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Dear "Bo Didley" Thank you for registering on my website

By Martin E. Kalisker, Esq.

Real Estate Attorney MA 9505496/Broker

October 19, 2009 11:42 AM

Dear Bo Didley -

Are you any relation to Fred Flintstone, Barney Rubble, Elvis or John Doe? You see, all of these folks have registered for free home updates on my website www.synergy-metrowest.com.

It looks like you came back twice - once because registered with an invalid e-mail address (bo@didley.com), and the other with what I assume to be your actual e-mail so that you will receive the updates. You didn't give me a good telephone number either, because I called it today to thank you for registering for home updates and to see if I could assist you with an introduction to one of my Gold Services partners to get you pre-approved for a home loan.

Bo - one of the purposes of registering on our site is for us to be able to start a discussion about what property amenities you are looking for, your price range, your timing, etc. Without being able to contact you about this information, you are missing out on a whole bunch of neat things that we offer our clients and which differentiates us from Brand X down the street.

Without allowing us to communicate with you, you are missing out on the Synergy Difference.

So, in the meantime, I hope that you enjoy the features of my website and that you are able to wade through the MLS listings on your own. If there is anything that I can do to help make your property search easier, just give me a call or e-mail me. And don't forget to download your free "go mobile" application so that you can look up MLS listings as you drive by a neighborhood, or to help you with your search for open houses.

I hope to hear from you. I'm not disappointed by your wish to remain anonymous. I respect that. I just want you to know that I'm here for you when you are ready to work with a Realtor.

Kind Regards,

Martin E. Kalisker, ABR, E-Pro, LMC
Broker/Owner
WEICHERT, REALTORS®-Synergy
378 Washington Street
Wellesely Hills, MA 02481

martin@synergy-metrowest.com
www.synergy-metrowest.com

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Mark Watterson

Salt Lake City, UT

Utah Real Estate

I don't require registration to search listings. So I don't get to many celebrity names. lol....

What do get is people marketing the web services by filling out my contact form. I guess it a way around my spam filter I have on my email.

Oct 20, 2009 01:59 AM

Jeani Codrey

RE/MAX Corridor - New Braunfels, TX

Director of Opportunity & Agent Development

Gee and I thought I was special when "Joe Schmoe" registered on my website! Now I feel left out! I also had one with the e mail address:

Please@don'tcallme.com!

Not sure what the point was with that one!

Oct 20, 2009 02:15 AM

Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist

KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA

Probate Real Estate Services

Martin: This is what we get by forcing registration. People just want the MLS search ... if they don't get it from me they will get if somewhere else. I pay for the service if it is used ... or not! Those folks are not looking for help ... or an agent ... they are looking for properties. Some may come forth and ask for help when they need it.

Oct 20, 2009 02:22 AM

Martin E. Kalisker, Esq.

Natick, MA

Real Estate Law From A Practical Perspective

I'm happy to see that everyone has an opinion on whether to require registration on their websites and when to do it. That was not the point of my post, however! I think I am pretty "savvy" about lead management and with an office conversion rate of 18% for internet leads, I think I am doing pretty well, considering that the industry average is less than 2%.

My post was more geared to the fact that there are some people out there that want to be anonymous, but in doing so, they are not taking full advantage of the resources of a firm like mine. We have an outstanding drip marketing and client management database that allows me, as the broker/owner to "see" all the agent activity with their leads, the properties that the leads are viewing and number of times that they have been to the website. This allows me to make sure that my agents are not picking just the fruit off of the trees that are falling. With over 200 leads per month and an average incubation time of 9-11 months, my agents are quite busy and the tools and resources that I have provided them keep them well compensated for a job well done - or not. But I also have no problem "shutting off" an agent that isn't managing leads appropriately.

Keep those comments coming!!!

Oct 20, 2009 02:52 AM

Will Goodson

Sheffield Properties/Private Label Realty - Austin, TX

Ha, what a great post! I received a registration from Jerry Garcia once before. Man, that would have been an interesting client! I cannot blame folks from putting in these bogus names. I think they fear what they want. Of course no one wants to be bombarded by Realtors and Lenders. It's reasonable... but they are more afraid of taking the next step. Or they may feel they cannot achieve their goals. I think that if you provide relative info to what the consumers want, then the "real" people will stand up.

Oct 20, 2009 04:51 AM

James Lyon

Vista Pacific Realty - Sacramento, CA

That is hilarious and so very true. I dont even know how many bad numbers I have called off of my website. Oh well, on ward and up ward.

Oct 20, 2009 05:05 AM

Martin E. Kalisker, Esq.

Natick, MA

Real Estate Law From A Practical Perspective

Unfortunately, lead resellers like Reply have made consumers more reluctant to submitting their contact information for fear that they will be contacted by more than one realtor, carpet cleaner, you name it! Maybe we should all put in a disclaimer that their confidential information will not be shared with any third party and see what happens.

Oct 20, 2009 05:12 AM

Delete Acct Desert Communities

Palm Desert, CA

Funny yet so true! I have often wondered why people take the time to fill out the registration with bogus information! Why bother? I agree with the incubation time of 6 - 9 months or longer, especially with vacation and second home purchases. Thanks for the post!

Oct 20, 2009 05:13 AM

Frank Chirkinian

Short Sale Army - Boynton Beach, FL

Thanks for making me laugh!

Oct 20, 2009 05:48 AM

Clint Miller

Real Estate Pipeline, Inc. - Missoula, MT

Working for an online referral company, I have seen just about every form of fake online web hit on the planet. Some of these are really quite imaginative :-)

Oct 20, 2009 06:46 AM

Susan Brown

Keller Williams NE, Kingwood Texas (Humble & Atascocita too) - Kingwood, TX

Martin - How funny. We haven't had Bo visit us but have had Ikdjyh and Jllssqw stop by and register! LOL.

Oct 20, 2009 07:24 AM

Erica Crowell

eRealty Inc. - Wake Forest, NC

My favorite "visitor" is Bloody Mary! I wish they'd left me a drink while stopping by! LOL

Oct 20, 2009 08:03 AM

Claude Cross

Homes By Cross, Inc. - Charlotte, NC

Charlotte NC Homes For Sale

Elvis has visited my site on numerous occasions (and left his contact info). Unfortunately I don't cater to ghosts. As for the rest, may they rest in peace

Oct 20, 2009 08:25 AM

Martin E. Kalisker, Esq.

Natick, MA

Real Estate Law From A Practical Perspective

Reminds me of my days living in Bermuda. No one dared to speak about the Bermuda Triangle, but the papers were always full of stories about how someone spotted Elvis or JFK alive and well on the pink sand beaches. Maybe Michael is going to join them down there.

Oct 20, 2009 08:43 AM

Rich Cederberg

eXp Realty - Albuquerque, NM

eXp Realty Agent Albuquerque

Thanks for the laugh Martin. And you too Norma.

I'm going to go check out the mobile ap. That sounds really cool.

Oct 20, 2009 12:25 PM

AZ Mortgage Broker: Michael George

Arizona Wholesale Mortgage Inc. - Phoenix, AZ

AZ Mortgage Rates

Pretty funny. I thought it was a very well done response as well. I bet he calls you. Make sure to get his autograph.

Oct 21, 2009 05:58 AM

Bruce Brockmeier

Internet Marketing Consultant to REALTORS® - Yorba Linda, CA

Coached By Crouch

with an office conversion rate of 18% for internet leads, I think I am doing pretty well

Hi again Martin,

Converting 18% is more than "doing pretty well". It's spectacular! Keep up the great work.

Oct 21, 2009 11:46 AM

Bob & Bonnie Horning

Mount Joy, PA

Martin, The number one fear of real estate buyers? Being captured. Drop the capture and cut down on the fictious names. People are so weary of advertising being exposed to an average of 3,000 ads a week. If you don't give them what they want to know... they'll find it elsewhere. It's the information highway age. - Bill Gates.

Oct 22, 2009 06:29 AM

Martin E. Kalisker, Esq.

Natick, MA

Real Estate Law From A Practical Perspective

Bob - see above. You don't get to 18% closure without lead capture! It's a fine balance that I review regularly. Should I require registration earlier, should I wait until they want "detail" information? There is no one right answer. You have to see what works for you and the better you understand the consumer, the better off you will be.

Oct 22, 2009 06:49 AM

Bob & Bonnie Horning

Mount Joy, PA

Hey how'd you know it was me??

Oct 23, 2009 01:18 AM

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