Some folks in the real estate biz have been reluctant to migrate their marketing efforts online.  You know who I'm talking about... and I don't have to worry about any of them reading this because THEY DON'T BLOG and the internet scares them.  They are missing out and so are you if they are working for you.  If you are hoping to sell your home in the greater Boston area, you need to call me if:

You ask your agent about their Google rankings and they say "what's a google??"

If that's even close to the response you get... run screaming or prepare for months of frustration trying to sell your house.  GOOGLE MATTERS!  Google logs 2 billion searches a day, that's about 300 MILLION users PER DAY.  Google holds 84% of the market share, running a distant second is Yahoo! with 6%...... think it makes sense to get ranked?

Your agent thinks that Facebook is "for kids" 

There are over 400 Million active users on Facebook.  What's the fastest growing demographic?  Women, age 55+.  It's not for kids.

Your agent doesn't have a BlackBerry/Smartphone

The internet has created an entire culture of narcissists with ADD (myself included).  If I don't get an answer within 30 seconds, I get frustrated.  If it takes more than a couple of hours to get an email answered - I'm probably going elsewhere to get my info.  Hate me for it, that's fine - but there are a lot of people out there like me - particularly home buyers who want to make an appointment to see your house on the fly while they are driving through your neighborhood.

Your agent tells you that name recognition matters to buyers

It doesn't.  A buyer or their buyer's agent are no more likely to call to see your home if you are listing with Coldwell Banker than if you are listing with Joe Schmo One Man Show Real Estate.  All that matters is that they find your house!  Do you honestly think a buyer calls their agent and says "I know that house is perfect... but I only buy from Prudential...."  It simply DOES NOT HAPPEN.

Your agent thinks that a "Beauty Sheet" is an effective marketing tool

Seriously?  Your coming at me with a beauty sheet?  For those who don't know, a beauty sheet has information about your house and pictures of your house and.... it sits on the kitchen counter of your house.  So, buyer's pick it up and look at pictures of your house WHILE THEY ARE IN YOUR HOUSE.  It looks nice, and it looks like you are working hard if you put one together for a client.  Let me tell you something, paper covers rock but YouTube smashes paper.  PERIOD.  Do you know what the second most visited website is (behind Google)? YouTube.  Do you know who owns YouTube?  Google.  See where I'm going with this?  YouTube videos get found by buyers.  How about I put together a virtual tour of your house on YouTube instead?

It's a competitive seller's market and you need an agent who has a bag full o'marketing tricks to bring you quality buyers.  Want to know more?  Visit my website, follow me on Twitter, follow me on FaceBook, call me, text me (781-799-9267) or email me: lori.liveston@virtualhomes.com.

 

 

 

About the author: This blog is provided by Lori Liveston, a Realtor with Virtual Homes Real Estate. Lori can be reached via email at lori.liveston@virtualhomes.com or by phone at 781-799-9267. Follow Lori on Twitter @loriliveston

If you are thinking of buying or selling your home, contact me today!  I would love to put my enthusiasm, marketing expertise and dedication to results to work for you.

For a FREE no obligation home search tool sign up at my home search site.

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I service the following towns in Metrowest MA: Waltham, Lexington, Watertown, Billerica, Burlington, Woburn, Newton, Needham, Dedham, Framingham, Ashland, Natick, Hopkinton, Upton, Arlington, Weston, Wayland, Belmont, Concord, Lincoln, Cambridge, Bedford and Winchester.

 

 

 
This post has been included in Massachusetts Real Estate News Middlesex County, MA Real Estate News Waltham, MA Real Estate News
Post is included in group: Free Online Marketing Ideas!
Post is included in group: MA REALTORS
Post is included in group: Real Estate Rookie
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84 Comments on Why old school marketing won't sell your house

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

JUN
05
2010

Good posat. I've got work to do I can see. I need help though.
12:44am • #65
1,351,912 Points 42 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I think Katerina's pointed out times when old school will work.  However, given that the huge majority of buyers are looking on the internet, I generally agree with you.
12:57am • #66

Lori,

Thanks for keeping it real!  This is a great post that deserves to be featured.  You nailed it!
1:51am • #67
366,118 Points 17 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Called Shot Master

Let me tell you something, paper covers rock but YouTube smashes paper

I love that.

There are some that have enough connections and a strong enough sphere that they will survive without the internet marketing that we know and love.  Mostly listing agents, I think, who depend on buyer's agents to 'find' their listing - the buyers are not finding it - it is not online and that is where buyers are looking.  If it is a one of a kind listing, or priced below market, it will sell - but from my point of view:

I do NOT think that listing agents who are not on the internet are doing their job.  They are not effectively marketing their listings.  Their sellers just do not know.  Yet.

 
2:44am • #68

Lori, thanks for sharing all this information. I can't agree with you enough.

all my best

tom
2:56am • #69
805,327 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Lori - Excellent post regarding the importance of using the internet in marketing.
7:39am • #70
275,890 Points 17 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Great post, Lori! The facts speak for themselves.  All you have to do is look at the survey conducted last year by NAR and you will KNOW where buyers are getting their information.  Well stated!
7:42am • #71
226,968 Points Hit Router

You must embrace technology in order to be in this business. GOOGLE rocks.
8:24am • #72
253,318 Points 9 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I agree with YouTube and that's why I'm working hard to learn how to edit video to do some good videos for Youtube.
11:20am • #73
306,720 Points 9 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Great blog, worthy of  a reblog!
2:04pm • #74
306,720 Points 9 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

By the way, do you work with Scot?
2:05pm • #75
1 Featured Post

Love this blog!  Let the sellers who don't get list with the agents who don't get it, and the rest of us will use the techniques that work and SELL SOME LISTINGS!
2:21pm • #76
974,629 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I was wondering what tips you would highlight. Thoughts on open houses?
11:53pm • #77
JUN
06
2010
838,144 Points 69 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Sweet Lori.....just wanted to stop by and say hello and good morning........

Best
10:58am • #78

Great bullet points.  This is exactly what sellers need to see in todays market.
5:54pm • #79
3 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

Christine - I agree!  Face to face networking will never be replaced, but with so much info available on the internet, often times I get in touch with buyers who already have a list of homes they found online themselves.  If we can't get on this list from the listing side, we are losing out!

Virginia - As a new agent, I need to use all the tools I have at my disposal, but you are right, there may be some who have such a large/strong sphere they don't need new marketing tools.

Val - I was actually at a Tom Ferry event last month and got some great tips for video, check out Ian Watt's website for some examples of how video doesn't have to have production value/polished look to be effective (http://www.ianwatt.ca/)

Cheryl - I don't think anything will replace an open house (although some virtual tours or video blogs can help take the place of one for out of town buyers).  Aside from traditional open house promotion, Craigslist is a great place to advertise an open house, Active Rain (and any other blog you use), Twitter, Facebook postings and email blasts to your area Realtors.  In addition, if your office utilizes an online search service (such as property finder), you can blast email users with search criteria matching that of your listing to increase exposure... I would also add, all of these are FREE FREE FREE :)

 
8:07pm • #80
JUN
07
2010
216,670 Points 1 Featured Post Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Re-blogged.  Fantastic information in this digital age!  Thanks.
11:20am • #81
3 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

Thanks for the re-blog Michael!
5:22pm • #82
JUN
09
2010

Lori, fabulous post! As a new agent (15 months in), I embrace social networking and blogging.  I love the You Tube idea and am going to try it out!

 

ps-I just noticed you live in Waltham! I went to college there...haven't been there in years! I wonder how much it's changed...or not changed... :)
5:22pm • #83
3 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

Stephanie - a great vlog to check out: http://hotpropertyblog.blogspot.com/.  Waltham is much different than you left it :)  Lots of growth, new shops & restaurants and the Tech Industry has spilled over from Burlington.  It's a great place to live - as I'm sure you remember ;)
5:57pm • #84

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Lori Liveston

Waltham, MA

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Virtual Homes, Real Estate

Address: 10 Newbury Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA, 02116

Office Phone: (781) 799-9267

Cell Phone: (781) 799-9267

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Resources, market reports, news and other valuable information for Metrowest home buyers and sellers in Newton, Waltham, Lexington, Arlington, Cambridge Needham, Framingham, Ashland, Hopkinton, Watertown, Arlington, Billerica, Woburn, Natick, and Burlington.


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