Recently Yahoo released statistics regarding how buyers and sellers choose a realtor. Most realtors spend an infinite amount of time building a client base through traditional marketing strategies, and trying to generate referrals from that base. However due to these recent statistics it would be a wise option to take a walk down that road less traveled.
Realtors are being found over 75% of the time through search engines. Focusing some of your Real Estate Marketing efforts to improve your success of being found through search engines is where all signs seem to be pointing.
Providing a destination where people can receive information on services you offer is where it starts. Making that destination more visible is where the importance of Internet Marketing plays a significant role.
The survey emphasized that almost half reviewed found agents that they had never heard of. From there it can be assumed that the other half could have been reaffirming their feelings for a certain Realtor after being introduced from traditional marketing strategies. This is where the importance of being visible takes place, if you cannot be found through a secondary resource the statistics show that the new client will not select your service.
A few statistics from the RealTrend article:
1) 74% of people who accessed an agent Web site got there with the help of a search engine.
2) 45% of respondents used the Internet to learn about agents they didn’t know existed.
3) 41% discovered special deals and promotions offered from an agent through the Internet.
While family and friend referrals will still play an essential role in developing a client base just being able to provide a source for verification should be at least considered.