Thread: If you want a lead capture site...

I know that a lot of us 'Real Estate People' aren't really technical, so I thought I'd offer a few ideas...

I also know that getting your site created can be an expensive and messy proposition- especially because most of us only have a site 'for credibility' and rarely even use it.

I've got two suggestions:

1) Hire someone to build a lead capture site for you (that actually brings you new business) - This can be done very affordably. (I can point you in the right direction if you msg me)

2) Learn to build your site yourself and never rely on 'Web Guys' or 'Marketing Consultants' and their high fees again. (see link below)

I truly believe (from personal experience) that having a lead capture type of site is 100% better than a template / MLS / My Listings type of site. Because if your site doesn't bring you business, what is it for?

Love to hear other people's thoughts on this...

Originally Posted by dvn

2) Learn to build your site yourself and never rely on 'Web Guys' or 'Marketing Consultants' and their high fees again. (see link below)

That's true if one is technically inclined and has the time to devote to building, optimizing and maintaining a site, but if you are not, and/or your time is more productively spent cultivating leads that your site gets you... it is better to pay a professional to do it for you.

Just like you would pay an exterminator or electrician rather than learn how to do their jobs and buy the equipment necessary to complete it.

The determining factor in most cases is time, followed by know-how.

I understand what you are saying about hiring a professional, but there are 2 factors to consider that I believe undermine the success of many people in our industry:

1) It isn't nearly as difficult to build your own site as you might think. (I've got a system that has allowed people to have their own site in less than a week of 'plunking at it'.)

2) Most website professionals know how to do the 'Technical' aspect and make your site really pretty, but don't know how to make the site 'Sell'- and that is the most important factor.

The other downside that I've encountered with using professionals that I end up waiting days or even weeks for them to make any adjustments that I need on my site.

If you have loads of money and little time, then it might be worth it to hire one of the truly good professionals who knows Real Estate and can create something that works... but you'll still be reliant on him/her for YOUR results.

On the other hand, if you learn some basics yourself- you will then be in control forever and not be reliant on others and their time/knowledge limitations for your success.

I've been on both sides of the fence (paying pros vs. doing the simple stuff myself) and have found the freedom of being 100% in control of my site and my marketing to be well worth the short learning curve involved.

Has anyone else tried both? I'd love to get more feedback because this is what I do (help people build leads online) and I want to know what you're really in need of to be successful...

Best Regards,
Derick

How many real estate professionals do you know that hang out and learn xtml on weekends? The majority of professionals I know find it hard enough to get integrated into websites like facebook, never mind trying to build their own from scratch.

It is true that you can get sucked into paying professionals lots of money for a website and maintenance of that website, but you also have options. You can get them to create a user friendly admin panel for you so that you can update things yourself. Plus, having a professional update things isn't always bad. Taking two weeks to fix something yourself and still doing it wrong, is.

GoGlobe,

I understand your comments and agree that not a lot of R/E professionals spend time learning how to do web design. But that's one of the reasons that there is so little true competition for leads online...

Also hiring a true professional can be the best choice you ever make... as long as he knows how to market (not just design) and you have the money to pay for the build out plus ongoing maintenance.

For those that want control or have limited funds, I truly believe (using the 80/20 rule) that an effective site can be created in a minimal amount of time and with minimal effort. I'm not talking about a full content site- in fact, quite the opposite- a site with 1 objective only... getting leads.

I've worked with people who have been able to have their own site up and running - from scratch - in just a few days.

If you believe that getting leads on the internet is a good idea (which I do - 100%) then spending a few days or evenings (with the proper tutorial system) is well worth the reward of being in control of your website and capitalizing on that control.

I can't say for sure, but based on the growth of the internet, the ROI on learning to market and capture leads online is off the charts...

my site is supervb and eye catching my other site is internationalhotproperty.co.uk/ but i not know i am not getting so good business, please suggest me if any of you having any better idea.