First National Real Estate has capped a year of revolutionary digital advances with a 350 per cent increase in organic traffic to its national website, a 62 per cent surge in first time customers, a lift in social media customer engagement of 192 per cent, and a national Facebook fan base soon to exceed 70,000.

A combination of strategic alliances, a mobile responsive national website and an integrated social media strategy has extended the network’s leading edge, according to chief executive, Ray Ellis.

‘In February 2014, First National Real Estate was the first major real estate brand in Australia to launch a mobile responsive national website’ said Mr Ellis.

‘We addressed the need for customers with smart phones and tablet computers to easily access our website and its listings, but we also did something no other network had done; we introduced comprehensive content that answers the questions consumers are asking about real estate.

‘Customers are searching for real estate information in real time; while they’re commuting, when they’re delayed, and in their spare time. By putting their interests first, answering their questions, and, making it even easier to view our listings or find an estate agent, unique customer interactions have surged 182 per cent and our property views are running at record highs.’

First National Real Estate says an additional 12,000 first time customers are visiting its national website every month, with its ‘Looking to Rent’ Q & A section proving the most popular part of its site. However, consumers are also showing strong interest in information about hobby and lifestyle farms as well as the website’s property investment sections.

International visits are also up, with resources about buying property in Australia also attracting a large amount of enquiry from England, the South Pacific, South East Asia, the United States, Canada, India and China.

Social media has also played a contributing role in the growth of First National Real Estate’s profile, with more than two thirds of the network’s membership now directly engaging with customers through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and, increasingly, Google+.

‘Social media is now a legitimate customer service channel and our “Social Express” strategy assists First National’s agents to be local leaders’ said Mr Ellis.

‘We’re reaching more customers by helping position our agents to advantage as social media and traditional search engine optimisation techniques merge. Our efforts are invested in local Facebook customer engagement, right across all members’ pages nationally; not just on a single corporate Facebook brand page. In doing so, we’ve successfully created over 21 million impressions for our agents within their local communities and created a fan base estimated to be worth close to $100,000’. 

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Issued by: First National Real Estate 

For further information contact: 

Stewart Bunn, National Communications Manager, First National Real Estate on 
1800 032 332 or 0413 624 317