1/13/12  

You’ve probably noticed them by now – QR codes – strange 2-dimensional designs that show up in magazine articles, on websites, in newspapers, and in print ads. In fact, sometimes they’re even printed on shirts. But what are they and how can they help your business grow?

QR stands for Quick Response. Think of these codes like new and improved barcodes. Where the old 1-dimensional barcode was limited to conveying 20 digits which various industries used to track inventory and process sales, QR codes can convey a great deal more information and can be easily scanned in a moment by an app on a mobile phone or tablet.

How much information can one of these QR codes convey? A lot more. QR codes on a business card can allow someone to scan and input all of your contact information into his or her phone in a matter of seconds. Including a code in a print ad can allow the reader to access a hidden promotion or deal or be linked directly to your website so he can purchase the item post-haste. A QR code on a poster in your store front can immediately connect the scanner to your Facebook and Twitter accounts, allowing her to like and follow you with the touch of a button. Incorporating QR codes into your website can allow at-home viewers to see and save the details about the merchandise they want to buy in-store the next day to their phone so they’re sure to get exactly what they want.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The possibilities are endless. So use your imagination and then call Softmirage to see how we can help you incorporate QR codes into your marketing strategy today.

12/21/11  

Experts agree that 2012 will continue to be a buyer’s market – a buyer with cash, that is.

Sources seem to be optimistic about the real estate market’s affordability in 2012. Lawrence Yun, the National Association of REALTORS’ chief economist, predicts that “very favorable affordability conditions will dominate next year…which will probably be the second best year on record dating back to 1970.” This is welcome news to many buyers, yet it comes with a caveat – buyers may need to have more cash on hand at the time of purchase.

In the 3^rd Quarter of 2011, the European Debt Crisis took its toll on consumer confidence in the US, a trend which has continued into the 4^th quarter of this year. In response, many lending firms tightened their grasp on their cash reserves, decreasing liquidity in the market. Despite record low interest rates, which the Federal Reserve is committed to maintaining until mid-2013, it has become increasingly difficult for would-be buyers to acquire funds.

Recent developments point to a course correction in Europe which may boost lenders confidence in early 2012, though this opinion is not shared by NAR President Phipps who believes that “mortgage availability remains a real concern since the private market has yet to return.” He acknowledges a rebound in the housing market yet believes that the “that lower loan limits will only further restrict liquidity in mortgage markets.” Yet the ever-emotional market volatility of late may swing the pendulum back into positive numbers spurred on by reports in early 2012 of higher employment and retail profits as a result of the holidays. How long into 2012 that boost will last remains to be seen, yet the overall predictions appear to be rosy.

As unemployment is projected to decline in the New Year and the forecast for buyers in the real estate market looks favorable, more prospective buyers will be seeking out realtors to help them in their search for the perfect home. Make sure that buyers in your area can find you. Consider investing a sleek, easy-to-manage website from Softmirage.

The fact of the matter is that internet searches have become the norm for finding new services and a user-unfriendly website can be as detrimental to your business as no web presence at all. If your website is not up to the caliber of the properties you represent, you could be losing clients without realizing it. Review our portfolio to see the difference we’ve made for our past clients. We look forward to your business in 2012.

11/11/11  There is no denying that the increase in internet usage, social media, and online interaction has transformed the way people do business and market their products and services.  The internet has also dramatically changed consumers’ habits.  Consumers do research before expressing interest in a company so it is more important than ever to have consistent branding and professionalism across all internet platforms.  When you do get an online lead from a website or social media, don’t let them fall through the cracks! Here are some crucial points to help you maintain efficient responses to online leads.

Online Leads Have a Short Shelf Life

If you are getting leads from the internet, you must respond with internet speed.  According to a Harvard Business Review Study, companies that contact leads within an hour of the inquiry were 7 time more likely to have a meaningful conversation with the lead than those who waited more than an hour.  Those who waited 24 hours were sixty times less likely to have that kind of connection.

The loss of online leads means you are losing potential clients that have explicitly expressed interest in what you have to offer.  70% of consumers choose the first company that gets back to them.

Don’t Rely on Auto Responders

Auto-responders are good; they make contact immediately after a lead comes in and give the lead additional contact information, but an auto-responder won’t close the deal.  You must check in with your CRM and social media sites frequently to stay up date with new leads.  Personally responding to a lead within 30 minutes of the inquiry is ideal.  If you cannot get a hold of them immediately, leave them some information using whatever medium they used to contact you and follow up within 24 hours.

Be Accessible

Smart phones offer all that you need to respond to online leads in a timely fashion.  With similar capabilities to a computer, smart phones provide instant accessibility to a wide range of client contact information, company email, and social media outlets with the appropriate applications.  Smart phones provide a variety of resources that allow for customer interaction in the palm of your hand.

Ask for Help

If you don’t have the tools in place to efficiently manage your leads, contact Softmirage and we will help you get on track.  We are continually developing strategies to help turn online leads into sales.

Softmirage is a marketing solutions agency that specializes in helping companies large and small to achieve their business goals through the use of targeted marketing strategies that deliver clear business benefit and return on investment. Visit our portfolio to view our high level creative and interactive capabilities.

10/18/11  

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the visibility of a website or webpage for search engines and in online search results.  The more frequently a site appears in the search results list, the more traffic the site receives.

When trying to increase traffic to your site, you should consider a blog as part of your campaign.  Blogs are no longer just a way for adolescents to complain about their teacher’s assignment. They are a sophisticated tool that can dramatically enhance your business’s search engine visibility. Business blogging is crucial for attracting, informing, and interacting with your target audience.  A successful blog will consistently gain and retain readers interested in the content presented as well as increasing traffic to your site through the use of keywords.

Keyword Search

One of the reasons blogging is good for SEO is the opportunity it presents to include relevant keywords in meaningful content.  Use words and phrases you think will be frequently searched by the users you are targeting.  Integrate these words into your blogs within a relevant post.  Warning: do not use too many keywords in a title or fill your post with keywords in a non-meaningful way. This is unappealing to your readers and search engines will pick up on it as spam. Aim for a concise amount of keywords that really nail your blog’s intended audience.

Interlinking Your Blog

Your blog site should include both links that connect back into your own site as well as relevant outbound links.  Wise interlinking will encourage more circulation to all of the places your company is present on the web.  One way to organize the interlinking of your blog is to arrange category pages in sidebars that link to other relating subjects and topics and the main web pages of your company.  Although outbound links must be used sparingly, they are necessary to draw attention to your blog.  Outbound links are needed because they enhance your site’s ranking in search engines.  Outbound links are needed for citing references, credible sources, and focus attention to other relevant and applicable subject matters and themes.  Be sure to link to your internal pages and social media outlets.

Contact Softmirage today to find out more about how to add a blog to your website. If you feel you don’t have the time to maintain a blog yourself, we offer in-house solutions! Call Softmirage today!