- Posted by Admin on February 20, 2010
New research from the NAR has revealed a vastly different demographic for home buyers that begin their search online. found here
The first bit of good news is that home buyers that start their search online spend twice as much time preparing for their purchase which, arguably, points to the idea that they are more prepared when it comes to making a home buying decision. The second bit of good news is that the median income for online shoppers is higher than tradtional buyers.
Traditional Demographic:
- 51% Married Couples
- 25% Single Females
- Median age: 55
- Length of search: 6 Months
- Median Income: $57,800
Online searchers:
- 61% Married Couples
- 20% Songle Females
- Median Age: 37
- Length of Search: 12 Months
- Median income: $75,500
- Posted by Admin on January 5, 2010
There is no doubt that having a niche in larger markets is of benefit to you. Sure, there are a lot of ways to
distinguish yourself in a larger market, but few quicker than finding a particular niche that you can cater to.
A recent NAR report showed that couples are actually declining as buyers while home sales among singles
are increaasing. Let's look at the numbers:
| |
1999
|
2009
|
Couples
|
68% |
60%
|
Single Men
|
7% |
10%
|
Single Women
|
15% |
21% |
The rise in single women buying homes went up 6%. Maybe a growing trend?
That's the key though, find the trends that mix with your interests and make those your strengths.
- Posted by mikel on September 14, 2009
Extend your learning! Increase your knowledge! Build your Business! Through AgentExcel Webinars!
We are pleased to announce that we will be holding a 4-part fall series on Social Media for Real Estate Agents.
Below is information on the first part of the series. Class will be held on 9/22/2009, 11:00AM (PST)
If you are not able to attend, sign up and we will send you a copy of the transcript.
Webinar 1: Get Connected
This webinar will provide you the tools to get connected and to position yourself so that when the
market comes back in full swing you are ready to excel!
- Is it possible to find you on the internet or have you Googled yourself?
- Do you Blog? Should you? What would you say? Who would Listen?
- What does Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Zillow, and craigslist mean to the real estate industry?
- What happens when your clients try to find their own listing on the internet?
- What does a buyer find when they go online searching “homes for sale IN YOUR AREA?”
For more detailed information visit www.agentexcel.com/webinars. See you there!
- Posted by craig on July 24, 2009
by Craig Moore, VP Sales and Marketing,
AgentExcel
On a daily basis, I have clients and students ask me to what search engine tools
do I use or recommend for Real Estate Agents o use. I decided to list them for
you to review.
If you search Google for “SEO Tools”, you will likely find pages filled with
tools like the following: link
popularity checkers, density analyzers for keywords, Keyword suggestion, keyword
verification or saturation. Many of these sites are useless, so I suggest
running away from the website very quickly as these are not worth much in the
real world of search engine marketing anymore.
If you ever have any questions on SEO tools that you might be skeptical on or
that you like, feel free to
email me and ask. I am always
willing to help or learn, that’s what the internet is all about.
I have broken things down to 5 key areas.
1.
Google Tools:
a.
Google Toolbar Bar (see
my post on this)
b.
Google Webmaster
Tools
c.
Google Trends or
Google Hot Trends
d.
Google Zeitgeist
2.
Keyword Tools
a.
Google AdWords Tool
b.
SEO Book
Keyword Tool
c.
Wordtracker
d.
Keyword Spy
3.
Research, Competitive and Link Analysis Tools:
a.
SEO Quake
b.
SpyFu
c.
SEO Digger
4.
Ranking Checker:
a.
Advanced Web Ranking
b.
Google Rankings
5.
Analytics:
a.
Click Tracks
b.
Google Analytics
Let me know if you are getting great results with another tool.
- Posted by craig on June 26, 2009
As the real estate market tightened, agents suddenly got very honest with their clients and told them that spending advertising dollars in glossy monthly magazines was a waste of money. To many sellers (who think real estate agents are over-paid) this was an excuse for not spending money. Both parties are right. What you both want is for the listed property to sell quickly. Your job is to find potential buyers and show the property to them but when 85% of buyers start their search online compared to 0% did those 15 years ago your advertising needs to reflect this. Where do I advertise then? The simple response is “this is 2009 the same old advertising techniques we used in the 70's just are not as effective today”. Here's an example of a typical monthly add in a magazine (Circulation less than 30k) like "Homes & Land": Cost, for a full page ad average $500+; Results, seller sees ad and is happy, but you get few if any calls. Where as a PPC (pay-per-click) campaign might be seen by hundreds of thousands of potential clients and you only pay for the most interested of these. With a print ads, you have no idea how many people saw your advertisement. AgentExcel offers web marketing solutions that are tailored to get results, you might spend 1/3 of the money spent of a print ad but you will reach hundreds of thousands of targeted buyers per month; additionally, you will have access reports of how many people saw your ad and how many people responded (Sellers love to see this). Most listing agents know that their primary job is to market a property to sell for top dollar as quickly as possible but get lost in today’s rapidly changing internet solutions (remember a decade ago when Google was just starting out). We Can Help.
AgentExcel can help you to be more successful by stepping into 21st century and utilizing today’s resources. Contact us today Sales@agentexcel.com
- Posted by craig on May 15, 2009
There are many effective tools that can spread the word about your website available. Pay-per-click advertising with Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIN, and other Social Media Networks are great tools to reach a focus demographic. These are pieces in Internet Marketing Puzzle maze. Ideally you would devote your time and money to all of them, all of the time, but for many this is not realistic. Every Realtor® needs an Internet Marketing Strategy. A Internet Marketing plan that determines which of these tools to use, when and how to use them, and where and when to deploy your valuable resources, time and money. AgentExcel will look at your business and whether you are a multi-million dollar producer or just starting out, we can provide you with an Internet Marketing Strategy that will focus on your strength and give you the greatest return on your marketing dollars and get you more business. Contact us today to learn how to get more business from the internet!
- Posted by craig on April 21, 2009
What makes a website credible?
I just reread this article from http://captology.stanford.edu/pdf/p61-fogg.pdf and found several truths that stand up.
I found interesting that people were also finding websites more credible if they were more user friendly and if it noted that they had been a previous visitor. Does this make a website credible? You only have to look at something like Craigslist, ebay or Amazon - they recognize you individual.
Definitely, we can agree that commercial advertisements and amateurism are a definite website turn off. Although, I was surprised to see that their research noted that the younger respondents were more critical of glitches and typos.
I was impressed by the overall conclusion that there are many perceptions that the different demographic groups shared when it came to credibility. Real Estate agents must be cognizant of these facts primarily because to be successful they must reach an ever widening demographic.
- Posted by craig on April 16, 2009
Is your site CredibleBy Craig Moore
Is your goal as a real estate agent primarily focused on helping your clients find or sell property? If so, you likely want to gain your clients' trust so that you will be chosen for their continued and referral business. 
Conveying credibility through a Website is a challenge we all face, but real estate professionals are a unique case. They must convince potential clients of their credibility, experience and professionalism to such a degree that people they have never met are eager to contact them about what is likely to be one of their biggest transactions of their life.
A bio or resume can alleviate the lack of connection and increase the integrity of your site. A factual presentation of your experience can add valuable credibility to your online presentation. After all, the more credible your site, the more likely your prospects are to make contact with you.
A bio is most appropriate when incorporated into Website content, proposals, business plans, portfolios and press kits. As a bio is an important tool for presenting details about your business or yourself.
The First 10 Seconds!
The first few seconds of your online presentation are the most critical. You are attempting to convince viewers that you have what they want, so convey your expertise proudly. Ideally, your presentation should be no longer than a page, but in today's market, a one-page resume might suggest that you do not have enough experience. On the other hand, you do not want your bio or resume being boring or too long, Striking a balance is the key.
Should You Get Help?
Writing about ourselves can be a daunting task, as it can seem self-promotional or arrogant. However, there is a way to express yourself honestly without appearing arrogant or conceited: tell the truth. When information is conveyed honestly, it never appears smug. If you find it difficult to write about yourself, consider having a professional prepare your presentation. It is often much easier for an outsider to be objective about your experience, and to present it in the best light.
- Posted by craig on April 8, 2009