There is no better way to get into the holiday spirit than to cuddle up in the warm house with some hot chocolate while it is snowing outside. This is exactly what I did last Sunday as I watched HGTV’s “Top 10 Christmas Towns.”

There were a couple of obvious choices like the North Pole and many other cities that generally enjoy snow during the holidays. Even Colorado made the list with Durango, ranking for its holiday activities and authentic Main Street. What surprised me was that several non-snowbound cities made the cut too; places like Kennebunkport, ME and New Orleans, LA. As I watched this special I began wondering how these cities are fairing during this tough economic downturn.

Surprisingly, about a third of the towns featured on the special have markets who are still experiencing positive numbers. A quick check for each town’s median home price on Trulia gave me the information I wanted. 

Take a look at the up market areas:

• North Pole, Alaska
• New Orleans, Louisiana
• San Antonio, Texas

In a previous blog we stated that “only 12% of home buyers use the newspaper to search for new homes.” Not only does the Internet contribute to that low number but its accomplice, TV, does as well. The first thing I do when I find something interesting is “Google it.” I probably would never have heard of a few of these towns or even thought to look them up online had it not been for HGTV’s special. So a word to the wise – people are going to find your town through various medias so be sure to do your best to represent yourself well when they get to your site.

That’s why your online presence is so important in 2009. The Internet gives consumers the ability to find information quickly on anything they hear, see or read about. If a consumer looks up information on your market will they see you or will they see a slew of your competitors first? Do you know where you rank on Google? The scope of your digital footprint is critical in the next year – what features and technologies do you have that increase your website’s visibility? Do your agent’s personal websites represent your brand in the right light? Have you searched to see if there is any negative feedback about your brokerage online from any previous customers? 

It can be a little scary to think about home much information is out there and how transparent the web can be but if you’re proactive and take control of what you can control, your brokerage will reap the benefits. Not only can you experience better page rankings but your eBusiness will flourish - think of all the web customers you’re missing out on. 

With the holiday season among us and 2008 coming to a close, think about what you can do different in 2009 to make it a better year. The economic downturn may have everyone flustered but if there’s anything that’s stable, it’s the Internet. With all of the new technologies and tools available to real estate brokerages, the economy is certainly not a reason to slow down in 2009. 

If you want to see “Top 10 Christmas Towns” they are re-airing the special throughout December. Check for local times at HGTV.com.