Lately you’ve probably heard a lot of news and buzz surrounding Facebook and other online companies and their use of private data. Specifically, your private data. Let’s talk about your online digital footprint and how social media marketing privacy concerns affects you.
When a person goes online they are tracked, both by what they search for on sites like Google and Bing along with what they do on other sites. You’ve probably shopped online for an item and later seen ads for that product. Recently I did a search for hotels in Key West. Not long after I started seeing hotel ads for Key West online, and one caught my eye and made me check it out. This is called search targeting and re-search targeting. I didn’t mind because it was something I was interested in.
The Ellis Team uses targeted marketing online for two reasons. It provides a better experience for consumers and serves up ads you’re interested in. If they must serve up ads, I’d at least like them to be about things I’m interested in. Secondly, it helps us target potential buyers for our listings. The buyers love it because they sign up on our website www.LeeCountyOnline.com It is a voluntary choice and they choose to do so. This tells us they appreciated the online ad and it was timely for them and pertinent.
What is not OK is what happened with 3rd party companies at Facebook. They allowed 3rd party companies to take information from your profile, like your birth date, hometown, age, etc. Later on we may find that some companies received your email address, phone number, etc. As a consumer, I don’t mind if they serve up relevant ads I’m interested in. But please don’t sell my private information to 3rd party companies who could use that to track much more.
The Ellis Team uses Google, Bing, Facebook, and others to serve up ads of interest. We do not receive any information on these people. Facebook for instance creates audiences. We can target specific audiences. For instance, if we list a home on a golf course community with mandatory golf fees, we can target golfers. Now if Facebook sold us users names, phone numbers, email addresses, etc. that to me would be an invasion of privacy. I’m guessing 99% of what Facebook did was for legitimate purposes.
It’s that 1% we’re hearing about that concerns us all. Be careful about which 3<sup>rd</sup> part apps you use online. Be careful about the apps you install on your phone. Make sure these 3rd party apps are trusted, and you know what they’re doing with your data. Like it or not, we are all tracked online. We just want it to be on the up and up. Data must be used in a responsible way. Everyone wants our data. Most times it’s for good use. Imagine what private data could mean for scammers, foreign countries, politicians, terrorists, etc.
Innocuous, unidentifiable audiences or people who search on specific items are fair game for targeting and re-targeting. I’m glad this debate is happening now.
If you’re thinking of selling, call the Ellis Team and find out how we can use today’s advanced and legitimate techniques to reach the right people at the right time for your home. Marketing can be the difference between selling for Top Dollar and below market. Marketing also helps you sell your home faster.
If you’re a buyer, please check out our website too. LeeCountyOnline.com is updated constantly, so you’re assured of finding the latest listing and price reductions instantly. No more calling on homes that aren’t on the market, or missing homes that are.
Your Privacy Matters to Us
The Ellis Team never sells your data. Your phone number, email address, etc. stays with us. That’s not true with companies like Zillow, Trulia, realtor.com, etc. They sell your info to agents and mortgage companies. Be sure to read their privacy statements. Rest assured, we will not sell your data to anyone!
Feel free to call us at 239-489-4042 Good luck, and happy house hunting!