Online directories are today’s version of the traditional Yellow Pages. In fact, you’ll find YellowPages.com on the web along with industry-specific directories for every vocation from attorneys to zoologists. These directories differ in the amount of information they allow you to post, the search options they offer and the fees they charge. Costs for directories range from free to over $240 a year. Some are free with a reciprocal link exchange. Many real estate directories are actually lead-generation sites where a visitor fills out a “blind” form to ask for more information. Then the company contacts members of their directory to sell that lead or they sell it through other outlets.

Directory Listing-Pros: A directory listing generally is the least expensive way to place your contact information online. Popular directories may provide an opportunity for new business since they generate traffic. If your directory listing has the added benefit of a link to your web page or website, it could convert more prospects since they can “click through” to learn more about you. A directory listing is the bare minimum in web presence, but it’s a start, and the more listings you have, the better…”more needles in the Internet haystack.”Directory Listing-Cons: Directories typically limit your information and may charge extra for premium upgrades such as posting a photo or logo, being listed for more than one city, or having top-of-the-page placement. Also, if a directory depends on advertising for income, its pages may be cluttered with tiny ads and flashing banners, not exactly a professional image. AND directory companies often intercept customer inquiries to turn around and sell those leads to you and any number of other agents. If you want a web address you can add to your business cards, ads or flyers, a plain directory listing probably is not the answer. Most provide an address that’s long, unfriendly, and not suitable for marketing, such as: lottaagents.com/us/oh/785mcl28119v?asp.39071. Try putting that on a business card or typing it into your browser! Most don’t offer a search-by-name feature, so if a past customer wants to find you or refer someone, they can’t locate you without doing a search by city and state, then scrolling through the list until they find your name. Also, directories are frequently programmed in a format that doesn’t allow bookmarking “favorites,” which means a customer can’t return to your information without doing another search by city and state, then scrolling again.

Following are only a few of the companies offering online directories. (Costs quoted are subject to change.) These are not the highest or lowest fees but are typical of the industry:

Generic online directories: SuperPages.com, free. MagicYellow.com, free. Real estate online directories: ABCRealEstateDirectory.com, free with link exchange. REALS.com listing, $19.95/year. RealEstateABC.com, free with logo/link on your home page or $25/year.

About the Author:
Sharon Hassler was a loan officer and real estate agent in Southern California, then served as Communications Manager for First American Title-Arizona for 11 years. She specializes in affordable websites and search engine optimization for small businesses and is founder and manager of http://www.GoGetNotary.com, a nationwide directory for mobile notaries and notary signing agents.

Copyright Sharon Hassler. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint this article is granted if the article is reproduced in its entirety, without editing, including author’s information. When using this article in magazines or newsletters or online publications, please include the full URL or a hyperlink to http://www.SmallBusinessWebsitesOnly.com.

We have had the worst economy downturn I believe in history and real estate sales have suffered the most. The home values for most people have plummeted and it doesn’t seem as if it is going to turn around any time some. For realtors in this business, they have had to face how do I maintain the level of home sales I once had in spite of the economy.

Just like everyone else who is in business, tough decisions are being made on how to best use marketing dollars to get the biggest impact. Because the market for people who are looking for real estate is smaller, real estate agents are having to put in place a real estate marketing plan that market to those smaller leads.

If you notice real estate sales of late has basically been first time home buyers and investors. These home buyers are looking for a deal in real estate that will give them a lot of upside potential for when the economy does turn around. They are looking at foreclosures and possibly newly built homes. Existing home sales right now is almost none existence because the values of peoples homes have dropped so much they are willing to lose money on their home.

So as a realtor what can you do to generate real estate leads for home sales. Well one thing you can do is to advertise in first time home buyers market like wedding magazines and trade shows. How about advertising in college newspapers to market new college grads. If you want to target investors, advertise in the business section of you local newspaper, join business networks in your community, or have an real estate investment seminar.

There are many ways to maintain real estate sales in any economy you just have to adapt to what the market gives you. No matter how bad the economy is there is always a real estate market. I know many realtors have been struggling and I hope this article was helpful. Also read “Real Estate Marketing Strategies that Won’t Break the Bank“.

Development and implementation of real estate marketing strategies is an important part of buying and selling houses. Without some sort of marketing plan it is virtually impossible to locate realty for sale or buyers ready to purchase. Whether trying to buy or sell residential homes, commercial properties or raw land, marketing is the key to success.

The first stage of real estate marketing involves developing an overall plan. Marketing plans help investors establish their target market and identify buying habits of potential clients. Individuals interested in residential properties will have entirely different needs than those buying commercial real estate.Retired couples will have different housing needs than newly married couples or families with children. In order to sell properties investors must gather as much information as possible about their clients and the market.

One of the most common mistakes investors make is to gear marketing materials around their own successes. The first rule of thumb for any marketing campaign is to remove the marketer from the equation.

Although it is true that clients might be impressed that an investor possesses 20 years experience or closed mega-million real estate deals, they really want to know how investors can solve their problems or help them buy or sell property. Therefore, realty marketing materials should address how investors solve problems and overcome challenges.

The best way to start is to compose a list of common problems buyers often face. After identifying these challenges, create a list of how your investment company can solve each problem.

These might include addressing financing options for buyers with bad credit and those who have filed bankruptcy or lost their home to foreclosure. Realty marketing materials can help investors establish trust and build relationships by demonstrating how they can solve problems.

Another important aspect of marketing plans is to develop follow-up strategies. People rarely make important financial decisions simply by reading a marketing brochure or sales letter. In most cases, it takes an average of five to seven contacts with a person before real estate deals transpire.

Realty marketing plans should encompass the various tools investors can use to attract buyers. These might include developing a website; sending out letters, sales flyers, or postcards; follow-up marketing strategies; and advertising strategies such as billboards, signage, park benches, Internet marketing, or Classifieds ads in local newspapers or realty magazines.

Real estate marketing is an on-going process, so investors should plan to review their marketing efforts on a quarterly basis and make necessary adjustments. Technology is constantly evolving, so investors must make an effort to stay abreast of market trends.

Investors should consider hiring freelancers to help with marketing materials. These can include copywriters, graphic artists and webmasters. While hiring others initially costs money, having professionals design real estate marketing materials can save money in the long run.

The Internet is a great resource for locating freelancers and obtaining marketing advice. Consider joining investor forums, social networks, and real estate clubs to network with other professionals. By taking time to network, investors can find the resources and buyers necessary to develop a successful business.

Simon Volkov shares investing secrets and insider know-how of buying and selling investment properties through the development of a solid real estate marketing plan. Sellers and investors are encouraged to list their real estate investment properties via the “we buy houses” form at www.SimonVolkov.com.

Newspaper real estate ads are convenient sources of real estate leads.  The top reason why real estate agents put out advertisements by the hundreds and thousands of dollars in newspaper ads is this:  they need to acquire listings.  The simple fact of the matter is, most home sellers look at these newspaper ads.  Via this route, they then ponder and get to decide who or which is the real estate agent and company that does a great job of marketing homes. 

Newspaper real estate ads create an impression to home sellers that these real estate companies will just as similarly do a great job in selling their houses.  Usually, it is the bigger companies in real estate that also puts up the big newspaper ads. 

These large real estate companies also have a similarly big inventory of houses which they put out in wide two-page real estate ads in newspapers.  Chances are, the house that you are selling will be included in this large spread. 

Home sellers require that the houses they are putting up for purchase will have the most exposure and the ads in newspapers put up by such companies seem to fill this real estate need.

However, the risk in these types of ads are that the real estate company may have an additional of three hundred or four hundred more of these houses in their roster.  It all depends on luck and timing as to the number of times the house you are putting up for purchase will be seen.

Another reason for putting up real estate ads in newspapers is this:  it is done in order to gain leads.  There are numerous buyers who look at these newspaper ads.  And the number of readers and eyes that look on these ads are unlimited.  Or so it seems, because according to a survey profile of Home Buyers as well as Home Sellers, only a measly five percent of people who look for homes in newspaper ads actually make a purchase.

In effect, a total of ninety-five percent up to ninety-eight percent of newspaper readers do actually just that, they read and neglect or simply do not purchase real estate despite the number of ads put out by real estate companies.
This is a stark difference to the whooping fifty-three percent of buyers who actually start their search on newspapers and magazines. 

But the most important reason why newspaper real estate ads are so much used for snagging those real estate leads is because agents use this avenue as an effective means for self-promotion. The idea is that, the more their names are exposed and the more it gets to be familiar to readers, it is therefore highly likely that home sellers will come and get them when they are thinking of putting up their homes for selling.  This is a very subtle yet effective form of branding. 

Fortunately or unfortunately, though real estate agents know the value or the invaluable contribution that newspaper ads provide, they hardly inform home sellers of this fact.  It has also been proven that the real estate section of newspapers is its’ least read part.

Some home magazines go to the extent of touting that advertising in them would, more often than not, generate sales. Though it seems they offer the best value compared to the rates of ads in newspapers,  the survey shows that readers actually do little buying inspite of the highly glossy pictures the home magazines provide.  This even if in addition to the millions of people they call their readers, and the coast to coast reach of their magazine, the numbers show that their readers just read, and a very small percentage of them actually buy.  But it is also a fact that the two percent who actually buy may leave a bit of room for hope for the home seller, so what the heck.

In short, home sellers have been conditioned that advertising real estate in newspapers works, this even if real estate agents have surveys that prove otherwise.  This is because the benefits real estate agents get are just as money-worthy, and these are in the form of leads.  And in the world of real estate, leads are investments that could be worth a lot; if not now, it will be in the coming weeks, months or years ahead.

[tags]newspaper ads, real estate ads, advertising, marketing[/tags]