I'm looking to find out what lead generation companies are being used out there. I have been looking at some real estate lead generating websites but I would rather hear from my fellow AR bloggers. Call me cynical but I would rather hear a testimonial from AR than to trust one on the company's website. I would appreciate any input and please include any information on these companies so I can do additional research. Thanks again.
Celtic Realty - Dunedin, FL
I've been a member of Reply Real Estate for the last six months. There is no minimum contract time, it was a month to month basis for me. You pay for the leads as you go. I paid $50 bucks a month for five leads a month. In the past six months I have not had one sale or even the possiblility of a sale. I was told originally, that the leads come from seaching on yahoo etc. They consider a "valid" lead, one that has a good phone number. While I may have had good phone numbers none of the buyer's leads I purchased panned out for me. Several already had a realtor. One changed her mind and another one told me he had just purchased. You guessed it, I finally quit. I would like to find one that really provides a better service but I don't want to be locked into a contract. If you find one, let me know!
Aug 29, 2008 05:42 AM
Surterre Properties - San Clemente, CA
Most of the time these companies don't deliver. In my opinion the best online leads come from email campaign companies who will allow you to see who opens the emails and who discards them without reading them. That way you can see who takes time for you so you can spend time on them.
Also, we all know it but it needs to be said again. THE BEST LEADS ARE REFERRALS!!
Josh
Aug 29, 2008 05:43 AM
Keller Williams Premier - Katy, TX
CDPE, ABR, SRES Keller Williams Premier
Keller Williams Premier - Katy, TX
CDPE, ABR, SRES Keller Williams Premier
Brand Name Real Estate - Charleston, SC
Charleston, SC Real Estate
Hey, Ed. I have to agree with David on this one, they are all money pits. Thanks and good luck, Jim
Aug 29, 2008 06:06 AM
America's 1st Choice RH Realty Co., Inc. - Green, OH
Summit County Realtor
Be careful where you invest your money. Personally I don't feel that the leads you get from a lead generation service is worth it. I got "reeled in" by one and basically threw away a lot of money... valuable lesson learned. The leads were simply captured from the Internet and weren't very good. You'll waste your time and money with them. The best lead generation system you can get involved with is through your personal website. You will reap more benefits by marketing your own site. The leads you get by driving potential customers to your personal site are more reliable than any lead generation service you might find advertised; in my opinion.
Aug 29, 2008 11:30 PM
Eau Claire Realty, Inc. - Eau Claire, WI
Eau Claire Wisconsin, Real Estate Agent & Realtor- Buy or Sell
I got ripped off by one of these companies literally. I would never ever trust them again. Its mostly a pack of lies. Your best bet is doing it legitimately by meeting people on here and developing relationsships with other realtors and then using the referral network. At least you know everyone is onboard the same and not trying to rip you off.
Aug 30, 2008 04:47 AM
Coldwell Banker DiTommaso Realty - Staten Island, NY
thanks for the tip!
Johnahan Smith
Staten Island
http://www.johnresales.com
Aug 30, 2008 04:55 AM
Anonymous
Call me cynical but I would rather hear a testimonial from AR than to trust one on the company's website.
Hi Ed,
It's smart to be cynical. Don't buy the hype. As you can see, lead generation has developed a negative connotation for many agents and brokers because, unfortunately, there are companies out there who take advantage of trusting real estate agents. My estimate is that 90% of my clients have had at least once bad experience with some type of lead generation or SEO company. I work with agents and brokers all over the country. I believe my clients probably represent the real estate agent population as a whole.
So, how do you increase your production while also protecting your wallet? It's very similar to buying a home. Conduct your own thorough due diligence. Don't rush into anything, no matter how attractive it sounds at first glance.
Fortunately, as with most things in life, there are two sides of the coin. Did you know that some of the top producers in the country use lead generation companies? Why? Because NAR tells us 84% of home buyers are now using the internet. What are some of the reasons that you would want to use a lead generation company? Here are three: First of all, some of my clients don't have the time to do their own lead generation. One of my clients is fighting cancer. He still has enough energy and knowledge to sell homes. He just wants the buyers brought to him. Also, some of my clients don't have the expertise to generate their own leads. That's why it's good for you to be here at Active Rain. Now you can learn how to generate your own leads. Lastly, a huge number of home buyers are using the internet. If you're not effectively capturing internet leads, those buyers are going to your competition.
Every agent is different. Every agent has different goals. Every agent has a different plan. Here are three tips that will help you make the best possible business decision for you.
1. Be extremely cautious of any company that wants to lock you into a one year contract. Things can change quickly, and unexpectedly, in your life. Hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
2. Talk with agents who are selling houses with leads from that company. Get at least ten names and numbers, in a variety of markets, from a variety of brokerages. Ask them to tell you the positives and negatives about that particular company.
3. Please be aware that, contrary to some advice you might hear, internet leads are not for everyone. There are three parts of the equation: Lead generation. Lead incubation. And lead conversion. I know of agents who received hundreds of leads but they they did not make any sales because they failed to incubate and convert.
I hope that helps you. I wish you all the best in your career.
Sincerely,
Bruce
Aug 30, 2008 06:56 AM
#9
Townsend Real Estate - Fayetteville, NC
Hello Ed,
Im very new to the business and I just signed up with leadtorealty.com. The minimum to start is 5 leads a month @ $60 dollars each. I have only been using this service for about 2 weeks. Four of the leads were valid and pretty descent. You are able to request credits for invalid leads, I think within 15 days. I have already requested lead credits several times, and I had no problem recieving new leads. I believe it is a 15 lead minimum requirement. That can be set up @ 5 a month for 3 months or all 15 in 1 month, after that you can cancel at any time.
Best Regard
Robert Dent
Oct 15, 2008 07:57 AM
Strategic Marketing Expert & Relocation Specialist Serving New Jersey and nationwide! - Marlboro, NJ
- The Agent You Can Trust To Deliver REAL Results!
Based on my research Ed, you are far more likely to generate qualified leads by selecting a subdivision, development or neighborhood to "farm" and then just aggressively farming it (i.e. mailing, door-knocking, calling). I don't think the lead generation companies are as good as they tout themselves to be. Best of luck to you.
Nov 26, 2008 03:00 PM
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA
Ed: Look no further than your Sphere of Influence. 95% of my business comes from them. Why pay a third party for leads? Get them from your biggest fans.
Nov 27, 2008 02:39 AM
QuickImpress, LLC - Austin, TX
Your right on Chris Ann! There are "true blue" methods that still work.
May I offer this suggestion. You definitely have to make sure that you get results from your marketing efforts, and you simply can't stop marketing yourself. There are many ways to do it, some takes only your time. But when you reach out to market to your farming areas a great place to go is www.quickimpress.com. I've had raving reviews since developing these awesome postcards specifically for RE Agents, powered with awesome scripts, color, and photography.
I use Emotional Marketing techniques. What drives us is still emotions. Emotions drive our behavior; the world is driven by emotions more than ever.
Drawing on your customers emotion is vital to a successful marketing campaign. If this important attribute is lacking, your money and time is wasted. Not good! In this economy every dollar spent needs a huge return. Check out my site and preview the postcards now available for you and get noticed!
Mar 31, 2009 08:39 AM
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Trinity, FL
Whenever I get the urge to purchase leads, I remember what a broker told me in one of my real estate classes. He said no matter what the market is doing, that you should always hold the listing. From my experience buyer leads are a ton of work and a "money pit", and now days with the Internet there is NO loyalty, as buyers really don't need you. The reality is that half will show up to a property and feel just as comfortable using the listing agent to purchase the home (they are just not educated enough to know better)... With a listing, you have free advertising with your sign in their yard, buyers showing up without their agents (including the same fickle Internet leads too). In addition you pick up other listings from people seeing your sign in their neighborhood, and at the end of the day, if the equity isn't in the home, you may be able to convince them to rent their property out. Rentals are easy to market right now, and give the listing agent yet another avenue of income opportunity from the property.
Sure listings require a lot of work, but there is no better advertising or branding in my opinion.
Oct 17, 2009 03:06 AM
WEM PACIFIC Investments, Inc. - Daly City, CA
CRS, GRI, RDCPro
Ed,
I have also tried this lead generation companies. They sell these raw leads to several realtors in the area. Most of them are lookie loos, some are asking for CMA on a house they don't own. Bottom line they are no good. You're better off spending your money on your own website or two. Do farming, SOI, craigslist.org, facebook, twitter and all the basic things taught to us when you just got your license. Spending $300/mo on a lead generation company would be better spent on PPC in Google, Yahoo etc.
Jan 11, 2010 07:48 PM
Oak - Yorba Linda, CA
brushen up on your phone skills with FSBOS (free leads) before you waste your leads you pay for.
I use reap007 and got 2 listings off it
Jul 05, 2010 05:39 PM
Comments(17)