My tech savvy, 89 year old grandmother uses Linked-In and Facebook to stay connected with her friends and relatives. When she wants to access product information, she frequents Google. While according to “The New Media Consumer Report: 2009”, by Edison Research/Arbitron Inc., my grandma may be an anomaly among people in her age bracket, Americans of all ages are embracing “social media” as a means of keeping connected with their contact groups.
Why does this matter and what does it have to do with your Realtor? Allow me to highlight a few findings of the Edison Research/Arbitron report for you…
Almost 9 in 10 Americans have Internet Access: This coincides with the National Real Estate Association’s report that indicates over 80 percent of home buyer’s start their search on-line. Does your Realtor have an up-to-date website and, equally important, can it be quickly and easily found via search engines? The better an agent’s website visibility, the more exposure your home’s listing will get.
Internet Access Trends: Approximately 69 million Americans watched a video on the internet in the week preceding the Edison Research/Arbitron report. Does your Realtor offer on-line video tours of you home? You Tube is a premier video sharing platform that your real estate agent can use to garner more broad exposure for your home and to get it sold more quickly.
Blogging: Of the Americans sampled for the Edison Research/Arbitron survey, 58 percent were familiar with blogging platforms, which reflected a 16% increase from the previous year. Homebuyer’s want local information, photos, neighborhood profiles and other important information about the neighborhood they are considering for relocation. Home buyers, as well as sellers, also want educational pieces on the ever-changing real estate market. There’s no better way to share such information than a real estate blog. Does your agent produce one?
Social Networking:
According to the Edison Research/Arbitron report, 34% of Americans have a profile on a social networking site such as Linked-In, Facebook, Twitter and/or My Space, which reflects a 10% increase since 2008. Creating and maintaining a presence on social media sites is another way Realtors can connect and stay current with Home buyer, sellers and other real estate professionals which, ultimately increases the exposure of your home to potential buyers.
It is obvious that my grandmother, who has never shied away from trying something new, “gets it.” She clearly understands that using social media is the cutting-edge means for staying connected with her audience, whether it is her friends, children, grand or great-grand children.
Does your Realtor use social network marketing? Realtors who fail to stay abreast of and utilize social media marketing strategies and internet technology to promote the interests of and inform their clientele – are clearly doing them a disservice. Make sure your Realtor is incorporating the use of social media in their representation of you to ensure that you are connected with your audience of homebuyers or sellers.
Michelle A. Potter
Denver Realtor
ReMax Professionals
