Study shows QR code popularity is increasing

A new study based on collected statistics for smartphones in the US has revealed at 14 million people scanned QR or bar codes in June 2011. According to ComStore, these users are most commonly males, aged between 18-34 years of age, with an average household income of more than $100,000 per year.

The more interesting statistics to come out of the study is where the users are located when scanning, and what the source of the QR code was. Almost half of the QR codes scanned were in magazines or newspapers, and almost 60% of the QR codes scanned were scanned while at home.

So the question is – how effective are QR codes on your website, a property flier or rider? The numbers seem to imply that users are less likely to scan QR codes from these sources, than from newspapers or product packaging. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t incorporate QR codes into your marketing plans. But it can help to set expectations on when, where and how often consumers might use a QR code to contact you regarding a listing.

The upside is that QR codes are, overall, gaining in popularity. If you watch carefully when you are shopping, traveling or reading, you will notice them more often. How do you plan on using QR codes? We’d love to hear from you.

Read Full Post »

Helpful Tips when using Twitter for Real Estate

Twitter is a great micro-blogging network where REALTORS® can post tweets (or 140 character updates) to their followers. Many people use Twitter to tweet about their day, relationship status or opinions on trending topics – but REALTORS® can harness Twitter to generate business.

Real Estate professionals should tweet about:

• open houses
• listings changes/price changes
• webinars or small seminars you host
• community events (in your niche market)
• useful links or resources that can be retweet

Always remember to use a hash sign (#) at the end of EVERY post! This is the way you will be found on Twitter – the hash symbol is used to indicate a keyword or phrase your tweet is about that is then cataloged. Your tweet will be archived for future tweet searches around your ‘#keyword(s)’. You can also follow other Twitter users by typing in keywords you may use in your tweets; get ideas, stay informed and learn from their success!

Sample Tweet:

“Open House today @ 123 Main St in Hoboken NJ. C U @ 130!”

#njopenhouses

Twitter only allows a user to post updates of 140 characters or less so making the most of your tweets is VERY important.

Here are some useful tips and acronyms to remember when tweeting:

• When responding to or directing a comment at another user reference their username and they will get a notification of the tweet (example: Great game last night with great friends! @yankeelove @yank25fan)
• Via = can be used to when retweeting and you are identifying who or where your info came from
• Use letters in place of words (c = see | u = you)
• Use numbers in place of words (4 = for | 2 = to/too)
• 4u2c = for you to see
• @ = at
• Bc | b/c = because
• Btw = by the way
• Fwd = forward
• Re = regarding (used to reference)
• Ty = thank you
• Thx = thanks
• Tmrw = tomorrow
• W | w/ = with
• Wo | w/o = without
• Rly = really
• Pls = please
• Abt = about
• Thght = thought

Creating a strong Twitter presence and group of followers would be great for your real estate business – leveraging Twitter and using it correctly will GET you business.

Read Full Post »

Tips for Writing a Market Leading Blog

Writing an effective blog is more than just typing up a few paragraphs. You need to capture your readers attention and curiosity while also keeping their interest! The goal by the end of your post – have your followers become interactive with your blog and post comments or questions.

So what can you do to prepare a good blog post?

1: Capture Interest – When you’re writing your post, you need to make sure the post creates interest so it will be read. In the Real Estate market some topics might be dull but if you pick topics that will spur interest you will have a better retention rate. Keep in mind too that you need to be interested in your topic as well otherwise the post will be very flat. Write about market trends, hyper-local area information, restaurants/shopping or other community events.

2: Create catchy titles – Titles sell! For example Blue Mountain Estates – while direct might be a bit dull, however titling a post ‘Gateway to Northern Virginia – Blue Mountain Estates’ has more appeal and evokes interest. Remember to also include geographical references  in your titles as this will boost your blogs SEO. NEVER use a listing addresses for a title…ever!

3: Make it scannable – Scannable content is simply content that is formatted to be read with ease. By utilizing the criteria below you can make your post more pleasurable to read.

• bolded font
• sub-headers
• tables
• numbered or bulleted lists
• photos and video

4: Write personal articles – Along with information on your market and business write some personal pieces! Blogs unlike webpages are more casual so include your views or opinions – this is a great way to get readers to become interactive with your posts as well.

5: Use images – Images are a great way to add diversity to your blog post and most people enjoy seeing an image and making a connection. Photos can also be tagged with keywords relevant to your post which will boost your blogs SEO.Videos can also be included; they too can be tagged with appropriate keywords.

6: Don’t make it too long – Don’t lose the interest of your reader by making a very long post, break it up into multiple posts if necessary. Post should be no longer than 300-500 words. This will also help you build up your post archive for more relevant, searchable articles.

7: Discussion – At the end of your post, try to encourage some feedback. By generating discussion you create interest in your posts, which may lead to a relationship that results in business.

There is no substitution for good writing but adding some of these points will make a good post – a great post!

Please share with us some of the things you do on your blog posts that help you stand out.

Read Full Post »

Does Your Website Have What it Takes?

Take a look at your own website sometime.  Pretend you are a prospective buyer or seller.  So does your website make the cut?  Ask yourself these simple questions;

1. Where do your eyes go first – When someone visits your website you only have several seconds to make the sale.  The first thing they should see is something that will keep their interest.
2. Is it clear what your website is about right away? – You need to make sure you are clear to your prospects what your website is about.  I know your sell Real Estate but if you specialize or have a niche make it clear.
3. Look ‘Above the Fold’ – You need to make sure your important information is in the area of the screen you do not have to scroll to get to.  This should be clear and concise.
4. Are your services clearly defined? – Did you tell your audience who you are and why they should use you?
5. Where’s Your Call to Action – Does your website have clear call to action forms?  Request more information, CMA, School information, dream home forms.  These should be all on your website and clearly visible in the appropriate areas.
6. The look! – People are visual.  Are your colors and images pleasing?  Don’t skimp here.  Looks are important first impressions.  Don’t clutter your home page with your name and phone number and how great you are.  Put some relevant information that your audience wants to see and establish you are what they need.
7. Social Media – Do you have Social Media links on your website?  Social Media is quick becoming a huge way to gain business for REALTORS®.  Real Estate is all about making connections with people.  Social Media is all about making connections with people, so Social Media has a huge potential to bring you business.
8. Listings – Let’s face it people come to your website to see real estate so you need to have inventory to show them.  If you website does not have IDX listings you are missing out on all of those ready for results buyers.  These are the people who if they don’t see you have something to show they move onto the next website who does.

So take a 15 minute break and check out your website and see if it has what it takes!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

RE/Advantage specializes in Real Estate Website Design, IDX Solutions, and Internet Technology. We have been working with the Real Estate Industry for over 10 years so we understand what makes a site work for you and your buyers and sellers. After all we have been developing real estate web sites, Internet tools and marketing strategies since 1997. No one provides a more comprehensive, well-thought-out site and tool set for your Internet presence. We provide you with not only the tools to manage and customize your site, but the peace of mind that comes from knowing we are here to help if you need us.

Read Full Post »

Free Real Estate Technology Tips Anyone?

Keeping competitive is important for today’s Agent.  To help you stay one step ahead join us on Facebook to receive free tips on technology, the Real Estate market, emerging web solutions and ways to manage and succeed in your business please join our rapidly growing family on Facebook!

For the past 15 years RE/Advantage has been providing internet technology to Real Estate Professionals using platforms such as WordPress, Facebook and Agent Central Max, along with many others. We have a core group of consultants, trainers, designers, and programmers who devote themselves to evolving technology and marketing solutions to grow your Real Estate business. Since RE/Advantage members work solely with Real Estate Professionals, we feel our courses and solutions are better tailored to your needs than some more generic solutions. Our vision is to provide an education conduit to help Agents and Offices use Social Media and Technology to its full extent in helping further their internet presence.

We specialize in:

• Training – We have a dedicated staff of consultants ready to help you overcome the overwhelming internet marketing platforms on the internet including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Active Rain, YouTube, Flickr and WordPress
• Online Presence – We have a talented group of designers that can brand your image to any of our diverse web solutions including Facebook Business Welcome Pages, Blogs, Websites and profile setup/management through many of the most popular social networking sites.
• IDX – Our IDX, or listing display solutions, encompass the latest technologies and features to both service your buyers AND capture leads

Read Full Post »

Summer is Upon Us…and I Know You Delayed Your Spring Cleaning!

I was recently reading an article on realtor.org and came across this interesting approach to ‘spring cleaning’ as it relates to the real estate professional and your business/marketing plans.

Clean up your website

Have a friend or family member go through your site and ask them what drew them in and what drove them away. You’ll then get a base for where your website needs work. If revamping your entire site seems overwhelming, focus your efforts on simplifying your home page and ask yourself, ‘do I have the necessary lead generation tools in place?’.

Recognize that sellers are asking themselves four questions:

• What’s for sale?
• How much is my home worth?
• How’s the market?
• And why should I select you over the competition?

So write headlines on your Web site and other marketing materials that answer those four questions. Become more consumer-centric and less self-promotional!

Need suggestion or consultation on your website from a real estate internet solutions expert. RE/Advantage can suggest useful widgets and tools that make for a user friendly website that fits any budget. We also write website content and excel in the area of local community and amenity information.

Polish your listings

Spring is traditionally a season of optimism and growth. Try to tap into that mentality with buyers and sellers. Take a close look at your listings to ensure they’re coming across as fresh and welcoming. If a property has been on the market for a while, consider taking new photos for marketing materials and meeting with the seller to discuss additional changes that can be made inside the home to appeal to spring buyers. (fresh paint, potted plants, new windows etc.)

What’s the best way to display these listings on the internet? An IDX solution; this allows you to be the resource for hundreds if not thousands of listings fed to your website from your local MLS. Used correctly your IDX vendor should also include a lead management system and client portfolio tool that allows prospects and current buyers to save listings and searches and receive automated listings from the MLS – with your banding of course! If you currently display listings on your website trying re-wording your searches; drop the acronym MLS (because most of the time your clients/prospects have no idea what that even means!) say ‘Free Listings Search’ instead.

Scrub your data

By this I mean your lead management system. Hopefully by now you’re at least on an automated system to clearly tracts, organize and lays out a simple follow up plan on your leads, prospects and current clients. Regardless whether you are an agent or a broker, concretely preparing this lead management plan can only benefit you in the long run. Then you can develop a measuring system to see if your ‘lead management plan’ is actually working for you!

A good web designer should have designer your website with an integrated lead and content management system that allows for easy web content editing and quick access to your lead and prospect contact information. If you are looking for a new web solution make sure you keep in mind the ease of use AFTER the site is create and deployed. You do not want to have to contact you web master every time you need to make simple changes.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

RE/Advantage specializes in Real Estate Website Design, IDX Solutions, and Internet Technology. We have been working with the Real Estate Industry for over 10 years so we understand what makes a site work for you and your buyers and sellers. After all we have been developing real estate web sites, Internet tools and marketing strategies since 1997. No one provides a more comprehensive, well-thought-out site and tool set for your Internet presence. We provide you with not only the tools to manage and customize your site, but the peace of mind that comes from knowing we are here to help if you need us.

Read Full Post »