Fishwrap: Thank you for calling the classified sales department of the Middletown Journal, Southern Middle County’s premier newspaper. How may I help you today?
REALTOR: Good morning, this is Bill Smith from Middletown Fine Properties, over on Pennsylvania Avenue. I just took a new listing and am holding an open house this Saturday.
Fishwrap: Congratulations, Bill! I’m sure you’ll sell that home in no time with our new Strategic Selling Program, here at the Journal.
REALTOR: Hmmmm…what’s up with that? Did you drop your classified advertising rates now that more people are going online to start their home search?
Fishwrap: Well, Bill, we actually raised our rates because of the added value we’re bringing you.
REALTOR: Added value? Uh, oh. Can’t I just advertise my open house?
Fishwrap: Bill, you know that 83% of the public is now going online to start their home search, right?
REALTOR: Uh, yeah. That’s why I subscribe to Realtor.com
Fishwrap: We go even better than that. Bill. What used to cost $85 for a classified ad in the Journal, now costs $125…BUT, we distribute your advertisement and listing information to Zillow.com and Trulia.com. We’ll also write a blog post for you on Activerain.com, Realtown.com, AND place your listing on Craigslist.org for you. We’re a one-stop advertsiing shop for Realtors now! Think of us as your local advertising agency to assist you with online media buys. If you allow us to throw in financing information, from Bank of America, and have them feature it on their real estate center website, the cost drops to the original $85!
REALTOR: …but…but…I use Brian Brady for all my client financing.
Fishwrap: Hold on, Bill. If First American Title places a banner across on your online ads, the cost drops to $55 for what used to cost you $85 ! How’s that sound?
REALTOR: Well, what has Brian really done for me lately? Furthermore, First American is a great brand name, what have I got to lose? Let’s go for it!
Fishwrap: Read more
The Odysseus Medal this week goes to Kris Berg for
The Black Pearl Award this week goes to Krista Baker with
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I think I know why this is happening, and I’ll know more soon. But in advance of certainty, I built a similar list for