Make the Move - How to Move your Real Estate Business Online by Claudia Wicks

In my last blog, I mentioned that I would share some excerpts from my new book, “Make the Move.” Here is a preview of the cover- what do you think?

The premise of “Make the Move” is to help agents who have not mastered online marketing and systematized their business using Internet tools. The goal is to help them migrate their business online. My goal is to provide you with the information I have learned over the past 7 years teaching Internet marketing and technology training to agents and brokers. I will also share with you the best and brightest ideas of the top agents across North America. They have generously shared their ideas. We have all learned from one another.

So today, let’s start with one of the Top Agents featured in the book- someone many of you already know, Donna Harris, as an Active Rain Rainmaker. Donna generously shared how she started an online business and how she now generates nearly 100% of her business online.

Donna’s consistent blogging and the online presence that she has developed has generated high search engine ranking, Internet leads, provided a real service to her customers and allowed her to prospect painlessly.

Here’s how to work with Internet consumers in Donna’s own words:

“Working with Internet leads is different from working with the traditional consumers. You have to understand how to work with Internet consumers versus traditional consumers. The typical open house buyer, you get to meet. There is no anonymity. You know they are real, same with a sign call. You have the opportunity to talk with them. The Internet buyer, however, is just searching online. They may click on a pop-up without thinking about it. They insert their criteria; they are casually looking. You never know their actual price range. They still have anonymity; you need to follow-up differently. You can’t push. You don’t know their motivation. You need to stay in touch in a less invasive manner. Targeted drip e-mail campaigns work well for this. This just provides a way to stay in touch without constantly bugging them for an appointment.”

NEXT BLOG- I’ll share how Donna grew her database to over 3,500 prospects. Now that the book is almost ready- you’ll be able to find it on my website in about 1 month- my future blogs will contain smart tips from the book garnered over the past 7 years as an Internet marketing innovator and some of the very best ideas from the Top Agents featured in the book, who so generously share their expertise.