Bill Carriker « Expat Marketing

property real estate SEO — Independent property agents need to be on top of SEO to beat off competition in search results.

According to data from Google and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), housing searches on Google.com grew 253% in the last four years. NAR reports 90% of home-buyers used the Internet to search for their next property.

It wouldn’t be surprising to find the majority of soon-to-be expats make similar property searches for their new home abroad. Making your real estate site stand out among the hundreds on the web can be a challenge, one that major estate agents can spend millions solving. The question is, is it worth all the effort, not to mention the money? Continue reading

advertising expats christmas — Targeting expats at Christmas time can be tricky, here two British retailers have shared their tactics with us.

Companies who are targeting an international, expatriate market this Christmas will be facing additional challenges attracting and capturing their audience. Of course, the normal problems apply – how to reach your audience or which media to use. But at Christmas, you find increased competition and a relatively shorter time period to capture your target group.

For most marketers, Christmas planning gets underway in September/October, or sometimes even earlier. John Lewis, a major British department store, has already launched its online Christmas shop, which allows expats to buy their gifts and decorations at an early stage. Continue reading

Millions of expats around the globe travel home for the holidays. But only a fraction purchase international travel or medical insurance. This is a both a major liability for expats (who could face huge medical bills in an emergency) and a missed opportunity for international insurers.

Adrian Shaw, founder of the insurance aggregator Expat Compare, explains the lack of consumer awareness and what insurers can do to tap the market’s potential. Continue reading

Christmas call volumes 2011 — Source: VIP Communications; click to enlarge

‘Tis not only the season to be jolly, but also to phone home–particularly for African expats.

VIP Communications, a provider of international calling services, recently released its 2011 Holiday Calling Report, a look at the seasonal calling habits of over 40,000 expat customers from 100 countries. It measured both average daily call volume and average time spent on the phone. In addition to Christmas the report included data for Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day and Mother’s Day. Continue reading

expat bank accounts Saudi Arabia & UAE — Expats in Saudi Arabia and the UAE prefer to put money aside for long-term savings and investment at home; click to enlarge.

New survey data from kippreport.com should cheer international banks. It found a majority of expats living in Saudi Arabia and the UAE prefer to save money at home.

According to the survey, 74% of expats across both countries have a savings account in their home country, but only 33% in their country of residence. Demand for ATM/debit cards, by contrast, was nearly identical in both locations.

Just Landed redesign — The Just Landed website has a whole new look...

Just Landed has launched a redesigned website. Key changes include a fresh look, easier navigation and a brand aimed at today’s expatriates. The site is also now optimized for viewing on tablet devices such as the iPad.

The new features complement existing content: more than 50 country guides, an international job board, a marketplace for property and a social community where expats the world over can connect with one another. Continue reading

Expat Marketing

Author Archives: Bill Carriker

Online search used by 90% of homebuyers

Targeting expats online at Christmas

“Many travel insurance plans are needlessly complex”

African expats make most Christmas calls

Few expats save money in local banks

Just Landed launches redesigned expat website