GateHouse news, advertising divisions partner on Real Estate Outlook

GateHouse's News & Interactive and Real Estate Advertising departments have collaborated on an initiative to kick off the traditional home-buying season.
 
Real Estate Outlook 2012 includes:
     -- A content section for each GateHouse newspaper to use as a standalone tab or broadsheet, or to fill out their weekly real estate sections in April.
     -- Real estate content on all GateHouse sites, with a link from the homepage as well as from each site's real estate page, powered by HomeFinder.
     -- A bonus broadsheet page for Nationwide Open House Weekend, April 28-29.
     -- Pre-made promo ads for print and online, as well as sales collateral.
 
"The content of these sections includes important information for first-time homebuyers, a look at 'the new face of renters,' and why now is the best time to buy," says GateHouse News Service Director Lisa Glowinski. "The majority of this content came from the experts at HomeFinder, which ties our print and online products together that much more."
 
Early site successes, as of March 27:
 
     -- Norwich, Conn., reports $2,475 in early business to a nice mix of retail and real estate advertisers including banks, landscapers and real estate companies.
     -- Hannibal, Mo., reported $1,080 early strategic sales to Century 21-Broughton Team and Prestige Real Estate.
     -- New Philadelphia, Ohio, is reporting $3,902 in early sales to a mix of real estate advertisers.

The initiative was targeted to begin after Easter weekend, historically the kickoff to Realtors' busy season.

“This content initiative is a great project that complements our core print and online product suite," says Gatehouse Director of Real Estate Advertising Bob Birkentall. "As our local real estate markets experience a rebound, this product fills an important niche for our readers and advertisers during the critical spring selling season.”

If you have any questions about Real Estate Outlook or what GateHouse News Service can do for you, contact Glowinski at lglowinski@corp.gatehousemedia.com. To get ideas for a similar initiative in your market, contact Birkentall at bbirkentall@gatehousemedia.com.