First Things First

**Waterfront Specialist** · 09-01-2010, 04:37 AM

According to a 2003 NAR survey, 71% of homebuyers use the Internet in their search, up from 41% in 2001. Needless to say, the Internet has affected the way we market and sell real estate.

While most agents understand the importance of marketing online and readily purchase a web site, they usually do not put in the time to make their investment truly effective. Whether this is due to unrealistic promises from their website designers, a misunderstanding of how the Internet works, a lack of time, or a lack of direction, many web sites are falling far short of their potential.

The first thing to realize is that you must take an active role in creating a stronger web presence for your practice. Our web strategy guides outline the key concepts you need to understand in order to do this.

**florida real estate** · 09-06-2010, 09:43 PM

I agree with you. Nowadays internet market has become everything and that is why we are forgetting the original way of marketing our business. But the reality is that all people prefer to search things on internet rather than roaming here and there. But one thing would say proudly that there is nothing like traditional marketing.

**jyang** · 09-06-2010, 10:14 PM

The reason why internet marketing would fail for realtors is because they lose the essential part of what makes offline marketing great: being personable. Those realtors who fail at internet marketing fail to make their website personable enough to get those phone calls from the web coming in.

When you are driving clients around and having conversations with them, you slowly build those personal relationships. However, on the internet, you have to let visitors know that you are real, not some dude who wants to get commission like an e-commerce sale.

**gotlivechat** · 09-15-2010, 08:29 PM

Does NAR have a more recent survey than from 2003? The percentage of buyers/sellers using the Internet has to be significantly higher since then.
It's certainly easier to do real estate research nowadays; you can get tax info, past sales information, school info all from the comfort of your home at any hour...

**marykaichini** · 09-16-2010, 02:36 AM

I agree that very few agents take care of the site and online promotion, although it can increase their profits in many times. But I think the situation will change soon.

**francinebourne** · 09-16-2010, 11:16 PM

Taking the advantage of internet which rapidly growing most of businesses today have their own website to promote their products or services. Internet is really helpful specifically in real estate online.