Lynn Minnick

By Lynn Minnick

As a certified international property specialist (or CIPS), I was able to participate in a really fantastic webinar session offered by the National Association of REALTORS®’ Global division. The webinar was presented by NAR Director of Digital Engagement Nobu Hata, who offered very helpful ideas for developing marketing with a global customer base in mind. As a result, here are the items that I am considering implementing to attain a more global reach:

• Photos - They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but in this case it pronounces them in all languages. Go strong with well-composed, well-lit, well-staged photos. Use a professional photographer if the situation requires it. International buyers are visual buyers, too.
• Responsive Design – Does your Web site work well on all platforms? Because it has to. With so many buyers using their mobile devices to search for homes, especially those visiting from abroad, you need to be sure your site works on phones and tablets. Take the time to check.
• Blog - Sites with blogs get 55 percent more visitors than those without. There is so much you can write about, from lifestyles to transaction guidance. Blogging just two to three times per week is enough to really boost your SEO.
• Keep it Simple and Be Easy to Find – Fancy fonts look cool, but may not display correctly for buyers coming from places where that font may not exist. Keep it simple. Make your contact information easy to find, and cross-promote your online presence in other marketing materials.

The next step is taking my pages of notes, heading into a strategy session, and building an action plan. But the best take-away from this webinar was that all of the ideas work for growing both your international and local businesses.

Lynn Minnick is a REALTOR® in Connecticut known for her love of all things international, organic, travel and design. Connect with her at thegreenctrealtor.blogspot.com or @LynnMinnick.