Does anyone have any suggestions on reputable Seller/Buyer lead programs. I am new to the business and trying to generate business. Please any advice would greatly appreciated.

Nicole

Nicole, your best bet will be to start a blog and work it every day. You will save a lot of money and learn how to promote your own business yourself to boot.

There are many places to learn good blogging techniques. One of the best places to LEARN is to go to http://www.activerain.com and sign up for a BASIC account (not paid!). With the basic account you can then search for blog articles to teach you how to blog for business. Now is the perfect time! Some people to look up for learning how to blog effectively are Katerina Gassett and Brad Andersohn. Old posts from the late Karen George will help you learn to blog for search engine placement.

Then you can set up your OWN blog on your OWN website (Don't have one? How can you expect to get business without a website? Get a $5/month hosting account with GoDaddy.com and use a free template. Then contact your MLS provider to find out how to get MLS listings (IDX) to put on your website. THEN use the Wordpress plugin that GoDaddy provides to start YOUR OWN BLOG) and BLOG AWAY using the tips and tricks you learned at ActiveRain.com and also here:

Active Rain Manual (remember the concept can be used on ANY blog!)

Real Estate Tomato Blog (lots of great stuff there)

RSS Pieces Not sure if this is still active or not but LOTS of stuff on SEO and Blogging Ideas!

This is a GREAT way to get leads CHEAP - it only requires a small financial investment and a larger investment of time. This is especially good for people like me who LOATHE the idea of door knocking or making cold calls.

Don't forget to learn about how to get business from your Sphere of Influence - the people who know you and know you sell real estate. A good resource for that is found at Sell With Soul.

I know that my forum mates will have other ideas, other companies, other programs to suggest. There is no real right or wrong way - just do what YOU feel comfortable doing. I could never cold call or door knock - I'm too private a person and do not like to invade the privacy of others.



Rather than throw good money away on lead generatorss that may or may not (more often NOT) get you business, learn how to get your OWN leads YOURSELF. It will be a MUCH BETTER investment.

There are also other programs, which I'm sure some members here will chime in with, that will cost you some money but will be far better at lead generating than signing up with some lead provider service.

I prefer to do it on my own - I pay only my monthly hosting fee for my website, $120 / year to my MLS provider for IDX links, and my domain name fee to GoDaddy.

Thank you Perky for the information.

I never had a good experience with any lead programs and most of them are scams. But definitely try Perkys ideas.

If you want to pay for some leads while you are waiting for the blogging to start paying off, there is an agent I know who kept a whole office of agents busy with Homegain leads. His name is Mitch Ribak. (Google him, if you are interested, he is selling a program now of how to do it... FWIW, I have no affiliation with them)

I don't pay for leads, but I know that it takes awhile to get up and running with internet marketing, so if you want something to fill in the gaps while you are getting started you might look at them. Just make sure you don't sign any long term contracts!