Thanks for using your real name Wes. This way we know we are communicating with a real live person, and it sounds like you are even a REALTOR.

In response to your post today -

In residential real estate, I have found the most used, but not necessarily effective, part of my web site to be the request for any sort of local information. But, I too, have experienced thousands of requests over the years from folks who think I am the local information provider for our town. They come back again and again, but only in search of information. I developed a rather huge database of email addresses, that the next time I try to send them something, bounces back - no longer in service - like a bad phone number. It is quite interesting actually.

I gleened this information because if they post a telephone number, I follow up with a phone call. Sometimes they get angry and say they have a real estate agent already - they just want the information that their own agent can't, or doesn't know how to provide. After receiving my phone call, at her request, I might add - One lady even yelled at me "just give me the information" - I very politely said it had already been emailed to her. She does not check her own email "very often". "Well", she said, "then she would give to her agent, because her agent doesn't use email or have a web site". Go figure.

Anybody? what response would you have given to this woman? just curious.

Carolyne

My Back Up Book - Never worry about a
computer crash again!


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Small Company but we're BIG in Brampton. Relocation Transfer packages for anywhere in North America Homes For Sale All Sizes All Prices

Carolyne, people are different.... don't dwell on the situation, nothing more to be said. When I created my website, I decided that it would first, be a site to promote myself and my services. Much like a brochure. All information provided on my site is available without any strings attached (no sign up).

I have another website that targets my specific market niche, does not promote myself but does require those who are interested to sign up for a seminar. Those that sign up are hot leads which I will meet person-person. Those that inquire via email are warm leads and could be hot leads. Cold leads? Just can't happen. Either people sign up for seminar or the are requesting more info and want to be contacted.

What is comes down to is this: Does one want to start with 100 leads and work to find out if any of them are hot or does one want to start with 5 hot leads?

Of course people are different, Jim. I've been on this forum since it first started, many years ago. Periodically I post a note like this, so new agents know they are not alone when things like this happen, is all. I certainly don't "dwell" on it. Typing in this medium, one will learn that it is a "flat" method of communicating, and often one is misunderstood. By starting out with 100 warms lead, often if those leads are cherished, they do turn into business down the road. Not everyone is "hot" - but rather just curious at the moment in time, but with a little gentle handling, those folks will recall us as the real need arises, when they do not have an agent of their own, and they have "warmed up to us, due to how graciously we handled the siutation. Folks use the web in the beginning stages of their interest, expressly so that they can remain anonymous in many cases.

Recently another local agent's buyer was surfing the net. Those agents to the best of my knowledge do not have a web site presence. The buyers found their dream home on my web site, called their own agent, and bought it within the first three days on the market. This is one more example I can use when I do my CMA's and listing presentations.

This forum was designed, and my section in particular, to discuss ways for improving web site (read: productive) activity, along with interaction among agents, with the express purpose of establishing relationships for the purpose of "networking".

Just last week I got an inquiry from Victoria, BC. about moving to our area in Brampton. Upon following up the lead, it turns out that the would-be buyer really wants to live in Waterloo, so his son can go to the university there. That location is more than two hours west of us, so guess what I did?... I went to the agentsonline forum to see who was currently serving both areas, and sent out the lead to those other two agents. Now, "that" is productive use of the web site. Of course I asked permission first, which is only the polite thing to do. Just my thoughts. Carolyne

My Back Up Book - Never worry about a
computer crash again!





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Small Company but we're BIG in Brampton. Relocation Transfer packages for anywhere in North America Homes For Sale All Sizes All Prices

thanks, yes i am a "R"

my business is closer to the commercial side, as i specialize in investment real estate. personally i am in a similar boat, i get a lot of people that want info that i am was providing to potential clients, and no one else in town offers said info, but they don't want to work with me and feel that i should still provide them with info.

i would have told the lady, sorry i can't help you, and ended the call. hopefully i could have been that nice, i tend to get pretty blunt.

it's tough as the past several years, i have built my business on low pressure and service, it worked great for a while, but the internet leads i am getting now seem to have more and more of and entitlement mentality. the way i look at it now is i would rather have 10 leads that are serious than 50 that are maybe's.

as far as agents using my stuff, i've had agents even just link to my info in pdf form on their site, a stern phone call ended that pretty quick.