Real Estate Agents - Getting More Sales from the Internet

Some estimates say that more than 60% of people looking to buy or sell real estate go to the internet first when they begin their search for real estate information. And as agents and brokers become more net-savvy, and more and more people get online, that number will only increase.

That means that the hottest sources of real estate prospects, leads, listings and sales is online. Which obviously means that if you are a Real Estate Agent, or if you provide a real estate service, you need an online presence.

Establishing an online presence

Most people have no idea how to create an online presence. But the truth is, it is fairly straightforward, once you understand how the internet works.

It's all about getting traffic to your website, and then having a website attractive enough to attract the attention, and get the responses of your website visitors.

How do you get traffic?

There are two well established ways to get traffic to your website. Both of them involve the major search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN.

The first method is to run advertisements that target the buyers or sellers you want to reach. There is no better way to advertise than by using paid search advertising -- what is called "pay-per-click" advertising.

The second method is to promote your website so it comes up high in searches. Most people begin their search for real estate information by typing a search term into their favorite search engine. The list of possible sources that the search engine gives you is called "organic" or "free" results. You place high in these searches by impressing the search engines with the importance of your site. When you come up in the first few spots in "free" searches, you are virtually guaranteed to get "free" traffic -- because people will click on your link and be taken to your site.

Pay-Per-Click Advertising

Most real estate agents are used to traditional advertising methods such as running ads in real estate publications. And they think it is necessary to pay between $ 250-$ 750 for one insertion that may or may not bring them any responses. That is the major problem with traditional advertising -- it is expensive, and it gives you no guarantee of response.

But pay-per-click advertising is different. On the one hand it can be targeted to reach the precise target segment you want to reach -- for instance, people looking for real estate in your town or city.

On the other hand, you only pay for "clicks" when someone who is potentially interested in your service clicks on your ad and visits your website. This is the revolutionary advertising concept that has made Google the hottest and most dominant player on the web.

But pay-per-click advertising can also be expensive and difficult to manage. Fortunately there are ways of establishing an online presence without paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars a month.

Search engine marketing - Search Engine Optimization

As mentioned earlier, the other way to generate online traffic is to promote your site so it comes up high in organic or free searches. This is called "search engine marketing" and involves two important components.

First, it involves creating a website that makes it very clear who your prospective visitors might be. This process is called "search engine optimization". You "optimize" your site to include as many references as possible to the subject matter you want to focus on, and the target market you want to reach.

For instance, if you are trying to reach potential home buyers in Sarasota, Florida, then you must make it clear that your site is about "real estate in Sarasota." You must build as much content into your site about Sarasota as you can.

Since most online business people do not know the "tricks of the trade" when it comes to search engine optimization (SEO), they hire an expert who does. Unfortunately there are no guarantees when it comes to search engine optimization. Even with sites that have been highly optimized there is no guarantee that the search engines will reward you with a high ranking. Nevertheless, it is an important exercise to go through, and is one of the foundations on which to build your search engine marketing.

Search engine marketing - Linking

The other component of search engine marketing is to get lots of "inbound links" pointing to your site from other sites. An inbound link is a link on someone else's site that makes a reference to yours.

Links give you two important sources of traffic. First, visitors to the sites where your links are found may actually click on those links and visit your site. This is especially the case if your links are on high traffic pages that are highly relevant to your service.

Second, inbound links impress the search engines. When the search engines find lots of links to your site in various places around the web, they interpret this as an indicator of the importance of your website. And that in turn results in the search engines rewarding you with higher rankings in free or organic searches.

Inevitably that results in traffic. And if your website is written to get results, traffic should convert to sales.

If all of this sounds a bit overwhelming, it is best not to simply throw up your hands in despair and concede all of those potential online customers to your net savvy colleagues. The fact is there are very inexpensive ways to cash in on all that online gold. You just have to keep looking until you find the right people to work with.

Rick Hendershot is the president of Linknet Promotions Inc., who specialize in online real estate marketing using "Lead Producer Websites". A Lead Producer Website takes advantage of all the most powerful search engine marketing techniques -- including search engine optimization, aggressive inbound linking, and pay-per-click advertising.

Real Estate Designers offers totally innovative solutions for your software development, Internet programming, real estate web design and hosting needs. Our service includes domain name registration and real estate web design. Real Estate Designers provides the complete solution including design, application development and marketing.

source: linknet-news.com

Summer Is Here! Consider Tackling Key Home Improvement Projects While The Weather Is Good!

Summer time means barbeques, baseball, camping, and yes, Home Improvement Projects! As the weather gets nice and the days get longer so do lists of home improvement projects. Here are a few projects which are best done in the summer maximizing the long days and the good weather!

Gardening/Landscaping: Depending on which part of the country you live in it may be too late to plant a garden from seed, but you most likely still have time to get your garden going using starters. Plant now, be sure to properly weed and water and you will enjoy your vegetables all fall.

Many landscaping projects can be done throughout the year but it can be easier and more enjoyable during the summer. Build a rockwall, plant some perennials, or put down a fresh layer of mulch. Working in the summer ensures the soil will be easy to work with and completing these projects now allows you to enjoy them for the remainder of the summer and fall.

Exterior Painting: In many parts of the country 80% of exterior painting gets done between the end of June and middle of September. The reason is the weather is more predictable and warmer; you don't have to worry as much about getting rained on in the middle of applying the second coat of paint. The summer months are also a popular time for staining decks. Not only do most people spend a lot of time on their decks during the summer and thus want them to look nice, but the long days are ideal for completing a re-staining job in a weekend.

Roof replacement: Summer is the perfect time to replace your roof because there is no chance of getting snow and the weather is more predictable so you can plan the best time to tear the roof off. There is nothing worse than tearing off your roof right before a large rain fall! Also, in the summer you don't have to worry about losing the heat from your home as you would during the cold winter months.

Screening in your Porch: To fully enjoy the outside without the bugs, screening in your porch is the only way to go. This project can actually be competed almost anytime during the year but will be enjoyed during the summer.

Get Air Conditioning unit tuned up: If you haven't already done so you should get your AC tuned up. Many units use close to 50% more energy when they are not running properly. With the rising cost of energy you can't afford to keep your Air Conditioner running below its peak.

The preceding is a list of projects which are best completed during the summer months. There are many other projects that are also completed during the summer but the ones above should be moved to the top of your list to maximize the weather during the summer.

Good luck and don't forget to make time to go swimming too!

This article was written by Gregg Hicks of http://www.reliableremodeler.com which provides Internet-based home improvement information and services. Offering homeowners a simple, quick, and free way to access, qualified home improvement remodeling contractors.

Real Estate Designers offers totally innovative solutions for your software development, Internet programming, real estate web design and hosting needs. Our service includes domain name registration and real estate web design. Real Estate Designers provides the complete solution including design, application development and marketing.

source: linknet-news.com

What Two Words Will Double the Space in Your Home?

Just two words and a bit of explanation about them will help you to double, maybe even triple, the space in your home now. Those two words are "Go vertical."

FUNCTION FIRST, LOOKS SECOND

That means that when you buy bookcases or other types of furnishing with shelves, make sure these items have five or six shelves. Two or three shelves per item are just wasted space. When it comes to home organization, you want to buy furnishings based on the criteria of function first and then looks second.

So if two items are both of acceptable appearance to you, always purchase the one that is most functional. If one item is slightly prettier than the other but the other item has more vertical shelving, cubby holes and nooks, choose that second item. The peace-of-mind you'll get from having a more organized home will be much more valuable to you in the long-run.


DON'T FOLLOW YOUR EMOTIONS

Always remember that stores want to sell to you based on your emotions. That's a fact. Most marketing research agrees with that statement. If the seller can hook your emotions, they're closer to a sale. For example, you see a pie safe cabinet that's outrageously priced but beautiful. So you say to your spouse who's shopping with you: "Oh, look at that pie safe cabinet. It's gorgeous. Look at that blue color. It's a little a high priced but maybe we can get it on credit..."

Stop right there!

As a smart shopper (and a smart home organizer), you want to buy based on what your brain tells you. So for example, now you look at that same pie safe cabinet and say: "Oh, look at that pie safe cabinet. It's gorgeous. What a pretty blue color. But we need something a bit more functional. That cabinet only has four shelves and the one next to it has six shelves and is cheaper. The second one is maple stained, not blue. But that's okay. It's still a handsome piece of furniture and it's more functional. We'll get more space to use in our home and more product for our money."

Use your head, not your heart, to make decisions about furnishing items for your home. Then you'll have functional home furnishings that double your home storage space. Think like a home organizer versus a home decorator. Think function first.

ANALYZE FURNISHINGS IN YOUR HOME NOW

Look around your rooms. Do you have a two shelf horizontal bookcase? Do you have a tiny three shelf freestanding pantry in the kitchen? Do you have a little three drawer jewelry or lingerie armoire in the bedroom? Go room-to-room and make a list of any type shelving unit like these or others (e.g. microwave cart, television cart/stand, etc.)

Unless these items truly hold sentimental value, it's worth selling them to a used furniture store or at a yard sale for a bit of cash. (I'll tell you why sell in a minute.) Or spend a few bucks to put an ad in your local "Pennysaver" type newspaper advertising the item for sale.

SELL HIGH; BUY LOW

Then negotiate with the potential buyer so you get the best price possible for the item you're selling. That means you must suggest a price that's beyond what you expect to get. Why? Because these days potential buyers will almost always ask you to come down on the price. In fact, I guarantee three out of four buyer prospects will try to get you to lower the price. So start high so they feel like they're negotiating the price down.

Why sell the item in the first place? Because you want to use the cash you make to upgrade to a taller unit of the same item. If you watch those home decorating/organizing shows on television, you may recall that there is a certain show that uses just this strategy. They have a big yard sale with all the participant's useless items and use the money to upgrade to more useful and stylish items for the same space in the home. The difference in the home is usually extraordinary at completion. You're striving for a similar method and outcome.

NOW DOUBLE YOUR SPACE

You want to use the cash to buy a comparable piece of furniture that serves a similar function as the piece you just discarded. You can even put the new furniture piece in the exact same spot where you had the previous piece. But make sure the new piece of furnishing is taller with more shelving or nooks. Remember, the big two word secret in this article is "go vertical." So in the end, you'll use the same floor space in your home but double its storage capacity.

And when replacing your items with comparable items, don't hesitate to buy used furniture (even from the same shop you sold yours to). If it's in good shape in regard to quality (e.g. no rotting, flimsy wood panels, etc.) but not exactly your favorite color, you can fix that. Get a four dollar can of spray paint and a primer spray coat and change the color. Or get creative such as use some pretty contact paper to redo the outside. And one final piece of advice: Don't forget to negotiate when you're the buyer!

Karen Fritscher-Porter writes about home organizing solutions at http://www.EasyHomeOrganizing.com

Visit http://www.EasyHomeOrganizing.com to read more than 50 FREE articles containing dozens of home organizing ideas and solutions. Plus subscribe to the FREE newsletter updating you about the latest home organization products sold in stores.

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Would You Steel Your Household Appliances?

Would you steel your appliances? That is a question many consumers are now asking themselves.

The "in" style

Stainless steel household appliances are the "in" style right now. People are being drawn to the clean look of stainless steel for their kitchens.

Stainless steel has become the fastest growing sector of household appliances. Not only for major appliances such as refrigerators and ranges, but even for small items like toasters, kettles, and bread makers. There seems to be no end to the demand for the steel look.

So if a kitchen-remodeling project is in you're near future then steel may be something you are considering.

Pros and cons

Steel can provide the consumer with a feeling of strength, simplicity, elegance, and durability, all at the same time.

Part of its appeal is the commercial or professional look it suggests to people. We are fascinated with, and drawn towards, all things shiny and metallic. To this generation steel suggests: expensive - professional -- status.

Consumers like the idea that stainless steel appliances always appear clean, when properly maintained. Also stainless steel is a very durable product. Hence, the reason it is the standard in the commercial area, including restaurants.

Stainless steel is becoming the new "white". That is, it will go with just about anything else in the kitchen. It will match most finishes of cupboards, countertops, and flooring you have chosen. You can match a classic design kitchen with an ultra-modern looking stainless appliance. This is a positive feature that has been discovered by both consumers and designers.

One negative about stainless steel is that it is very expensive to produce. So if junior decides to scratch the appliance door you should be prepared for a large repair bill.

Also, some people dislike the idea of having to work to maintain the clean look. Stainless steel does require persistent cleaning.

Fingerprints have always been a problem. Special cleaner is used to alleviate this problem. It leaves a light oily residue on the steel, which resists the fingerprints.

Rumors say that General Electric and Sears are both about to introduce a new stainless finish they claim will resolve this problem. It will involve the bonding of a transparent vinyl coating to the steel panels. If true, this will be a major marketing advantage for these companies, and a boon to consumers.

Steel, chromium, and nickel

Stainless steel is steel to which has been added chromium and nickel. This results in steel with a very hard surface that will resist both pitting and rusting.

The chromium gives it the characteristic shiny surface layer and the nickel gives it the non-magnetic character. So when your refrigerator magnets do not stick, blame the nickel.

If scratched, stainless steel can in fact self heal. A new layer of oxide will be produced that can cover over small scratches. But, since the surface layer is extremely thin rust can result if the scratch pierces this layer and exposes the base steel.

Stainless considered high end

Most manufacturers offer stainless steel appliances as part of their high end product lines. General Electric calls their stainless series Profile or Monogram. Frigidaire calls theirs Pro Gallery. Maytag, Whirlpool, and LG also offer stainless steel versions of their products.

Frigidaire has recently upped the stakes with the introduction of an even higher priced series called Icon. The Icon is an all steel finish that stresses clean and contemporary lines while maintaining all necessary functionality. Other manufacturers will be responding.

Fad or functional

Do you remember green, yellow, or brown refrigerators? How about turquoise stoves, or black washing machines? At one time these were all considered the "in" thing.

So is the stainless steel appliance just another fad?

I don't think so.

Stainless steel appliances are a style that has captured the public attention and will continue to do so. A style of appliance that continues to attract consumers in ever increasing numbers each year. So, whatever the reason that people love stainless, it would appear they will remain on consumer wish lists into the foreseeable future.

Real Estate Designers offers totally innovative solutions for your software development, Internet programming, real estate web design and hosting needs. Our service includes domain name registration and real estate web design. Real Estate Designers provides the complete solution including design, application development and marketing.

source: linknet-news.com

Getting Real Estate Leads by Harnessing the Power of the Internet

Every Real Estate Agent has a pretty good idea how important a website can be for generating real estate leads. It is a well know fact that something like 60% of all people looking to buy a home in the U.S. and Canada look to the web as their first source of information.

That means there are thousands of people looking to the web for real estate information about every community in the country. But relatively few real estate agents know how to tap into this huge mass of web surfers.

As an online marketer, your objective should be to turn your website into a lead generating machine. It is not easy. There are millions of websites that no one ever looks at, and many of them are real estate websites. In many cases these sites have cost hundreds and even thousands of dollars. But most have very little chance of getting much traffic, and even less chance of converting that traffic into leads. The reason is that they ignore some of the most basic and most important web marketing principles.

You are in for a rude awakening if you think it is a simple matter of setting up a website and then sitting back and waiting for eager home buyers and sellers to visit. It takes hard work to create a website that gets traffic. And it is even more difficult to turn a reasonable amount of that traffic into prospects.

Basics of Web Marketing - Getting Traffic

First, you must realize that most of your website traffic is going to come from search engines. In order to get people to your website you need to impress the search engines that your site is worth visiting. Whether you like it or not, you are in competition with every other Real Estate Agent in your community. You are competing for "clicks". And you can't get clicks if you're not coming up in a prominent place on that first few pages.

But how do you get there? That is the question asked every day by millions of people wanting to use the web as a marketing tool. The bad news is that it takes hard work, a fair bit of time, and considerable promotional resources.

The good news is that with persistence, patience, and a relatively modest amount of money you can successfully climb up the search engine ranks. And you will find that the payoff is substantial. Once you develop a "web presence", the number of visitors to your website will gradually become a steady stream.

Getting good search engine ranking boils down to these basic things:

1. Define your website's target audience. In the case of Real Estate sites the target audience is normally defined in terms of location. Make it very clear what location you are serving. Ask yourself "What search terms would someone use who is looking for my service?" Normally it will be something like "Real Estate in My Town" or "My Town Real Estate."

2. Focus your website's content on your target audience, and give them the kind of information they want. Usually this will be listings, information about your community, or general real estate information and services. Don't get bogged down with trying to present a cool "image", or impressing people with your accomplishments. People always want to know "What's in it for me?"

3. Keep your content fresh and updated. Make changes and additions on a regular basis. This keeps the search engines coming back to scan your new content.

4. Get external links from other websites. Links from other websites bring traffic, and also tell the search engines that your site is important enough to link to.

Turning Visitors into Prospects

Getting visitors to your site is the hard part but it is not the end of the story by any means. If you can't convert some of those website visitors into prospects, then you have wasted time, energy and money, and squandered a golden opportunity.

What is a prospect? It is someone who expresses an interest in using your service. Web leads are usually generated when visitors send an email message asking a question or looking for further information. Often they fill out a form on your website that says something like "Fill in this form for further information."

The obvious conclusion is that your site should make it as easy as possible for people to contact you and request information. The best way to do that is to have a contact form on every page. That way if they see something they are interested in on a given page they do not have to click around looking for a place to get in contact with you. The form is right there on the same page.

Equally important, you should offer different types of information and services in order to encourage responses from your web visitors. Free reports, free home evaluations, hot listings, regular newsletters -- these all serve as enticements to get web visitors to respond, and in so doing, become prospects.

All of these things can be automated to a large degree. By using what is called an "autoresponder" you can send an instant response to anyone who sends an inquiry. For instance, you might offer a "Free Report on How to Get Your Home Ready to Sell for the Best Price." When visitors fill out the form requesting the report, your autoresponder sends it out automatically without you having to do anything. At the same time you receive notification of the inquiry so you can follow up later. You can even have the autoresponder follow up with a series of messages about other services you offer.

By using these and other similar techniques you can take advantage of the awesome power of the internet, and turn your website into a 24/7 lead generating machine.

Real Estate Designers offers totally innovative solutions for your software development, Internet programming, real estate web design and hosting needs. Our service includes domain name registration and real estate web design. Real Estate Designers provides the complete solution including design, application development and marketing.

source: linknet-news.com