When I first became a real estate agent 12+ years ago one of the first questions every seller would ask me was "when will my house be in the newspaper?" As the years have gone by I get that question less often. Many sellers still ask about the books, which in our market here in Spartanburg, SC is The Real Estate Book. As far as newspaper we do not have a Sunday real estate section anymore but a Friday insert called Carolina Homes. I find that many sellers do not get the newspaper these days and are not always aware of the change from Sunday to Friday.
When I go to appointments where I am competing with other agents I am finding that my competition quite often tells Mr or Ms Seller that they only do internet marketing. Of course they present this in a very positive way. They probably talk in terms of the power and reach of the internet and how your first showings are on the internet first whereas years ago your first showings were actual physical showings, etc, etc.
To be honest I firmly believe that an effective marketing plan includes both print and internet. I also believe that many of these agents who are touting that they only do internet marketing are really not fully disclosing the reasons why. The last few years have been challenging for real estate agents and, as in any business when less is coming in then you have to re-evaluate how much you are spending and cut back. Many agents have chosen to cut back by not doing any print marketing.
Of course why would any agent tell a prospective seller that they cannot afford to market their home in print?
Every market is different and in Spartanburg, SC I believe it is critical to have a balanced marketing plan that includes various mediums. Social media is important, as well as maximum exposure on the internet. Buyers are not just looking on realtor.com these days. They are checking out Trulia, zillow, oodle, and many other websites. Agents need to have a personal website for their business and utilize search engine optimization. Agents need to use twitter, facebook, activerain. The list goes on and on! And, yes, print still matters. After all, when you dine out there are always books like The Real Estate Book!
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