I'm wonder has anyone set up websites outside of their normal areas just for the purpose of doing referrals?

For example: you are located in CA and set up a site for Miami FL real estate - strictly for the purpose of doing referrals?

If so - how has it worked out? a great success? horrible failure?

what do you think about that as a strategy to increase your business?

Most persons that come to a site are looking to do 1 thing:

Search the MLS (IDX, RETS, etc).

If you don't have that, they are probably going to leave and go somewhere else.

i'm going to disagree with you

I have just as more traffic and more leads from sites without MLS

Ive found most online MLS access websites are cumbersome and confusing

what i am mostly intrested in - is people who do a lot of referrals?

I looked at your site and could not figure out exactly what you do so it may not apply to real estate.

If you have a real estate website then an MLS search is a must. People shopping for real estate are looking for access to all of the real estate. If you don't have it they are going to find a site that does.

Not always.. Our consumer offer sites provide agents with consumers who want the most updated list of homes/properties available in their area - which is something that you can't always get directly online (it's been my experience that some MLS listings are sorely outdated!)

It is working great for our agents!

I've never used the MLS searches on websites - most of them are cumbersome and difficult to use or it only includes the listings from that agents office

people are not looking for sites that show every single property available - Most people are looking for information that most agent websites do not provide

I've never used the MLS searches on websites - most of them are cumbersome and difficult to use or it only includes the listings from that agents office

people are not looking for sites that show every single property available - Most people are looking for information that most agent websites do not provide

Really? The 6000 people who searched for homes on my site this month don't agree with you.

I think that is a great idea for gaining business. Most of your business is received from referral right. The only problem I see with it is that if you are targeting people in Cali trying to come to Florida then they would probably type in Florida. MLS is really important on a Realtors website. IMO

i have sites set up if you are interested in leads pm me the city you are in.