Advertising Is Going Social in a Big Way

Real estate advertising increasingly is moving to social platforms, with N-Play recently launching Facebook apps for agents and consumers. The Real Estate Agent Directory boasts more than 180,000 member real estate professionals, and IDX Home Search lets agents in some markets import their MLS listings to their Facebook business pages. Facebook is used by 79 percent of real estate professionals to promote themselves and their listings, while 48 percent use Twitter and 29 percent use LinkedIn, according to a study by Postling. Some Realtors say Facebook is more personal than e-mail when it comes to connecting with buyers and sellers, allowing them to share a mix of listings, market data, and vacation photos and other personal information. It also allows them to advertise at no cost, unless they want to pay for an advertisement or sponsored content to show up on the Facebook pages of those living in a specific geographic area. Even this form of marketing is more affordable than print, radio, and other forms of traditional advertising, as they are charged only for the number of impressions or clicks and the amount they pay is determined by their daily or lifetime budget. ZenithOptimedia predicts online ad spending will outpace spending on print ads by 2015. | Read More