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:::Advertising in the Newspaper::: PART 2

I enjoyed the post and comments yesterday on Mark Moore's blog regarding, 'Who reads the Newspaper?' and I guess I would like to take that post further and continue it today with, 'Who is still advertising in the newspaper'?. We have been struggling with this question for the last six months...Two of our local competitors have pulled out completely from one of our local newspapers which has prompted our office to further consider what we are doing. We all know the stats from NAR and other places that show 6% of buyers first learned of the home they purchased through the newspaper...while the internet shows 24% and a REALTOR® 36%. In my state of New Hampshire the stats are even more extreme with only 3% from the newspaper and a whopping 47% from the internet.

We live/work in primarily a tourism area and some believe ( well, some agents around here anyway...) that because of our tourism market newspapers work due to all the visitors ( supposedly) picking up the paper to see what is happening locally.I am curious what some of you that sell real estate in tourism areas feel about your print advertising needs...does it work for you and are we a bit exempt from the NAR newspaper stats because of our tourist visitors? Even better: If any of you have visited the White Mountains of NH did YOU pick up the newspapers around here?

If there are enough replies I am actually hoping to use your responses in an upcoming marketing meeting we are having to help us decide our newspaper/magazine/print ad strategy this year.

What say you? :)

Thanks AR Community.

Sean

Posted by Team Wright Realty | Sean Bossie on 03/12/2008 07:15 AM

Comments (11)

newspaper ads, nar, stats, white mountains

11 Comments on :::Advertising in the Newspaper::: PART 2

Where I am in the local paper I have not made one sale. BUt I could not get a listing without people seeing their home and our ads in the paper. Go figure

03/12/2008 07:18 AM

by Charlie Ragonesi Big Canoe homes, Jasper ,Ball Ground,Benttree,Dahlonega (All Mountain Realty)

I pulled out of the paper 3 yrs ago, after spending 6k per month, as a small office, for only 3% of all inquiries. Sellers flinched at first, but when i explained how I was taking (some) of the savings and reallocating it to the web, they bought in. It's time. Just do it. The paper is a colossal dinosaur, and a pain in the enck to meet deadlines. they make typos, upsetting sellers, etc, etc.

03/12/2008 07:21 AM

by Mike Elliott, Keller Williams Realty

I advertise in the paper to keep my sellers happy. I don't get many/any calls from it though.

03/12/2008 07:23 AM

by Gina Tufano (RE/MAX Select Properties, Inc.)

The paper will always appeal to some people. Seniors for example while internet smart sometimes prefer to relax and read the paper. O think a lot depends on your local demographics. I have been to the White Mountains (Love it) had a place on Lake Winnepesaukee for awhile, and found it through the homes guide. It may be a better alternative to the newspaper.

Good luck and sell well!

03/12/2008 07:27 AM

by Allison Stewart REALTOR ®St. Cloud Florida (Florida Pines Realty, Inc)

Yeah, the "seller thing" is always the rub...It is encouraging to read that some of you took the plunge and it didn't hurt your business...that is of course the fear here.

03/12/2008 07:27 AM

by Team Wright Realty | Sean Bossie (Coldwell Banker | Wright Realty)

I think I will stop advertising in the Idaho Statesman because it seems worthless. That is not how I get my buyers. Yesterday I tried to go to classifieds online to look for an ad I saw and I couldn't even get there. I could save 10%of my expenses by not advertising there.

03/12/2008 08:05 AM

by Debbie Holmes (Gold Key Real Estate)

I still advertise in the newspaper but I stick to local suburban weekly papers. I make certain direct readers to visit my website for color pictures. One thing that I have noticed is that many of the callers are older and do not have internet access. Many have been affluent buyers/sellers just not in the internet connected generation. If I didn't advertise in print, I would miss this market.

03/12/2008 08:11 AM

by Teri Eckholm, Realtor® Anoka County MN (Keller Williams Premier Realty)

I read a couple of newspapers daily...but I don't read the advertisements unless I am specifially looking for something.

03/12/2008 08:19 AM

by Gary Waters - Real Estate Agent Viera Suntree (Century 21 Baytree Realty www.moving2brevard.com)

I'm in Naples, Florida and folks enjoy reading the little magazines packed with homes; however, I've rarely received a call from those ads. I'll go further and say, not one sale as a result of print advertisement.

03/12/2008 08:31 AM

by Wayne Miller (Beach & Luxury Realty, Inc)

I haven't had much success advertising in the newspaper. I find subscribing to news groups, email lists and other Internet resources have a better return and more exposure.

Good Post!

03/12/2008 09:07 AM

by Michael Setunsky (Michael's Commercial LLC)

I still think there still needs to be a balance BUT the majority of our money and our efforts are on the internet. A small portion is print media.

03/13/2008 12:42 PM

by Monika McGillicuddy~REALTOR®~ N.H. Real Estate Broker & Trainer (Prudential Verani Realty/Hampstead)