Discover the Next Big Thing in Real Estate Advertising!

Banner ads and the internet have a long history together. But with banner ad blindness becoming an increasingly common problem, it's time for real estate professionals to find a better way to reach buyers and sellers.

Luckily, there are other advertising options—more effective advertising options. Chief among these are native ads—advertising so helpful some buyers may not realize they are ads at all.

What are native ads?

Native ads are non-intrusive ads designed to blend in with the page's content. They're usually designed for and targeted toward people who are already more likely to be interested in the ad's content. This increases the likelihood that the ad will be clicked.

How are native ads different from other ads?

Many ads (like banner ads) try to grab the attention of ad targets by being the biggest or the brightest. Basically, they try to yell the loudest. Native ads take a different approach. They naturally appear among the page content. Often, the ad targets don't even realize they're looking at paid content so they trust it more. After all, native ads give the viewer what they are actively searching for.

Where are they located?

You've probably seen and interacted with native ads without even realizing it. They're fairly common on social media sites: Facebook's suggested posts, YouTube's recommended videos, and Twitter's promoted tweets are all examples of native ads. Homes.com also offers native ads among the first search results. See if you can spot them!

What are the benefits?

Because native ads offer content viewers are looking for, people feel more empowered in their decision to buy or sell. Also, native ads are typically more trusted than other online advertising methods and attract more attention. A Sharethrough study found that consumers looked at native ads 53 percent more frequently than display ads (like banner ads) and 32 percent of respondents said they would share a native ad with their family and friends, while only 19 percent said they would share a banner ad.

Another benefit is a more engaged audience. By advertising alongside relevant buyer and seller content, you increase your chances of finding actual buyers and sellers, rather than people who aren't interested in a real estate transaction.

Native ads are a great way to reach new clients. If you're interested in trying native ads, Homes.com's City Sponsor ads put you and your listings in the middle of the action! Check them out here.

To view the original article, visit the Homes.com blog.