RealTown's RealTalk

My website designer has included tabs on my website for buyer and seller articles as a method of lead capture. These articles range from buying/selling a home to home to moving with your pets.  I've seen similar tabs on many webistes and am wondering what the degree of interest is from potential clients for this type of information.  Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Barb Szabo

ReMax Trinity

440-263-7496

Hi, Barb!

Just as I agree with Saul that listings should be widely distributed (as long as the broker knows where they are going and that they're intact), I strongly believe real estate news and advice is an effective means of attracting and cementing relationships with consumers.

The problem is that news and advice as a features is usually promoted incorrectly and the content is wrong for the agent, the consumer, and the market.

Everyone knows where to find listings, but what does a consumer do once they've browsed homes? Where do they start? 

Each consumer has a unique set of personal goals to address with the purchase or sale of a home. Add to that, local market conditions vary broadly, and there may be buying programs, community news and other data that buyers wouldn't know about simply from viewing listings. 

Barb, when I keynote to MLSs and Associations, one of the things I always say is that the MLS must think in terms of marketing listings to the public, as well as cooperation and compensation issues. I suggest they link news and advice to listings. For example, if a home qualifies for some kind of program (first-time buyer tax rebate, rural zero down loan, historical society grant, etc.) SAY SO. That information should come from the agent, but sometimes the agent doesn't always know, so the MLS can help.

I've staked my future on the belief that the local real estate industry should be in charge of real estate news and advice - not the media. Hope that helps.

Blanche Evans, evansemedia.com

Editor's Note
Good for you Blanche. Nice to see your posts...hope we see more of you here on RealTalk and RealTown.Saul