Thread: Hobbs Herder

My wife just attended a real estate marketing and training seminar and one of the speakers was from Hobbs Herder. I know that this company does some fine work, but I couldn't believe what they said about web sites.

In their expert opinion, search engines do not provide prospects or leads. Their advice was to invest in banner advertising and passive real estate internet marketing strategies only!

Speaking of generating quality leads from your website. have you guys had much success from your site?

I generate about 3-5 leads/week from my website and so far I have not done as well as I had hoped as far as converting leads to closed deals goes..

I find that most internet users #1 don't give you accurate info and #2 are 6-12 months out from really doing anything..

have you had different experiences?

Originally Posted by HHI Golf Guy

My wife just attended a real estate marketing and training seminar and one of the speakers was from Hobbs Herder. I know that this company does some fine work, but I couldn't believe what they said about web sites.

In their expert opinion, search engines do not provide prospects or leads. Their advice was to invest in banner advertising and passive real estate internet marketing strategies only!

Then the NRA's statement that 2/3 of buyers make their first contact with an agent via the internet must have come from Alice In Wonderland. Kidding aside, if Hobbs Herder is accurate then we have been spinning our wheels and should look for other gainful activity.

Originally Posted by sdloanbroker

Speaking of generating quality leads from your website. have you guys had much success from your site?

I won't give away any secrets, but I will tell you this: I am pulling back on my own SEO business, obtained my RE license, and opening a new real estate brokerage at the end of May or early June. All based upon my ability to generate leads on the internet.

There are ways to engineer a real estate web site to cultivate the trust of web surfers, and turn those surfers into prospects. After that, there are certain steps to be taken to turn prospects into leads, and leads into buyers.

That's why most real estate web sites - even sites that do receive decent traffic - don't generate any sales.

I have to say that even without yet being able to crack into the top of the G serps, my Yahoo and MSN traffic is generating 8-10 leads/week.

In their expert opinion, search engines do not provide prospects or leads. Their advice was to invest in banner advertising and passive real estate internet marketing strategies only!

I hope many Realtors in my area take this advice . In the meantime I'll continue to work with the customers who found my site through a search engine.

I find that most internet users #1 don't give you accurate info and #2 are 6-12 months out from really doing anything..

I seem to get accurate info, but often that info is not complete ie. only an email address and no phone #. It does seem as though roughly 30% are 3 months or more from actively buying or selling, 60% are just surfing and are "tire kickers" and maybe 10% are serious and ready to get started.

Originally Posted by HHI Golf Guy

There are ways to engineer a real estate web site to cultivate the trust of web surfers, and turn those surfers into prospects. After that, there are certain steps to be taken to turn prospects into leads, and leads into buyers.

That's why most real estate web sites - even sites that do receive decent traffic - don't generate any sales.

In order to convert visitors into buyers you MUST have a good follow up procedure. If your conversion rates are not acceptable, then you need to look at how to revise and improve your follow up system.

Your website is just another tool. If you use your pistol as a nail driver you can

I couldn't agree more Mack! Proper conversion and follow up are very important to doing business on the web!

Originally Posted by VegasMack

In order to convert visitors into buyers you MUST have a good follow up procedure. If your conversion rates are not acceptable, then you need to look at how to revise and improve your follow up system.

WHOA! Do you mean that I cannot just load a web site and expect to make millions of dollars? LOL!

Originally Posted by HHI Golf Guy

WHOA! Do you mean that I cannot just load a web site and expect to make millions of dollars? LOL!

ahhh. errrr, ahhhh.... Yup!

You can

This is great advice - I agree completely..I have tried several different strategies to convert internet leads to business. I have had the best results when there is something relatively personal I can share with the prospect - for example if I am familiar with the area near them - I might mention a restaurant I really like..

Do you guys have any tricks that you find more useful than others?