Cons

It might take some time for users to learn new features. Is it going to be a problem for returning visitors to use the website? I think for a while yes but I don’t think they will be rolling new design soon.

What can owners of real estate agencies learn?

Even site as big as realestate.com.au are not scared of changing their website. I am sure they have done a lot of testing but there is always a risk of changes having negative impact on website. Only proper testing and measuring can tell.

Final thoughts

I hope that they will not be increasing the prices soon…

Listing has title “SPECTACULAR CITY VIEWS” which made me to click on link and see the apartment with amazing views. To my surprise the only picture on page is big logo of real estate agency. I can’t imagine that how many buyers would be interested in checking the place. It must be some sort advance tactics which is unknown to me I always thought that photos of are one the major selling points …

What is tinyurl?

Tinyurl is a redirecting service. It creates shorter versions of www addresses. For example this long address: http://business.theage.com.au/business/rba-warns-of-housing-price-bubble-risk-20090728-dzjy.html would become this much shorter website address: http://tinyurl.com/lfsndy. If you click on both links you will end up in the same location which is a Sydney Morning Herald story about RBA and housing price bubble risk.

Why use tinyurl?

It simply saves space in your Tweets. Instead of using the long website address which could use all 140 characters available in your tweet, you should use the tinyurl which is only 25 characters long. You can then use the remaining space to describe what the link is about or add more information to your tweet.

You have probably seen tinyurl in others people tweets.

How to create a tinyurl

1. Go to Tinyurl

2. Type or paste the full website address into the box with the heading: Enter a long URL to make tiny:

3. Click on the button Make tiny URL!

4. The tinyurl is created and you can copy and paste it into your tweet

Below is an example of what you will see on the TinyURL website

Fairfax and REA are not happy about Google entering the real estate listing market which is not a surprise considering the competition Google represents. Google’s advertising income from Fairfax and REA is estimated at around $144 million.

Future Possibilities

It will be interesting to see what will happen in the future. I am hoping that Google will continue providing the listings service in Google Maps. Homehound is already using Google Maps to show their listings. Domain.com.au and realestate.com.au are not putting listings on Google Maps. I believe that they will have to make a deal with Google soon.

There are several possible  scenarios:

• Nothing will happen and everything stays as it is
• Google will stop providing real estate listings in Google Maps
• Realestate.com.au and domain.com.au will stop using ads in Google
• Realestate.com.au and domain.com.au will start using Google Maps

Both sides have some big weapons in their hands. Google has control over search. Real estate portals are spending millions on advertising. It is hard to say which one has the upper hand.

What Real Estate Agencies can do?

It is quite easy, first, get your listings onto Google Maps. Second, if you are using realestate.com.au or domain.com.au for your listings invest in a great website and become independent.

More info

Our blog – Google on fire
Checkout our service
The Age article

By integrating twitter into your existing website your company can be one step ahead of the rest. Your real estate team can constantly upload new information as soon as it is available. For example;

• An agent holds or attends an auction and can tweet information as it happens and details can appear on your website instantly. eg bidding amounts and auction results
• A new listing could be announced as soon as a contract arrives – no need to wait to advertise in the local paper the following week – instant marketing – instant responses.
• Everyone has direct access to all new information and the ability to respond and communicate with agents directly and instantly.
• New rental properties can be advertised instantly as they become available
• Comment on current real estate issues, interest rates, clearance rates, auction results and community issues
• Engage in conversations with other real estate professionals

Why use Twitter?

• Twitter allows you to communicate instantly with your clients and the public
• It is very easy to use
• You can access Twitter from your mobile phone or website
• Twitter has the potential to bring more visitors to your website
• It is free, there is no cost involved in Tweeting

Who is Using Twitter:

• domain.com.au: twitter.com/Domaincomau
• beachandbay.com.au: twitter.com/beachandbay
• Sydney Morning Herald: twitter.com/smh_news
• Homehound: twitter.com/homehound
• Kevin Rudd: twitter.com/kevinruddPM

and millions more…

Why?

• It is free, you don’t have to pay a cent to add a listing
• It is on Google, the world’s most used search tool
• It has the potential to improve your SEO
• It puts pressure on the big Real Estate portals and creates competition
• Google Maps provides additional functionality for users like searching for nearby schools, restaurants etc.
• Properties can be viewed in Google Street View

How to upload listings on Google Maps

As mentioned earlier it is a free service. There are two ways to upload properties on Google Maps.

The first one is to create a Google Account and upload your listing manually. It is the easiest way but it will create extra work for your staff as every property needs to be uploaded individually.

The second way is to implement Google Maps into your existing website management system. Uploading and editing will be done automatically as you add listings to your own website. This option will save time for our agency staff and in long run you will save your resources.

Please contact Housebook if you would like more information about automatic uploads.

Future of Google Maps – Is it worthy?

How successful the new search tool will become depends on the Australian population. I can only hope that the public will start searching for real estate using Google rather than real estate portals because it will direct more traffic to your website. And that is what you exactly want, clients looking at your properties on your website and promoting your real etstate agency.

My only worry is that Google might start charging for listings like other portals. Everybody knows that Google’s major income source is advertising. Google just recently changed version of Google Apps from beta to full version and promotion of the free version disappeared.

What Google says?

How does it look?

Go to http://maps.google.com.au/realestate

Google Maps - main window