y they adopt new technologies, but also in their social class.

Innovators, who are the first to adopt new technologies, are also the most educated and the richest. Early adopters, according to a study conducted by Everett M. Rogers, represent about 13 percent of the population and tend to

In the last 10 years, the real estate industry has been profoundly changed by new technologies, more specifically by the Internet. The Internet has changed the way people now look for and compare homes, choose their agents, or apply for a mortgage. Although most real estate agents now have their own Web sites, many of them have a hard time deciding what kind of information and services they should provide on their sites. Agents must find out what online services their future clients expect, and must then decide what new technologies they should adopt to stay in tune with their target market.

With regards to adopting new technologies, the U.S. population is not uniform: some people are fond of innovative devices, whereas others only adopt them when they absolutely have to. Marketers thus divide the population in five adopter groups: innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards. What matters to agents is to find out where their target market belongs. Although each group’s size is different, the majority of people belong to either the early- or late-majority groups. Also, people who belong to various groups differ not only in the way they adopt new technologies, but also in their social class.

Innovators, who are the first to adopt new technologies, are also the most educated and the richest. Early adopters, according to a study conducted by Everett M. Rogers, represent about 13 percent of the population and tend to

r own Web sites, many of them have a hard time deciding what kind of information and services they should provide on their sites. Agents must find out what online services their future clients expect, and must then decide what new technologies they should adopt to stay in tune with their target market.

With regards to adopting new technologies, the U.S. population is not uniform: some people are fond of innovative devices, whereas others only adopt them when they absolutely have to. Marketers thus divide the population in five adopter groups: innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards. What matters to agents is to find out where their target market belongs. Although each group’s size is different, the majority of people belong to either the early- or late-majority groups. Also, people who belong to various groups differ not only in the way they adopt new technologies, but also in their social class.

Innovators, who are the first to adopt new technologies, are also the most educated and the richest. Early adopters, according to a study conducted by Everett M. Rogers, represent about 13 percent of the population and tend to

market.

With regards to adopting new technologies, the U.S. population is not uniform: some people are fond of innovative devices, whereas others only adopt them when they absolutely have to. Marketers thus divide the population in five adopter groups: innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards. What matters to agents is to find out where their target market belongs. Although each group’s size is different, the majority of people belong to either the early- or late-majority groups. Also, people who belong to various groups differ not only in the way they adopt new technologies, but also in their social class.

Innovators, who are the first to adopt new technologies, are also the most educated and the richest. Early adopters, according to a study conducted by Everett M. Rogers, represent about 13 percent of the population and tend to

ajority, late majority, and laggards. What matters to agents is to find out where their target market belongs. Although each group’s size is different, the majority of people belong to either the early- or late-majority groups. Also, people who belong to various groups differ not only in the way they adopt new technologies, but also in their social class.

Innovators, who are the first to adopt new technologies, are also the most educated and the richest. Early adopters, according to a study conducted by Everett M. Rogers, represent about 13 percent of the population and tend to

y they adopt new technologies, but also in their social class.

Innovators, who are the first to adopt new technologies, are also the most educated and the richest. Early adopters, according to a study conducted by Everett M. Rogers, represent about 13 percent of the population and tend to be the opinion leaders whom the other groups will follow.

By looking at the real estate they are selling, agents can determine who their target market is. A condominium in Manhattan will thus appeal to the urban upper class, which is more likely to belong to the innovators group. On the other side, a house in Montana will appeal to people who will probably be less impressed by cutting-edge Internet tools.

New technologies are often expensive, but they are often a way to differentiate an agent from the competition, because they can appeal to this agent’s target audience. Agents should continually make sure that they offer the right services for their target market.