| June 2001 Editor's Note: Welcome to the inaugural edition of San Diego e-Agent Our intent is to bring useful money-making Internet ideas to all connected San Diego real estate professionals. Plus we offer a FREE classifieds section for all agents. This is a great way to sell any real estate related items, such as open house signs, lock-boxes, computer systems and software. Your FREE ad will be seen by thousands of San Diego agents each month! Our free monthly publication will bring up-to-date, tested on-line ideas and software to put our readers ahead of the competition. It is our desire to have a 100% opt-in subscriber base, so please sign up right now or after reading through our publication. See SIGN UP link at the bottom of this page to receive FREE future monthly editions. We live in the age of information, which, in turn, means consumers are smart and educated, and above being manipulated into just contacting any agent who provides a monthly calendar or notepad. San Diego is one of the most Internet connected cities in the nation. Naturally, old habits and sales techniques of the past die hard. Also, with the vast majority of agents with email and web sites how do you distinguish yourself? There is a lot of hype about the web and real estate sites. Now as reality has set in, many are disillusioned with the actual results they have achieved through their sites. Through an admittedly small survey I did last year of approximately 53 agents, I'd say most have NOT made back the cost of their web sites through actual Internet sales! San Diego e-Agent will provide the hard-hitting facts and opinion you need to generate Internet sales! Sure you get Internet articles from the excellent Realtor Association publications. But have you ever read an article about a web site developer from whom you should steer clear? What about an article on over-priced real estate software? No, with their industry ties, and their many major advertisers to consider, you'll never see such articles. This month's article, by local Realtor Bob Schwartz is an example of hard-hitting facts you'll continue to find in San Diego e-Agent! Jared
| One should also keep in mind the fact it only takes one solid lead to equal thousands in earned commission. Thus, you should not expect hundreds of leads … just a few good solid ones with the potential for you to turn them into closed sales. With this in mind, there are good directories and web referral sites out there. There are also many that look like they were created by my teenage son on a bad day. Review, inquire and investigate. Look for a directory backed by a company that knows the real estate business. Though not thought of as a directory, Realtor.com in a very real sense is just that. With their heavy advertising, and huge Realtor data base, Realtor.com is perhaps the prime example of a real estate directory. On the down side, Realtor.com is not inexpensive. Plus, the huge data base of agents dilutes the potential results for the individual Realtor. Below are some guidelines to help you with your Internet real estate directory advertising:
Ok, now let’s look at the reasoning behind each question:
It must look professional and be easy to navigate or visitors will quickly click off. It’s okay to be the only agent for your locale, but far more conservative to join with others. More importantly, contact the other agents to solicit their confidential agent-to-agent opinion of the directory. Try this for near-by cities if you feel it will provide a more objective opinion.
Recently, I’ve also received email offers for real estate direct-buyer referrals. After a long conversation with a representative for one firm, I was told a story that went like this: “We do loans and have thousands of banners ads all over the web. We’re getting interested buyer inquires from all over the country and are looking for top agents to service these leads.” The big story goes on how their system works, the 25% referral fee and how most zip codes are filled but the one I’m interested in is still available. It finally ends with a request for a $200.00+ one time set up cost. Legitimate? Perhaps! Review answers one and two above. Are these firms out just for the set-up fee? Sure you may get referrals, but of very low quality. This may be more of a time waster than a money-maker! In conclusion, is $29.95 a year, $199.00 a year, or a $200.00 set-up fee a good deal for agents? Unless, you can verify high traffic and qualified leads to your locale, be afraid. Be very afraid! +++++++++++++++++++++++ Don't miss this great information, sign up for FREE SAN DIEGO e-AGENT NOW! Sign-Up ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Increase your own site's search engine positions and achieve HUGE Internet traffic, you really should download a FREE full 30 day trial of Web Position Gold! See for yourself why this program is the undisputed leader in the Internet search engine placement field! Start now . . . CLICK the logo below to get the full story and your FREE 30 day software download!
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