E-Mail Qualification:

Qualification of new prospects becomes a much greater challenge due to the high demand for privacy by today?s consumer. Realize you can't see, hear, or speak directly to your new prospect. How will you sift through the tire kickers to weed out the serious buyers and sellers? One way is to include an easy to fill in registry form on your web site. Respond to all inquiries quickly. Serious prospects will respond in kind.

Create Your Own Website:

If you do not have your own web site, you should. Corporate web sites are designed to drive traffic to the company you associate yourself with. A personalized web site will drive traffic straight to you. Did you know that two thirds of all home buyers utilize the internet at some point in the home buying process? Your objective should be to position yourself as a leader in your community. Keep in mind that the average internet user will take just 3-5 seconds to choose to stay or leave your site. You must grab their attention immediately and hold on! Here are some quick tips to get you started!

Do's

• Spend some time visiting various sites on the net (do not restrict yourself to real estate sites, think outside the box...you may glean some great ideas from other industries).
• Define what you wish to accomplish on the net before you meet with a professional programmer. Work with a professional programmer who understands and gets committed to your internet goals.
• Integrate the look and feel of your web site with the rest of your marketing efforts.
• Keep your message personal, but, professional. Remember, consumers historically select their Realtor on a purely subjective, emotional basis.
• Advertise all of your property listings and keep them updated.
• Practice the rules of professional marketing, ethics and 'netiquette'.
• Provide timely site service by setting guidelines for quick response to all e-mail requests.
• Make your site interactive, fun and friendly by providing information to help people get to know you and your community. Remember your audience is global!
• Use graphics that are eye-catching including some interesting story telling photos of you.
• Once the site is live, you should be maintaining it yourself. Hire a student to upload the information. Your programmer will not likely have the time or inclination to make the necessary modifications daily.
• Offer benefits of your service through your site such as relocation packages or your newsletter.
• Answer and resolve customer complaints promptly. This will build loyalty, increasing repeat business and referrals.
• Ensure your phone numbers, e-mail contact information and mailing address are present in a contact section on your site.
• Include easy to fill out guest registries. Prepare an e-mail farming program designed to follow-up with every consumer who visits your site.
• Invite local organizations to link to your site and provide links to theirs. Ie Map Quest, Financial Institutions, Restaurants, Chamber of Commerce.
  

Last but not least, dare to be different!

Dont's

• Do it right, or don't do it at all....don't run out and purchase a "canned" do it yourself site.
• Don't "spam" potential clients or fellow realtors...it's annoying.
• Refrain from inundating your audience with your achievements. Consumers don't care. They'll choose you once they get to know and like you.
• Don't undercut yourself. You can't be better and cheaper. Realize if you undercut your competition, you'll be chosen simply because you charge less. Choose to offer better service, not less service.
• Check references for potential programmers. Don't hire the first person who impresses you with the latest gizmo. Whoever creates your site should be able to place you on the right browsers for your chosen market area.
• Don't be a Secret Agent! Once your site is live, it's important to tell everyone about it.
• If you know nothing about the Internet before you embark on your initial stages of web site development, educate yourself!
  

You've probably noticed that many of these Do's and Don'ts apply to many marketing vehicles. While this is true, keep in mind how quickly web surfers wade through the reams of information they come across once logged on and surfing. Your internet goal should be to increase your business through this medium. So, think like a web surfer when designing your site.