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Building A Real Estate Community Means Growing Your Internet Presence

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision

Building A Real Estate Community Means Growing Your Internet Presence

Real Estate professionals are savvy to the fact that the majority of their consumers are online shopping for homes.  Now with the expansive presence that real estate professionals can have online through various forms of social media marketing and content strategies like blogging they can take a proactive role in engaging with consumers online.

Some real estate professionals question the viability and productivity of time spent prospecting, selling, and marketing online.  What they do not see is that at its core adding an aggressive online marketing strategy that is focused, yet flexible to change provides more opportunities then could every possibly exist offline. 

Let's throw out the gobbledygook and get with some clear cut examples for a minute,

  • If you were a spider, would you want to crawl on four legs or eight?
  • If you were a table would you want two legs or four?
  • If you were an octopus would you prefer four tentacles or eight?

The way I see it, if you are a real estate professional who cuts out online marketing because you consider it to be a waste of time, you are cutting off an immediate 50% of your business opportunities.  As the numbers continue to shift toward more consumers researching and shopping online for goods and services the 50% of business opportunities derived from offline marketing strategies start to show even more diminishing returns.  

It's kind of like the goodies you used to be able to buy in a candy store for a dollar.  Twenty five years ago I could walk into a candy store and walk out with a small bag of several pieces of candy that I liked.  Today I could walk into a candy store and walk out with maybe three lollipops.  Three lollipops may be good for three people for a one time deal.

Three lollipops split among more than three people is a short lived sweet moment where someone is bound to lose.

So if you are wondering what all this social media, online marketing and blogging is good for anyway or if you are engaged in social networking, online marketing, and blogging currrently but have lapses of faith or direction:

  • The purpose of online marketing is to grow your business opportunities by at least 50%.
  • The purpose of growing your business opportunities is to make solid business contacts...prospects that are more serious and that you can close.
  • The purpose of building a real estate community of propects, referrals, and associates is to create business for spring, summer, fall and winter.
  • The purpose of creating business all year round is consistency for your brand and revenue-short term and long term and perhaps a exit term (retirement).

    It is very clear and you can see it here,

    And Here

     

       


      Building A Real Estate Community Means Growing Your Internet Presence.

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    Aaron Vaughn 830-358-0455
    Conifer Builders LLC - Canyon Lake, TX

     

    Good and well told information. Thanks!

     

    Nov 01, 2009 02:24 PM
    Christine Donovan
    Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
    Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

    Hopefully lots of people outside of AR will see this and understand how important social media is or could be to their business.

    Nov 01, 2009 03:21 PM
    Bob & Leilani Souza
    Souza Realty 916.408.5500 - Roseville, CA
    Greater Sacramento Area Homes, Land & Investments

    Very useful information, Rebecca...and I love how you demonstrate it via your diagram! :)

    Leilani

    Nov 01, 2009 08:00 PM
    Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
    Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

    Patricia- Yes that is a crucial first step and many agents don't have their own website.

    Teri- I know you know this.  Your blog is very focused:)

    Michael- The reach you can have is incredible.  I have been working and networking online for eight years and I have great friend internationally as well as here in the states.  I love it.

    Nov 02, 2009 01:41 AM
    Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
    Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

    Joyce- Thank you for commenting and for your readership:)

    Sharon- I am a googling queen and have been for awhile but I am always constantly checking my google stats out and looking to see what comes up.  Some networks may surprise you with their results.

    Nov 02, 2009 01:46 AM
    Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
    Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

    Linda- Well you have exactly the right attitude.

    Robert- Thank you kindly appreciate it.

    Candice- I know you get it too....."As much as we can"- I guess that amounted to pretty much zilch, zero, zip. When real estate buyers and sellers come to me that is one thing I ALWAYS look for in an agent, their online presence.  They need to have marketing savvy, period.

    Nov 02, 2009 01:50 AM
    Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
    Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

    Roland- Yes it really doesn't make any sense does it?

    Stephanie- I think some are....some people really run around in circles with internet marketing, no plan and no focus which is ALMOST the same thing.

    Emily- It's a great energy to ride.

    Nov 02, 2009 01:52 AM
    Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
    Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

    Jane- Thank you and I love seeing you on my blog always makes me smile.  Cheers.  Here is to growing your business:)

    Heather- There is so much if you can just dig your heels in and keep at it.

    Pam- Hi I took at look at your site and think it's a good one to have in maybe combination with a primary website that allows customization of information.  First and foremost a blog.

    Nov 02, 2009 01:54 AM
    Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
    Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

    Dee- You are welcome I really wanted the purpose to be the illustration of the vast opportunities that exist online.

    Nelson- My family teases me about my Google domination for my name but I love it.

    Nov 02, 2009 01:56 AM
    Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
    Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

    Kyle- Thank you and thanks for coming by my blog.

    Christine- I hope so....I did syndicate this.  Hopefully inactive A/R members will think about blogging.

    Leilani- Thank you and I do love visuals.

    Nov 02, 2009 02:07 AM
    Damon Gettier
    Damon Gettier & Associates, REALTORS- Roanoke Va Short Sale Expert - Roanoke, VA
    Broker/Owner ABRM, GRI, CDPE

    Rebecca, the more the other agents in my market ignore the internet the happier I am.  It is great to have a good, consistant online presence.

    Nov 02, 2009 03:56 AM
    Vanna Siackhasone
    Real Estate Brokers of Alaska 907-720-4663 - Anchorage, AK
    Anchorage Real Estate 907-720-4663

    Rebecca,

     

    this is a great post and very true.

    Nov 02, 2009 05:59 AM
    Christa Ross
    RE/MAX Select Realty - REALTOR and Green Homes Specialist - Pittsburgh, PA
    Helping you buy and sell Pittsburgh's Best Homes

    Great Post. I love the diagram. I think I am going to recreate a diagram of my marketing efforts and see how they compare, it would give me a great idea of where I am lacking and what I need to work on.

    Nov 03, 2009 12:15 AM
    Anonymous
    Fred Price

    NAR stats show that 78% of home buyers will start their search online. But only 24% of buyers will find their Realtor online. So how can you bridge the gap - so to speak...how can Realtors connect with buyers while they are doing their research online? Through a solution that can 'engage' web traffic and start a conversation between the Realtor and the buyer - early in the buying process. Let us provide you with a free live demo.

    Nov 03, 2009 08:52 AM
    #79
    Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
    Las Vegas, NV

    Your very welcome!

    VB ;o)

    Nov 03, 2009 01:31 PM
    Anonymous
    Angela Mays

    One of my closest friends who is a RE agent has started to get more clients after she started a blog and joined Twitter. She also uses Facebook as well. I'm beginning to see the importance in my business as an Accountant to RE Investors and Landlords. I'm starting get more hits on my website as well as clients taking advantage of my 1 hr free consultation. So having a web presence for any business is key for growth. This is a great blog w/a lot of insightful comments.

    Angela - www.sfsgroupllc.com

     

     

    Nov 04, 2009 06:00 AM
    #81
    Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
    Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

    Damon- However it may be increasingly difficult to conduct business when others don't adopt to online methods of communication.

    Vanna- Thank you so much for reading.

    Christa- An analyist after my own heart.  I hope you gain some insight.

    Robert:)

    Angela- Thank you so much and yes the comments have made this a great conversation.

    Nov 05, 2009 08:06 AM
    the Chris & Lisa Grus Team
    Premier Realty Exclusive - Saint Louis, MO
    GRI, e-PRO

    I'm trying to strike up the right mix between blogging, micro blogging and other social media.  Its tough.  When I'm focused on social media, my blogs suffer, when I work on blogs, my (other) social media suffers, and when I'm busy with buyer's and seller's everything else suffers.  :(

    Nov 12, 2009 04:01 PM
    Kryste Adams
    RE/MAX Key Properties - Luxury Homes, Golf Course Homes - Bend, OR
    Bend, Oregon Real Estate

    Great post and definitely motivating to keep on blogging, tweeting and updating my web pages.  Thanks for sharing.

    Nov 18, 2009 02:18 AM
    Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
    Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

    Chris- If you dedicate certain times to things it won't be as difficult because you will establish a rhythm.  To be at it 24/7, well you just can't, gotta eat, live life, and do your real estate business:)

    Kryste- Excellent glad it served that purpose that was the intention:)

    Nov 18, 2009 12:37 PM