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WHAT KIND OF LEAD GENERATING WEBSITE DO YOU USE? Need Advice!

By Stella Barbour

Real Estate Broker/Owner with NoVa Brokers LLC 0225 094634 VA/ 643686 MD

November 20, 2010 02:56 PM

I was curious of how many agents use a lead-generating real estate website. I started using one some time ago and it seems to be working well but I was wondering what others are using and their experience with it. The one I use charges a monthly fee for the website. I do get leads from it but was thinking about getting another type of lead-generating website and having 2 websites. I was curious if others use more than one website and if that works for you. Since I am licensed in two States (I live close to MD & VA line), I thought it would be great to have one for each State but was not sure if that was cost effective. I get about 3-4 leads a week right now and sometimes about 6-7 a week.

Thanks for all advice and comments on this subject. It is always appreciated. Active Rain is the best.

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Stanley Stepak

Howard Hanna - Avon Lake, OH - Avon Lake, OH

Realtor - Avon Lake, Avon, Bay Village, Westlake,

I am bookmarking you because I am curious too as young as I am in this field. I hope you get some strong suggestions here

Nov 20, 2010 03:03 PM

Stella Barbour

NoVa Brokers LLC - Vienna, VA

Principal Broker, Serving Virginia and Maryland

Stan - Thanks for commenting. I know what you mean. I just want to know what the best ones are out there. There is too much information and with me, not enough computer knowledge.

Nov 20, 2010 03:05 PM

Carol Olsen

RealtyUSA - Oneonta, NY

Realtor- Oneonta NY Real Estate

I don't use one. I use my website, past clients and prospecting or working expireds.

Nov 20, 2010 03:07 PM

Stella Barbour

NoVa Brokers LLC - Vienna, VA

Principal Broker, Serving Virginia and Maryland

Carol - thanks for your comment. I have a regular website too for that but I don't get very many leads from it, that is why I started using a lead generating one about 6 months ago, but not sure if I am using a good one or if there is one better out there.

Nov 20, 2010 03:09 PM

Ernie Hernandez

RE/MAX - Cedar Park, TX

Central Texas Real Estate, NW Austin, Cedar Park

i do the same as Carol. So who do you use? and what is your conversion rate on the leads

Nov 20, 2010 03:10 PM

Stella Barbour

NoVa Brokers LLC - Vienna, VA

Principal Broker, Serving Virginia and Maryland

Ernie - Thanks for stopping by. I have been using the sucesswebsite. You can click on mine and see how it is set up. It is set up differently than my personal real estate website. I have it set up as www.stellabarbour.com People sign into it to get reports and then it sends me the lead via email and I can tell what type of client they are by the report they requested and other information if they filled it out, and then I give them a call. sometimes they don't leave real phone numbers, but usually the email address are good, very rarely is it not verified because the report they request has to go to their email which verifies it. I have gotten a few from it but have not had it that long and I still have potential buyers from it that are not ready to look until after the new year. So it is still new to me.

Nov 20, 2010 03:33 PM

Ingrid Laine

Sun West Mortgage Company, Inc. - Virginia Beach, VA

Loan Officer

I am not a Realtor, I am a Loan Officer, however I do pay for several of my Realtor's web lead generation sites... they seem to work pretty well. As far as having one for each state... Not sure... The best thing I do is keep track... keeping score with what brings you in the business is the best thing to do... Not knowing where your closed business is and and is not coming from is costly in time and money.

I had a Realtor cut me loose in favor of his new in house lender only to find out later that whatever arrangement they worked out did not account for 28.5% of his past 2 years of business as I had done... In my opinion keeping score is what matters the most when it comes to spending time and money on lead generation.

—Ingrid

Nov 20, 2010 03:55 PM

Simon Mills

Mills Realty - Toluca Lake, CA

I'm not a big fan for paying for leads, but if you have found the service you use to be successful then try expanding with them into your other market. I've actually had some pretty good luck advertising on Zillow. There traffic is increasing and I am being contacted daily.

Nov 20, 2010 06:13 PM

Cameron Novak

The Homefinding Center - 1000 Palms, CA

Real Estate Broker since 2008

I really hate paying companies for leads when those companies are stealing our leads by saturating the search engines and posting OUR listing inventory (so the consumers don't need to contact us for the information).

If no one would pay for leads from these scraper sites, they'd have no reason to steal our leads since they wouldn't be able to sell them back to us.

That said... a good website and IDX is a terrific idea.

Nov 20, 2010 06:30 PM

Julie Nearing

Vision Real Estate LLC - Farmington, CT

I don't pay for leads but I use internet marketing.......which has worked for me. I would be curious about who uses a good lead site..........

Nov 21, 2010 12:55 AM

Stella Barbour

NoVa Brokers LLC - Vienna, VA

Principal Broker, Serving Virginia and Maryland

Ingrid - Thanks for the comments and the advice.

Nov 21, 2010 02:42 AM

Stella Barbour

NoVa Brokers LLC - Vienna, VA

Principal Broker, Serving Virginia and Maryland

Simon- Thanks for sharing your comments. I will check that out on zillow.

Nov 21, 2010 02:43 AM

Stella Barbour

NoVa Brokers LLC - Vienna, VA

Principal Broker, Serving Virginia and Maryland

Cameron - Thanks for sharing that with us.

Nov 21, 2010 02:44 AM

Stella Barbour

NoVa Brokers LLC - Vienna, VA

Principal Broker, Serving Virginia and Maryland

Julie - My website is a lead type website, it does not charge for leads but I was wondering which one is the best one out there.

Nov 21, 2010 02:45 AM

Rebecca Diamond

Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Bryn Mawr - Bryn Mawr, PA

Main Line Homes for Sale

After years of not wanting to pay for leads, I recently decided to dive in. I am using a Market Leader website to generate leads. I pay a monthly fee. I've been using it since late August. I do get about 20 leads per month, but I've been unable to close any of the leads so far. Many of them simply will not engage with me (via the emails I send). Perhaps I'm "doing it" wrong, not sure. The contact management system is clumsy at best, though they are improving it with some frequency. I also very often get the leads on my phone and using the site via my phone is next to impossible so I'm not getting to some of the leads as urgently as I should. They claim to have fantastic retention among agents who purchase it, however I am not sure I will stay with them. Just my .02

Nov 23, 2010 06:48 AM

Stella Barbour

NoVa Brokers LLC - Vienna, VA

Principal Broker, Serving Virginia and Maryland

Rebecca - Thanks for stopping by. I have one suggestion. Many of the leads from my website do not respond to email, but I usually attempt a phone call with the number they have left. If the number is a good one, then leave a message. Most people are shy about making contact. It is up to us to make the first move. I found that it is more personal. Some people will say, "Oh good, I am glad you called". But when I send email to them, I never hear back. Worth a try.

Nov 24, 2010 02:26 AM