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I Thought You Said You Had A Website

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate

Web LinksFor the second time in a month, someone has handed me a business card displaying a non-existent website.  Or, so it seems.  Okay, I’m not talking about a website that is experiencing temporary server issues.  Nor, do I mean a website with isolated, internal pages still under construction.  I am referring to a website, where once you've entered the web address into the address box – you are directed to a domain name registrar page asking if you would like to ‘own’ that particular domain name.  Huh?!?

Did You Forget To Pay Your Bill?

What’s happening here?  After meeting you in person, you and your business have piqued my curiosity.  You handed me your business card and I promptly looked you up the next day.  So, what's going on?  Did you change your mind about having a website?  Did you ever have a website in the first place?  I never know what to think when something like this happens.  Clearly, I'm not having positive thoughts and instead – I am thinking about heading over to the website address listed on the subsequent business card in my stack.

Links To Nowhere

Since we're on the subject, I must admit that the same frustration goes for broken links.  You see, I love to click on links.  In fact, you might even call me a 'Clicker.' Surely, you've placed links on your website for a reason.  And, I’m also assuming you want me to click on them, right?  Yet, when I click on your links – nothing good happens.  In other words, I've clicked on links that take me either to error pages, or to 'this page no longer exists' pages.  Essentially, it is another online situation that will probably lead me to someone else's website – lickety split.

Pardon Me While I Check My Own Stuff

These recent business card experiences have reminded me that from time to time – I probably need to check my own stuff too!  Do you ever go back and check on your website address and/or website links?  Honestly, I don't think about doing it often enough – and it makes perfect sense.  I certainly don’t want anyone to leave my website due to non-working stuff.  After all, I've taken great strides to get people to notice me – and to invite people to do business with me.  Why would I want to easily drive them away?

Posted by

carie shapiro

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Comments (74)

Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA
Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD
301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

I wish my competition is included to this group of Realtors. . . .

There are free websites out there you know. .

Dec 12, 2012 11:37 PM
Joe Smith
NeNet - Tulsa, OK
Great SEO Services that you can afford!

Carrie, Great post... Great information.. You are so right, here is what I have found, people will register a domain name, setup a site, then change their email addresses. What happens is they never get notification that a domain is expiring, then the domain expires and it can take up to 90 days to re-register the domain name because they go into "redemption", worse is that someone had a backorder on the domain and the original owner loses the domain forever because they were careless in managing it.
Have a great day! 

Dec 12, 2012 11:42 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

 

Fernando (#55 winter cubicle) points out the obvious (free) and there is no comeback for it either...If you have a site, fine. But to say you do when you don't doesn't add up...mmm...what else doesnt add up here starts to kick in

Dec 12, 2012 11:43 PM
Carie Shapiro
North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate - Evanston, IL

Kerry:  Carie & Kerry and we're both "Clickers" :)  Yes, the story about that agent is funny and baffling at the same time, yes?

Jo-Anne:  It can be time consuming, however, it is so important to keep up with everything.

Christina:  Oy ... that is 'loco!'  And yes, your associate's situation is even more loco :)

Lisa:  LOL!  And, I so agree with you!

Sharon:  I like Anita's idea too!

 

 

Dec 13, 2012 12:15 AM
Carie Shapiro
North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate - Evanston, IL

Steve:  I dunno.  It's amazing that some people might think a domain name means an automatic website ... ???

Ivette:  Exactly!  We want them there -- so why drive them away, right?

Richard:  Agreed!  Doesn't make sense these days!

Charita:  Once you get a new website developer, it should be easy to take care of those broken links!  We all have them from time to time!

Bob:  Congratulations on your new website!  Yes, it is a lot of work ... but so worth it!  Good Luck :)

 

 

Dec 13, 2012 12:22 AM
Terry McCarley
Coastal Real Estate - Cape Coral FL - Cape Coral, FL
REALTOR, SRES, CDPE - Cape Coral, FL

I have encountered the non-existent website numerous times.  If the website is no longer being used they need to get updated business cards.

Dec 13, 2012 12:25 AM
Carie Shapiro
North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate - Evanston, IL

Wallace:  That is great!  Definitely takes the worry out of updated/functioning website content, for sure!

Jordon:  I've been reminded to check mine more often too.  You have an excellent day as well!

Andrew:  'No Link Rot' ... I think I like that phrase better than 'no broken links' :)  Thanks!

Scott:  Agreed!  It should be part of our regular routine!

Fernando:  Yes, there are free websites out there.  It's just that if you say you have a site ... you should have one when I get there :)

 

Dec 13, 2012 12:33 AM
Carie Shapiro
North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate - Evanston, IL

Joe:  Oy, what a mess!  Yet, that explanation makes total sense.  I immediately put my domain name expiration date in my calendar ... just in case.  I'm too organized :)

Richie:  Exactly!  A 'non-existent website' is such a big oversight ... what else?

Terry:  Something needs to be updated, right?

 

Dec 13, 2012 12:44 AM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Carie, I think with blogging some people may have let their web site slide. Blogging is most cases is free where commercial web sites cost money. I'm going to guess the person who gave you a card with a dead web site also had their high school photo on their card. LOL

Dec 13, 2012 12:58 AM
Rosemary Brooks
BMC Real Estate - 209-910-3706 - Stockton, CA
The Mother & Daughter Realty Team

Great post and all points are well needed for some agents.  And even those of us that work to be sure we have all our ducks in a row - there were some great tips in this post.  Love it!

Dec 13, 2012 01:06 AM
Bryan Robertson
Los Altos, CA

I've had this happen a bit recently and it makes me wonder if the person just doesn't care.  My policy is that anyone without a website - of some kind - isn't someone I'm interested in working with.

Dec 13, 2012 01:20 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

I haven't run into that, although I am admittedly, not a "clicker", like you are.

Dec 13, 2012 02:36 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I have to laugh at this because I am currently one of those people! I just got off the phone with my hosting provider screaming that my site didn't work & they told me my domain name (which is just a garbage domain) hadn't been paid. So that's been going on for 6 months now & I can't believe that the monthly service & the domain hosting name are not together on billing!  I never would have known unless I clicked on something that I wanted to check the other day.

Dec 13, 2012 03:18 AM
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Such a simple thing to remember to do - to check! Same goes for spelling; grammar is another story...

Dec 13, 2012 03:41 AM
Carie Shapiro
North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate - Evanston, IL

Michael:  LOL!  I think you may be right :)

Rosemary:  Thank you so much!  And you're right -- no matter how hard we try ... sometimes a duck falls out of line :)

Bryan:  Someone without a website ... or someone with a really professional email address like 'kissyface@free-email-service.com' :)

Alan:  Would you like to be?  I can teach you :)

Lyn:  Hope you have everything resolved now.  Sometimes, 'clicking' is how we find out about stuff like this ... good you found out!

 

Dec 13, 2012 10:17 AM
Carie Shapiro
North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate - Evanston, IL

Olga:  Yes, good idea to check spelling ... and grammar too!

Erica:  All the time? Yowzers!

Dec 13, 2012 10:22 AM
Gary Frimann, CRS, GRI, SRES
Eagle Ridge Realty / Signature Homes & Estates - Gilroy, CA
REALTOR and Broker

Interesting you should bring this up.  I had two email addresses bounce back to me this week, and those were the email addresses used for the MLS.  I thought that was pretty weird...

Dec 13, 2012 03:24 PM
Cooper Jacobs
Looking For A Seattle Realtor? COOPERJACOBS.COM - Seattle, WA
Real Estate Brokers - Seattle

We should all take a few minutes once in awhile to check our technology and also clean up the computers so they work at their maximum capability. Virus protection and system maintenance is a must!

Dec 15, 2012 07:29 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Carie, yeah.  I've got a website rebuild on the top of my list for 2013. 

Dec 18, 2012 08:09 AM
Connie Harvey
Pilkerton Realtors - Brentwood, TN
Realtor - Nashville TN Real Estate

Wow Carie, that's some seriously good food for thought. Need to check out my own links! Just stopped by to wish you a Merry Christmas, even if I'm a bit late!

Dec 26, 2012 03:23 AM