Real estate should embrace 'the visual Web'

Websites should be responsive, but not at the expense of design

BY TOM FLANAGAN, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2012.

Inman News®

Screen shot of ERA.com home page.

Responsive design and the visual Web are two trends gaining traction on the Web. They are vastly different approaches, but both of these styles are having an effect on our desktop and mobile strategies.

The visual Web is characterized by big, beautiful imagery that features a contemporary layout. Platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram have been a catalyst for the movement. "Images and video are becoming an increasingly important part of what we consume online," says Richard MacManus, founder and editor in chief of ReadWriteWeb, writing about "The Rise of Beautiful Apps."

Although not always executed properly, photography has always been a staple of real estate marketing. The visual Web is a trend that the industry can leverage. Photography -- or better yet, amazing photography -- is a wonderful way to showcase communities, neighborhoods and homes.

Leading Houston brokerage signs with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate | Gary Greene Realtors is brand's fifth Texas affiliate

BY INMAN NEWS, TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2012 Inman News®

Houston skyline image via Shutterstock.

Editor's note: A previous version of this story contained erroneous information about the number of brokerages that affiliated with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate in 2009, 2010, and 2011. The story has also been updated to correct that Sherry Chris joined Realogy Corp. in 2006 as COO of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, not CEO.

A leading Houston brokerage is dropping its affiliation with Prudential Real Estate Services and will operate as a Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate franchisee.

With more than 850 agents operating out of 20 offices, Gary Greene Realtors was among the top 60 U.S. brokerages last year, racking up $1.58 billion in sales volume and 6,509 transaction sides, according to data compiled by Real Trends. Since 2007, the company claims to have closed more transactions than any other brokerage in the Houston market.

Euro breakup wouldn't spell disaster | Commentary: Fed will be free to take necessary measures

BY LOU BARNES, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012 Inman News®

Greek warrior image via Shutterstock.

Now we wait. Greek election results will begin trickling in Sunday afternoon and who-knows-what explosion at the opening of Asian markets Sunday night. More likely: a few more frozen days to digest the results, and any number of empty cans kicked into nearby walls. Top Real Estate in Rockford Illinois.

The biggest event next week will be the Wednesday conclusion of the Fed's meeting. The stock market this week began to trade up on bad news (a small rise in unemployment claims, a dinky drop in industrial production) on the assumption that bad news would mean QE3 from the Fed, which must be good news for stocks no matter how ugly the reality might be.

Did Penguin eat your Google ranking? | Search algorithm changes could impact real estate listing syndication

BY BERNICE ROSS,  Inman News®

Search key image via Shutterstock.

Google recently made search ranking algorithm changes that will influence how easily potential buyers and sellers can find you online. Whether you are a brokerage or an agent who markets your real estate business online, staying on top these changes may require that you adjust your Web marketing strategy.

For the last two years I have been reluctant to touch our home page content, since RealEstateCoach.com was normally coming up in the No. 1 or No. 2 position on the three major search engines (Google, Bing and Yahoo) for our primary search term: "real estate coaching."