Are The 5 W’s Important in Real Estate?

Posted by Elsa Rake on Friday, December 4th, 2009 at 1:47pm.

We’ve seen lots written about the latest “du jour” method of communication, advertising…..and marketing.  It’s called Social Media.  If you aren’t there yet, they say you should be, and ultimately, will be.  I know, sometimes we just don’t have much choice. 

Marketing on the Web

Most of us have realized, usually through trial and error, that success depends a great deal upon building a firm foundation to begin with.  And, in Social Media, it’s no different.  It begins by understanding who you audience is and what they want.   In Social Media “speak”, it starts with the 5 W’s.

1.   WHO

Who is saying things about your products and service?

2.  WHAT

What are they saying about you and the product you provide?  Is it good?  Bad?

3.  WHEN

When are they talking about you?  If your business is cyclical, are you only being mentioned during the busy season?  If you specialize in one area of your profession, does the discussion occur only when your specialty is hot?

4.  WHERE

Where are these conversations taking place?  On blogs related to your business?  On other popular discussion platforms? 

5.  WHY

Why is anyone commenting, discussing, or examining you and what you have to offer.

There are a number of variations of the 5 Ws.  Many, recently, have focused on web sites and blogs.  Earlier this week, Inman News’ featured an article “The 5 W’s and your Web site“, by Robert Hahn.  Other informative articles on the 5 Ws include, “Knowing What’s What and What’s Not the 5 W’s (and 1 H) of Cyberspace“, and The Five W’s of Web Site Evaluation.   

Social Media platforms are useful marketing tools, and today, they’re all the rage.  A careful analysis of any marketing devices and means is is not only useful, but a necessary factor in identifying what works and what doesn’t.  The 5 W’s is another, and value added, method way of determining what we need to pay attention to, by identifying who may be listening, and what they’re interested in.  And, if that’s the case, do you think it might be helpful for Realtors to pay attention?


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