Press Releases
RealDirect Grows, Hires Director of Marketing
Posted 7/31/11
NEW YORK (July 31, 2011) – RealDirect, the first and only New York City real estate firm to combine local real estate expertise with a powerful web-based listing management and marketing platform, has hired social and digital media industry veteran Audrey Binkowski as its first director of marketing. The announcement comes on the heels of RealDirect’s Series A funding, to be used to build out the growing team and the technology behind the proprietary platform that helps consumers control their real estate transactions and the associated costs.
Binkowski, a published writer, editor, respected blogger and entrepreneur, will lead online and offline direct-to-consumer marketing for RealDirect, including blog development, social media management, event planning, print advertising, and search engine optimization. She will also be a resource for RealDirect sellers, serving as an advisor and conducting trainings on how to effectively use social media to sell real estate.
“Social media is an integral part of selling real estate right now, and RealDirect is at the forefront of integrating technology with real estate in a way that's never been done before,” said Binkowski. “It is a ground-breaking concept and the perfect recipe for a truly integrated approach that has the power to change the industry.”
Business owners have come to Binkowski to learn how to use social media, search engine optimization and CPC advertising to drive traffic and business results through their websites. Before joining RealDirect, Binkowski was a partner at Large Media, where she led social media training, search engine marketing, search engine optimization, blogging and web design and development. She has created breakthrough social media campaigns for the Austrian National Tourism Board, Rhodes Van Note & Co Realtors, Ghirardelli Luxe Milk Chocolate, Schick Intuition Plus and Schick brands.
Prior to her tenure with Large Media, she founded Ages a Go Go, a web-based vintage clothing business. Binkowski received her bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts (English) from the University of Michigan and is an active member of multiple online communities, with a broad digital footprint and extensive connections in the blogosphere.
“We are thrilled to have Audrey join RealDirect,” said Doug Perlson, co-founder and CEO of RealDirect. “She is a smart, savvy and strategic marketer who brings big, multi-dimensional ideas to the table. Audrey has a wealth of experience in the digital space and will be a driving force in building our awareness and engaging both online and directly with consumers.”
Launched last year, RealDirect is an alternative real estate brokerage that helps clients buy and sell residential real estate through a web-based, data-driven marketing and sales platform with the assistance of a licensed real estate consultant.
RealDirect for Sellers leverages advancements in online advertising, web analytics and interactive applications to allow New York City homeowners to efficiently manage the marketing and selling of their home. It uses listing and market data in real-time to make informed recommendations. Sellers can choose an “Owner-Managed” option for either a monthly fee of $395 or a 1% commission at closing, or an “Agent-Managed” structure in which a RealDirect agent manages the entire process for a 2% commission to RealDirect. Clients decide what the commission will be for the buyer’s brokers.
RealDirect for Buyers offers dynamic tools and access to RealDirect’s expert real estate consultants. In working with RealDirect, buyers have the opportunity to earn a 1% rebate check on the sale price of a home at closing.
For more information, please visit RealDirect.com or call (877) 514-7087.
About RealDirect (www.realdirect.com)
RealDirect is the first and only New York City real estate firm to combine local real estate expertise with a powerful web-based listing management and marketing platform that puts consumers in control of the real estate transaction and its associated costs. Buyers benefit from working with RealDirect’s expert real estate consultants and receive a 1% rebate on the purchase price of their new home. For sellers, RealDirect’s dynamic set of online tools provide an effective platform to list and market their property with the help of our licensed real estate consultants. Currently operating in Brooklyn and Manhattan, where the median sale price is $1.43 million, the average seller could save up to $42,000 in closing costs by using RealDirect.
