Become a Neighborhood Expert via Blogging

I am not an expert in blogging, but I want to learn how to improve content and subject matter. True there are so many blogs, a real estate agent may have to think long and hard about what type of content to come up with on a weekly or even daily basis.

One approach to take is to strive to become a neighborhood expert. I know of two agents who have increased sales because they have taken a different approach to marketing. Most of their efforts to bring in new clients are centered around the Internet. It can be a sort of neighborhood place to meet and share ideas or just learn more about your particular area. You can update it with recent photos of the area, community news and happenings, future events, and other areas of interests. Below is a list of a few areas that you as a real estate agent can blog about. And if you don’t have the time, seek out the help of a real estate virtual assistant. They can do a lot of research for you that will give you good material to write about.

And depending on where you live you can emphasize certain subjects which will be naturally more popular than others.

• Your Local Area’s Real Estate News
• Your Local Area’s History
• Local Area’s Community Events
• Where Can I find the cheapest gas?
• Businesses
• Attractions and Sites
• Classic Dining Areas
• New Homes Under Construction
• Education (College, Schools, etc.)
• What’s New for Downtown?
• What the ‘burbs have to offer
• New Businesses
• What are the Marketing Conditions?
• Local Chamber of Commerce
• Buyers
• Sellers
• Local Culture
• Historic Preservation
• Home Repair and Remodel
• Active Listings

There are so many more subjects that you can come up with that will help establish you as a neighborhood expert. Your REVA can help you with SEO and other techniques that will help you receive more exposure over the Internet.

Blogging does not have to be tedious. It can be a tool to establish your neighborhood expertise. Neighborhoods are constantly changing and so you would always have something to write about. And potential clients are more likely to choose a real estate agent who is not only an expert but is genuinely interested in their neighborhood.

Roxanne Tidmore, NAR Certified REPA

www.EliteREVA.com

Real Estate Marketing in 2008 To Generation X

Real estate agents are realizing that they need to have a different mindset when it comes to marketing strategies in 2008. Since the growth of the Internet, more and more consumers are using the Internet to search for homes. And they would like answers quickly.

One question for the real estate agent should be what are the changing demographics of today’s buyers and sellers? According to Inman News, Bernice Ross (01/18/08), the median age of buyers is 39. Another demographic statistic is that more single female buyers are becoming homeowners.

Real estate agents have to realize that this generation of buyers is more tech savvy and their lives are very busy. The buyers and sellers want answers faster. They want to be able to find the information quickly. They come from different ethnic backgrounds. All of these factors and more have to be taken into consideration when planning a successful marketing strategy.

For instance, if you are marketing to a group of single female buyers, have you considered hosting a workshop that will teach pointers on buying a home? You can collaborate with local organizations such as churches, or the local chamber of commerce. I know of one real estate agent who did this and the turn out was very high!

But how can a real estate virtual assistant help you implement these strategies?

1. Research. The REVA can research the target areas you are looking to market to. For example if you decide to market to single women, the real estate virtual assistant can find out why more are deciding to buy homes. Such as a sense of ownership or investment appreciation. This way you can tailor your marketing to answer that question. The REVA can find out what they are looking for when searching for a home. Again, then you will be able to tailor your marketing efforts accordingly.

2. Communication. The real estate virtual assistant can contact organizations within your community that you might team up with to present workshops for potential home buyers or home sellers.

a. The REVA can also make appointments with professionals such as attorneys or financial planners that will be willing partner with you for the workshop.

3. Administrative tasks. The real estate virtual assistant will be able to help you create presentation materials for the workshops. Such as PowerPoint presentations, flyers, handouts, printouts, etc. If you prefer to go through a vendor for these services, the REVA will be able to coordinate all of the logistics for this phase.

These are a few of the ways that real estate virtual assistants can help a real estate agent with marketing in 2008. I would be interested to hear of others that have helped them be successful in their marketing efforts!

Roxanne Tidmore, NAR Certified REPA
www.EliteREVA.com