Special offer

Ask An Ambassador: Gimme Your Money!

By
Real Estate Agent with Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com SAL.2002007747

Every week I'm offered plenty of "opportunities" to part with our money.

Endless solicitations to make our website #1.

You wanna be the only real estate agent in the local relo guide we produce?  How about the high school basketball program?  No?  How 'bout on the scoreboard?

Are you still in real estate?  We've got plenty of buyers in your zip code and we can do hot call transfers direct to you for a low, low referral fee of $$$$.

Just a one time set-up fee of $99 to be part of our directory (and we automatically renew each year)!!

Now there are certain expenses that are no-brainers, e.g. MLS membership and other basic tools of the trade items.

And there are other expenses some might consider optional that I don't consider so optional.

For us, blogging here and having an IDX website to host plenty of long tail searches are some of our best lead generation activities, second only to past clients for cost effectiveness.

ActiveRain has been free for us for many years and serves as a good traffic driver to our IDX home search site.  Evergreen posts never stop working.

Our IDX website/support/hosting return on investment is very good.  I can look to my annual tracker for business sources and point specifically to blogging/IDX site work as a clear source of visits to the closing table.

It's a given that content choice for blogging and website page creations impact whether the money and time invested are going to provide a good return, or be the equivalent of all the magic bright and shiny silver bullet solutions offered to us every week that only make the sellers of said products a profit.

Maybe blogging and web page creation isn't best use of your time, and if not, there are companies out there that can do all the work for you if you're willing to part with the money necessary. 

Whether DIY or hired out, with patience and effort you can have a very beneficial return on investment. 

Real world example:  Friday I have a pre-list appointment from a post written in 2013.  That post has provided multiple buyer prospects over the years, and now a seller opportunity.  The cost was an hour's time and a fractional share of the site hosting since then.  It's the next best thing to free.

Until next Tuesday, just Ask An Ambassador if you need help,

Bill & Liz aka BLiz

Posted by

Serving Warren County Ohio & Adjacent Areas

The Liz Spear Team of Transaction Alliance
Elizabeth Spear, ABR, Ohio License SAL.2002007747

William (Bill) Spear, Ohio License SAL.2004011109  Kentucky 77938
Ask for us by name if you visit the office!

EHO
Bill Direct:  513-520-5305
Liz Direct: 513-265-3004     
Fax: 866-302-8418

MailTo:  Liz@LizSpear.com

Search Homes:  Https://WarrenCountyOhioRealEstate.com

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Comments(15)

Bill Salvatore - East Valley
Arizona Elite Properties - Chandler, AZ
Realtor - 602-999-0952 / em: golfArizona@cox.net

Thank you for sharing the information. Buyers and sellers in your area will benefit from your expertise. Wishing you continued success.  Have a wonderful day and sell a house.  bill

Aug 16, 2022 11:38 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

We do our best!

Aug 16, 2022 07:11 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Bill you are the king of evergreen posts.  That's awesome that you have an appointment from one a post wrote back in 2013!  Proof positive that evergreen posts work. Over the years I've had so many MANY people wanting me to part with my money.  I learned pretty early on to stop buying the shiny objects!  Do what works for us. Period.

Aug 16, 2022 01:27 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

It's VERY hard to get me to open my wallet for real estate expenses beyond the tried and true and essentials.  I've heard too many things that sounded good at the time and turned out to be a total waste of money.

Aug 16, 2022 07:12 PM
Leanne Smith
Dirt Road Real Estate - Golden Valley, AZ
The Grit and Gratitude Agent

Content is still king and becomes the criteria for decision making regarding most purchases especially a home.

Aug 16, 2022 01:28 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

Making the right content and making it easy to find is key for attracting clients.

Aug 16, 2022 07:13 PM
Ginger Harper
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage~ Ginger Harper Real Estate Team - Southport, NC
Your Southport~Oak Island Agent~Brunswick County!

I am bombarded with calls for money.  It does get a bit tiresome..

 

Aug 16, 2022 01:29 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

I know every Monday/Tuesday I'll get a wave of emails offering to improve our website or offering guest posts for pay.  No thank you.

Aug 16, 2022 07:14 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I also get calls, texts and emails asking me to spend my money on leads, a platform, a marketing offer of some sort. I do spend some money on marketing, but only on the things that have been working for me. And yes, blogs can certainly be one of those!

Aug 16, 2022 02:24 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

As long as we know what works and doesn't, anything is far game.  I know for some, paying Z for leads is productive.  For me, it doesn't really suit my business practices. 

Aug 16, 2022 07:14 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Bill (and Liz too) - it "pays" to be aware that the separation of money and real agent is a popular (and sucessful)  income generation activity.  This seems especially the case for those where preying in such ways where those kind congregate. 

Aug 17, 2022 02:05 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

I've thought for a long time that the biggest money is made FROM real estate agents and not BY real estate agents.

Aug 17, 2022 05:26 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Bill,
I have to laugh when I get so many solicitations to "improve" my website to generate more business. I shut my real estate website down over 10 years ago when I retired. Someone is parting with their money for an old prospect list with my name on it

Aug 17, 2022 05:11 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

I have one solicitor, EVERY week, 3-4 emails offering to improve my site.  It's well past solicitation at this point.  If I was interested, I'd have responded.  I'm not, so my silence should speak volumes.

Aug 17, 2022 05:28 AM
Erik Hiss
Keller Williams Capital Partners Realty - Worthington, OH
You can trust me for all your real estate needs!

It's not only the phone calls, but texts about services, leads, health insurance...ugh!

Aug 17, 2022 06:06 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

Block, block, block, and they still keep coming.

Aug 17, 2022 06:09 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Bill:

I suspect we are all overloaded with requests like these, and more, with "guarantees" of success in becoming the top agent in our area, being on page 1 (how many solicitations like that do we get daily?!), and the latest tech tool that will lead to success.  So much noise to distract us if we let it. Knowing what is working and why is key, and sticking with it.

Jeff

Aug 17, 2022 08:09 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

It never stops.  But logic tells me it's a lot of BS.  We can't ALL be on page 1, so those promises are mostly empty.
I know what works for me and I'll stick with it.

Aug 18, 2022 04:39 PM
Lynda Eisenmann
Preferred Home Brokers - Brea, CA
Broker Associate ,CRS,GRI,SRES, Brea,CA, Orange Co

"Friday I have a pre-list appointment from a post written in 2013" great "shelf life" info no doubt! Congrats!

Aug 17, 2022 07:36 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

As an engineer, I love objective evidence that something works!

Aug 18, 2022 04:39 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good evening Bill,

You do have those evergreen post down and always working for you. I learned a long time ago those shinny objects were not worth it. Knowing what works and staying with it is the key!

Aug 18, 2022 04:54 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

I've seen very few shiny objects that kept their shine.  The basics seem to work just fine.

Aug 19, 2022 03:32 PM
Cliff Johnson
HomeSmart Realty - Stone Mountain, GA
Personalized Real Estate whether buying or selling

I get a lot of those marketing calls also. They interrupt my work flow. I have tried to slow down their calls by telling them to take me off their list, etc, but that has not worked. I wish there was a shut off button. 

Aug 20, 2022 03:27 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

Cliff, I've found that if I tell them we're retiring from real estate, they can't get off the phone fast enough! :)

Aug 20, 2022 12:18 PM
Ray Henson
eXp Realty of California, Inc. (lic. #01878277) - Elk Grove, CA
Realtor

It seems like I have the opportunity to spend too much money every day and multiple times each day. 

Aug 20, 2022 07:08 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

Some of the same emailers are VERY persistent.  I suppose I could opt-out, but that just confirms a valid email.  It's a lose-lose proposition.

Aug 20, 2022 12:19 PM
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Ugh . . . Loopnet/Costar wants more than money (which they get a LOT of) they want my data too! 'Seller's name buyer's name buyer's company name, type of transaction, terms blablabla' and I'm like NOPE. I'm not paying you to GIVE you my data to SELL to others! So their numbers are auto-blocked. Sadly, the 'Research Associates' change practically monthly. I can't imagine being happy getting hung up on and ghosted by brokers who feel as I do - and there are many!

Aug 20, 2022 12:42 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

Number changing frequently seems to be a common tactic to get around our blocks.

Aug 22, 2022 06:21 AM