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WHERE DID MY LEADS GO? GROWTHLEADER UPDATE.

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Residential

Where did my leads go?

As you may know, I have recently been selected to sample a new lead generation product created by Growthleader.  I have been using it for the past 5 weeks.

Just two weeks ago, I struggled keeping up with the flurry of leads I was getting from my new real estate website, www.servingnaperville.com.  People were signing up and searching for homes on the site every day.  Two, three, even four per day.

And this week...

Only two "prospects".  Both with bogus emails. 

What would cause this drop off?

Has the marketing of the site changed?

Or did people really stop searching for homes in Naperville last week?

I wonder...

Ken

A Realtor you can trust.

Comments (22)

David M. Childress
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services - Akron, OH
I would love to be your Realtor® in Akron Ohio!

I think it is the time of year. I check my phone several times a day lately because i think it must be off....  ; )

Dec 13, 2008 03:18 AM
Debbie Summers
Charles Rutenberg Realty - New Smyrna Beach, FL

That's interesting Ken...  I'm intrigued by Growth Leader and I'm going to have to take some time to check them out... How do they drive traffic to the website they created for you and is there a rotation to other agents paying for the service?

Dec 13, 2008 03:22 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Debbie, Howard, JL, and Shirley.

I don't really know how they drive the leads?  I do what I can, obviously in my post.  It is also on Craigslist.

Hmmm.

The busy week was the week of Thanksgiving.  I bet many go online that week.

Anyway, thanks everyone!

Ken

Dec 13, 2008 03:26 AM
Brenda Abide
Weichert Realtors Benchmark - Germantown, TN

I checked the domain name owner and it was none other than House Values. The fact that they are using a different name now should tell you something Ken.  I know first hand what they are about. Don't waste your money.

Dec 13, 2008 03:29 AM
Frank & Jodi Orlando
Frank & Jodi Orlando Get Us A Home Realty Atlanta Homes Sale - Cumming, GA

The only drop off for us was 11/26 - 11/29. So, it is not a lack of folks looking.

Dec 13, 2008 03:31 AM
Pat Champion
John Roberts Realty - Eustis, FL
Call the "CHAMPION" for all your real estate needs

I think it is the time of the year-people are busy with the upcoming holiday's.

Dec 13, 2008 03:46 AM
Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239
Real Estate One - Commerce, MI
Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com

It is funny that house values now has to have a different name for people to buy the leads

Dec 13, 2008 03:48 AM
Robert Schwabe
Herron Real Estate - Orange Park, FL
Orange Park Real Estate

Ken - I usually see alot of traffic to my listings during the Thanksgiving weekend then it drops off dramatically.

Dec 13, 2008 03:58 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Robert, Russ, Pat, Frank and Jodie, and Brenda.  Thanks for reading.

I have nothing negative to report at the time.  It will be interesting to see results in the future.

As far as the name change, Growthleader reps, would you like to address this?

Thanks again,

Ken

Dec 13, 2008 04:04 AM
D B
Quakertown, PA
e-PRO, Realtor - Bucks County PA - 610-952-3578

Hey Ken:

It is Christmas.  Perhaps the buyers are at the mall.  I am sure it will pick up "after the Holidays"

Keep Smiling! 

Don Bradbury

Dec 13, 2008 04:29 AM
Julie Chapman
Julie Chapman Broker - Ormond Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Shores, Florida

We have been very busy since the week before Thanksgiving and I am believing it is not going to stop.....

Dec 13, 2008 05:38 AM
Ron Tarvin
Residential, Investment properties, rehab projects, property management, luxury homes, new construction! - Katy, TX
Broker, Katy, Houston, Cypress 77450,77494,77095

Perhaps they have brought other agents in on a paying plan in Naperville?  That would certainly explain a drop in lead volume and quality.

However, I don't think it's because of a drop in people searching as I'm up on traffic for my website and also for my LEADSTREET leads.  I DO think people are looking as rates go below 5%!

Dec 13, 2008 06:41 AM
Anonymous
Not Yet Licensed

I don't really know how they drive the leads?  I do what I can, obviously in my post.  It is also on Craigslist.

Good evening Ken,

One of their reps said this program includes pay per click.  If their budget changed, or stopped, that could be one factor in the drop you've noticed.  I'm only speculating at this point.  I'm sure you will hear from an official person soon.

Dec 13, 2008 11:36 AM
#15
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Bruce, Ron, Julie and Donald.  Thanks for reading everyone.

I am sure the pace will pick up again after the holidays. 

I hope we are all ready for a big 2009!

Thanks again,

Ken

Dec 14, 2008 02:26 AM
Jennifer Lew
DocuSign, Inc. - Seattle, WA

Ken - I'm asking our Advertising Team to look into your system, just to make sure that everything is running as it should from our end.  I've also asked Charlie, Director of Advertising, to swing by, as he can speak to what drives traffic to your site (to answer Debbie's question).

Brenda, Russ - We went through a re-branding in early November.  HouseValues was the name of our first product, and a name that served us well.  However, as we develop more innovative marketing and technology solutions to help real estate professionals grow and manage their business (ie: Growth Leader), we wanted a name that better represented who we are and what we offer.  

Another point of clarification I'd like to make is that we do not sell leads with Growth Leader.  We provide you with the advertising and website that enable you as the agent to generate your own leads. 

AR member Steve Shatsky just posted a great explanation of this: http://activerain.com/blogsview/835005/Growth-Leader-Generating-Leads-NOT-Selling-Them

Dec 15, 2008 06:08 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Jennifer.  I have gotten two new ones this week.  Once again, no complaints from me.  But it has been surprisingly volatile!

Thanks for stopping by,

Ken

Dec 15, 2008 06:25 AM
Brenda Abide
Weichert Realtors Benchmark - Germantown, TN

Jennifer I'm not sure you were there when I was with House Values a couple of years ago. The "system" at the time didn't work a majority of the time and we were constantly having to find work arounds ourselves after telling HV about the problems which they never did anything about.  They were ALWAYS looking into the problems and never solving anything.   Unfortunately most of us were locked in long term pricey contracts with HV we could not get out of paying for a broken "system."  There may be a different product now but there is the same customer service and same owners. All one needs to do is google House Values Complaints and see what comes up.

Dec 15, 2008 09:27 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Brenda.  I thank you for sharing your experiences on my blog.

I hope life is good,

Ken

 

Dec 15, 2008 09:56 AM
Jennifer Lew
DocuSign, Inc. - Seattle, WA

Hi Brenda, I'm very sorry to hear that you did not have a good experience.  I was unfortunately not with the company at the time and cannot speak to what had happened.  I have a retail management background; customer focus has always been a top priority in my line of work.  What I have personally witnessed from our account managers (Will and Marcia, in particular) for Growth Leader has been nothing but exceptional service.  Many of our Growth Leader customers on AR have also attested to that.  More than ever before, we are reaching out to you guys - the customers - to learn how we can refine our product.  In fact, we are launching a Vision upgrade on 12/18 in which we've incorporated changes requested by our customers.  I'm not discreditng what you've said; just merely trying to re-new your faith in Market Leader, as we have become a leading marketing partner to real estate professionals.   

Dec 15, 2008 11:01 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Jennifer and Brenda.

No complaints here.

Ken

Dec 15, 2008 11:58 AM