July 29, 2009
At UniqueHomeSites.com, we like to share ideas regarding real estate marketing on the Internet.
Today, we want to discuss something that many in the industry seem to ignore - great real estate marketing begins with great photos!
For consumers, there is nothing more frustrating than finding a listing through a search portal that passes the initial search parameters (i.e. price, location, size, etc), but fails to offer additional photos.
The typical reaction to a lack of photos is that something is wrong with the property.
In some cases, the listing agent may do this on purpose so that only the most interested home buyers will contact them personally for more photos.
Regardless, we feel that properties listed for sale on the Internet with only one or two photos are missing out on a huge opportunity to present their listing to as many Internet eyes as possible.
This is particularly true in today’s Internet age, where web surfers are becoming accustomed to open and instant access to information on-line.
One expert in this area is Larry Lohrman, operator of the Photography For Real Estate blog.
He offers some great tips and techniques for real estate photography, including the following tidbit:
“…the front shot is THE most important shot for marketing purposes.
Not only because Realtors have to use the front shot in all their marketing, but because of web site designs that make the thumbnail of the front shot the “lure” (as in fishing lure) that usually motivates the potential home buyer to take the first action (a click to look at more photos) that leads to a home buyer towards a home purchase.”
Fish on!
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Canada, Home Staging, Internet Marketing, Lead Generation, Listings, Photography, real estate marketing | 
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Posted by uniquehomesites
May 4, 2009
The folks over at 1000 Watt Consulting placed an interesting post on their blog the other day, which we believe hits the mark for real estate brokerages operating in today’s Internet age.
The post discusses 5 things that brokers should do to improve their marketing.
Here is a summary:
- Start thinking like a media company
Listings and Market Knowledge = Content… Start broadcasting them!
- Perform a vendor audit
Costs for things like bandwidth and online storage have dropped significantly in recent years, and new web-based applications are increasingly available at a fraction of the cost.
Have a look at new technologies and services and compare them to those offered by your existing vendors.
- User Testing
Conduct live user testing on your website to discover what they like and dislike.
Also, use free analytics software to analyze and track the performance of the content and design of your website.
- Perform a website makeover
Do some research and you will find that many of your competitors have poorly designed websites.
Stay ahead of the curve – Consider a redesign or cosmetic upgrade to your brokerage website.
- Differentiate!
Stay abreast of new applications or tools (i.e. Twitter, Facebook) and give consumers something to talk about!
Try to set yourself apart from the competition by offering something different.
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Advertising, Internet Marketing, Lead Generation, Marketing, Realtors, real estate marketing | 
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Posted by uniquehomesites
March 10, 2009
According to a press release last week from Sears Canada, the company has launched a Certified Real Estate Services program in the Greater Toronto Area.
Certification allows qualified sales agents to provide their buying and/or selling customers with 0.6% of the home’s selling price in Sears gift cards.
For example, a $250,000 sale price will get the home buyer or seller a $1,500 Sear gift card.
Sears Certified Agents are from leading brokerages, and are thoroughly reviewed for their sales abilities, licensing and professional achievements. They possess at least three years experience, and are knowledgeable and dedicated in the complete real estate process including: listing, home searches, negotiations and closing.
Currently servicing the GTA bordered by Oakville, Newmarket and Oshawa, they have expertise in their markets and know property values for the area, understanding unique benefits and issues of their communities.”
We’re not exactly sure how one becomes a certified agent. However, the services is operated by QV Realty Inc. in Toronto:
Phone: 647.728.4817
Toll-Free: 1.877.SEARS.51
Web: www.searsrealestate.ca
Email: contact@qvcanada.com
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Posted by uniquehomesites
March 31, 2008
In this month’s edition of Michael Russer’s ‘Ask Mr. Internet‘ column in the National Association of Realtor’s online magazine, he discusses how to generate leads from your web forms.
In fact, this is not the first time he has discussed the value of web forms in generating leads.
Back in August of 2007, he wrote an article entitled ‘Make an Offer They Can’t Refuse’, which offered techniques to get prospects to interact with your Web site by crafting appealing incentives that will set you apart from the competition.
To get consumers’ attention nowadays you need to step it up with an “irresistible offer” — the term I use for a special package, piece of information, document, or item that will be viewed as extremely valuable by your customers.
Examples of an irrestistable offer include:
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Local real estate market report
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Free home price evaluation (i.e. What’s my home worth?)
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Neighborhood discount coupon book
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First-time buyer teleseminar
This month, he offers three strategies to help get your web visitors to interact with you.
The forms on your Web site shouldn’t be an intimidating barrier to having online consumers engage with you. Instead, make them your welcome mat, a friendly inviting threshold that will help turn casual visitors into serious clients.
Strategy 1: Tell them they don’t have to complete it.
Strategy 2: Reassure them of their privacy
Strategy 3: Give them visual cues to complete your form fields
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Homebuying, Internet, Internet Marketing, Lead Generation, Listings, Pre-listing, Realtors | 
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Posted by uniquehomesites
March 26, 2008
Anne St. Dennis, manager of industry relations, communications and public affairs for the Greater Montreal Real Estate Board, was recently interviewed on InmanTV.
During the interview, Anne provides insight into how real estate boards can benefit by working together to consolidate their MLS systems.
She discusses her experience in consolidating data standards in the province of Quebec, leading to improved services among board members.
In reference to mls.ca, she dispels the myth that Canada has a national MLS, describing the website as a property marketing and consumer search site.
A true MLS is one which is used for use solely for real estate board members (i.e. brokers and sales reps).
Services of an MLS include tools that help real estate agents, such as:
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Advanced search tools for researching sales history
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Statistical reporting
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Agent website solutions
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Personalized hotsheets
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E-mail functions for sending CMAs, online reports and presentations
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Other customizable reports
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Posted by uniquehomesites
The Internet quietly turned 40 years old last month, as Leonard Kleinrock and others at the University of California celebrated the first time they (or anyone) got computers to ’speak’ to one another.
The legendary real estate blogger
The 
Word up to 
