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Bhopu / Category /
Real Estate
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Posted On
Dec 08, 2007
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 For those who looking ahead to see the next Web 2.0 trend in the industry after social networking sites like Facebook, Youtube, MySpace, Linkedin, Orkut , the news is “get all set for the Real Estate Web 2.0”. The Internet turning towards more user-driven content based websites leaves me with very little doubt that it might turn to Real Estate very soon.
I can still recollect where the Real Estate Industry started from, people owning a home or selling their property for the first time didn’t know where to begin or what questions to ask. The Real estate sites handed information on buying/selling of apartments, houses or commercial properties, mortgage rates, local contractors and movers, etc. in newspapers and through agents.
But today the Real Estate market is no less than a $3 billion online industry, and have moved far beyond than newspapers and agents, it has taken a whole new dimension, so pull your socks before your make your mind to enter this online property business.
With the introduction on Online Real Estate Website the $11.6 billion real estate ad market shifted their focus to Internet to retain their classified ads. According to a study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that more than 70 percent of buyers begin their search for a house on the Internet on sites like Realtor, Rent.com, Yahoo! Real Estate, etc.
So is a usual infrastructure of a commercial real estate website sufficient to utilize and cope up with the new technological trends. My answer would be “No”. As the market goes tougher, the real estate professionals will have to rethink over the strategies and their online user approach. And my answer would be “Introduce yourself to the Real Estate 2.0 trend”.
Introduce yourself to Web 2.0
After writing quite a few posts on Web 2.0, it’s benefit to small companies and its trends, I have experienced the Web 2.0 craze and how it has affected everything from social groups to newspapers to politics. What I wanted to talk about is how can Real Estate industry effectively use the Web 2.0 tools to affect the real estate market and the way everyday people buy their homes. Just as a lot of other industries are taking help from Web 2.0 technology and trend, homebuyers and sellers can also slash out the third party information and marketing services. With the emerging Web 2.0 real estate websites and blogs consumers have able to play an active role in finding the home of their dreams by themselves.
How can Web 2.0 facilitate the Real Estate Industry?
To me, Web 2.0 has given a very significant shift to the real estate industry. Businesses today have understood better how to use Web 2.0 in a value-added way.
Improve the end user interface with Blogs 
Real Esate Blogging are the best ways RE professional can get their head out of sand and make an impact. With blogs real estate professionals around the globe can learn from each other and provide a constructive service to their customers through starting conversations. One of the best examples I’ve seen in this service is Zolve.com as they tap into the idea of social networking with RE professional around.
Commentary 2.0(Videos)
Most of us have heard of MySpace and YouTube, which have quickly become two of the most popular Web sites on the Internet today. With a number of people using off of cable or DSL connections, it gives RE professionals a great opportunity to use videos and images to interact better with the consumers. Companies like WellcomeMat and OnlineWalkthru have created highly useful tools specifically for the real estate industry.
Real Estate Networking
Social networking sites are soaring; websites like MySpace allows brokers to create their own interactive professional profile. While many brokers already have online profiles with their companies' Web sites, this next generation of Web site would allow for more dynamic information that can be changed instantly and allow brokers to better connect with each other. Since commercial properties are already widely market on the Web, this type of personal marketing would seem to make sense.
Blend diverse database of information with Mashups 
This is among the Internet's hottest phenomena; Real Estate sites can combine ingredients from different online sources to create intriguing hybrids. Just think of dozens of real estate listings plotted on a single online map to make house hunting easier. No more shuffling through a stack of printouts to find your dream home. I think Zolve.com and eppraisal.com does a good job of that with historical housing data and maps
Real Estate Wikis
Real estate wikis are natural for developing a critical mass of ongoing contributors because local content- the market, the neighborhoods - is dynamic and always changing. As with blogs, daily contributors attract loyal audiences. A good example of how real estate could embrace this Web 2.0 technology is Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia whose content is created, changed and updated by the general public.
Future of Real Estate Marketing
It does surprise me a lot that there are still many agents till date not aware of Web 2.0. The impact of social commentary (networking), listing distribution etc. etc. are issues that are largely ignored. There really isn't much choice in the matter though. But I think its time for some hard-hitting in the real estate industry, its no more like paying presentation to clients like it was few years back. Agents need to be more transparent with the consumers and adapt methods for the same. Gone are the days when a title company handled the entire agent’s listing marketing efforts. Nowadays consumers are more equipped with knowledge and information about the industry, so not having proper amount of product and industry knowledge can make an agent loose out on the best deal.
I believe that the new real estate sites will only endure if they know how to take benefit from significant and established Web 2.0 technology and tools. As the demand for new homes that was booming just a few years ago levels out, the ability for these sites to acquire new membership and advertising will undoubtedly decrease. Well, it will be very interesting to see how these sites evolve (and possibly merge?) according to shifts in the market if they choose to ignore the Web 2.0 sparkle.
Some Related Articles:
Zolve Blogs
Real Estate 2.0
Future of Real Estate Marketing
Web 2.0 Real Estate
Real Estate 2.0 Market Leaders
The Future of Buying and Selling Houses
Transparent Real Estate
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Posted On
Oct 18, 2007
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 There was a time when one of the most difficult aspects of being a Real Estate company was knowing what to say and when to say it. They all had that one or two questions they silently begged their client or prospect not to ask. Maybe it was, “We want to pay a lower commission” or, “We want to think it over”.
But today with the use of web as a primary media option for researching real estate the client interaction and the approach has taken a spin. More and more office management functions are now possible on the Internet, rather than on a single computer or in-house network. There are intranet applications that allow brokerages to share documents, calendars, scheduling, tasks and email all online.
A number of real estate websites already run on web today, and a few more gets added to the hub everyday. Making an effort to pull business many of such websites overlook the user benefit. But Zolve subsides this approach by launching its new real estate website that interests the common as well.
Zolve-Website excellence
Given the competitiveness of the real estate sales industry, a real estate web site needs to be inviting, highly interactive and functional. When done right it will attract and keep customers at your web site.
But some some real estate professionals miss out on effective website, as they don’t recognize how important this marketing tool can be.
Real estate design, website aesthetics and ease of use are three vital elements of the Zolve website. For users, this effective real estate web design can quickly take your business to the next level. The site provides users not only with a lot of informative content, but exactly what they looking for, information.
- Zolve carries a decent number of pages with each page holding specific user content.
- Zolve is a more interactive site as compared to the others floating on web, the interactive lady on the homepage helps even less technical savvy people locate their desired information.
- Zolve has made appropriate use of Web 2.0 technology to cater the interests of the users who look for more participation.
- Slowly but steadily Zolve will be adding more real content to their website that will interest a number of users.
Zolve-consumer benefit
With a huge coverage even before the site launch, is not very common. Its not just a normal PR campaign that worked well, instead the popularity comes because of over 2,200 pre-registered members that the site raise.
Real Estate professionals these days are a part of a number of real estate websites, but they look for a platform that provides a different and a better way to connect with their agents that gets them more business and the users improved services.
And Zolve just hit the nail here, as it approaches the real estate industry through social networking, a completely different approach in which real estate business that has never been looked at before
Since referrals account for a great deal of revenue for agents each year, Zolve gives real estate professionals a way to connect with a referral network of agents in any city, anywhere in the world. Zolve automates the entire referral process allowing agents to give and receive more referrals.
What makes Zolve distinctive?
Social networking
Honestly after spending much time on the site over the last few weeks, I have eventually noticed so many distinct features that I am sure not many real estate websites offer these days.
This is to a lot of people who think Zolve is yet another social networking websites, I would want to clarify here that Brain had made just the appropriate use of social networking feature. Getting people into interaction with each other benefits the users, as they have a better idea of opting out the best. This is not for people to make friends or look around for uploading party pictures, but some serious business.
Blogging
As we enter into the golden age of blogging, and the maturity of social media websites like Facebook, Linkedin, ActiveRain, and others. There is a trend emerging among real estate professionals as well. A number of realtors spend time networking, reading other blogs, participating in a community, or contributing in any way.
As we usher in a new generation of eager bloggers, Zolve knew how to apply it right? It offers a filter based blogging method that allows users to choose their readers while blocking it for others.
Blogging new posts every week helps users well versed with the real estate market conditions. It also helps users create a network with other bloggers, which further helps real estate professionals generate referral business. This is a big red ocean, so make use a much of it.
Customized profile page
One of the whole lot of features that makes Zolve a complete standout is the customization of users profile page. Zolve offers a unique and customized page to every meember that can be used as their online brand with pictures and blog content on it. The users can also use this page as their personal webpage. These pages will soon be search engine optimized as well.
Business Cards
 Zolve introduced a new feature called Business Card, which provides all the basic details for professional real estate members of Zolve. This card carries details like Person’s name, Company’s name, Primary market, Profession type and Star ratings that helps visiting members locate information about each and every member.
Worldwide referrals
Exchanging referrals with other professionals is something that is already happening everyday in the offline world, Zolve has just created a technology solution that enables it to happen more efficiently online. This unique and a revolutionary feature from Zolve allows real estate professionals to send or receive referrals worldwide, irrespective of national or professional boundaries.
The news of Zolve being live will certainly license Better Homes in days to come. Zolve has given something different than just being one of those monotonous real estate websites that runs in heaps today.
Zolve will surely make lots of its competitors crawl the wall, resulting everyone striving to give their best and more focused on building clear business models.
We all looking forward to Zolve’s show in the real estate industry in days ahead.
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