Website tips for Real Estate Professionals

The real estate industry is undoubtedly being reshaped by the internet.  For years Realtors have held a monopoly on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).

While this is still true, more efficient online models have caused sellers and buyers to rely more heavily on web-based services and some of these buyers and sellers are choosing to bypass the Realtor all together.

That’s the bad news.  Here’s the good news.

Realtors can still compete in this climate, they just have to shift their value proposition.  They must anticipate what buyers and sellers need and provide that service.  The web actually makes this pretty simple.

Here’s what I’m going to assume in advance… 1)  You already have a website.  2)  You are already on Twitter and Facebook.  3)  You’re already blogging regularly.  4)  You’re already know how to publish video to the web.

Boosting value for sellers.

1. Use your blog to promote the best features of each listing.
2. Create a new blog category for each listing and promote it prominently on the homepage of your website.  Site visitors can then easily see all the posts associated with each individual listing.
3. Make video tours for each listing using an inexpensive digital flip cam and post these videos on your website and on social networks that allow it (youtube, vimeo, ning sites, myspace, facebook, etc.).
4. Post links to your blog posts on your Twitter and Facebook feeds as you write them so that your friends and followers can see and share your listings with their friends and followers.
5. Make a document describing this process to show to prospective sellers.  This lets them know that you are taking significant extra steps to get them extreme visibility.

Note:  Everything I just mentioned (minus the cost of web hosting) is essentially free after you make the initial investment of getting a website and digital flip camcorder.

Boosting value for buyers.

1. Try to find everyone you’ve ever known on Facebook.  This is by far the most significant tip I can give to any Real Estate professional.  I am constantly hearing success stories of Realtors using this strategy.  Reconnect with people in your past, let them see what you do (based on your updates) and profit when they eventually need a Realtor (or when someone they know needs a Realtor).
2. Share neighborhood information on your blog (and post links on Facebook and Twitter).  As a Realtor, you bring great value in the form of intimate information about the various neighborhoods in the region you cover.
3. Form relationships with people who can make the buying process easier.  Highlight online relationships with lenders, title companies, moving companies, landscapers, carpenters, painters… anyone who can make buying a home less stressful.  Highlight these relationships on your website.
4. Share success stories on your blog.  Get permission from your buyers to share their stories on your blog/website so that future potential clients can see the people you’ve helped in the past.
5. Share honest, unbiased news about what the market is doing.  This will show prospective buyers that you have integrity and that you will always look out for their best interest.

Conclusions

I feel strongly that the Real Estate market will continue to change at a rapid rate over the coming years.  Agents that thrive will be those who anticipate change and shift their value using new mediums and strategies.

What do you think?  Am I on to something here?