The Internet gives you the means to increase
your listing rate dramatically. Are you taking
advantage of it?
Certainly, you should list your homes in a place
like Realtor.com - the sheer volume of customers
greatly improves your visibility to your targeted
audiences.
You can get more listings even faster if you
actively promarket yourself to your online community.
Think about it. The Internet is more than just a
repository of information - friends, neighbors, special
interest groups etc gather in thousands and thousands
of locations. In other words, your soon-to-be customers.
You can promote yourself wonderfully by establishing yourself
as a local authority in your community.
This is easy to do! Simply visit one of your community
forums (you can find links to them at On-line City Guide,
Yahoo!'s Get
Local,
or USA City Link Project.
Find your state and then your town - see what web sites have been
created where folks can find community resources. Once there,
check out the local bulletin boards or "Looking for realtor" ads -
if questions arise that you can answer, offering free advice
is a great way to compel customers to contact you further.
It doesn't end there, however. Are there any niches or hobbies in
which you are extremely knowledgeable? If so, find out where
associations
or organizations relating to them exist on the Internet.
Yahoo!
contains a listing of hundreds of hobbies/special interests -
if you join in a discussion and ensure your tagline as a REALTOR®
follows every post, chances are participants will remember your
name should they want to list or buy.
Is this a somewhat different approach? Certainly! Being
the first with an idea means you'll be the first to be contacted.
The more you get your name and your occupation out there in
front of potential customers, the more you'll be remembered
when the time comes to hire a REALTOR®. Hence, the more
listings you'll receive.
There is no limit to what you can accomplish publicity-wise on
the Internet. It just takes time and creativity.
Agent News Technology Advice
Published: April 7, 1999
Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
Editor's Note: This article reflects the opinions of Barbara Ling only and not necessarily the views of this or any other publication, organization or Website owner.
