Post provided by guest contributing blogger, Stephanie Lloyd, Director of Marketing at The Lipman Group Sotheby’s International Realty in Nashville, Tennessee.

At Sotheby’s International Realty® we pride ourselves in artfully uniting extraordinary properties with extraordinary lives. Each listing requires a skillful marketing plan that includes print, digital, social media and mobile exposure.

Google and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) recently collaborated on a joint study to better understand how consumers begin their home search. We were not only impressed by the findings, but encouraged to continue our innovative and skilled approach with each property for sale throughout our global network.

Report Highlights

• 90% of home buyers searched online during their home buying process

At Sotheby’s International Realty, the brand is constantly refining their websites and listing distribution efforts to other popular home search sites so that each property receives optimum digital exposure. In addition, the brand recently launched a redesign of their websites which includes enhanced search functionality and more focus on property images.

• Buyers use specific online tools during different phases of the home search process

Buying a home is a significant and deeply personal investment. The study found that the majority of consumers, whether first-time or repeat home buyers, research the various stages of home buying online. At whatever stage of the home buying process, the brand strives provide the most useful information possible, including the articles posted here to this blog, and the local expertise which is offered across our global network of real estate professionals. For instance, individuals looking to purchase a home in the Nashville, Tennessee area can refer to The Lipman Group Sotheby’s International Realty blog for lifestyle and market related information.

• Mobile technology connects online to offline home buying

All of the brand’s technology is easily accessible via mobile devices.  With GPS capability, the brand’s mobile app enables you to search nearby homes for sale while driving or walking through your ideal neighborhood.  Download the Sotheby’s International Realty mobile app here.

• Real estate related searches on Google.com grew 253% over the past four years

Sotheby’s International Realty employs an interactive strategy that involves search engine optimization efforts that continually build a trusted relationship with Google and other search engines. In fact, there were over 7 million visits to sothebysrealty.com in 2012!

• Video satisfies buyers’ research needs

The study found that 86% of house hunters use video to find out more about a specific community and 70% use video to tour the inside of a home. The study also found that YouTube is the top video research destination for house hunters. Sotheby’s International Realty’s dedicated YouTube brand channel strives to be the industry-leading video experience and highlights the highest quality videos from locations worldwide. 

Many thanks to our guest blogger, Stephanie Lloyd from The Lipman Group Sotheby’s International Realty, Nashville’s premier real estate firm dedicated to artfully uniting extraordinary homes with extraordinary lives.