This past week I was given the opportunity to compete for a
listing in one of my area's most popular subdivisions. During my
presentation I discovered that I was one of four agents being
interviewed and that two of the others had made strong
impressions on the sellers by emphasizing their company web
sites. One company heavily advertises the fact that their web
site receives millions of hits and results in a bazillion sales.
The other company highlights the fact that their web site has
the most virtual walk thru tours and that naturally attracts
buyers.

I was a little surprised as this is something new - real estate
companies have finally convinced their agents to use the
corporate web site as a benefit in their listing presentations -
the major benefit no less!

Luckily, that morning before I had left the office, I just
happened to check on my web site's search engine positioning. I
was well placed in the top 10 of several of the major search
engines - and I had printed out a report showing that fact.

I pulled out the report and proceeded to explain to the sellers
that yes, it certainly is true - as the other agents had told
them - most buyers now look on the internet for real estate.
And, aside from checking out the MLS listings online they also
go to their favorite search engine and type in "mycity real
estate".

When they do - "this is what they find - my site! There are
hundreds of real estate sites in the city but only one can be
found in the top of ALL these search engines - and your house
will be prominently displayed! They will see your listing first -
before they even have a chance to sift through the hundreds of
other sites!"

Slam - Dunk! I walked away with the listing right then and
there - and it sold in 4 days!

Moral of the story? In today's market if you do not have a
superior web presence you will soon find yourself at a serious
disadvantage!

Do you have a web site? If so, be honest with yourself - is
your web site being properly promoted? Is it "findable" in the
major search engines using the keywords buyers use? Why would
anyone choose to bookmark your site over the hundreds of other
sites that begin to look identical to someone browsing the web?

If you still haven't got serious about your internet presence,
you have no time to lose! Every day you delay is costing you
business whether you realize it or not.

With all the web sites to compete with in your area, it is more
important than ever to set yourself apart from the competition.
You are competing with those other web sites for search engine
positioning and also competing to have visitors "bookmark" your
site for return visits.

You need a unique and informative web site - one where it is
immediately apparent to a visitor that it is different from all
the others. You need a web site that is working for you!

In order for a real estate web site to be effective certain
design considerations must be taken into account and there must
be a system in place for properly promoting and positioning the
web site in major search engines and directories.

When comparing web sites, you really have to read between the
lines in order to really understand what you are getting for
your money. Ask these questions:

1)Does the fee include a total web presence and promotion
system?

2)Does the fee include hosting the web site?

3)Does the fee cover changes and editing of content on your
site?

4)Does the fee cover search engine submission? Just once? Once
a month?

5)Does the fee cover ongoing changes to your site to adapt your
site to changes search engines are making in how they rank sites?

6)Does the fee cover the design and production of additional
web sites that act as pointers to your main site in the search
engines?

7)Does the webmaster take the initiative in determining when
and what changes and additions are necessary to improve search
engine positioning?

8)With Link Popularity an important factor in how a web site
ranks in many search engines, does the site have a page for
exchanging links with other agents?

All of the above are extremely important if you want to have
any chance at all in having your web site become a generator of
business. The problem is that in most cases only 3 or 4 of the
above are covered by the monthly fee charged by webmasters and
real estate web site providers.

The House and Home Real Estate Page web presence system come as
a turnkey package and is continuously updated to conform to the
changing criteria required by search engines - so you can sleep
nights and concentrate on selling real estate! Check it out at http://www.rncinternet.com/real_estate.html

* Only ONE agent per market area is eligible for this total web
presence and promotion service! If you are considering marketing
your services on the Internet, why not have the #1 web presence
in your area? For more information or to reserve your market
area, contact: sites@results-net.com

Hurry! Before someone else takes this opportunity in your area!


[This message has been edited by doug (edited 08-02-2003).]