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Facebook’s Newest Search Tool – How To Use It

By Alexis Posted in - Advertising & Media & Networking & Social Media & Uncategorized on March 3rd, 2013

For years, we have been posting and sharing information about our companies and ourselves through the Internet. Among all of the outlets available on the Internet today, Facebook is among the most popular, used to help deliver detailed and sometimes over the top information to the public. As of January 2013, Facebook released a new search tool, called Graph Search, allowing Facebook users to find almost whatever they want on Facebook, including people and places and which people like which places. This information has always existed, however, now Facebook is making it easier for the public to access. Graph Search is currently in limited beta testing, allowing only a certain amount of people to have access until it integrates into…

Photography: Setting the Stage

By Alexis Posted in - Advertising & Media & Networking & Public Relations & Social Media & Uncategorized on February 19th, 2013

We all know the old adage, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” but in order to get the photo to evoke the right one thousand words, several key factors must be considered before that shutter is released. 1. Shotlist – Organize. Organize. Organize. The more organized you are before a photoshoot, the easier it will be the day of. Create a shot list that breaks out the details: the shot, the location, the scene, which models are used, what’s the wardrobe, which props are needed, what is expected of the client. Review the shot list with EVERYONE. The photographer, the talent, the client, even the maintenance department! (Hey, you never know when you are going to need a ladder STAT!) Having…

6 Reasons Video Should be a High Priority When Selling Real Estate

By Laurie Andrews Posted in - Advertising & Media & Networking & Public Relations & Real Estate & Social Media & Uncategorized on January 21st, 2013

Video content is new terminology in the digital marketing age. In years past, creating a video meant a one-time production to acquire and edit a short film to tell the story of your community vision. In today’s content-rich environment, new marketing channels provide outlets where video becomes a constantly evolving tool. Creating compelling video content should rise to the top of your priority list for a variety of reasons: 1. As consumers, we live in a visual world and technology has opened the door to online learning, on-demand movies, and independent entertainment delivered through alternative channels. We look to YouTube for “how to” videos, recipes and research. Why would buying real estate be any different? 2. Making a new home purchase…

Why Social Media Marketing Works for Real Estate

By Angelene Posted in - Advertising & Media & Networking & Public Relations & Real Estate & Social Media & Uncategorized on January 14th, 2013

If you’ve been keeping up then you know that the final choice in the homebuyer’s decision-making process is most highly influenced by emotions. And for this reason, as real estate marketers, we must focus on lifestyle selling. Once you understand how important the lifestyle sell is to real estate, it then becomes increasingly clear why social marketing fits the bill. Here’s how: People love sharing exciting news about their lives on Facebook. This is the most natural place for buyers to showcase their new home purchase to their friends. The simple nature of sharing online and connecting with your closest friends and family falls perfectly in line with referral marketing. Never before was there such an easy way to reach…

Brand Extensions: Do they make sense?

By Angelene Posted in - Advertising & Real Estate on January 2nd, 2013

You’ve already been successful. Built a community. Built a following. Built a reputation. Built a brand. Now you want to build another community; should you use the same brand or create a new one? Building a brand is expensive; it takes money and time. Once you’ve spent all that time, budget and energy creating a great brand, shouldn’t you just use it again, leverage its power and your spend and name your new community with the same branding? It’s a question many real estate marketers are constantly trying to answer because the truth is, it depends. Is your newer product comparable to your older product? Will this new product sell for a lower price, thus lowering the perceived value of…

Coach Schnellenberger Leading the Charge to Stop Texting and Driving

By Laurie Andrews Posted in - Advertising & Media & Networking & Public Relations & Social Media & Uncategorized & Web on December 11th, 2012

As the Offensive Coordinator for the 1972 Miami Dolphins, Coach Howard Schnellenberger became famous for winning football games and the ‘72 Dolphins remain the only undefeated team in NFL history. The coach went on to become a legendary college head coach for the Universities of Oklahoma,Louisville and Miami, where he won a National Championship. After retiring from football as the head coach of Florida Atlantic in 2011, the coach continues to work with young students as he faces an even more ominous opponent. Featured on Miami’s WSVN, Coach Schnellenberger is bringing attention to the growing epidemic of texting and driving. Notably, 49% of drivers with cell phones under the age of 35 send or read text messages while driving, even though a texting…

Data Capture Essential to Build Sales Pipeline

By Laurie Andrews Posted in - Advertising & Media & Networking & Public Relations & Real Estate & Social Media & Uncategorized & Web on December 4th, 2012

As we all know, two-way communication is required to have a meaningful conversation. During the new home buying process, beginning the conversation sooner rather than later should be a primary focus of your website marketing initiatives. Of course, increased website visits are a positive indication of your marketing outreach, but it’s only the first step in the sales funnel that requires bringing the prospect through many steps prior to reaching a closed sale. Website interaction represents a golden opportunity to open a dialog with the prospective homebuyer. Consumers are busy people, and they are often researching their options late in the evening, long after your sales center is closed. They aren’t looking for direct person-to-person contact, but they are doing their homework to…

What is the ROI of Social Media?

By Angelene Posted in - Advertising & Media & Networking & Public Relations & Real Estate & Social Media & Uncategorized & Web on October 31st, 2012

It’s a question we’ve frequently received. And the issue with answering it, is that it doesn’t totally make sense. ROI is a financial measurement. Marketing channels can be measured in goals and benchmarks, but ROI? Not really. You see, how can you possibly measure the ROI of having email versus not having email? Or the ROI of having a phone line? What about the ROI of the customer service representative actually answering that phone line? Can you measure the satisfaction of your prospect after that well-received customer service phone call? What about the ROI of that satisfied customer telling her friends about her positive experience? The answer is no. Which is why social marketing cannot be measured in ROI. However,…

The “Data” Onslaught – Cutting Through the Numbers

By Laurie Andrews Posted in - Advertising & Media & Networking & Public Relations & Real Estate & Social Media on October 16th, 2012

Analytics. Algorithms. Metrics. The new “buzz” words in marketing have hit a hot button with developers who have been seeking accountability in a field previously managed by gut reactions or feedback from the sales office. In today’s world, art is driven by science, providing clearer insight into buyer psychology.

Online Friend Referrals Are Driving Consumer Purchase Decisions

By Alexis Posted in - Advertising & Media & Networking & Public Relations & Social Media & Uncategorized & Web on May 24th, 2012

Don’t like what’s hanging in your closet? Can’t decide what to buy in the store? Always sending photos of yourself to your friends asking – “What do you think?” When looking to purchase items, social media marketing is a game changer. Today 90% of consumers look to “friends” and ‘Liked’ pages or ‘Pins’ to decide what to purchase. Social media and peer recommendations are being taken to a whole new level, especially in Brazil. Brazilian retailer, C&A, has teamed up with Facebook in creating real time fashion feedback. They have already asked the question and are giving you the answer right on the hanger.