Real Estate Marketing Technology
Real Estate Marketing Technology is one thing, it is a collection of concepts. Marketing Real Estate is actually two-fold. It’s the marketing of the agent’s abilities and marketing the actual properties themselves. So, one has to look at the two pieces individually and decide how to use the technology respectively.
First, marketing the agent has not changed much over the years. One must differentiate themselves from the other agents in the area in some way. The traditional way has pretty much been either referral or printed materials offered to prospects. Now things have gotten more sophisticated; social media methods have entered into the picture such as Facebook Pages, Twitter, and web sites in the form of blogs. The benefit of using this technology is that people can now vouch for the agent online and share their experiences and the agents can now interact in multiple ways online such as email marketing, videos, and online postings. There is no right or wrong way, rather, it’s what works.
On the other hand, marketing the actual properties compared to years past has changed completely. The Real Estate Industry has always embraced technology in order to get the word out easily about properties. The electronic MLS (Multiple Listing System) was one of the first major enhancements that facilitated showing properties. No longer did large big books have to be published constantly with listings; agents could now go into the computer list and print quickly. Now, with advancements such as IDX (Internet Data Exchange) the listings can be syndicated to other public sites for potential customers to search. Those customers can then initiate a conversation with the agent about properties they saw and are interested in viewing.
The biggest benefit now is being able to merge the two sides together. Agents can now combine the internet data feeds of listings into their own marketing portals. So, as conversations are started about how good an agent is, the potential customer can check that person out and see what is available on the market for sale and get in touch with that agent immediately creating the relationship. No longer does an agent have to go out seeking customers; the customer can come to the agent via the web and social media. With Facebook Custom Fan pages, agents can post MLS listings in the area and start getting leads. The same goes true for any other online portal. Solutions are available to incorporate the same data there too giving customers more options to learn about the agent and connect.
The options are virtually endless as far as how Real Estate Marketing Technology solutions can increase the bottom line. The question is where to begin and that’s where I can help.
Solutions for Real Estate
One of the new services we are planning on offering is solutions for Real Estate. Those services will most likely include custom web sites and blogs for Real Estate Agencies and Agents incorporating an IDX solution to promote properties and enhance agent visibility.
There are many ways uses for an individual Real Estate Agent website. One concept is the use of a blog for promoting oneself. The blog site can do two things for the agent, help them tell about themselves and what they are doing in the field as well as promote current listings to prospective clients. By incorporating IDX feeds from the Multiple Listing Systems in NJ, agents can get more clients simply by just engaging them in a conversation while they are learning about the agent.
More information will follow on what the actual plans and fees will be.
Posted in Internet Marketing, Promotions, Social Media | 
Tags: IDX, IDX Feeds, Real Estate, Real Estate web site | 
No Comments »
Jersey Shore WordPress Themes
The New Jersey Shore has gotten some attention with HBO’s Jersey Shore with Seaside Heights being the hosting city. Just as in the show, the Jersey Shore has been a vacation hot spot for summer going back decades. From the beaches to the night clubs, Seaside Heights and other cities along the Jersey coast have provided a meeting place for singles and families alike.
In the next few weeks and months, I will be posting two (or more) WordPress Themes of scenes from the Jersey Shore. Some topics may include the following spots:
- Belmar
- Seaside Heights
- Point Pleasant Beach
Hoboken NJ WordPress Theme
New Jersey is famous for several important cities and Hoboken is one of them as it was home to Frank Sinatra. This town was one of the worst towns for decades and then saw a renaissance in the last decade making it one of the most sought after places to live for young people with Washington Street as the key street in town.
Therefore, I have created a WordPress theme showcasing the main street of this little city located on New Jersey’s Gold Coast on the Hudson.
Features:
- WordPress 3.0 compatible
- Title header
- Custom menu (optional)
- Large photo banner of Washington Street
- Two columns
To Download:
Save the Washington Street, Hoboken WordPress Theme to your computer.
To install:
Method 1
Go to your WordPress admin panel > Appearance > Themes
Click on “Install Themes” tab
Click “Upload” (link just under tabs).
Browse Computer for file.
Click “Install Now”
Click on “Manage Themes” tab
Locate “Washington Street Hoboken” theme and click “Activate”.
Method 2
Unzip “wash_st_hoboken_1.zip”
Upload/FTP contents to folder /wp-content/themes
Go to your WordPress admin panel > Appearance > Themes
Enjoy the theme Courtesy of SAK Information Systems, LLC.
Social Media Steering SEO
Social Media is steering the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) world. It is no longer just an extra thing to be involved in. Being active with social media means the now means the difference between getting found by the search engines quickly and not being found.
Just a few short years ago, just having some decent back links and good keywords positioned properly promised good results. As I have found in the last few weeks working with a client on two independent sites, the more often I changed content, the more visitors came via search. That’s were social media is steering the cart.
Since social media is updated routinely and sometimes multiple times a day, the search engines are now keeping an eye on these sites. Whether it be Google Plus, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook or blog, these sites mean business to the search engines. When they are attached to your URL, I can almost guarantee that you will see changes to your website.
So, if you haven’t already begun using some sort of social media to promote your brand, start today. Your reputation is being powered by social media and your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is depending on it.
Posted in Social Media, Uncategorized | Tags: blog, Facebook, Google Plus, Google+, Search Engine Optimization, SEO, Social Media, Twitter, Youtube | No Comments »
Strategic Collaborative Marketing
Strategic collaborative marketing is a style and system of marketing. Marketing is a science and getting the word out about a product or service is vital to business. It is a known strategy that one cannot use just one method to market products and services. There needs to be at least two in play for each campaign. This goes for Internet marketing as well as traditional marketing principles. The more people who are spreading the word about your product or service the better off you will be at making money.
One of the oldest methods is to reciprocate marketing of services. Reciprocating services is one example of strategic collaborative marketing. If your product or service fits into the business strategy of another business, consider asking if they would put out your cards and flyers if you did the same for them. Another strategy is to offer coupons or discounts to customers referred to you by a strategic partner. This is a win-win situation for both of you. The other thing that could be done is to offer your services to them and vise-versa as a means of standing behind your products.
We all can’t provide the same services and be able to afford the start-up costs for adding additional services. By partnering with another associated business, you can take advantage of their expertise and they get yours as well. This method allows for businesses to work together and have synergy.
In order for many businesses to succeed, there has to be a unified strategy and a collaborative one. This planned initiative is considered strategic collaborative marketing.
Posted in Promotions | Tags: Collaborative marketing, marketing, strategic marketing | No Comments »
Google: The New Microsoft
The other day I was watching TV and saw an ad for Google Chrome. The various scenes in that ad which all had to do with Internet Marketing and cloud computing using Google Docs, made me think. With all the new tools that are coming out from Google such as Google Apps, Chrome and the Android OS for smartphones and tablets, is Google becoming the Microsoft of the 21st Century? It seems like it as just about every new mobile device not made by Apple is using the Google Android IOS. This is basically where PCs were twenty some years ago.
The other thing about Google is its dominance in the Marketing arena. All the major tools we in the Internet marketing field use are from Google. There are a few tools outside the rink, but for the most part all the decent and known solutions all are coming out of Google’s camp. The one nice thing about the solutions is that they are not under attack yet. Everyone seems to be happy with Google’s dominance in the Internet realm.
The most interesting thing will be the competition between the Android based devices and Apple’s devices. The Android based devices are all Flash friendly compared to the Apple OS devices coming out into the market. Yes, the new version of HTML might phase out the need for Flash, but does that require jumping ahead of the gun and not supporting it? Obviously Google sees the need to keep it around awhile just as Blackberry does. There are more things that I could get into about this, but this discussion is on my other blog, MyFavoriteTechie.com.
Overall, I think the products that Google has given to us have been great and more keep coming. As I said earlier, the interesting thing will be where Google goes in the future between Internet marketing and operating system development for a new generation of computing devices.
Posted in Cloud Computing, Internet Marketing | Tags: Android, Google Analytics, Google Dos, HTML 5, HTML5 | No Comments »
The Future of Telephony
Alexander Graham Bell new thought that his telephone invention would change the world in the way it has. The strange thing is that even though advancements have been made to his invention, it has pretty much stayed the same in how the connection is made. From the beginning, the connection was always by wire. Now, those long distance wires seem to be disappearing as we move to a wireless and Internet based world.
People, both individuals and business, have been migrating from being chained to their desk phones for hours are now relying more and more on technologies that “cut the cord” and allowing more flexibility and mobility during the day. Right now, the residential phone service market has been moving more toward depending on their mobile phones for regular usage and the land line has been taking the back seat as no one is ever around to answer it.
Businesses on the other hand, have been taking a hybrid approach. Businesses have the option of using mobile phones in addition to their traditional desk phones for the times when business leaves the office. Now, there is another newcomer in the mix, IP telephony. IP phones allow the desk phone to go mobile anywhere there is an Internet or data connection available to the user. That could be their home office or mobile smartphone.
Somehow I think that with the roll out of LTE (Long Term Evolution) mobile broadband, cellular phone service and IP phone service will converge into one solution. With the increased bandwidth of LTE, data speeds will become equivalent to office and home Internet connections allowing for improved voice and video communications. If these technologies combine, there will be a definite change in the telephone from the way that Mr. Bell designed it.
Lastly, with developments in software based PBX systems in the open source market, the ability to have phone numbers for multiple geographic areas converge at one switching point will allow for people to have an inexpensive solutions to being able to be everywhere and anywhere and not miss a phone call or need multiple physical phone lines.
Posted in Cloud Computing | Tags: Alexander Graham Bell, Business phone service, IP Telephony, Long Term Evolution, LTE, Residential phone service, Voip | No Comments »
Inspiration from a Theme Park Attraction
When I was looking for inspiration to move into the business Internet Technologies solutions business, I could not help but reflect and look to one of my favorite Disney theme park attractions. That one attraction which became and continues to be the core source of inspiration is Spaceship Earth at Epcot® in Walt Disney World.
The lesson which I continue to carry through the business today is that man has always had the need to communicate with others. Whether it be a new discovery or an item to market, humankind has always found new and innovative ways to spread the word. From the beginning of recorded time to the Renaissance and all the way to the current Information age, we continue to seek out new ways to communicate, share information and develop new solutions to share our thoughts.
Just as Gutenberg’s printing press changed how printed information was published, the Internet has done the same but in an electronic manner. Whether we rely on web sites, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and other interactive online communications methods, we are sharing with the world at large our findings.
We don’t know what will come next, but together we will continue to develop new means of communications with one another. From today, we will build a better tomorrow, therefore tomorrow’s Internet is being born right now.
Posted in About the Company | Tags: Epcot Center, history of communication, Spaceship Earth | No Comments »
Get More Results with Soft Marketing
Getting product to market is very important in order to see sales and return on investment. The trick with marketing nowadays is the approach to which marketing is done. Customers are tired of the obnoxious methods of marketing which very rarely yield conversion. The methodology which seems to be the most successful is soft marketing or “un-marketing”. What do we mean by this? The best way to make a sale is to build a relationship first with the customer and then the customer will come back to purchase the product from you. Yes, you do need to market the product traditionally, but do it with a friendly approach. People are not going to buy if they are pounced upon.
There are many ways to market products to customers softly. Some of those methods are through publications such as email newsletters, blogs, newspaper articles and the like. Another method is by just establishing a relationship with personal contact either face-to-face or with remembrances of special days like anniversaries and birthdays. People will come to you to purchase whatever product or service from you because they like you and remember you for what you did for them. The product becomes irrelevant to the situation. Greeting cards do a great job of this.
One company which has seized this niche is SendOutCards. They allow people to easily send custom greeting cards to customers for various reasons. By sending a card for a birthday or any other special day, the customer will come back to you for whatever product or service you may be offering. The best part of the product is that it ends up being cheaper than traditional cards purchased in the store. I can attest to this system because I am a customer myself and have found it to be inexpensive and efficient.
I can’t share enough how many people have tried to get me to buy into things by slipping them past me via lunches which were intended to be friendly. Personally, I don’t like being sold goods this way as it rushes the relationship. Buying a product is similar to dating someone. There has to be a period of getting to know the person before a bill of goods can be sold easily.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Relationship marketing, Send Out Cards, soft marketing, un-marketing | No Comments »
