When Google talks about SEO, you need to sit up and listen to what they’re saying.  Why?  Well, because they make the rules.

So when Matt Cutt’s took the time to review a Realtor’s website, and point out tips to make the site better, and perform better on Google I started to listen.

Most of what he states in the video is good advice for any site, and particularly good for real estate agents.

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Not getting any leads from your site? Maybe you’re getting a ton of leads but they don’t convert into buyers?

We’ll cover those problems in this episode! So stayed tuned and grab a seat!

You can find the rest of the series here: Building a Real Estate Web Presence

Don’t forget your comment and questions.

P.S. Would you like your website reviewed for tips on improving conversion and traffic? Just send a request or comment.

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This is Part 2 in a series of videos covering all aspect of building a strong Realtor Web Presence. If you want to see the rest of this series, make sure you subscribe to the site on the left hand side.

In this video we continue to discuss how to use search engines to drive traffic, what it takes to rank well and how to use PPC advertising effectively.

I hope you enjoy it, and please leave your comments and questions.

Don’t forget to join me on Facebook at: http://www.youhavetom.com

or on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/tlyons

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This is Part 1 in a series of videos covering all aspect of building a strong Realtor Web Presence. If you want to see the rest of this series, make sure you subscribe to the site on the left hand side.

In this video we discuss how to use search engines to drive traffic, what it takes to rank well and how to use PPC advertising effectively.

I hope you enjoy it, and please leave your comments and questions.

Don’t forget to join me on Facebook at: http://www.youhavetom.com

or on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/tlyons

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Don’t believe in Social Media? Well, it probably doesn’t believe in you either! Which is why you don’t get squat from it!

Ignoring social media is like missing the most important networking event in your community of the century! Anybody who’s anybody is there, but you.

15 years ago there was this thing called the internet. You know just a fad passing through. Those that embraced it then now have a great web presence, and picked up an extra 50 grand per year in deals over the agent that thought it was a waste of time.

Oh, I can you hear now, “Tom, I don’t have time for all this stuff, I’m too busy sitting around waiting for sign calls, or duty calls to make an extra $50,000.” Yeah, ok, whatever!

Well by the time you get your butt in gear to get a website with some search rankings and traffic, the next generation will have dumped email, moved on to social mediums, and you’ll still be wondering what happened.

Seriously, you could just go back to cold calling, you know until you get a big fat fine for violating the “Do Not Call” list!

Or maybe you still drop $300 per week into newspaper, you know the thing NO ONE EVEN READS anymore. That’s $15600 on advertising that was responsible for 3% of home sales according to NAR! Good choice in money management. It’s true your competitors are there, heaven for bid you be a leader!

Still don’t believe in social media? Watch the video below!

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We’ve all seen the IPhone ads.  You know the one, it plays cool music in the background while Apple tells us that it will change everything.

Well they’re right.  The IPhone, Blackberry, Google G1, and every other smart phone is changing everything.  Because if you’re under 40 you’ve probably used your phone to find a local business.  If you’re under 30 you probably used the GPS in your phone to drive to a location.

Are you starting to understand?  I DID NOT USE A PHONE BOOK!!  I used my phone, it’s with me all the time.  It gives me a map of where to drive, sometimes the hours of operation.  It can give me more than one option and perhaps some reviews.

Sure the phone book is good if the power goes out, or your phone is dead, or you’re lost in the desert with no cell reception, a phone book and a payphone.  But beyond that it really serves no purpose.  Do people still use it? Yes, of course they do but let’s face it, the phone is replacing the phonebook.

So what’s the hold up, well, many contractor still don’t have websites.  They don’t know how to get on Google Local and Maps.  These small companies are not Geeks like I am, and although they hardly use the Yellow Pages either, it’s the only way to find them.

Come on people, lets do two things.

1. Let’s make sure we get ourselves listed in Google Local.

It’s easy. Click Here to Sign up for Google Local

Just follow the instructions and you’ll be listed in no time.

2. Everyone one of us has a friend who’s contractor, plumber, accountant, dentist, you get my point.  Get them listed, it will take you five minutes to make it happen.  You’ll help their business, that’s what friends do.  Friends don’t let friends waste resources and money.

No let’s get out there and help the little guy!

I want to hear your thoughts, add your comment below!

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Let’s get started!

We’re going to cover a lot here but don’t worry, if you confirmed your registration then you’ll get a copy of everything covered sent directly to your email box.

Have you stopped to think about your business? Where your business comes from? Where your money is best spent generating new business?

I hope you have, if not then it’s time to start. Real Estate is one of the most competitive industries to be in. You compete with the person right in the next office to you. In fact, there are 1 million real estate agents in the US alone.

So to be successful it take some real thought, planning and action.

Relationship Marketing

Have you ever taken a good hard look at where your leads come from? If you have I hope you noticed how many come from a referred source, be it a friend, family member, past co-worker, another agent, mortgage professional, plumber, home inspector, insurance agent, etc…

In fact, you should be seeing the majority of your business coming from referrals.

Your goal should be to get 1 deal for every 12 people you know. If you know 360 people you should get 30 deals a year. If you’re not getting that then you need to focus on your relationship with these people.

How often do you contact them? Once a year, twice a year, three times? You should be making some kind of contact close to 30 times per year. They need to hear from you by phone, newsletter, email, postcard, in person, for lunch and any other way you can think. They need to know you are a professional and that you have in-depth knowledge of your industry. But most importantly they need to know that you value their business, and you will value the business they send to you and you would appreciate any business they might be able to refer to you.

You can word the message anyway you want but it must consist of those items and it must reach the people you know or have met 30 times a year.

Want to Build Loyalty?

Call your clients.

It’s really that simple. If you have a database of 300 names, then you should be reaching each of them twice a year by phone. Set a time in the morning to call them, make a goal to reach 3 per day. Call them up, ask them how they are doing, drop some home improvement tips, invite them to lunch and ask if they know anyone looking to buy or sell. Do this one thing and you’ll explode your business!

Creating new leads.

If you currently do not farm an area you should start thinking about it. Once you start, be consistent with your efforts, your farm area should here from you a minimum of 12 times per year. Once per month and on special occasions, send postcards and try to find a useful item like a calendar or fridge planner to send out as well. If you are able to knock on the doors twice a year all the better. It’s about exposure and more exposure. They need to see your name a lot to remember who you are.

What Technology do you really need?

Anything which allows you to respond to customers faster and anything that allows you to capture a lead at the time they are looking for information.

That should be your criteria for deciding what technology to buy. Provide better service and grow your business.

Websites are a must have. Your website needs to have a web capture form on the site. This is a form that visitor can fill out for more information on listings, reports or questions. If you don’t have this on your site then you’re losing business.

A cell phone is a given today, however, does your cell phone allow you to respond to emails. Over 80% of buyers start their search on the internet. Most internet searchers work with the first agent they talk to. Having email request from your website come directly to your phone allows you to respond immediately. You can then qualify the lead. Are they buying now or in the future? If they are buying in the future put them in your automatic email campaign in your contact management software.

Do you have contact management software? If not you need to get some, it’s the only way to keep track of prospects, current clients and past clients. Top Producer allows you to set and forget email campaigns, track to-do items, schedule call-backs, it will even create a website for each of your clients so they can see what’s been happening on their listing.

If you want something a little less expensive but still a great contact manager use, Eurekaware, http://realtors.eurekaware.com/, for a mere single payment of $89.00 you can turn Microsoft Outlook into a powerhouse contact manager for real estate agents.

The point is you need software which will help you keep in contact with your clients and prospects.

Here’s the Summary:

• • Email, Mail, Phone and Visit the clients in your Database 30 times per year minimum.
  • Call at least 3 people in your database each day.
  • Get a cell phone which can handle email and respond to email request the same way you do the phone, QUICKLY!
  • Get a website, and it must show your listings and community information. Give reason for them to request more information and fill out form to do so. That way you capture contact information of the people who visit your site.
  • Farm an area, and expose it to your name in some fashion at least 12 times per year.

That’s it folks. If you can consistently follow the above directions your business will grow.

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