Josh Gray's Blog

What's a qualified lead really worth?

Josh Gray (Realty Stream) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:33:19 -0700

What do REALTORS expect from the web? I see REALTORS assaulted from every angle to spend money on print, radio, web sites, SEO and "lead generation programs". In my former life as an insurance agent I would spend $1,000 per month to make a minimum of $8,000. As I got better at sales the ROI increased. What is realistic for REALTORS? What would you pay or what do you pay for one closed transaction?

What's a qualified lead really worth?

Josh Gray (Realty Stream) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:29:21 -0700

What's a qualified lead really worth?

Josh Gray (Realty Stream) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:28:25 -0700

What's a qualified lead really worth?

Josh Gray (Realty Stream) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:27:25 -0700

IDX RMLS?

Josh Gray (Realty Stream) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:43:52 -0700

Hi we are Realty Stream. We just opened for business in RMLS with our IDX web tools. As we have great timing we picked the best time to open RMLS with a thriving real estate market and REALTORS ready to blow money on worthless web sites. LOL. Actually we have been working for the last year on the "Portland" market and are excited to share our ideas and web tools with those that care to listen. We are in this business for the long haul. Good market or bad market we believe the web is not going away. We help REALTORS have a web strategy on just a web site. This is my first and last shameless plug for our company and I hope to be able to add value to this group. Anyone use www.prorealestatenetwork.com ? I have seen some great articles and valuable ideas there. Thanks www.realtystream.biz

Hello Portland

Josh Gray (Realty Stream) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:41:15 -0700

What matters most about Real estate web sites?

Josh Gray (Realty Stream) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:38:28 -0700

After posting a comment about Craig's list I got to thinking about their site. Not flashy, reads like a newspaper but functionality is paramount. I can easily find what I want almost every time. Maybe that is the key. I go there and use it because it is easy. In my business I see hundreds of Real Estate web sites a month. Most have great graphics and little or no function. It is an image site not an end user site. One of our clients has a site that does not appeal to me but she gets a ton of business because it is easy to use. www.mindypalmer.com What matters to me for my clients is the end result. LEADS and SALES

Hello Montana Realtors

Josh Gray (Realty Stream) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:09:59 -0700

Good to find REALTORS working hard at having a web presence. Keep up the good work and fill the pipeline with relos for school and retirement. Press on the sales are out there.

Hello CDA

Josh Gray (Realty Stream) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:05:38 -0700

Sounds like business is picking up. My business associate Jace lives in Post Falls and has been working with REALTORS on their Personal web presence. Keep the pipe line full. Thanks Josh

How do you feel about SAR IDX policies?

Josh Gray (Realty Stream) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 03:02:08 -0700

We are and approved IDX/WEBSITE provider in SAR and about 6 other MLS's. We find SAR one of the hardest ones on their agents with a $200 set up fee to the agent and $25.00per month to the association for IDX feeds before the vendor even starts to charge a fee. This does not seem to agent friendly and the low number of IDX agents sites in Spokane seems to be caused by this. For example Boise IMLS has over 1000 agent IDX feeds going out while Spokane has probably less than 100. Just curious what you guys think.

SEO

Josh Gray (Realty Stream) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:37:38 -0700

One of the first things REALTORS ask me when we help them with their web strategy is how do I get found? We go through the organic process and over PPC options but I hear many tragic stories of agents/brokers who were taken advantage of. Today I was visiting with a prospective client and she shared that in January she had paid $2000 to some company in California that was going to optimize her site for her. She has not had one lead off of her site and they took the money and ran. Make sure you do your homework. SEO takes time and money. Consistant time and money not one shot wonders. I work with a guy who charges a one time set up fee of $350 and monthly between $100 and $240 depending on the number of key words you want optimized. He produces consistant results and is held accountable for performance. PPC has worked very well for my clients also. Keep filling the pipeline with leads so the 4th quarter will be productive.

Are the hungry REALTORS eating?

Josh Gray (Realty Stream) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:26:46 -0700

After visiting with hundreds of REALTORS this year it seems to me that those who are hungry are eating. I ask every REALTOR that I meet how is business. The answers are all over the board with confused looks as if they really do not know. If your new to this type of a market it is desperation and I am just trying to hold on till it gets back to "normal". The veterans know the ups and downs of the business and talk about tough times being in the early 80's with sky high interest rates. I find that in this business is eerily similar to the insurance business where I spent most of my sales career. Winners win no matter what the market is doing and whiners whine and always have an excuse. Tom Hopkins said it Best "The business of sales is the highest paid hard work and the lowest paid easy work". Go back to the basics and do what got you to where you are if your happy with the results. Follow up follow up follow up. Make every lead give you a decision one way or another. Leads are more precious than ever and leave no stones unturned. Add extra prospecting time to your life to keep the pipeline full. Be an extra miler. Read Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Push hard till you hit you numbers.

Web Site vs. Web Strategy

Josh Gray (Realty Stream) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:59:51 -0700

My company works exclusively with REALTORS in MT,ID, and WA. Jace, Jeff and myself have had and are having personal visits with hundreds of REALTORS. We are trying to affect change in the in web world with REALTORS through web education. Web sites seem to be on a the list of things to do but never quite make it to the forefront. That being said having just a web site means very little in to days real estate market. The site must have some teeth to it. Is it the look? Is it the SEO or ability to find the site? Is it function and ease of use? How do you find the perfect site? The perfect site is the one you use. It is the one your excited to promote. I find that there are a lot of great web products for REALTORS and sometimes they make a decision to purchase and then it just sits somewhere and does nothing. Most of the time it is not the products fault but the REALTOR and the person, or email, or telemarketer who sold the web tool and does not follow up. The web is not going away. Embrace what it can do for your career and have a Web strategy. We have a client in one of our markets who did not have a website 45 days ago. He is not a tech or computer person. He has embraced the web started using PPC advertising and has 5 leads and 3 appointments with potential clients in August. How is you web strategy working for you? Get after this market. Don't by the it's slow everywhere theory. It is not slow everywhere and many of the REALTORS I talk to are working their tails off and getting their hands "dirty" and doing what got them to the top of their field. Pump your self up with a good book like Emyth by Michael Gerber. Check out Jeffery Gitomer on line. I am in this for the long haul. Realty Stream desires to work with the best. Let's dominate in all market conditions.