I always hear stories of industries that are slow to adopt new marketing technologies. Amongst them travel agencies and car dealers are regularly mooted as typically slow to pick up on new opportunities. Of course in any instance there are some great examples against that argument.
But that aside, I am yet to see any great venture into this new world of opportunities by that of our Real Estate Agencies. So, here it is….5 fresh marketing ideas for real estate agencies.
Sure, just about every agency is listing properties on the web to provide more content at the consumers fingertips. But it is now time to start adopting even more progressive technologies.
This post is not speculative, I am not dealing with the future, the following are 5 fresh and in most part unique marketing ideas for the real estate industry, ideas that can and should be explored right now.
For the agencies out there reading this post, ignore the opportunities available if you will, but don’t presume that your competitors are doing the same.
Quick Response codes
- QR Codes (think standard barcodes) are simply the two-dimensional codes that have been used for retail products for years. Now there is a great opportunity to expand on their use as they deliver users directly to your website, online video, send a promotional text message or much more. Try scanning the code to the right, you will find it directs you straight to the OnQ Marketing Twitter feed.
Let me walk you through an example combining the increasingly popular online video. You’re walking by or driving by a house with the traditional ‘For Sale’ sign, you decide to stop and check out what’s on offer. Ok, so it’s 4 bedrooms, close to all amenities, recently renovated,etc. The photos on the sign are great but they just don’t grab you and what do you know, you won’t be able to make the inspections listed. You move on.
What if the sign had a QR Code printed on it. You then use your new Iphone, Blackberry or Android mobile phone and scan the code. The code would then deliver an online video directly to your phone and you’re now experiencing a 90-second virtual tour of the property. Even if the property is not of interest to you, users can then share the video and listing information with friends via email, Twitter or Facebook.
The QR Codes can also be used to bring alive the number of pages of advertising you put into the local newspapers.
Bluetooth/Proximity Marketing
- Bluetooth devices blast messages to all Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones within the immediate proximity, generally a 100-metre radius. It is a permission based technology, so users must accept the message, thus easing privacy concerns. Messages can be basic sms text messages communicating a call to action or alternatively they can be media-rich content including TV commercials compressed to be delivered to the mobile device. Many Real Estate agencies are based in high traffic shopping precincts that have the foot traffic suitable for this technology.
Agencies have the opportunity to have a Bluetooth unit inside their premises blasting out a video promoting current properties, seeking new properties or general promotion. Or if wanting to expand on the idea, the message can be blasted from listed properties, just in case you don’t go past the ‘For Sale’ sign.
- Along with Facebook, Twitter is one of the key players in the social media market. Twitter is the largest microblog in the world and in this instance would be the preferred tool for the Real Estate industry.
Initially, the Twitter account can be used to share industry information, local property statistics, instant RBA updates,etc. It can then be expanded to share news of new property listings with links to a specific landing page or linking back to the online video discussed under QR Codes.
Twitter has an older and higher socio-demographic than Facebook and MySpace and this is just another key reason why Twitter should be the chosen social media tool of use.
Mobile Phone Applications
The rapid adoption of the IPhone and more recently of Google’s Android system has seen a number of businesses
designing their own applications, some useful, some simply so they can say they have a mobile app. The Real Estate industry is one that can legitimately benefit from designing mobile applications.
The app would use the GPS in the given phone to indicate on a map where the nearest property listings are under your banner. That gives you more selling power within the market and that looks real impressive to people looking to sell their house, trying to decide which agency. The app would be updated every few weeks as listings come and go. The app could come with a mortgage calculator, interest rate forecaster and local property results. (Maybe think advertising revenue - Mortgage Finance?)
Facebook Like Buttons
They are just about everywhere now but I am yet to see them used in Real Estate. They are so simple and provide such a great service. They are simply a button on different web pages, that when a browser clicks it tells every one of the browsers Facebook friends what they have just ‘liked’.
Now why wouldn’t you have a Facebook ‘Like’ button on each property listing on your website. When someone is browsing and they ‘Like’ a property, then each of their Facebook friends see this and hopefully check it out for themselves. It is a great way to drive traffic and again this is a great way to set yourself apart from your competitors.
It is an exciting time for marketers and consumers alike. The new technologies are providing all of us with a variety of channels in which to interact and do business and as a business or marketer, being the last to adopt the new opportunities will surely leave you on the business scrap heap. For if you’re not communicating with your customers as well or as efficiently as your competitors then why should they do business with you.
If anyone has anymore suggestions, I would love to hear them. Alternatively if you would like to discuss my suggestions in reference to your small to medium business please feel free to contact me.