5 Reasons Homebuilders Should Market Their Homes Online
5 Reasons Homebuilders Should Market Homes Online
Online marketing has become hands down the most effective way for homebuilders to promote their listings
When it comes to promoting new homes, homebuilders have an array of advertising methods to choose from, including magazine ads, newspaper ads, flyers, and online advertising platforms. Print ads have long been the preferred advertising method for homebuilders, but the times are changing. Online marketing has become hands down the most effective way for homebuilders to promote their listings, and here's why:
Most home builders waste marketing dollars that could be put to better use
Research shows that print advertising for real estate is dying, if it's not dead already. According to the 2009 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, less than 3% of buyers found the home they purchased in a print ad. Yet, despite the fact that print advertising is clearly becoming obsolete, many homebuilders continue to allocate a significant portion of their advertising budgets to it. To determine whether print advertising is worthwhile for you, measure the success of the ads and let the numbers do the talking.
The majority of homebuyers start their search online
According to the 2010 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 88 percent of all home buyers start their search online. Homebuyers prefer searching for listings online because it saves time and enables them to narrow down their search prior to contacting homebuilders. Internet buyers visit half as many homes as traditional buyers before making a purchase.
Websites with integrated SEO return highly targeted leads
Effective online marketing enables you to target a highly specific audience. You can optimize your website for specific search terms in order to drive people who are searching for exactly what you offer to your listings.
Websites are more affordable than other marketing methods
Advertising on newspapers and magazines can get pricey, especially if you're selling multiple properties. A professional, search engine optimized website featuring property listings is far more affordable and engaging than print ads or brochures. Plus, you'll be able to add, update, or change the listings whenever you want if you invest in a website that has an easy-to-use content management system, such as efelle's FusionCMS. Online marketing also cuts sales-time costs and shortens home search cycles. Potential buyers can visit your website to view listings, learn more about your company, and read about different neighborhoods, even when your sales office is closed. Your prospects will also be able to get more detailed information and property photos from your website than they would from a traditional ad.
Internet buyers are better clients
A study commissioned by the California Association of Realtors showed that internet buyers purchased a median priced home of $452,000, whereas traditional buyers purchased a median priced home of $310,000. The study basically concluded that internet buyers tend to be wealthier and purchase more expensive homes. You could be missing out on a goldmine by not marketing your home listings online.
Make Your Internet Marketing Dollars Work for You!
Start with a new home builder website and online marketing package from efelle -effectively marketing new home listings online requires more than just slapping up a static template website and hoping that visitors find it. To ensure that your listings get seen and sold, invest in a professional homebuilder website that is optimized for the search engines and integrated with your social media presence. At efelle, we create easy-to-manage home builder websites that help you stand out from the pack and attract more qualified buyers. For more information, please call 206.384.4909 or fill out our website design form to set up a free consultation.