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Product Reviews: The Most Important Piece of Your Online Marketing!

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with ActiveRain

I have said it before and I continue to believe it. The single most important piece that determines your ability to generate leads online is your IDX website. 

Over the years I have seen some of the best websites money can buy and I have seen some of the worst websites imaginable. I've written a few times about how important your website is or what things you need to make sure your website has. We did a whole one hour webinar about the essential components of a successful IDX website

If you blog and hope to generate leads, your IDX website is absolutely essential to that effort. If you do any kind of online marketing (craigslist, PPC, etc), your IDX website is essential to being successful.

So I love that this weeks product review blog is about IDX websites. Almost all of you (the real estate agents at least) should have an IDX website. In all my years in the industry I've only met one guy who purposely decided not to have a website that displayed listings. 

Many of you have probably tried more than one IDX website provider over the years. We want to know what you think about the IDX providers you've used. Of course, here at ActiveRain, we are a fan of Market Leader (but not because they own ActiveRain, it's because their IDX has all the essentials I discuss in that webinar I linked to above). But as I said in the webinar, Market Leader is not the only good solution. There are others. Below are a few that you might have used or currently use. Click on the image and give them a rating. If you don't see your IDX provider below, jump into the IDX Website section of product reviews and find yours to rate. If you don't see your IDX provider anywhere, you can always add them to product reviews

Review Away.....


RealGeeks


Market Leader Professional


Z57 Websites


RealtySoft Websites


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Comments (28)

Geoff ONeill
John L. Scott Medford - Medford, OR

The technology is interesting and can be used to sell your listings.  The best way to get more leads is to have saleable listings.

Dec 31, 2013 11:44 AM
Andrew Payne RealtorĀ® Richmond VA Homes For Sale~804-938-5257~
Piedmont Real Estate - Richmond, VA
Richmond, VA, Real Estate, SRESĀ®, NAR Green

Thanks for this reminder.  We use IDX at work.  It's a great tool, and I always can learn more!

Dec 31, 2013 01:26 PM
Jordon Wheeler
The Jordon Wheeler Group - Fairburn, GA
J W Group Real Estate Sales and Service

Starting to use Market Leader IDX solution.  Not ready to rate yet.

Dec 31, 2013 03:34 PM
Cheryl Ritchie
RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD
Southern Maryland 301-980-7566
Looks like we have a lot missing up there. I use Diverse Solutions.
Dec 31, 2013 08:17 PM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Love these type of posts and to study platforms to compare, to add or remove and update which is always needed in the weed and feed of our marketing streams. To hit the target, see the audience members needing a tap on the shoulder, to be seen out of the corner of their eye when online.

Dec 31, 2013 09:00 PM
Peter Pfann @ eXp Realty Pfanntastic Properties in Victoria, Since 1986.
eXp Realty, Victoria BC www.pfanntastic.com - Victoria, BC
Talk To or Text Peter 250-213-9490

Idx is a big deal, however with the rules in our province and board, and the silly reciprocity requirements, it has so far not worked for most of the "early adopters"

Have a Great Week and a Pfanntastic 2014

Dec 31, 2013 09:21 PM
Randy Shamburger
Movement Mortgage - Greenville, SC
FHA, VA, USDA and Conventional Mortgage Expert

Excellent post!  Thanks for taking the time to put this together. 

Have a Big day,

Randy

 

 

Dec 31, 2013 09:33 PM
Bill and MaryAnn Wagner
Wagner Real Estate Group - Ocean City, NJ
Jersey Shore and South Jersey Real Estate

We currently run a Market Leader site and a Boomtown site. Both are effective but they both have their short comings too.

Dec 31, 2013 09:41 PM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Good information! Reviews are good for comparisons. Thanks.

Dec 31, 2013 09:54 PM
Donna Foerster
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Good morning! I need to check out the reviews that have already been given. We are shopping for a GOOD IDX website!

Dec 31, 2013 11:02 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Some thinking fodder, as to how to make an IDX work properly and to make sure the one we have is worth what we pay for it.

Jan 01, 2014 01:19 AM
Bruce Swedal
Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate

An IDX with the right set up works wonders. Usually best to have more than one.

Jan 01, 2014 01:43 AM
Catherine Ulrey
Keller Williams Capital City - Salem, OR
Equestrian and Acreage Property Specialist

Mine produces more leads than any other capture on my site!

Jan 01, 2014 02:56 AM
Connie Harvey
Pilkerton Realtors - Brentwood, TN
Realtor - Nashville TN Real Estate

This is on the top of my list for January!

Jan 01, 2014 08:27 AM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Is PLACESTER on this list? Just checking. It is not just the IDX solution - it's like MARKET LEADER's website plus IDX. 

Jan 02, 2014 12:28 PM
David Shamansky
US Mortgages - David Shamansky - Highlands Ranch, CO
Creative, Aggressive & 560 FICO - OK, Colorado Mtg

I am sure they have items like this for our side of the biz I just need to get serious about looking for them

Jan 02, 2014 12:50 PM
Rod Pierson
Wilson Realty Inc - Redding, CA
Northern California - An Agent you can trust

After weeks of talking to sales reps about how great their web sites, several web companies stood out among all others.   I finally made the plunge keeping my existing IDX site until I can edit the new site.

There are allot of IDX web companies but allot of them are out of reach or still need improvement.

My first new year resolution.

Jan 02, 2014 02:12 PM
Jack O'Neal
HomeSmart Elite Group - Gilbert, AZ

This is very helpful informatiOn. Generating leads is essential in this line of work. Thanks!

Jan 30, 2014 07:07 AM
Cathy Wolters
Wolters Realty & Property Management Company - Cocoa, FL
Your Brevard County Property Management Expert

My website has an IDX, but I don't understand anything about it.  Being that it is so important, I think I need to educate myself on it. 

Jan 30, 2014 11:09 AM
Rod Pierson
Wilson Realty Inc - Redding, CA
Northern California - An Agent you can trust
In simplistic terms, IDX is the way your web site talks to your MLS. In short stands for Internet Data Exchange. Listings displayed on a web site are updated automatically, and depending on your web company display all information. I have researched and talked with just about every web site provider who has IDX, and found Reelgeeks by far the most superior for ease of use and search engine friendly. One of the most important factors is how fast the web site can open and this depends on many factors one being the web service providers server equipment.
Jan 30, 2014 01:07 PM