marketing: Should I Start a Virtual Tour Trade In/Up Program?
- 10/29/07 06:18 AM
So I have been toying with this idea: Should I offer agents a chance to trade in (or trade up) to a better virtual tour technology? It seems that so many local agents are buying into that $199 purchase and for $30 a month service, they have a do-it-yourself program. Of course, they get their dark or blurred photos, no hot spots, no interactive floor plans, no panoriders, doing all the work, and so on. It tells me they really do want to use virtual tours. So if only the cost - and the quality doesn't count - then I am thinking … (2 comments)
marketing: Never Fill Another Info-to-Go Box Again
- 10/29/07 05:50 AM
I was sitting here working on my company's flyer about the PanoRider and it hit me: agents will no longer need to ever fill (or use) an Info-to-Go Box again. If you don't know what a PanoRider is, check here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/251885/Snag-More-Listings-with With the PanoRider program, there is no reason to have those brochure boxes or tubes on a property. No more wet papers. No more running out to stuff 20 more in the box. And there are a lot more information the virtual tour than is on the flyer. Ok, ok...you want a flyer. No problem. When somone wants more information about the … (1 comments)
marketing: Snag More Listings with a Better Sign Rider Promoting Virtual Tours
- 10/26/07 01:27 PM
It was an interesting telephone conversation this afternoon. "So what do I do with the PanoRider after the property has sold?" the agent asked. Keep one in your car, at home, or in the office." I said. "Why?" "There is nothing as impressive as a PanoRider in person," I said. "Just think of the impact this sign will have on your next listing appointment." I paused, then I added, "Think of the effect it will have when you put this down on the kitchen table for your prospective sellers to see. Are the other realtor's they are interviewing going to offer something like this?" There was … (5 comments)
marketing: Yes, Here is Another Batch of No-No Photos!
- 10/26/07 01:34 AM
It's the time again ... here comes some more no-no photos. These are some of my selections of photos that should not be used to market homes. The idea of nominating photos as no-no's is to help develop a critical eye and to edit images. Although this batch makes it easy to see why they are no-no's, hopefully they will continue to offer ideas of what NOT to do. Here we go:
Wow. What a marketing photo. I wonder if this property has a roof? Why bother driving out to the property during DAYLIGHT to get a photo when you can create … (17 comments)
marketing: A No-No Shot from a Virtual Tour
- 10/25/07 03:25 AM
Not a batch of No-No shots, but just one this time. I just received this one in my e-mail. It is from a virtual tour, which caught my attention. Well, is it just me or do those walls look a bit bowed? Talk about distortion. Some agents revert to the do it yourself virtual tour kits. When they do, this is what they get. I am actually thinking of starting a "trade-in" program where agents that are using those do it yourself kits can trade them in for my tours. I guarantee you'll never see these kinds of walls in my … (8 comments)
marketing: Get the Skinny on the Neighborhood
- 10/25/07 12:20 AM
Here's a neat web site, and one worthy of a bookmark: http://zipskinny.com/ Still in beta and underdevelopment, this site provide all kinds of information about the people within a zip code. Income, marital status, population density, and employment is just some of the data that this web site serves up quickly and efficiently. Perhaps not as pretty as it could be, the information is delivered fast. Well worth checking out. … (9 comments)
marketing: Agents Not Very Happy with Advertising Choices
- 10/24/07 12:54 AM
I just read a story published on RealtyTimes about real estate agents not being very happy with their advertising options. The article says that agents are spending more - not less - advertising; that print advertising is dead; and they are not happy with their Internet advertising results. It's an interesting article available here: http://realtytimes.com/rtapages/20071024_unhappychoices.htm Yard signs are still popular. That's one of the reasons why I just started offering panorama sign riders as part of my virtual tour service:
It's also a good way to drive traffic to the agent's web site. The panorama can include the agent's website, or a property specific web site. … (22 comments)
marketing: Wait until you see this batch of No-No Marketing Photos
- 10/21/07 08:49 AM
From my perch here in the heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country, in good old Lancaster County, the 4th county to be added to the Commonwealth, it's my pleasure to present another batch of No-No photos to the Active Rain community.... so without further delay, here they are:
Wow... I love it when the toilet seat is up in marketing photos. What a nice set of towels too!
Do I even need to comment on this photo? I wonder if the camera even has a flash.
Is it just me, or do you get a feeling this property is sinking to the right?
Very nice … (28 comments)
marketing: Another Photo with the Virtual Tour Sign Rider
- 10/19/07 04:05 AM
Direct from my brochure, here is another photo of our sign rider. I think it really does make a for sale sign stand out. Add a little "pizazz" or "bling" to your sign with a head-turning PanoRider
PanoRiders are our latest product. These signs are becoming VERY popular with our customers across North America. … (2 comments)
I am now offering panorama sign riders for my agent clients. I think they make a great addition to the virtual tour packages. Not only does the sign rider include a photo, but it can also include a web address. When someone goes to the web site, POOF! Virtual tour AND contact information to the listing agent. Talk about becoming a master marketer -- and impressing home sellers during listing presentations...! I am sure my clients will like this competitive advantage. … (3 comments)
Does this person come with the property? Or should I file this one under "I was in too much a hurry to ask the person to step aside while I snapped a picture"?
A lovely lawn torch. Not sure if it is part of the sale, or not.
… (5 comments)
marketing: Can an English Manor Accent Help a Virtual Tour?
- 10/18/07 05:23 AM
My voice over artist says she thinks an English Manor accent on a virtual tour can help real estate agents sell a property. She says it makes the marketing unique and powerful. I tend to agree. I certainly don't mind adding this type of audio to my virtual tours. But it's really a matter of what my clients want. So what do you think? Does this make sense to include the English Manor accent. Here is the sample: http://www.virtualtourscompany.com/sample1.mp3 If that link doesn't work, here it is on my website: http://www.virtualtourscompany.com/audio.htm Please let me know what you think of this professional audio narration style. THANKS! … (1 comments)
marketing: First Look - Hot Spots & Floor Plans
- 10/16/07 02:27 AM
Here your first look at new technology I am deploying and making available to my clients: http://content.metropix.com/p/427694 Check it out! Hot spots integrated into floor plans with photos, spins, panoramas. What do you think? I am going to be offering free demonstrations of this at local real estate offices for the agents at their sales meetings. Any comments on what else they might like to see during the 10 minute presentation? … (4 comments)
marketing: I am back -- with more No No Pictures
- 10/16/07 02:18 AM
After a couple of days off from the No No pictures, here is another batch being used to market a property. These are most interesting!
That's a very nice tree.
Is it just me, or do these cabinets (wherever they are in the property) need another coat of paint?
Wow. This property includes a toilet, with a plunger in a plastic waste basket right beside it. I am not sure if the shaving cream or the mouthwash is offered as part of the transaction or not. (What is that behing the commode? )
Yes, this property includes a corner, a ceiling, and the tops of several pieces of … (16 comments)
marketing: Hotspots on Virtual Tours
- 10/11/07 05:15 AM
I have been asked several times recently about "hotspots" on virtual tours. Many virtual tours do not have them, because of the technology being used to create the tour. It's a matter of either you or can't create hot spots, based on your software and deployed technology. If you want to see hot spots in action, try this link: http://www.318midsummerdrive.com/ Click on the hands to move throughout the property. … (1 comments)
marketing: Another Batch of the No-No Photos
- 10/10/07 12:09 AM
Let's see what's in this edition of the no-no photos. (These are actual marketing photos I've found for properties for sale, and include my comments about the photos.
What a beautiful corner of the house. So artistic. I wonder what the front of the house looks like...or maybe this property only comes in one corner?
This property has a shower, with a curtain. Really.
Hmmm. Are the mattresses for sale, or the desk and chair?
This wouldn't be a bad shot, but why use a flash to light the room. Isn't the ceiling light enough? (No.)
This property comes with a movable fireplace. You just hook up the trailer … (17 comments)
It's a nice picture of a door, but perhaps the photographer should have backed up 10-15 feet.
Hmmm. Lovely magnets on the fridge door.
Probably should have waited until the mirror and faucets were installed ... and the window cleaned!
Wow, It has an air conditioner. (three marketing photos with this listing - outside front, the living room, and the air conditioning unit!)
Does that wall on the left look okay to you? And can you see all the details in the kitchen? Does't this look a little dark?
… (4 comments)
marketing: Friday's Edition of the No-No Photos
- 10/04/07 11:53 PM
It might be TGIF, but that's no reason not to look at more No-No photos! (Remember, this is supposed to be fun - and an ongoing critique designed to help you choose/create better real estate marketing photos.) Is this a picture of a corner, or a dirty window that you can't see through?
It is a nice door to the attic, or basment. Maybe it is open to block the left side of the window curtain, which might not be there?
I am tired today. Very tired. I don't feel like getting out of my car to take a picture of the property I want to … (6 comments)
marketing: How Post-It Notes Can Help Real Estate Photography
- 10/04/07 11:29 PM
Here is some sweet advice for listing agents: use Post-It notes. Not to write notes, but to stick on all those things you want your client to remove from a room prior to the professional photography session. The goal is to remove clutter, of course. Say something like, "I know this is how you live normally, but you can't live like this for the pictures." Be sure to tell your client that the focus of the marketing photos and the virtual tour are on the beauty of the property and its features, not on the things that are in it. Use … (8 comments)
marketing: Here are More No-No Photos
- 10/03/07 12:04 AM
I couldn't keep these under wraps any longer (although I was going to try). Here are the next batch of no-no photos from my collection.
It's a very nice glass vase and lovely flowers. Does it come with the house? I wonder what the floors look like? And the purple walls ... is it a dark or light purple, or does it vary in shade?
Another bathroom photo that shows this house comes with a full roll of toilet paper (unlike many others).
For sale: a washer and dryer. Maybe a house is included, too? It's shame that these washer and dryer aren't even lined … (3 comments)
So I have been toying with this idea:
;)
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