Thoughts on Real Estate Marketing…

When someone clicks on your web page, does it automatically start playing music?

That might not be a good idea.

It hadn’t occurred to me until today, when I got a political email with a bold warning – twice. Warning: When this page opens, music will be playing.

At first I just thought that was a nice gesture. But then it occurred to me – there’s a purpose for warning people.

I don’t know the numbers, but a large percentage of people open their mail and browse the Internet when they’re at work – being paid to do something else entirely.

This isn’t the place to get into a discussion about the ethics of reading personal mail, shopping, etc. while being paid to do a job. It’s enough to simply realize that your customers may be doing just that.

So give them the option. Let them click a link if they want to hear an audio or a video from you.

If you simply surprise them with music or voices when they’re at work, they may decide that it’s unsafe to click your links – and you’ll lose customers.

If nothing else, you could copy the idea of giving a warning – so those who don’t want to be overheard listening to your message can simply turn off their speakers before they open your mail.

But that presents another problem, doesn’t it? Turning off music won’t hurt your impact, but if part of your message is presented with sound, they’ll miss it.

So why not offer the same message in a form they can quietly read?

You could make the offer: “Click here for audio – click here to read.”

Don’t limit your audience by insisting that they hear your audio.