U.S. Real Estate Agents Turn to Web-based Marketing Tools in Today's Market, According to Constant Contact Survey

November 1, 2007; 05:48 AM

Waltham, MA. - As anyone selling a home in today's market will attest, a shift toward a buyer's market has taken hold in many regions throughout the United States. This current housing downturn presents new challenges for real estate businesses and individual agents across the country. According to a recent survey by Constant Contact®, Inc., a leading provider of email marketing and online surveys for small organizations, nearly 50 percent of real estate agents cite finding new buyers and selling property among their top challenges.

Forced to contend with softening home prices and the resulting struggle to attract buyers and close deals, many real estate agents are using web-based marketing tools to support their sales and marketing efforts. According to the survey, nearly 60 percent of respondents noted that their websites and the use of email marketing, produce the best results -- driving more buyers and sellers to their businesses. Among marketing methods, email marketing ranked highest in cost effectiveness and speed of delivery.

"With the current uncertainty in the U.S. housing market, it's more important than ever for small real estate businesses and agents to find effective ways to build strong client relationships," said Eric Groves, senior vice president of sales and business development, Constant Contact. "Email marketing is an essential communication tool that can help realtors better connect with their clients and drive a greater number of transactions and referrals."

The value of email marketing for the real estate market is measured primarily in sales. In fact, the majority of real estate agents surveyed (60 percent) said they use email marketing to communicate about property listings and open houses and more than 35 percent of respondents stated that they have rented or sold a property as a result of an email marketing campaign. In addition, 40 percent of the agents surveyed do their own marketing to communicate with clients and generate business. Half of the respondents also expressed that email marketing is both faster (24 percent) and less expensive (26 percent) than other marketing methods, including direct mail and print advertisements.

"I am a real estate broker in an area that has experienced a slowdown in business. I chose to use Constant Contact to reach my clients in a more efficient manner," said Stephen Saunders, owner, The NextProperty Group. "" have had great success with my email newsletters and recently ran an online survey that gave me better ideas of what my clients are looking for, which will help put me in the best possible position when the market turns around in the Tri-City area."

Click here to view the full survey. Sample questions and results from Constant Contact's 2007 Real Estate Agent survey include the following:

Which marketing method has been the most effective for your business?

How has using email marketing made a difference in your organization's communications (compared with other methods)?

What is the greatest business challenge you face?

Have you sold or rented a property directly as a result of an email marketing campaign?

What types of communications do you send with Constant Contact (please check all that apply)?

* Constant Contact's 2007 Real Estate Agent survey was conducted from August 23 - September 25 through targeted online distribution to U.S. small businesses who are current customers of Constant Contact. Results were recorded from more than 300 respondents.

About Constant Contact, Inc.
Constant Contact, Inc. is a leading provider of email marketing and online survey tools for small organizations, including small businesses, associations, and nonprofits. Launched in 1998, Constant Contact has more than 130,000 customers worldwide today. To learn more, please visit www.constantcontact.com or call (781) 472-8100.