Selling real estate is fun – cold calling is not (5/17/2013)
Many agents enter the real estate business because they like people, contracts and negotiations. But they then tend to ignore the un-fun part: lead generation.

Could a drone help sell houses? (5/15/2013)
Drones – remote-controlled miniature helicopters – could soon supply affordable aerial photos and videos of home listings.

Tips for stronger lead conversion (5/9/2013)
Many sales start as leads for agents who follow through, but a single phone call to a prospective buyer or seller isn’t enough, since some use fake numbers.

A different way to create real estate videos (5/8/2013)
To create videos – which buyers and sellers now expect – it takes only a smartphone, external microphone, tripod and some creativity.

How to score sellers when inventory is low (5/8/2013)
Most sellers think they’ll make money by waiting to list their home. Agents who can convince them otherwise using local market data gain a competitive edge.

The best marketing tool is still the most basic one (5/7/2013)
“Integrity” is more than ethics – it’s key to long-term success. Integrity breeds referrals, while its lack can seriously harm a real estate business.

Realtor.com visitors will get more homebuying help (5/6/2013)
Move Inc., parent to NAR-owned Realtor.com, acquired Doorsteps, a program that helps buyers commit to homeownership and prepare for it.

Quick, one-day home sales have benefits and pitfalls (5/3/2013)
In a “flash sale,” an agent tries to list a home and secure a contract on the same day. It may encourage multiple bids, but can also leave a seller with doubts.

My face is not my brand (4/25/2013)
Some agents put their photo on all marketing to build recognition. Others, however, believe headshots take the focus away from an agent’s real estate skills.

Oil the hinges: Open House Weekend is here (4/19/2013)
Put your best façade forward, says NAR president. Sellers should prep their home for visitors as buyers are creating checklists and gassing up the car.

Send-Call-See: A formula for success
 (4/16/2013)
As part of the strategy, real estate pros should send something – market updates, info – every 21 to 45 days to individuals in their client and prospect base.

Branding consistency: Color is key (4/11/2013)
People relate to colors emotionally, and consistent use in marketing can boost client recognition 73%. But select the right colors for your market niche.

Can a hot Realtor get more bang for the buck? (4/5/2013)
Study: Attractive agents tend to get higher selling prices, but listings linger on the market longer, perhaps because it takes clients more time to build trust.

Are higher-priced new homes a bargain over time? (4/3/2013)
Builders have started telling buyers that new homes are better because they cost less to operate than existing homes, though the buyer pays more upfront.

Divorcing couples could be lucrative sales niche (4/2/2013)
Selling homes to newly married buyers can be fun; but it can be profitable to sell homes for couples ending a marriage if an agent has patience and compassion.

Home listings: 20 seconds for love at first sight (3/25/2013)
A study on how people view online real estate listings found most spent 60% of their time on photos, 20% on property descriptions and 20% on agents’ comments.

NAR does beta test on agent rating program (3/21/2013)
Is the best defense a good offense? NAR launches pilot program in which buyers and sellers rate their Realtor, though public viewing of reviews is optional.

Language key for non-short-sale listings (3/21/2013)
If a listing says “not a short sale,” it sells 8 weeks sooner for 2% to 5% more money, per a study of 5K Boca Raton homes by Florida International University.

Real estate videos a growing trend (3/18/2013)
Video could become the new norm. It allows agents to provide info in a way that buyers can easily access without reading long text or moving between web pages.

If the photos aren’t good, the tech doesn’t matter (3/13/2013)
You can Twitter, Facebook or post listings on mobile phones, but one thing hasn’t changed: Good photos sell homes; bad photos send buyers to the next listing.

Beyond social media: build your digital footprint (3/12/2013)
Marketing today isn’t about reaching clients – it’s about clients reaching out to you. Use social media to engage with the world and become a thought leader.

Is it what you know or who you know? (3/12/2013)
A referral, by definition, is a lead sent by someone you know. However, working with friends brings unique issues, and bad news can destroy some relationships.

Marketing opportunity: Every Door Direct Mail (3/8/2013)
At a postage rate of 16 cents, agents can target every home in a geographic area they specify – no need to create a marketing list to generate leads.

More companies decide content is king (3/7/2013)
Keywords have lost some power over search engines, but good content – the info readers hope to find – can have staying power, especially if it goes viral.

Pinterest meets real estate (3/6/2013)
Clients who fall in love with listings react to Pinterest-style photos. An emotional photo of a back porch sunset, for example, could spark a home showing.

How will a new Facebook tool impact real estate? (3/6/2013)
It’s who you know and perhaps how many. Facebook users can soon search their friends’ friends for a “ female real estate agent in Miami who speaks Korean.”

Some agents still skeptical of revamped Craigslist (3/4/2013)
Craigslist updated its interface, but agents continue to avoid it, fearing a lack of quality control that leaves Craigslist vulnerable to scam artists.

Increase engagement on Facebook’s business pages (2/25/2013)
Long-term success usually comes to agents seen as familiar, likeable and trustworthy – traits that can shine through on Facebook if done correctly.

No trust or rapport = No sales or referrals (2/22/2013)
The top “trick” when talking someone into using your services is not to talk – listen. Secret to successful real estate sales is to be trustworthy and likable.

Lean on affiliates for website, Facebook content (2/20/2013)
Realtors need to be writers thanks to web and social media sites. But affiliates – home inspectors, appraisers, lenders, etc. – could be tapped for content.

Some listing buzzwords work – and some don’t (2/12/2013)
Buyers think certain words mean something else, such as “charming” for “small.” Be specific. “Gourmet kitchen” doesn’t say much; “granite countertops” does.

Beware of ‘creative’ descriptions when listing homes (2/11/2013)
“Completely remodeled kitchen” sounds better than “new appliances” and could net more showings. But “puffing” can offend buyers who might submit an offer.

Turn your sphere of influence into your sales force (2/8/2013)
Agents can’t rely on ads as much as they once did – there are too many out there, and consumers tune them out. Consider word-of-mouth and trust marketing.

Canadian agent uses sexual innuendo to sell homes (2/7/2013)
There can be a fine line between great marketing and inappropriate behavior. Critics say an effective campaign in Canada also undermines safety for other agents.

Some brokers bet on just a few sales (2/5/2013)
Some niche agents work only a few trophy properties each year. They spend tons of money to market uber-upscale homes in exchange for eye-popping commissions.

Build leads by making websites addictive (2/4/2013)
Instead of only posting listings and buy-sell pitches, some brokers create neighborhood hubs and create long-term relationships by engaging non-selling owners.

Twitter: Fastest growing social network in the world (1/31/2013)
Tech report: Twitter use grew 40% in the past year. The number of Twitter users over age 55 grew 116% in six months; those 45-54 grew 81%.

3 big social media turn-offs (1/30/2013)
Agents use social media to connect with potential clients and build relationships, but certain behaviors do the opposite. Avoid these mistakes.

Builders roll out marketing campaign: New is better (1/29/2013)
But the target audience isn’t just homebuyers – it’s also Realtors who could find a new sales niche. Still, builder-agent relationships aren’t always ideal.

Is agent floor time making a comeback? (1/29/2013)
Some offices no longer offer floor time but maybe they should. Floor time can increase revenue, generate leads and keep agents in touch with the market.

Realtor complaint website shut down (1/25/2013)
The site allegedly posted fake reviews that it would take down for a fee, but it quickly faced objections from Florida Realtors, NAR and others.

Yelp offers cheap marketing for real estate agents (1/25/2013)
Yelp.com – accessed by more than 25 million users each month – is a largely under-used resource for capturing real estate leads.

A ‘syndication bill of rights’ for listings? (1/21/2013)
A nonprofit real estate group is pushing to create an industrywide standard for listing displays on Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, etc.

A picture’s worth more than 1,000 words (1/14/2013)
A study of 4,077 home sales finds that a listing photo raises value as much as 3.9%, but it also adds 16.5 days to its time on the market.

Social gaming ideal for real estate marketing? (1/10/2013)
Century 21’s name appears within The Sims Social Game. The theory: Name recognition by a group that fits the first-time homebuyer profile.

Market listings to entire family, not just parents (1/8/2013)
Keep kids in mind when selling to a family. Provide info they deem important, and suggest spaces they could use for play or as a media room.

Long & Foster offers each listing a website (12/18/2012)
A wave of the future or a marketing technique? One broker will create a unique webpage for each listing it holds.

Forget ability – clients must like you first (12/13/2012)
Rational thinking doesn’t always drive selection of a Realtor or home – emotions do. That makes likeability important.

Selling ‘lifestyle’ instead of ‘investment’ (12/4/2012)
Buyers no longer consider ownership a sure-fire route to security, but promoting a “better lifestyle” still sells homes.

Technology can’t replace boots on the ground (12/3/2012)
It’s cheap and easy to tour properties online. But Realtors need personal visits to uncover flaws and make comparisons.

‘Tis the season to stay connected with clients (11/28/2012)
Two big opportunities: Everyone shopping is prepared to buy, plus it’s a great time to reconnect and request referrals.

Sharpen your blog writing skills (11/26/2012)
Lots of keywords that optimize your search engine ranking don’t do a lot of good if no one enjoys the writing.

Use Florida Realtors Residential Price Index to help home sellers (10/16/2012)
Florida Realtors Residential Price Index helps sellers understand local price trends and its impact on current value.