Agent Secrets

I love Realtors!  And as a tech support representative for a web design and marketing company, you would assume a statement like that was steeped in affectation or sarcasm.

But I do honestly love working with Realtors. Yes, there are common traits that some of you possess that I do have to deal with on a daily basis (i.e. ADHD, extreme fear of computers and technology, lack of patience etc.) but for the most part, I find you all to be highly entertaining and personable human beings who have a real thirst for knowledge and a genuine appreciation for good customer service.

Yet, I can’t help but think of what it would be like to be in your shoes.  How would I use my web marketing knowledge to run online campaigns and attract new customers?

Here is my top 10 list of things that I would do if I were you.  

1.  I would make sure that I had a website that was optimized for lead generation with a clear call to action on each page so by the time I get my ads in place, my website is already setup up and ready to go. My website would be ready to notify me when new leads come in so I can follow-up right away.

2.  I would start a blog to target my ideal audience. My first post would be about why I chose to be a realtor and the reasons I do what I do other than just to make money. This information “About Me” helps to boost loyalty and trust.

3. I would start to collect information and write about my prime areas to build keyword rich content that will attract new visitors to my website.  This information would be in the form of community pages, blog posts along with lots of great photos of the area.

4. I would use social media channels like facebook, LinkedIn and twitter to build my target audience. Once my facebook business page was setup and optimized and my Twitter and LinkedIn accounts were setup, I would place links like the ones below on all of my correspondence (i.e. email signature, website homepage, newsletters etc.) These links would include their own Call To Action and provide compelling reasons why people should find me and follow me on these channels.

5. I would network with local businesses and setup affiliate links and pages within my website.  I would also regularly tweet and post messages on my blog and facebook page to bring more attention to these businesses and help to empower them and build their web presence.

6.  I would shoot interviews with local builders and business owners to increase their profile online and provide valuable video content people in my community

7. I would gather as many video and written testimonials as possible from the people I’ve helped and worked with, and then post this content to my website, blog & YouTube channel.  Then I would drive traffic to this content from my Twitter and facebook accounts.

8. I would plan open house tours to bring as many people in my community as possible together to show them what is available in my marketplace.

9. I would get a professional photographer to take my photo and make sure it was not from 1982.

10. I would stay focused on two things: Building my presence online by doing all of the above plus some local print advertising like Just Listed postcards and brochures to increase awareness offline & generating a steady stream of new leads to my website through PPC services like Google AdWords, Bing & Facebook.

I would not be threatened by what other agents in my market are doing, but rather be inspired and try to learn as much as possible from those who are clearly making it work.

And lastly, I would not focus on the “what” or the “how” of what I do, but the “why”.  And the why should always include a genuine passion for helping people achieve their goals and get the best deal possible when buying or selling their home.

But that’s just me.

Kristie Filion has been with SuccessWebsite for that past 10 years developing and designing web systems for Real Estate professionals. Helping clients generate high quality leads is her specialty.

http://activerain.com/blogs/kristierfilion

Case Study #1 – SMS Success (Bob Cenk)
Watch The Video Now

In this Success Story report, Kristie Filion looks at Property Listing Signs and SMS Sign Riders, and speaks to SuccessWebsite® member Bob Cenk about using them to create not only a dramatic increase in business, but a massive boost in exposure and influence in your marketplace. The report covers:
• Why it’s important to check out your competition

• What other agents using SMS are doing poorly, and how to take advantage

• The elements of a successful property sign and SMS rider

• SOLD riders and a brilliant new idea for using them

• Follow-up strategies to reduce hang ups and convert leads

• Using SMS to impress in listing presentations

Watch The Video Now

 

Okay, you’ve been working diligently at optimizing your website on search engines like Google. (What’s that? You haven’t? Well then, you might want to look at some basic info on search engines, then come back and read this post.)

You’ll probably have realized two things by now:

1. Unless your search keywords are localized (ie. “real estate Sarasota” versus just “real estate”), you’re probably competing with everybody on the Internet instead of just businesses in your area.  Not only that, but a lot of your site visitors will probably be from out of town.
2. If your keywords aren’t focused (ie. “foreclosure properties” versus the more general “real estate”), you probably get a lot more “junk results” in your search.  Again, this is because you’re competing with all the other “real estate” people out there, as opposed to just the ones who specialize in “foreclosure properties”.

These are legitimate concerns, and things you must take into account when promoting your website online.  A prospect in your area is probably more useful to you, and easier to convert, than somebody in a different city, so it’s in your best interest to create optimized searches using local, focused keywords.

But… what if I told you there was also a way to improve your search results with general terms, and virtually guarantee those visitors are local to your area?

Plus!! This method also lets you provide more information about your business, including customer reviews, special offers, and local news, inside the search results, before they even get to your website!!

Continue reading The NEW Internet Search You MUST Know About!