The Official HomeRoute Blog

“Sticky” Publicity Campaigns for REALTORS

In a changing real estate industry, traditional advertising is becoming less effective. The HomeRoute Insider read an interesting article exploring how real estate agents can gain a competitive edge by creating positive publicity in their community and through their websites to stand out in their market. The article, written by Joe Cook, speaker and entrepreneur with public relations experience with his local association of REALTORS, offers inspiration for agents to showcase their community involvement, how to write press releases, creating authentic taglines and how to give your website “stickiness” that will entice and interest online home buyers.

For inspiration for your business plan going into 2007, check out: Sticky Business: Three Ways to Catch, Hold and Keep Your Customer’s Attention.

Why the Internet is a Tool, not a Threat for REALTORS

Many agents are finding that the Internet is enabling better communication with clients and prospects. When used to its fullest potential, the Internet can be the best tool to preserving the critical “relationship” focus of the real estate business. The HomeRoute Insider read a great post by West Coast Real Estate agent, Kevin Boer, titled: Why the Internet will Never Disintermediate Realtors – Part 2: It builds, not erodes, the relationship. In the post, Boer discusses how the Internet “excels as a relationship-building” tool because communication through the internet can be "targeted, tracked, tweaked, and timed."

Read Boer’s entire post at: http://3oceansrealestate.com. This post is a continuation of Boer's Part 1 Post, which can be read here: Part 1: It's the Relationship, stupid.

Cost-effective Web Techniques for Real Estate

As the real estate market slows to a more normal pace, agents are looking for ways to generate business through cost-effective, internet-based technologies. HomeRoute's Technology Watch read a helpful review by Inman News of strategies agents are using today to incorporate the latest technologies into their business plan. According to a recent Inman News Conference“Blogs, wireless devices, off-the-shelf Web applications, video, virtual offices and paperless processes are among the examples of Internet-powered tools and techniques that don't require a huge investment of time and money before they pay off.”

Review the following article for examples of how agents and brokers are using technology to produce innovative online tools that are drawing in more business, virtual office technologies to trim operating costs and making property information more readily available to improve communication between consumers and agents: http://www.inman.com.

Software Connects Agents to Buyers in Real Time

HomeRoute’s Technology Watch uncovered a new website application that allows your site’s visitors to connect to you immediately via text message when they see a property of interest on your listings website. The Mobile Connect technology by Cell Signs Inc. allows agents to be sent a text message of an inquiry that is submitted on their website. “The click-to-text application can deliver a question, message or other information posted from a website and send it immediately to a selected customer service representative, sales contact or agent’s cell phone via text messaging.” Additionally, the new IM Connect application allows a home buyer to immediately chat with an agent in real time using Instant Messaging technology.

To read reviews of this new technology, check out the following two articles: CellSigns, Inc. Launches ‘Click-to-Chat’ and ‘Click-to-Text’ Services for Real Estate Professionals and Texting, IMs Bring Consumers Closer to Real Estate Agents.  Learn more about pricing and options at http://cellsigns.com.