Geo Targeting – Geo Fencing – Proximity Marketing – Beacon Marketing

What I’m interested in now.

How can this technology help real estate agents?

I’m thinking in loads of ways!

Whether you are sending messages to passers by as they approach 50 to say 250 metres of your shopfront, you message attendees at your open houses or you’re messaging potential sellers or buyers at say trade shows…

I’m excited!!

But… What are the moral and ethical lines that could be crossed? Is there such a thing with technology?

Ok.. So I am just learning all about this… Geo-fencing, Geo-targeting etc but I want to know more!

I bought a $40 beacon on eBay (that had no reviews – and thats probably a silly thing to do right there) and I am going to learn what this is all about if it kills me!).

Soooo.. From what i understand, Beacons are little boxes that you can buy. These little boxes can be placed in locations of your choosing and then low level Bluetooth waves emit messages to nearby prospects with mobile phones. Beacon owners can send messages with offers/ website addresses etc.

Then there is GPS Geo Fencing.. and as I said I am still learning… but from what I understand with this, is that you can sit in your office and target certain addresses to send messages to.. For example if you have an open house at 44 Smith Street Canberra, you can send messages to those that go to your open house.

Doesn’t this sound awesome!

My question is one I am throwing around…

What if you were to target all the other open homes with other agents in your area, and send the prospective buyers soft sell messages..

Is this Guerrilla type warfare? BUT is it also incredibly efficient SMART marketing?

Do you take the idea and say that you will be first to do this or leave it?

My question is this… Is this the same as standing out the front of a listing handing our business cards at a competitors open house.. or because it’s technology and smart marketing, does that make it ok?

I’m interested to hear your thoughts.

Click here for the difference between Geo-targeting and Geo-fencing.

My other question is.. if an agent doesn’t do this.. will the major real estate portals do it?
Will the real estate interceptors/real estate referral companies start to do this? If they haven’t already?

How real estate agents are using Beacon Marketing – Click here

And.. if you are worried about the legal implications, here is an article I found on the subject – Click here

Food for thought