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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…

Builders aren’t Selling Houses, but They are Selling.

By Angelene Posted in - Real Estate on January 7th, 2013

Everyone thinks that purchasing a big ticket item is all about the value and the return and the finances of it, especially when it comes to real estate. Some even call it an investment. And it’s true, frequently, the home buying process can begin as a numbers game…What can we afford? What will the interest on our mortgage be? What are the taxes? How much are utilities? How much can I sell it for in the future? But when it comes right down to it, the final decision of which home you are going to buy is a very emotional choice. Home buyers ask themselves…Can I see our family spending Christmas here? Would I enjoy entertaining company in this kitchen?…

Mexico’s Comeback Captures the World’s Attention

By Laurie Andrews Posted in - Real Estate on December 18th, 2012

The rebounding Mexican economy is providing plenty of headlines for today’s final reporters. It’s hard to believe that not long ago, Mexico was in the news daily for the swine flu outbreak and endless drug violence. Today, words like “record-breaking” and “booming” are now being used to describe a thriving economy. It seems while the US was focusing on the 2012 election, Mexico quietly overcame many of its challenges. Although there remains much to be resolved, the country is now the world’s leading exporter of flat screen TVs and has also become a major force in the automobile industry. Surprisingly, one in 10 cars sold last year in the U.S. was made in Mexico. According to the Wall Street Journal, “next…

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…

Top 5 Ways to Lure New Homebuyers

By Laurie Andrews Posted in - Real Estate on November 13th, 2012

1.    Be Found Where People are Looking: They’re out there, and every day we see the increasing numbers of unique web visitors. A very positive sign for new home developers. Homebuyers are doing their research online, well before they reach out to the sales team on site. Your Internet footprint is critical and it goes well beyond just keeping your website up to date. Content generation and distribution require a focused effort that should be one of your top priorities. 2.    Use Affiliate Database Resources. Data is king. You want to begin a conversation with the same people they do, so why not work on that together? While every company has digital assets, often the potential goes unrecognized. It’s time…

Which “Baby Boomer” Will Be Purchasing Real Estate Next?

By Laurie Andrews Posted in - Real Estate on November 6th, 2012

It seems every planning seminar and conference for the last two decades has been about the impact of the baby boomer on discretionary real estate spending. Now, following a historical down cycle and its tremendous impact on personal savings and investment, many new questions emerge for real estate developers. Although the market segment as a whole makes for promising demographic studies based on shear volume, it takes a closer look to unveil the psychographic profile that will most likely represent the next wave of real estate purchasers. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a baby boomer is a person who was born during the post-World War II baby boom between the years 1946 and 1964.  Over 75 million strong, the market segment includes two generations…

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,…

Real Estate Buyers Tell It Like It Is

By Laurie Andrews Posted in - Real Estate on October 23rd, 2012

A spirit of optimism is on the horizon for builders and residential developers as new home inventory continues to be absorbed and pricing begins to climb in many major US markets. As existing homeowners have the ability to sell their home, builders and developers will feel the effect of liquidity in the marketplace. Yet as buyers across the country return to new home sales centers, real estate professionals are wondering how have their priorities shifted? How has their perception of value been impacted by the lengthy downturn?Has the election cycle delayed their decision? As builders and developers strive to enhance 4thquarter sales results, it is crucial for them to recognize the shift in the market and thoroughly understand the changing buyer psychology….

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.

Home Buyer Referrals Go Social

By Laurie Andrews Posted in - Real Estate on October 2nd, 2012

Real estate developers and builders have long recognized the quality of potential leads driven from personal referrals. This assumption is now supported by research from Socialnomics.net that indicates only 14% of consumers believe advertising messages, but 90% trust peer recommendations.While many recognize this new dynamic, few sales organizations know how to utilize today’s technology to expand their reach. Yes, friends and family continue to make the seasonal trip to South Florida and other warm destinations. Often they become envious of the lifestyle they experience while on vacation:holiday celebrations in shorts, poolside barbecues on Super Bowl Sunday or simply slipping into a pair of flip flops instead of snow boots. Who wouldn’t love blue skies and 70-degree temperatures in February? Tapping into visiting…