats and open rates and plan email marketing accordingly.
This is great information. I usually do a consumer focused blog post on Wednesdays. My online marketing varies from Tuesday - Thursday and my facebook time has been daily.
I've played with times to do my posting - particularly here on AR - just never any real scientific testing. I'm definitely not surprised by the Saturday results - but the mid-week ones did throw me off. I would have thought Monday Morning was the best time to post a blog. My theory was that people are getting back into the groove of their week and the best way to start it is with interesting or light industry related reading.
Thanks for a very thorough job...consider this bookmarked.
Thank you for taking the time to do this research and the effort in making it available to the rest of us. I thought that Saturday was a bad email day too, but had no idea on the rest.
Rebecca, excellent information. I will have to change my days now. I typically will blog on Monday because that is the day I have the most extra time. Thanks, again!
Rebecca, great information. Some of it is really new to me and I appreciate your blogging it for us. I also learned here that I have to be more consistent as well as strategic with my blogging. Wonderful reminder. Thank you
I always wondered if there was a science to my blogging and now i know someone has been watching me. Thank you for the most informitive blog it really set me on the right track
Vary helpful post. Thanks. I have already noticed that even the time of day that I blog makes a big difference in terms of how many comments I receive...
Great post! I had heard that midweek was better than Mon or Fri (and definitely better than a weekend day), but this gives much more detail and strategies that can help us all.
Rebecca, our company web site has more hits on Monday - but it learly makes sense that the middle of the week is when most folks are into their routine and networking - earlier or later in the week, some fall off into other activities.
I am glad you read that resource....I have placed each one in here intentionally. In all that I read on email marketing (and I currently use Constant Contact thoug have used AWeber and MailChimp) the best advice was to ask your recipients. I have a new group of prospects I have been sending an email newsletter to and I have always managed to have higher than industry standards on my CTR but I am still going to ASK by a poll within the next 2-3 newsletters about timing to set myself up for Q1 2010.
Marcy- You're very welcome and yes that is the intention.:)
Joyce- You can still write your blog posts on Mondays and you should if that is the day you have time. Just save it in drafts and publish on Mondays. Some publishing platforms like typepad and wordpress allow you to schedule your posts for certain days.
Morgan- Consistency and Content are always a first and then the rest is your marketing strategy. Laxson and Associates- Yes there is a reason why data is such a gold mine for marketers.
Rebecca - This is really valuable information. It's funny, because someone just told me that most doctors prefer to have surgery on holidays because they know that the surgeon's schedule will be lighter and he will be more rested. When I lived in Europe (and you could order your car just the way you wanted it) you always looked for the car that was built on a Thursday.
I also track when people come to my website and ensure that I have new content for them on those days and hours. It's always fun to delay sending e-mails until I know that my clients are going to be on line and looking at whatever I am sending them. (I set up different distribution lists and program Outlook to send the e-mails at different hours).
France and Mark- I have built 3 blogs now from the ground up and there is more than just writing. Writing is the most importance and then consistency also, but getting the word out and your SEO are also critical factors for business blogging.
If you're just blogging for fun/hobby or your own personal diary, none of this really matters.
Rebecca - Interesting research... The LinkedIn and e-blast times really aren't that surprising. Bit surprised that there is a prime time for Twitter or Facebook.
Hi Rebecca, I will definitely give some consideration to this. It was Craiglist that I looked at and it seemed that Tue and Wed were the best days to post ads. Here is my question though, these aren't scientific, so I wonder if the the seasons have anything to do with it!
There are a lot of things in here I never would have considered. Thank you for gathering the information to make it easy for us to be more effective just by considering the day of the week.
Wow you hit a hotspot! I saw a reblog of it and decided to come back and say hi - and thanks! I had this weird feeling that my weekend posts were'nt such a good idea! lol
Thank you for the information, all of these social networks are unique. We are still trying to figure them out. I know that twitter clean-up is on Sundays.s
So informatiove Rebecca! i have not posted many blogs so am usually so happy to get one done that I just publish it. I'll be thinking of this though now and also when my newsletters go out to clients. Thank you so much for you insight!
Damon and Roch- Thank you for reading. You're very welcome.
Ryan- For Twitter it was same day from June Q4200 8 Report to June 2009.
Jim- Excellent, please do share.
C Lloyd- I do know that holiday times create great fluctuations online. Scientific...well I guess there is a certain science to it, at least with marketing there is the science of psychology.:)
Liz- Thank you for taking the time to see the post elsewhere and come and comment over on this blog. I always am happy to see your smiling avatar and read your words.
Robert- By week's end I look to clean up my twitter account...could be Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
This is an excellent post, thank you. In an effort to efficiently manage time its imperative to be aware of the best time to reach your audience. Thanks again!
Thanks for the guide. My office just sat down this past week to discuss our goals for 2010 and to set out our game plan. Blogging was one of mine and this post will definetly get me on my way!
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Excellent information. I was just investigating this to see if there was any blogs on this.