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IDX Will Make or Break Your Online Marketing

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with ActiveRain

IDX Amps up your businessWe've all seen the stats......people go online to look for homes for sale. 80%? 85%? 90%? It doesn't matter, it's a large percentage of them no matter which stat you choose to use.

ActiveRain was born out of IDX. We originally used ActiveRain as the name for the lead management platform that we built to accommodate and convert the leads we were generating via our IDX website at our real estate brokerage. It would later become the ActiveRain you now know, but if not for our use of IDX and the impact it had on our business so many years ago, there would be no ActiveRain.

So you can probably imagine that I have a soft spot for IDX. It fueled our real estate brokerage for years. And it's no less important today. In fact, I still believe a solid IDX product is THE MOST fundamental aspect of having success marketing your business online. A solid IDX product will amplify ANYTHING you are doing as it relates to marketing your business online. It will amplify your blog posts, it will amplify your Craigslist posts, it will amplify any of your social media marketing and it will certainly amplify any pay per click advertising you may be doing on your own.

How does it amplify them? IDX is the fundamental way consumers can (and do.......or in some cases, do not) find listings on your website. And even though we have all these cool marketing tools to be able to get people to find our posts, click our CL ads, interact with us on fan pages (whatever the heck it is you are doing to get people to find you online)......at the end of the day, they want to see the listings.

If they were researching a certain neighborhood because they've heard that's the best place to live in Northville Michigan and they find your blog post......once you convince them that's where they want to live, they want to see the listings in that area! It's that simple. No matter how you get them to find you online, when it's all said and done.......they want the listings.

But whereas for the consumer it's all about the listings, for you as the agent it's just as much about how can my IDX product allow me to close more deals. How can it make me more efficient at converting lookie lou's (those people that aren't going to buy for a year) into deals. How can I turn my blog into a lead generator for my business. How can I figure out where to spend my prospecting time when I take that time every day (you do make time every day to prospect, right?)

On Wednesday, May 23rd at 10am Pacific Time I am going to show you the things you need in an IDX platform to take your online marketing to the next level. Many of you already have IDX. A few of you will no doubt have all the tools I will share. Many of you will not. Many of you will think "I have IDX, I'm fine".......when the reality is you are only fine if you have the right IDX. I'm not talking about a particular product, there are quite a few out there that are capable of doing what we'll talk about, I'm talking about a set of tools that your IDX must have to make it that invaluable piece of your business. I'm talking about those few tools that once you have them, and are able to generate more leads and then convert those leads to clients more easily, you will wonder "how Why did I ever operate have a website before this?"

This is not the first time I've done this class and it will not be the last. Once again, a solid IDX is FUNDAMENTAL to generating prospects for your business online. In many ways, it's fundamental to your business. And the longer you wait to make the investment in an IDX that does what you need it to do, the more prospects you miss, the more deals that go to someone else more equipped than you are.

I really hope you will join me. Click that little link right there to get signed up.

(In the spirit of full disclosure, Market Leader, an IDX provider, owns ActiveRain. I was here way before that happened. My fondness for IDX was developed long before Market Leader took an interest in ActiveRain. While I will be using a Market Leader site to demonstrate some of the tools, it doesn't mean they are the only provider of these sorts of tools. It's not important to me that you use a Market Leader IDX........it's only important to me that you use one capable of doing what we'll talk about on Wednesday.)



Here is the recording of this class



Posted by

Bob Stewart
ActiveRain Ambassador

 

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Comments (91)

Irina Netchaev
Pasadena Views Real Estate Team, Inc. - Pasadena, CA
Pasadena CA Real Estate

Hi Bob,

You are absolutely correct, IDX is integral to any real estate website.  Consumers want to be educated, but more importantly they want access to real estate listings.

Over the last six years or so, I've experimented with many different IDX systems - 5 to date.  I've observed and tracked what works and doesn't for my real estate sites and here're my findings:

1.  Consumers want a simple and easy to use home search engine.  Simple is better.

2.  Most consumers do not like map searches.  They find them complicated and frustrating.

3.  IDX needs to drip listings automatically and absolutely has to have a first search saved option.  Most consumers will sign up on multiple sites and forget where they signed up.  They'll come back to my site if they continue to receive relevant information - specifically homes that would be of interest to them.  Of course, getting on the phone and establishing a relationship is critical to the overall conversion process.

4.  IDX needs to provide an indexable list of homes - not framed or on a subdomain.  

5.  The IDX system needs to provide a robust CRM to help manage and cultivate leads.

After trying multiple IDX solutions, I've finally settled on Real Geeks IDX.  You can check it out on my http://www.PasadenaCARealEstateHomes.com site.  It has all of the above requirements and is very affordable.  Customer service is responsive and most importantly it captures leads effectively and gives me the tools needed to cultivate them.  Very, very happy with them.  

May 18, 2012 08:43 AM
Arpad Racz
Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
408-252-0976 - www.aracz.com - Cupertino and Bay A

A good informational video on IDX is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkeIGvubisU

It is for realtysoft, but the ideas are overall similar.

 

All the best,


Arpad

 

 

May 18, 2012 09:05 AM
Rocky Dole
Revelation Real Estate - Maricopa, AZ

I agree that a good IDX is a must.

May 18, 2012 10:54 AM
Dorte Engel
RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD
ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear Bob,

You got it. Most clients want to buy a home or check out the competition for the one they have for sale, so IDX is a good idea.

May 18, 2012 12:59 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Bob - I can sort of understand the frustration that we often get with IDX. How many agents out there, who would have more than one website? I am sure the number is stagering. IDX usually limits us to one site, and this is what makes it difficilt

May 18, 2012 02:01 PM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

Sounds very interesting.  I will try and make the class or catch it later.

May 18, 2012 02:27 PM
Marilyn Boudreaux
Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty - Lake Charles, LA
Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor

I want to hear this but have continuing education which is mandatory on 5/23 please tape this and make it available in the University or repost!!

May 18, 2012 03:18 PM
Jairo Arreola #SOLDBYVETERAN
PRG Real Estate - San Jose, CA
VA Home Loan Specialist - SF Bay Area

I will definitely be attending! Thanks for the heads up.

May 18, 2012 05:32 PM
Bob Miller
Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL
The Ocala Dream Team

Hi Bob, interesting background on IDX, and how it lead to Active Rain.

May 18, 2012 10:09 PM
Tina Gleisner
Home Tips for Women - Portsmouth, NH
Home Tips for Women

Perfect timing as I'm not a realtor but now working with one so I have to start learning how to integrate listings into websites.

May 19, 2012 12:32 AM
MaryKay Shumway
The Kellstrom Ray Agency, Inc. (Est. 1948) - Sister Bay, WI
Door County Wisconsin's Real Estate Expert

Very much looking forward to it.

May 19, 2012 04:41 AM
Ellen Kippel
Weichert Realtors - Suffern, NY
Licensed NY and NJ realtor 914-588-2365

Although I can't attend on Wednesday, I am a firm believer in IDX, ActiveRain and Market Leader.  Just 2 months ago, while I was on my Market Leader site, I noticed a potential client was on-line, using it.  I looked up her telephone number, (using the web analytics to find out where she was stationed at that moment, while using my website), called her, and we arranged to go out and see the condos and co-ops she was looking at.  This was, I admit, a bit like "big brother" looking over the buyer's shoulder, but she was very happy I called and we are about to close a deal.  Yes - used correctly, these are wonderful lead generation tools and I am loving it!!!  I hope your course will be one I can access at a future time.  Thanks!

May 19, 2012 05:19 AM
Ellie Penaranda
239.776.5077 Downing-Frye Realty - Naples, FL
Naples Florida Real Estate - Waterfront & Beach Co

Bob, I've attended one of your IDX webinars late last year and it was an eye opener... Learned about tools avaialble in our IDX that I was not even aware existed or how to use them to generate leads... That was then, after just putting some of these tools to use, I've had two completed transactions and 9 very hot leads that I am working with right now... all in the last 5 months.  Planning to attend.  Thanks.

May 19, 2012 11:46 PM
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552

I have a scheduling conflict, but I'll be looking forward to catching the next one - or finding a link to the recorded class.

May 21, 2012 04:06 AM
Ron Holborn
Short Sales, Foreclosures, Rentals, Income Real Estate - Anaheim, CA
Commercial & SFR, Anaheim CA, Real Estate & Short

This will be a great webinar for all that have not yet utilized an IDX solution or who aren't using the one they have to it's fullest capabilities.

Ever since incorporating an IDX solution my business has completely changed (for the better) and would recommend everyone to attend this webinar to see for yourself what advantages this has.

I completely disagree with those that don't opt for the IDX and just join with Zillow, Trulia, etc.!

If you want a recommended solution I'd say to go with Real Geeks - http://www.realgeeks.com/ . The name says it all these guys know what they're doing but make it real easy for the non-techies. Available 24/7 with "real-time" support, not just from those in the company but with other customers that have the same IDX. It's a really tight-knit group of people that all help eachother and that have helped my business tremendously.

Check the webinar though and choose one that's right for you!

May 21, 2012 08:03 AM
Pat & Wayne Harriman
Harriman Real Estate, LLC (203) 672-4499 - Wallingford, CT
Broker/Owners, Wallingford CT Real Estate

Had a commitment to another webinar today, where will the recording of this webinar be posted?

May 23, 2012 08:27 AM
Nelson Carrillo
Real Estate eBroker, Inc. - Phone: (619) 940-6560 - Bonita, CA
South San Diego, CA Homes For Sale

I'd like to know how to access to the recorded one since I have missed the live one already.

I have used three different IDX companies: 1parkplace, TopProducer IDX, and IDXBroker.  I think my favorite is still IDXBroker. I can customize links, comes with mobile app, etc.  But I always like to check out others that offer more features.  I've heard real geek was good. 

Good post!

-Nelson

Jun 01, 2012 06:53 AM
Bob Stewart
ActiveRain - Seattle, WA
ActiveRain Ambassador
Jun 01, 2012 07:03 AM
Pat Pat
Kirkland, WA

Any thoughts on Diverse Solutions? I'm not very happy with their SEO options.

Jul 05, 2012 08:12 AM
Elizabeth Bouchard
Samson Properties - Arlington, VA
Associate Broker in Northern Virginia, DC and MD

I will have to set aside the time to listen to your recording as I am actively looking for an IDX provider.

Sep 16, 2013 01:47 AM