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"Listing Exposure" - Creativity in a Challenging Market

By
Real Estate Agent with Fathom Realty West Sound WA State 52404

 

Up until just a year ago, the market here in Kitsap County WA was still fairly brisk. Most agents could afford to inflate the sales prices slightly, input the listing into the MLS, upload a few pictures, and wait for the offers to come in. It wasn't rocket science, and even the most inexperienced agents could attract Buyers.

But not so today. Things have changed. Dramatically. Those same inexperienced and lazy agents have gone back to their day jobs, and the committed seasoned agents remain. We're the ones who have always learned to adapt, in both good times and bad. Upturns, downturns, we've been there, done that, and bought the t-shirt!

So in a slowing market where there are more homes competing for a smaller pool of Buyers, we are hard-pressed to find more creative means/methods of gaining credible exposure for our listings. For most of us, that translates into leveraging the Internet, and identifying viable domains to upload our Seller's properties. Print advertising has long become a dying dinosaur, and the astronomical costs associated with monthly magazines are difficult to justify for most listings. More Buyers are turning to the Internet for their home searches. And our Sellers want results!

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When publishing my listings to the Internet, I utilize a digital flyer that I've created on my vFlyer.com account. For a very reasonable annual fee, I can create a variety of high-end customized flyers. vFlyer automatically uploads them to many of the more popular listing aggregation sites:

In addition, I also place my listings on ActiveRain's Localism and Craigslist.

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Just recently, I noticed that a fellow member on ActiveRain was promoting a specific listing using their ActiveRain Advertising account. It was one of those rare epiphanies, the consummate 'Aha!' moment.

I quickly checked our recent stats....

Did you know that ActiveRain attracts over 60,000 unique visits each day? That translates into over 1.5 million unique visits each month! And our traffic only continues to grow!

With that in mind, it doesn't take a 'Stephen Hawking' to ponder the valued exposure a listing would receive if placed on strategic pages within our platform. By using an ActiveRain Ad Campaign, you can target specific geographic location pages, the same pages that consumers and potential clients will access. You can place your ad on pages relevant to real estate professionals in your particular market area, a virtual revolving 'Hot Sheet,' where cooperating agents will be constantly reminded of your listing.

When you consider the comparative costs of printing up colored flyers, feeding agents at a Broker's Open, or holding an Open House, the relatively low cost of running an ActiveRain Ad Campaign makes total sense!

I just recently created an ad campaign for one of my listings on Miss Ellis Loop over in quaint Little Norway, Poulsbo Washington. The set-up process was quick and painless. You learn to appreciate seamless and easy with technology applications these days.

To create an ad campaign for your listings, simply go to your ActiveRain 'My Home' page. On the left hand sidebar, you'll see the link "My Ads." Click on the link, and you'll be re-directed to your ActiveRain Ads Account Page. The first step is to 'fund' your campaign. There is a minimum $10 charge to establish your Ad Bank Account, and you can use any major credit card. Once you have funding, you can then create individual ad campaigns.

(For further information, go to the ActiveRain Advertising Info Page)

Yet another cost-effective and viable venue to promote your Seller's properties, and gain MAXIMUM Internet exposure!

 

Posted by

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Rich Jacobson is a REALTOR® and licensed Broker with Fathom Realty. He's a Crab Hunter, Clam Digger, and Oyster Shucker, skilffuly vanquishing anything in a shell! He is the Social Media Evangelist for Life on the Kitsap Peninsula & The Western Puget Sound in scenic WA State.

Show All Comments Sort:
Rich Jacobson
Fathom Realty West Sound - Poulsbo, WA
Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker

Lane:  Funny, but that's why I created my Ad Campaign when they first came out. I thought I should contribute SOMETHING to AR for all they have done for me and my business. But now, it just seems to make good business sense from a marketing standpoint....

Jun 28, 2008 05:08 AM
Jeremy Blanton
Myrtle Beach Homes Blog - Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach REALTOR®- myrtlebeachhomesblog.com

Rich, I haven't set up an account yet...something I need to look into...I have been using postlets or RealBird to get my listings out there so far...seems to cover a good amount.  If I added vFlyer, I would cover even more!

Jun 28, 2008 05:59 AM
Jeannette Neerpat
CondoDomain.com - Coral Springs, FL
e-Pro Coral Springs/Parkland Real Estate

This is a great idea. Will have to look into it!

Jun 28, 2008 07:33 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Rich:  It's amazing to me that even my most internet savy sellers don't see the value in online marketing.  That black and white print ad is like a security blanket.  Go figure.

Jun 28, 2008 07:35 AM
June Lewis
Northwood Realty Services - New Castle, PA
Realtor Northwood Realty - New Castle,Pa Lawrence Co 7247304571

Hi Rich, I see this isn't a feature article, as well as it should be. Your post hit it right on the head.  In today's market we need to explore every possibility to get these listings out to people that are in the market to buy these specific properties  Now with the housing market and mortgage crises, buyer are having a hard time getting mortgages- everything seems to be in a downward spiral-- Therefore  as agents we need to step things up .  I did not understand how the adds worked, so I thank you for  your explanation

Jun 28, 2008 11:54 AM
Teresa Harris
Lake Real Estate, LLC - Denver, NC
Denver . Lake Norman . Charlotte

Great info! You are so right about using the internet. I get the most calls from prospects that have seen my listings on the internet. Take care!

Jun 28, 2008 11:59 AM
Jeff Thornton
Jeff Thornton ABR CRB CRS CSP e-Pro GRI - Lansing, MI
ABR CRB CRS CSP e-Pro GRI

I have never used the ad campaign through Active Rain.  I thought it was designed more for people advertising their services to the users of Active Rain.  It seems to be a great alternative to market your properties

Jun 28, 2008 12:17 PM
Michael Cather
Rodeo Realty - West Hills, CA
Real Estate Broker

Thanks for the specific pointers for the real estate agent in today's technological world.  I have to save this one.

Jun 28, 2008 07:46 PM
Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA
Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD
301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

great tips. .thank you, I will try it

Jun 28, 2008 10:50 PM
Michael Sahlman
www.HomesForVIPs.com - Keller Williams Realty - Miami Beach, FL
e-PRO - Miami Beach Florida Luxury Homes

good idea...I was wondering about that Ad  account...I am in the mood to try it too!

Jun 29, 2008 08:03 AM
Allison Stewart
St.Cloud Homes - Saint Cloud, FL
St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904

Thanks Rich-when Ads first came out- I was oneof the first few to give it a try.  It is a nice way of payning back to the community which derive so much pleasure from.

Good Luck and Sell Well

Jun 29, 2008 08:55 PM
David M. Childress
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services - Akron, OH
I would love to be your Realtor® in Akron Ohio!

Thanks Rich, I ran a few ads but did not see the point in advertising myself to fellow agents. In this part of the country, we are slow, as you can tell by the number of members in NE Ohio. I look forward to the day when consumers around Akron, Ohio are clued in to AR. BTW, I send emails with articles to the local paper from AR to rush the process. This certainly is an ah-ah moment and thank you for sharing it!

Jun 30, 2008 09:18 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I've been using VFlyer for a few months now & it truly is painless & looks great. Sellers love it. I will be doing a post showing how AR brings in traffic to the flyers from a tracking concept.  Help you put your $$ where you get results.  VFlyer has been very helpful if or when you need help.  I did need help with the 'widgets' which I love.

Didn't know we could put $$ into the Ads account & do it that way. I do it monthly.

Jul 22, 2008 10:37 AM
Michael Neville
Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Midtown - Atlanta, GA
Intown Atlanta Realtor

I use Vflyer, postlets as well & will have to check out my add acct.

Feb 15, 2009 05:24 AM
Tucson Real Estate Experts Anne McKechnie
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Tucson, AZ
Previews Property Specialist

Great info..is the traffic significant for buyers to your home? I am also using single property sites and this has been a great addition to our marketing

Mar 12, 2009 03:38 AM
Cindi Couture
Great Island Realty - Dover, NH
Realtor in Dover, NH

Good morning!  I haven't checked out the My Ad Account but will definitely do that today.  Thanks for posting about it....it made me aware and now I'm curious :)   Have a great weekend!

Mar 20, 2009 11:30 PM
Monique Combs
Royal Shell Real Estate - Cape Coral, FL
Royal Shell Real Estate - Monique Combs

Thanks for the info. I did run an ad about 6 months ago and basically forgot where! I was messing around with different sites. However I did get many calls. My other mistake was I went out of town and had to refer them out.

Apr 06, 2009 02:46 PM
Brent Bell
RE/MAX Premier, Realtors - West Hartford, CT
CRS, e-PRO, GRI, Hartford County

Rich,

Thanks for this post. I have used postlets rather than vflyer. I will check out both vflyer and targeting active rain advertising for listings. What level of response are you seeing in terms of either clicks or (even better) new leads coming to you as a result of the AR ads?

Apr 07, 2009 11:20 PM
This Account No Longer Exists
Inactive Account - Woodstock, VA

great idea and great post

Oct 18, 2009 12:22 PM
Christine Hynes
American Capital Corporation - Laguna Beach, CA
Orange County Senior Loan Consultant

I am a lender but found this interesting, maybe i can advertise there too in some form or fashion, maybe even grow up and become and agent!

Dec 12, 2009 04:06 AM