I am fortunate enough to have spent a great deal of time researching lead generation techniques used by another unrelated industry that I have a strong suspicion might be applicable to realtors.

The short story is I keep seeing a lot of potential private buyers and private sellers interacting online as I make my way through the online social networks. The realtor activity in these places is conspicuos by its absence. So I am trying to figure out if its worth my while spending any time on this. The only way I can do this is to ask you folk - [b]what is the number one problem you have with generating leads?[/b] This would help me understand the problem a bit more and test my ideas.

If I am right then I will happily share the answer/solution with anyone who helps me understand the problem.

Thanks for your help

Tel.

The problem with that is most of the boards have anti-spam rules about soliciting to the members. Social networks are great. But the people who participate are there to be part of a network, not buy products or services. Kind of like this board. We are here to interact, share ideas, and get away. Not be sold something or push our services.

I belong to other Non-Realestate groups. The people know what I do and I chime in when appropriate. I pushed the limits once and was quickly flagged and that was that. I had to be very low key for months as I violated the rules.

I play poker online. Im there to play cards. Im not there to engage the other players to buy or sell real estate. I engage when it is appropriate.

Number one issue is finding a qualified buyer (to answer your question).

You know ,when I came to this business, I figured I could take all my extensive online marketing knowledge , and apply it to real estate and make a killing.

What am I doing now a days?

I am calling FSBOs! (While blogging at the same time).

Why? Becuase calling people works, and 60% of the homes sold are from local relocation rather than from out of my area. Sure, developing a good website/blog is important, but if you want some money quick from this business (And that has to happen)you should be using the good old fashioned prospecting methods will still work.

The last thing we need is another ya-hoo trying to sell leads to us.

My suggestion is to forget your idea and just enjoy the social networks for what they are - a chance to socialize and make friends. That is no place to hawk your wares, so to speak - it only makes you look greedy and desperate and really uncouth.

I'm on twitter but I'm not on there to market myself directly - I'm there to chit chat about the day.

I don't go on the Zillow and Trulia boards and answer questions very often simply because I prefer not to be flamed by some yahoo who was stung by a realtor in the past and whose mission it is in life to make agents look stupid when they are able.

If you know what you're doing with your website and blog you will generate leads. If customers are looking for real estate in your area they should be able to find you easy.

If your customers can find you online, you are set. You don't need to go "twitting" about in these social networks trolling for business.

Hey thanks,

Let me get one thing straight here I am not going to exploit the social networks. I get too much value from them,I know the rules and stick by them. What I am talking about here is being able to point a software application at online sources, where people are actively looking to buy things or asking questions in the same context, then contact everyone of them in one hit to begin a conversation to test their propensity to buy. send me an e-mail at [removed you know what for you know why by you know who] replace the capitals with you know what and I will show you.

Fair?

Tel.

I know there's lots of money to be made in the lead generation business. And lots of money to be lost. Good luck!

Oh, no thanks. And just to avoid the spam issue, I'm going to remove your email address, because I'm a moderator, and I can.

Man I HATE those sites!

Me too. There is very little value to be had engaging in arguments with disgruntled consumers who want to spread their anger far and wide.

It makes about as much sense as arguing creation/evolution, abortion, or politics online. You just go in circles and get a headache. LOL

And she did!

There are alot of Mods with the authority to kill your post. Perkey allowed your post to remain with your email. I considered deleting the whole thing as I have the power as well.

So if want to "test" your system put it on the line and test it. We will give you an honest opinion of it. You want us to pay to test your theory, likely not going to happen.

For whats its worth, as a moderator I try to let conversations evolve. I give many liberties unless the board rules are being abused. You were on the fringe there, so I did not step in. I know it takes alot for Perky to step in as well. You are lucky the whole post was not deleted as Spam, Perky was being generous.

You want to ask us what we think about your system put it out there, you will get feedback. You want us to blindly trust us with your 3 posts trying to hawk a service and not following the rules, it will be deleted. This is a free site, enjoy it and take what you can from it, but follow the rules. Moderators lurk and ill and DO know the rules and step in.

ROTF! Yes I stopped doing that, too! It used to fun but. . .