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I Have $500 for Web Marketing. Now What?

Hopefully this will be an interactive post that we can all learn from.

A little background - We have discontinued using a popular real estate magazine to promote our listings. This has created a surplus $500 a month that can be re-deployed without a net increase to our budget. Also, I have been tracking the responses from the local paper. It is non existent. The gross number of listings on Sunday, for example, is about 80% lower than last year. With print being such old news, the decision to increase web spending online was easy.

So far, we have tentatively decided on the following: (note - we do a lot of bank work, so we are focused more to those websites)

http://www.foreclosure.com/ - $9.99/wk. - (Smart. They make more per member charging by the week) Can post all of my listings here.
http://www.realtytrac.com/ - $45.99/mo. - Can post all of my listings here and can buy upgrades on a per property basis.
http://www.reonetwork.com/ - $100/mo. Purchase a premium membership so our name is "at the top of the list". This may or may not pay off.
http://www.realtor.com/ - $187/mo. Just cause I am sick of not being able to post properties the way I want on the free program. Is this really worth it?? Inquiring minds want to know!!

Total = $392.95 Remainder = $107.05

We are also using free things like http://www.postlets.com/, http://www.craigslist.com/ and http://www.realestateflyerads.com/. Response has been pretty good.

In addition to this effort, we are working on upgrading the website on our real estate side. Totally different budget.

So, are we looking in the right areas? Are there better places? Better ideas?

Richard F. Kruse is the President of Columbus, Ohio based Gryphon USA, Ltd. (www.gryphonusa.com). The Gryphon Organization includes Gryphon Asset Management providing receivership and consulting services in the distressed marketplace, United Country Ohio Realty & Auction Group (www.ucohiorealty.com & www.ucohioauctions.com) providing real estate brokerage and auction services throughout Ohio and OnlineAuctionUSA.com (www.onlineauctionusa.com) providing commercial asset liquidations from the Midwest to East Coast.

United Country Ohio Realty & Auction Career Opportunities Available. Call 614-885-0020 x 17

Posted by Rich Kruse on 10/16/2007 03:52 PM

Comments (20)

website, marketing

Originally posted at: Asset Management & Recovery: I Have $500 for Web Marketing. Now What?

20 Comments on I Have $500 for Web Marketing. Now What?

OCT

2007

You might want to check out this site www.nationalrealestatepages.com. It is free and from the one post it property that I have posted it seems fairly easy to work.

Rich do you have an outside blog away from AR? You might want to start there and spend some money getting that developed. If you have a static website feed your posts to the website.

I'm with Jan - A blog site is cost effective and offers you so many SEO benefits and potential eyeballs too. I'd give that serious consideration.

Bobby - I have a call and email into Brad about getting something going. Is he back on the face of the earth. I've heard yes??

Linda - I will cehck that out.

Jay - I hear you and Bobby, but I am concerned that a blog type site might not really fit me. I rant.

Have you googled your name lately? Your rants are already there on the WWW.

You have enough left for Real Estate Shows, if you don't have it already. I'm just sayin'.

Yeah, but I am in a 12 step program now. Complainers Anonymous meets Tuesday and Thursday near me.

By the way, who uses google?

I have it. At $125/yr, I really don't count it though.

I usually go for the free stuff, except for my web site. I'm interested in how these other sites work out for you.

OCT

2007

I have the enhanced listings on realtor.com, plus I use all the other stuff. My website and the enhanced listings seem to give me the most action at this point.

REO Trans or web site upgrading would be my suggestion

OCT

2007

I think you should take that $500 and take Melissa out more often - while out hand out business cards, leave them on tables with your tip and everyone else you come in contact with -

Rich, I understand that Realtytrac is now affiliated with resnet. Resnet is $250 per year. That should save a couple of bucks. There is also the red book . DS news, but they are a little pricey.

Lisa - I use a lot of the free stuff too.

Fran - I hope the enhanced listings pay off. That's a lot of $$ for a monthly subscription.

Paul - REO Trans seems to be providing some return.

Thesa - Catch 22. I need a couple more agents in my firm to take the referrals as I don't take on consumer clients (usually). I am writing a purchase offer today for a cousin of one of my vendors, but if he wants to start "looking" at other stuff then someone else will need to service him.

Karen - I'll look into that. I was not impressed with Red Book when the BS sales guy was pitching me at the 5 Star Conference. I also don't know what type of traction they have. Is anyone looking there?

Rich, I had contemplated red book, but have decided, due to price, mostly not to use it. I don't see Asset Managers purusing it in their spare time. Although it is on the web, but there are much cheaper options, in my opinion.

OCT

2007

google and yahoo pay per click

can show you the numbers, in person

where have you been JT? show me baby!!!

OCT

2007

in Fl till sunday, making some money

selling a few things too

did montry fall off a cliff?

I gave him about 40 listings to work on + his other stuff. I think he's been busy. Ask him about his new friend, Quick Draw Barbie

JAN

2008

Rich,

This is why you are the king. Your little blog-- Is empowering me to tell my Harmon Homes Rep -- To take her advertisements and ____________________ <--- insert insult of choice.

-Jaosn

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