Advertising Online & Achieving Success on the Internet

Below is an excerpt from an article that I found on Broker Agent News. It highlights the 3 basic things that you should be doing if you have a website. If you aren't, and you need help with any of these, please give me a call (or email me) and I can help! -Kim

Today, 54% of people choose the Internet over the newspaper to look for a home. For that reason alone, if you are not dividing your advertising dollars with at least a nod to this reality, you are throwing good money away.

As an individual agent or brokerage, what can you do to be on the Internet and achieve success? Here are three simple strategies.

1. Register a consumer appealing domain name . Most broker or agent domain names contain some portion of your name. For example, www.BettySue.com (Note: the domain names used in this article are used only as examples and may or may not point to an existing website). This domain could potentially scare away potential clients who are not ready to be called by an agent. Register at least one consumer related domain name to use in your advertising efforts. For example, www.BuySanDiegoCondos.com or www.FreeRealEsateInfo.com. These domains placed in advertising are much more compelling for clients to click on or to visit. It's about them and not you.
2. Make your website all about the client – NOT you! Time and time again we se brokers and agents plastering "I'm #1" all over their websites. They believe that saying that they are the best means people will want to work with them. What's wrong with this? Most online visitors are looking for information to benefit themselves, not to red a full page resume about the agent. Make sure your websites message is geared toward the prospect or client. Content should read "Find out what your home is worth" or "Find your dream home at a price you can afford." Make this text link to interior pages of your website where they can perform these tasks.
3. Gain traffic to your website. If you're like most other Realtors, you aren't having enough success with your website because no one can find you on the Internet if they don't already know your name. Work with an expert who can make it so people looking for homes in your neighborhood come to you when they describe what they are looking for. For example, if you are trying to capture relocation business to your area, optimize your website to be found in search engines for local searches like "San Diego County Relocation."

Now you are asking yourself, how will this all pay off?

• NAR confirms that 77% of home buyers begin their home search online
• The wealthiest Americans are the largest group of online users.
• The majority of homebuyers consider online detailed property information to be extremely valuable in their search for a home.

The importance of Internet presence is already greater than newspaper presence for real estate professionals, and it will continue to climb. Start now and be solidly established and you'll be happy you did. For the last incentive to start now, consider this: next year at this time, most of your competitors will be that much further ahead of you if you don't get started with an Internet Marketing strategy.

source: Broker Agent News