Marketing Tool for Realtors
What’s wrong with this Picture
Aug 20th
If is hard for most people to look at their homes through the eyes of a buyer. We live in them and see them every day and sometimes do not see what is right in front of us. When a realtor meets with a seller in their home they will look at it objectively. Many recommendations are low cost or no cost. A good starting place is usually in the kitchen by asking the sellers to remove anything they have on top of the fridge or on it.
If you want to look at your own home through a buyers eyes take photographs of the rooms and look at them. It is amazing how many things we notice in a photograph but miss when we walk through a room. Figure out what is wrong with the picture, correct it and take another shot. Once you are satisfied, a professional photographer will make those pictures look even better!
Do QR codes work?
Jul 31st
Over the past six months, QR Codes—those funny looking square bar codes—have become all the rage. They started popping up in retail stores, magazines and every real estate tradeshow in this hemisphere. Real estate agents were anxious to use them and vendors were anxious to incorporate them as part of their product (Why not? They’re free.) as “added value.”
The problem this created is that very few took the time to truly understand QR codes and introduced them in fundamentally flawed ways; linking QR codes to traditional websites, for example. Fast forward six months to today and what you hear is frustration when it comes to QR codes. Statements such as “I tried them and they don’t work,” or “people aren’t really using them,” are common place.
QR Codes are a phenomenal emerging (in this country at least) technology that when used correctly can work to your advantage. However, they are not the end-all-be-all and there must be a strategy in place when utilizing them; best practice is to have them accompany your mobile web strategy.
One particular firm that not only took the time to understand them, but create a sound strategy around them is Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate (PSRE), Delaware, members of RISMedia’s Real Estate Information Network® (RREIN). Having built a robust mobile website to meet the demands of the increased mobile traffic to their URL, QR Codes seemed like a great fit to accompany that as well as the existing text-for-info solution they have mastered in their market place. Keeping it simple, PSRE began rolling out QR Codes on their For Sale signs at the end of March. The QR Code they implemented drove scanners right to the mobile website, in particular the GPS search option, which allows them to see not only the house they are scanning about, but other nearby listings as well.
The QR Code was printed on all new signs—so as new listings were won by PSRE the QR Codes on those signs quickly hit the market. With a fair amount of signs in the marketing by April 1, the number of scans started to pick up and rise quickly. There were a total of 204 scans in April, which increased nearly 20% in both May and June. To date, over 700 mobile users have scanned the QR code on their signs—that’s almost eight scans a day!
As mentioned, QR drives traffic to the company’s mobile website, where consumers can have an experience tailored specifically to them as a mobile user and get quick and efficient access to the real estate information they are looking for. More importantly, these scanners will now recognize PSRE as a reliable mobile destination for real estate information that they can return to over and over again.
The strategy employed by PSRE was simple and effective and garnered clear and measurable results. QR Codes do work in real estate for real estate consumers. Don’t give up on them just yet!
Announcing New Discounts from OfficeMax
Apr 15th
OfficeMax and the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® have partnered under the REALTOR Benefits® Program to provide REALTORS® with discounts up to 88% on over 12,000 items, including free delivery with no minimum-sized order.
Start shopping today! Here’s how . . .
First, request an OfficeMax Digital Retail Connect Card for shopping in the store and your username and password for shopping on line.
Step 1: Order your Digital OfficeMax Retail Connect Card in one of two ways:
- send an e-mail to AdvantagePrograms@OfficeMax.com
or
– call 800-248-6343 and press 0, when prompted.
Step 2: Identify yourself as a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.
Step 3: Within 24 to 48 hours, a member of the OfficeMax team will send you an e-mail, which includes the special NAR member-issued username and password, and your Digital Retail Connect Card attached as a .pdf file. Be sure to take note of the special NAR member-issued username and password, because you will need it to shop on line.
Step 4: Bring your Digital Retail Connect Card to the ImPress desk at the nearest OfficeMax store to have it laminated for free. Share this card with others in your office who wish to shop for office supplies at OfficeMax.
NOTE to Offices with More than 25 Employees: When calling or sending an e-mail to request your Digital Retail Connect Card, let OfficeMax know if you have more than 25 employees, because you may elect to establish a business account for your office. Once you provide this information, a representative will reach out to you with details about the OfficeMax “Business-to-Business” program.
Now, you’re ready to shop!
In the Store
Upon checkout, present your Digital Retail Connect Card to the store associate for scanning to receive your REALTOR Benefits® Program pricing or the store pricing, whichever is less.
On Line
1. Make sure that you have your special member-issued username and password handy. This was sent to you via e-mail when you requested your Digital OfficeMax Retail Connect Card (instructions above).
2. Visit www.officemaxsolutions.com.
3. On the left side of the page, in the box labeled, “Customer Login”:
- enter the special NAR member-issued username that you received via e-mail
- enter the special NAR member-issued password that you received via e-mail
You now are logged in to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® “Welcome” page, where you can begin your order.
4. Click in the “Shopping” box on the left side of this page, and choose “Create New Product Office Order” to bring up the “Order by Product Code” page.
5. On the “Order by Product Code” page, if you already know your product codes, then simply complete the grid to generate your order.
To search for desired items on this page, to the left of the product code grid, either fill in the “Keyword/Product #” blank or click on the categories listed under the heading, “Catalog”.
6. Once you have selected an item you wish to order, on the screen showing that item, enter a number in the “quantity” box, then click “Add to Cart.”
7. When you are finished shopping, click “Check Out”, and follow the prompts for checking out and paying by credit card.
8. The “Order Summary” screen that appears once you have submitted your order is confirmation that the order was placed and accepted for fulfillment. Print this out for your records.
NOTE: If at any time you need help with your order or have a question, click “Live Online Assistance” icon located on the upper right side of each page.
How to Order an OfficeMax Catalog
Although it is not necessary to have an OfficeMax 2011 Office Products Catalog to shop on line (a searchable catalog is available on the Web site), you might want one handy in your office to plan future purchases.
To order the catalog, visit www.officemaxsolutions.com and click on “Request a Catalog,” located on the top, right side of the home page. One will be mailed to the address you provide.
Zillow Acquires Postlets
Apr 15th
In an interesting move, Zillow, Inc., which operates real estate website Zillow.com®, Zillow® Mortgage Marketplace, and a leading mobile real estate platform, has announced the acquisition of Postlets™, a leading online real estate listing creation and distribution platform. Postlets enables individual real estate agents, property managers and landlords to create listings and send them to 13 real estate and social media websites.
Founded in 2005, Postlets has more than 500,000 registered users, who currently use Postlets to distribute more than 350,000 for-sale and for-rent listings across the country. As part of the acquisition, Postlets co-founders Asher Matsuda and Raymond Chen have joined Zillow as full-time employees. Postlets will continue to send listings to its current distribution partners.
“Postlets is a terrific tool for agents, property managers and landlords to promote their listings and manage their online presence,” said Spencer Rascoff, Zillow CEO. “We are very excited to have the Postlets brand and its talented founders join our team.”
For more information, visit www.zillow.com.
You can Excel at Real Estate Marketing!
Mar 26th
The real estate industry is very competitive, especially in a slower market. There are countless realtors in the United States, which challenges your ability to stand out. Every real estate agent is unique, therefore, every real estate agent marketing plan must be personalized to fit its subject. It is important to be patient and employ the trial and error formula with various activities until you identify the correct real estate marketing tools for you.
Here are few ideas for you to consider as you strategize to stand out in your market. Many of these options are low-cost solutions as well, and at pictureplan-it! Real Estate Marketing, we will be happy to help you put together your strategic plan.
1.) Create a blog. A blog will assist you in growing your real estate business in numerous manners and is simple to administer, making it effortless to post interesting and relevant real estate content. More content means stronger on line presence which makes it easier for you to be found and stand out among your competition. A blog grants you the chance to mingle with your customers and allowing them to get to know you a little better.
2.) Incremental Internet presence. Your real estate marketing plan should aim to reach as many possible customers as you can. The world wide web is an amazing instrument that is far reaching. When you unite a site, a blog, on line news and real estate writings, you can be sure users will reach you. You will become the real estate expert that customers are looking for.
3.) Intensify your direct marketing plans. Try various direct marketing tools and research what is efficient, different and new; give added worth to your services by showing them why the tools you use are unique. pictureplan-it! interactive floorplans and virtual tour solutions are a good place to start.
4.) Implement a PR Strategy. Utilize it to boost your real estate agent marketing strategy and strengthen your brand. A piece in the local paper, a press release in the local business journal or a free public or on-line seminar/webinar, will go a long way to boost your image and branding to potential customers.
5.) Offer clients something to talk about. Word of mouth is your best weapon. Your business depends almost completely on recommendations, so, give your clients something to talk to others about: your outstanding personal service, your awesome team, an upcoming event, a charity that is important to you, your community involvement, free interior design ideas, free landscape tips or a tour around their new city. The sky is the limit. Give them a call to action; a reason to pick up the phone and call you.
A real estate agent marketing strategy is about imagination and, as in any other business, about putting yourself in your customers’ face and going beyond their expectations. Go for it!
What is a Virtual Tour?
Mar 16th
Have you ever thought about the actual definition of a virtual tour? Is it a bunch of pictures spinning around on the web? Is it video home tours? Is it a marketing tool for realtors?
Here are a few definitions found around the web:
- A virtual tour is a simulation of an existing location, usually composed of a sequence of video images
- A computer-generated tour in which the viewer gets the sense of actually walking through the space
- A visaul tour provided to anyone using the WWW to display the properties, individual features, and contents of any property.
Do any of these definitions actually fit what it is that you are trying to convey using the marketing tool called a "virtual tour"?
At pictureplan-it! we believe that we offer the best virtual tour tools, by definition, our definition: An online comprehensive walk-thru of a property that includes an accurately drawn floor plan; great photos taken from every angle without distortion; interactive tools; and the opportunity to syndicate ("send it") to all marketing outlets, both on and off line. Optional additions may include an actual ‘video’ walk through, and the ability to "furnish" or "fit-out" a 3D version of the floorplan.
This comprehensive definition may seem too good to be true, but the pictureplan-it! floorplan tour has it all, in an easy to order, cost-effective package, making it the best virtual tour software – service available.
Give us a try, take a look at our site, and let us know if you agree with our definition!
Are you a Socially Compatible Real Estate Agent?
Feb 22nd
There has been a lot of talk about social media networking over the past year or so. Hopefully you are a member of at least one network, and if you are reading this blog, you are already up on one of the most popular social networking phenomena, the weblog, affectionately known as the ‘blog.’
Social networks offer so many cost-effective ways to promote and grow your business. Most notably it is a way for real estate agents to promote your listings to a wider network of potential buyers. pictureplan-it! is the perfect tool to get you started on your quest for a more social listing. With online floor plans, virtual tour solutions, and several other realestate marketing tools, agents have a simple way to showcase their listings via social networks. And with round the web syndication, that social networking becomes far reaching.
If you aren’t already using these tools, you should start now. Here are a few important tips to get you going, or refresh your thought process.
Be Yourself (or someone like you)
This is a cardinal rule in any social interaction, on-line or in person. Insincerity will be just as obvious on-line as it is in person.
Be Honest (no, really)
Avoid even the appearance of dishonesty. Nothing will discredit you and your business faster than falsehood and exaggeration.
Be Relevant (leave the past behind)
Stay abreast of news and trends. Don’t post the same old stuff every day.
Be Clear (don’t mumble)
It’s hard to decipher the nuances of meaning on-line. All the vocal inflection and facial clues are stripped away. Leave no room for a misinterpretation of your posts.
Be Concise (and pithy)
Social media is a dialog, not a dissertation. Keep your posts short and to the point.
Be Respectful (it’s a given)
Even if you disagree, respect you fellow community members.
Be Active (and visible)
Regular use will keep you involved in a community. Sporadic postings won’t gain you fans or followers.
Be Interactive (it’s not just about you)
Give at least as much as you take. Interact with others; this is social media after all.
Be Polite (please)
Follow the golden rule here and do unto others online, as you would have done unto you.
Are Your Real Estate Listings Worldwide Travelers?
Feb 1st
Go Viral…it’s Catchy!
You’ve listed the house, now it’s time for that first showing. Imagine, you open the doors to not just one potential buyer, but to a hundred, thousand, million potential buyers. 
At pictureplan-it! Real Estate marketing, we believe that your first showing is the one that gets clicked on…online. With the creation of online floor plans, a property virtual tour is the first and best showing that you will have.
The increased exposure that you get online happens through the listing syndication process, and should be an important part of your real estate marketing.
Maximum exposure of real estate listings is important to buyers, sellers and the real estate agent. By syndicating each real estate listing online to some of the highest rated sites can gain a clear advantage for everyone involved. If you choose the right listing syndication service, it is often an advantage that puts you way ahead of the competition.
Our Tours Travel the World
While the benefits of listing syndication may be obvious, what you choose to present to the world about each listing may not be so obvious. Is it a picture of the house and a description? Is it a picture and agent contact info? Is it several pictures? What is it that todays buyers want to see?
They want to see it all….online and in the comfort of their own environment, they want to be in the drivers seat. That’s why pictureplan-it! Real Estate Marketing syndicates the actual virtual house tours complete with interactive floor plans. It is after all the first showing, and it should be the best first impression that is made. This will generate more leads and phonecalls from informed and educated potential buyers.
pictureplan-it! Real Estate marketing has the most complete listing syndication network available today.
