Real Estate and the Internet: A Lucrative Match

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Author: Mary French

Article source: http://www.articlealley.com/. Used with author's permission.

As the real estate market continues to boom, homebuyers are looking for a simple way to answer their questions without having to do a lot of work. Since the Internet is becoming the easiest way to access information about almost anything, why not put the two together?

According to a study conducted by the National Association of Realtors in 2005, the use of the Internet to search for a home has risen from 2% in 1995 to 77% in 2005. With so many buyers turning to the Internet to search for a home before they even contact an agent, it's important for the agent to have all his or her information available online, including all the local listings from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), if allowed. This is especially true with the competitive nature of the real estate industry. If an agent doesn't have a fully equipped website, the buyer will go somewhere else for information. And they definitely have many other options.

Over the past five years, says the NAR survey, the number of agents with websites has increased 129%, leaving those without a website far behind the pack. Many agents cringe at the mere thought of creating a personal website, however, but the relationship between real estate and the internet shouldn't be intimidating. It should be intriguing. Never before have agents had direct access to so many people with whom they would not normally reach. In terms of lead generation, only referrals and repeat clients rank above the Internet as the most effective methods of gaining new business. Many have jumped at the chance to take advantage of this opportunity and are already investing heavily in internet marketing.

In 2006, 56% of agents spent more than $1,000 on technology and 30% spent $2,000 or more. As so many agents are becoming technologically savvy, it is becoming a necessity to market online to level the playing field with the competition and appeal to the millions of prospective buyers seeking answers on the Internet. However, with online marketing, you get what you pay for. It's amazing that many real estate professionals continue to produce sub-par websites without any regard to how they might be perceived online. With 77% of the potential market going online first, why would you spend the majority of your branding efforts and resources elsewhere? Gone are the days where a free website produced by "my sister's kid" will produce results online. In fact, these sites stand out like a sore thumb in the new world of online marketing. If you don't have a professional, polished and complete site you will actually hurt your business in the long-run.

However, creating your own website takes some time and effort, which many of us don't have to spare. That is why seeking some experienced help could be the ticket to successful, stress-free online marketing.

To take some of the edge off, a digital marketing professional can assist you with many aspects of your website, such as helping you with your User Interface (UI) and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy, and assisting you with your overall online marketing and advertising plan. Your job is to provide the information the clients are browsing for, such as home buyer tips, recent mortgage rates, relevant articles and MLS data as well as the money to make sure it's done correctly. If the thought of paying somebody to get you online is discouraging, remember this old saying: You have to spend money to make money. Agents who have mastered this mantra are reaping the benefits.

Mary French
http://www.idxbroker.com