Web Sites: Here's How To Make Money (Quick Case Study) - 02/28/07 12:10 PM

You have a Web site and it's not making you money?  All too common in our industry, but here's a "case study" on how you site can make you good money.
One of my CyberStars(r), Kathy Drewien of North Atlanta Realty Group (www.AtlantaRelo.com) sent the following out to our CyberStar(r) list serve: 
"In 2006, we generated approximately 1100 leads through our 2 primary websites; one targeted to relocating buyers and our RealPro site with promotion to the stealth sites. We converted about 1% of these which generated approximately $60,000 in commissions. Yes, we use an autoresponder and the email drip system developed … (0 comments)

The World's Most Important Question: Improving Your Business & Your Life - 02/25/07 01:52 PM

It's a beautiful snowy day here on the lake in Reston, as evidenced by this photo I took from my balcony... 

Snowy days seem to get me thinking about "non real estate stuff."  The last time it snowed, I posted about writing a gratitude list, something I do frequently.  Today, while waiting for the NASCAR race to start, I got to thinking about something I learned awhile ago.  I call it, "The World's Most Important Question." 
What's the question?  It's this: "What Is The Most Important Thing You've Learned About...."
I'll give you an example of my use of The Question … (3 comments)

So Many Sites: So Few Are Making Money. Why? - 02/24/07 08:56 PM

So many agents have Web sites, but so few are making money with them.  Why?  Two main reasons:
First, too many agents have weak sites, sites that are little more than an agent promo page, some stock info pages & listing links.  Many company & franchise sites fit this category.  If you have access to them, get one (since they are usually low cost or even free), but don't expect them to make money for you.
The second reason applies to those with good, deep consumer-oriented sites.  Too many agent who have such sites don't promote them in the proper way. Instead, they … (15 comments)

Your Business Card: Make It Count! - 02/20/07 11:34 AM


Does your business card maximize your marketing?  Bruce Slaton's does!  Bruce is from Sacramento, CA, and has a great Web site.  Note how his business card focuses on getting folks to his site with the words, "24 Hour Condo & Townhome Internet Searches At...." followed by his Web site address. 

Just one example of using the power of your business card to get 'em to your #1 marketing tool, your Web site!
BTW: Bruce has changed firms since he sent me the pdf of his card, as you will see when you visit his site.
It's a great day here on … (17 comments)

Why So Few Good Sites? Your Comments Wanted! - 02/19/07 05:04 PM

Why do so many agents resist getting a good real estate Web site?  It is real estate's #1 money-making tool and by far the most cost effective.  How come so few agent have money-making sites (closed gross commissions of $10,000+ in my humble opinion?
It is not difficult to get a good Web site: get a template site and customize it or hire a site designer.  In either case, you then need to publicize your site to the max (please stop depending on search engine optimization!).
                                                        … (15 comments)

Making Money With Template Web Sites - 02/19/07 12:02 PM

Unfortunately, many agents still do not have money making, consumer-oriented Web sites.  I have written extensively on how this can be achieved in my four part series, “What Makes A Site A Money Maker” (see Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV). In those articles, I make the point that a template site is often the best place to start for an agent who does not yet have a Web site…or whose site is not making him or her much, if any money.  Companies such as Advanced Access, Homes.com and #1 Expert are good examples of such template sites. 
… (5 comments)

Real Estate's Top Money Making Softwares & Web Services - 02/16/07 10:58 PM

Active Rainer Jim Crawford, in another post, asked AR'ers to let him know what real estate software they couldn't live without.  I posted the following list, based on a survey of my CyberStars(r).  The list below shows what these top agents use and is ranked in order of its money-making ability: 
TOP PRODUCER (real estate's#1 database)VisualTour.com (#1 virtual tour program)RealProSystems (main Web site, 4 "stealth" sites & automatic lead contact/tracking) AgencyLogic Power Sites (dynamite "listing Web page")RainMaker e-Central (great content for your Web sites + automatic lead contact/tracking)Imprev (print & multimedia templates...well done & easy to use)eNeighborhoods (complete demographic information for … (16 comments)

Must Read Article: "Watch Out For Online Ads That Watch You" - 02/06/07 07:40 PM

You are familiar with those pop-up ads from certain Web sites, right?  Well, some of them are far worse than just a mere annoyance.  PCWorld has a must read article on ads placed by behavioral marketing networks.  Such ads place a "cookie" on your computer.  The cookie records (and reports back on) which sites you visit, which ads you click on, whether you bought anything, and more.  Based on this information, you will see ads based on your interests.  Cute, huh? 
PC World magazine has a must read article on these privacy invaders.  Read it, and you will learn more about such … (10 comments)

CRS Courses: The Best! - 02/06/07 11:11 AM

I am in Franklin, TN, teaching the CRS 206 course, "Technologies To Advance Your Business."  It is a good time to remind you that the CRS courses are, in my opinion, the best educational offerings in real estate today.
Like the 206, the "core" courses that lead you to your CRS designation are in-depth, 2 day courses focusing on one subject such as business planning, listing strategies, referrals, selling skills, technology and wealth building.  The instructors are the best, and the courses involve you in strategies for building your business. 
My main point: attending CRS courses will help you grow your business in … (4 comments)

Free Group Phone Calls: High Tech, High Touch! - 02/04/07 09:56 PM

Allen F. Hainge CyberStar(r) Ira Serkes of RE/MAX Executive, Berkeley, CA provided the following tip for my online newsletter awhile back.  Ira is a big believer in “high tech, high touch,” as his tip shows.
“High Tech doesn't mean much without high touch, and we have some very cool uses for phone systems.  Free Conference Call is just one of the main ones!  Go to their web site, put in your email address, and they give you a phone number and pass code to use to set up a free conference call.  You do need to pay for the phone call.
… (4 comments)

Allen's "Must Have Tech Tools" List - 02/01/07 05:00 PM

The following list of some tech tools I have found valuable originally appeared in my online newsletter last year.  I use technology to help me save time, save money, make money and, in general, to make my life easier and more productive.   I highly recommend each of the following if they fit into your technology plan.
Plantronics Discovery 640 Bluetooth Headsetwww.Plantronics.com
Using this with my Treo 650 is a joy.  I would urge anyone who is still wired to their cell phone or who must hold it while talking to get this amazingly small unit.  While on the phone, this … (13 comments)

Online Gatherings: Great Way To Share Ideas! - 02/01/07 04:10 PM

Four of my CyberStars(r) who are also ActiveRainers got together for an online Webinar session today, just to kick around some ideas as to how we can contribute more to the growth of AR and how we can increase our effectiveness using AR.
Thanks fot Angus Woodbury, Teri Isner, Sharon Simms and Wynne Achatz for sharing their knoledge with me.  We all learned from our brief online session....so much so that we are organizing an online Webinar to share ideas with all of our fellow CyberStars(r), as we would like to see more of them involved with AR.
I would urge ActiveRainers to … (0 comments)

 

Allen F. Hainge, CRS

Reston, VA

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Address: Reston, VA, 20190

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Tips, Techniques and networking ideas from one of real estate's premier technology/marketing trainers and speakers. Allen learns from the CyberStars(r) (www.CyberStars.net) and shares his knowledge with you.


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