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According to reports, 80 percent of potential buyers begin their search for a property by using the internet, which indicates that most homes in the UK are sold online. However - that couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, only 4 percent of homes are sold digitally, which suggests that there is a breakdown in buyer-agent communication sometime between the initial search and making an offer which is affecting the UK property market. The question we need to be asking is at what stage this breakdown takes place, and why it occurs.

Of course, the communication breakdown could take place once an estate agent has been chosen and the buyer is searching for properties. Poor user experience and a need to register information at an early stage could certainly be contributing factors. But maybe the communication breakdown comes much earlier than this - before the potential buyer has even made it to an estate agents’ website.

Using SEO Methods

A study into the current property market, and current trends, has concluded that, overall, online estate agents in the UK are ‘not very findable’ from search engines alone. Despite this, what we do know is that SEO is a primary focus for today’s businesses, suggesting that, in terms of the property market, content marketing alone isn’t enough to truly strengthen an online presence. The property market is struggling in part due to a classic case of poor marketing techniques by online estate agents.

It’s quite ironic that online estate agents place a heavy focus upon promoting the value of online directories for their buyers and sellers, encouraging them to use listings to aid their sales and purchases, and yet they aren’t utilising this beneficial marketing technique for their own businesses. When advertising directories were first launched in earnest - in print - they worked, and they work well. Directories haven’t stopped working - they perform the same task they always have done - but consumers are today wanting the ease and convenience of the web.

That’s why ‘emarketplaces’ are thriving. Essentially, they’re the same listings that were once in print, but in a format that fits in with modern, digital lifestyles. When used correctly, online directories fill in the gaps that SEO and content marketing cannot, driving traffic to the front page - a page that’s often overlooked by search engines due to a lack of search engine optimised content. For those working in the property sector, SEO alone isn’t enough to sustain high rankings and ‘findability’ - it needs to be used in conjunction with a marketing method that directly drives traffic, increases awareness, and boosts online presence.

Yazoomer.com is a leading online directory offering global promotion for small to medium sized businesses looking to strengthen their online presence. Sign up to Yazoomer today and take advantage of our introductory offer, get 3 months advertising for just £1. Our worldwide customers will be charged the same amount in their local currency.

We would also welcome any feedback or comments that will help us improve our website. Please send to info@yazoomer.com. Your email address will not be disclosed to any third party nor used for marketing purposes.

The average worker in the UK today leads a busy lifestyle. Between work responsibilities, family commitments, and maintaining a healthy social life, less and less of us have the freedom to enjoy a relaxing stroll around town, checking out new shops, restaurants, or other places of interest. Instead, we’re getting most of our information quickly, easily, and conveniently from the web, which is why it’s never been more important for businesses such as restaurants to focus upon creating a powerful digital marketing plan to target the modern consumer.

According to studies undertaken within the sector, around 6 percent of all restaurant visits are influenced by the brand’s online marketing technique - or lack of it. It’s all about boosting brand awareness, improving local reputation, and solidifying an online presence through the wide range of digital channels available.

Restaurant.com lists directory optimisation - improving awareness through online directories - as one of the key aspects to prioritise when striving to strengthen an online presence, although other methods can also be hugely beneficial and effective. Advantageous online marketing methods for restaurants can include great SEO content to boost search engine rankings, social media advertising, and a website with good UX that keeps the consumer coming back for more.

However, it’s important to remember that it’s not just about marketing, it’s about effective marketing. Digital advertisements should include aspects that the consumer wants to see - information that would influence their decision regarding whether or not they wanted to dine at a certain eatery. Research indicates that an estimated 30 percent of restaurant-goers are influenced by the online display of menu details, 13 percent by the inclusion of the restaurant’s location, and 12% by mention of any special loyalty programmes that could warrant discounts.

Yazoomer.com is a global leader in improving web traffic and online visibility for growing businesses. Register today to enjoy all the benefits of online directories.

We would also welcome any feedback or comments that will help us improve our website. Please send to info@yazoomer.com. Your email address will not be disclosed to any third party nor used for marketing purposes.

Interesting findings indicates that 80% of potential buyers will search for properties using a single online estate agent, with ‘little duplication in terms of traffic’ and even less in terms of inquiries’ when comparing two major online agencies. This suggests that web-savvy buyers know in advance which estate agent they want to collaborate with - they’ve seen the brand before, they’ve remembered the brand, and they’ve visited the brand’s website. This heavily emphasises the importance of advertising for estate agents, and how it’s vital to utilise different channels to get the word out there and target the most likely demographics.

It Pays to be Internet Savvy

An important question is - what are the most likely demographics? Of course, this is challenging to answer as everyone from fresh university graduates to retirees may be looking to buy or sell their property, but one aspect we can be sure of is that these people are in-the-know when it comes to using the internet. Reports suggest that around half of all web traffic for estate agent sites comes from mobile devices, demonstrating a high level of understanding regarding internet usage. What this means for estate agents is that online advertising should be diverse, and cover many different sectors - anywhere that potential clients are likely to visit. This includes social media, online directories, and web pages.

Make the Most of Social Media

Social media advertising, for example, can be hugely beneficial. Sources suggest that around 67 percent of people on Twitter will automatically be drawn to an estate agent that they follow via the platform, while 79 percent would recommend a consumer-engaged agency to a friend. Similarly, content marketing can help boost search engine rankings, while online directories can help agencies evolve beyond their competitors. At a time when 30 percent of agencies are seeing not one but two new local competitors launch, there has never been a better time to focus upon online advertising.

Register with Yazoomer.com to learn more about the benefits of online advertising for those in the housing market, and for other industries. Offering free global advertising, Yazoomer.com gets the word out there, promoting your business, increasing web traffic, and strengthening your online presence.

62 percent of travel planners agree that their booking decisions are influenced by online channels - a statistic that’s up from 57 percent in recent years. This clearly indicates a greater reliance upon online information, and an improved trust in digital advertising, emphasising the growing need for hoteliers to allocate budgets for online promotion accordingly in line with these emerging trends.

However, even though 2015 is the first year that budgets for online advertising are expected to exceed the spend for offline promotion, an estimated 3 percent of hotels still do not have an online presence - something that is expected to have a significant impact upon bookings, reputation, profits, and sustainability within the digital age.

Accor’s Annual Report announced that 76 percent of bookings are now made online, suggesting that travel planners search online for suitable accommodations before making a reservation. This highlights the need for high search engine rankings and a strong online presence, which can easily be achieved through a good content strategy, brand promotion, and an engagement with guests through online channels such as social media and blogs.

An interesting consideration is how smaller accommodations can see the same successful results of online advertising as the global chains. There’s a simple answer - by imitating the marketing techniques used by these major brands. Online directories are utilised by 93 percent of hotel chains, according to research, making them one of the most beneficial forms of advertising for those in the travel sector.

Directories such as Yazoomer.com offer a user-friendly experience for hotels to showcase themselves and strengthen their online presence. Through advertising in online directories, hoteliers can enable visibility through major search engines, boosting brand awareness and ultimately increasing web traffic and bookings for both leisure and business guests.

To enjoy the benefits of online directories, including increased web traffic, register today at Yazoomer.com. With 2 months completely free advertising, you too can see how online promotion can really boost your business.