Newspaper vs. Internet

Posted on 21. May, 2009 by Wendy Forsythe

In real estate we have already seen the value of newspapers virtually disappear in terms their power to attract buyers. The following chart is one that I recommend every agent have on hand during a listing appointment. It clearly shows where buyers are finding the homes they buy, and it’s not the newspaper.

So agents, if you haven’t already, please consider stop spending your money on the wrong marketing vehicle. If you don’t believe me, your broker, NAR stats, and maybe Seth Godin’s input will help influence you.

“Prediction: there will be no significant newspapers printed on newsprint in the US by 2012. So, you’ve got two and a half years before the newspaper industry is going to be doing something else with the news and the ads, or not be there at all. Does that change what you do today if you work in this business?

Insight! The newspaper industry is in trouble, but news is not going to go away, just the paper part. Those who are working hard to preserve the paper part are asking the wrong questions and are doomed to fail.

Prediction: 90% of your sales will come from word of mouth or digital promotion by 2011. How do you change what you’re doing today to be ready for that?”

An excerpt from Seth Godin's blog

COMMENT:

This is important for us not only as real estate
professionals but also for you the consumer. If you want to put your house

on the market choose a realtor
that not only uses social media but also it is part of their business plan.

The days of selling your home in print advertising are soon behind us. As the
graph shows 37% of home buyers found their home on the Internet.

Now that doesn’t mean they didn’t use a Realtor but they found their home
through some sort of internet media and then contacted the Realtor either
directly or through their agent to view the home.

If you want to personally sell something of yours where would you promote it?