Lead Generation

Use this section to provide a description of your blog.

Why Isn’t My Real Estate Website Converting Leads?

Posted by Alexander Fazelani on

Many agents have a real estate website, but most of them just sit dormant on the internet. They sit and wait for a prospect to eventually find them. They collect digital dust. The truth is a website could be one of the most valuable tools in your prospecting arsenal if utilized right. 

Here are 4 Ways Your Real Estate Website isn’t being Utilized Correctly:

You're not utilizing a landing or squeeze page 

Landing Pages or Squeeze Pages should be your website's bread and butter. Most of your paid-for advertising and organic traffic is going to land on these pages because they are geared for 1 goal: to “squeeze” the information out of the prospects. When it comes to service-based products such as real estate services you're going to need the prospect's email and phone number so you can follow up with them and set that appointment. Your landing pages and squeeze pages should be optimized for that. 

You’re sending traffic to your home page

One of the biggest mistakes agents make with their websites is they send paid-for traffic and organic traffic to their home page. This can kill your conversion ratio because your home page is filled with distractions like your bio, contact, blogs, and other pieces of content that will take them away from the main goal, which is to get them on a call. Make sure you are sending prospects to a strategic landing or squeeze page to minimize distractions.

You're not getting enough traffic 

Another obvious reason why your website is not converting is due to a lack of traffic. The internet is filled with noise and content being pushed out on a second-to-second basis. If you do not have a large audience to broadcast your content or landing pages to your website is not going to obtain a lot of leads. This is where paid for traffic comes into play. You can obtain this traffic through Facebook Ad’s, Google Ad’s and Youtube Pre-Role Ad’s. It really might make all the difference.  

Your offer is not concise or direct 

The majority of agents post a property in a story or post a just sold on a feed with no concise or direct messaging. You need some type of call to action if you want prospects to stop scrolling and visit your landing page. 

Example of a Concise and Direct Message:

 “Want to see more beautiful homes like this one in Forest Hills, Queens? Click the link below to see more homes like this one. 

“This home in Forest Hills, Queens just sold for $50k above the asking price! Click the link below to see what your house could go for on the active market. 

By using clear messaging you will improve your conversion rate and also find more ideal clients in your niche areas. 

If you avoid these top 4 mistakes your real estate website will convert more business and become a better and more useful asset in growing your real estate business.  

Are you generating new business from your real estate website? Share in the comments below.

Read more

Why Isn’t My Real Estate Website Converting Leads?

Posted by Alexander Fazelani on

Many agents have a real estate website, but most of them just sit dormant on the internet. They sit and wait for a prospect to eventually find them. They collect digital dust. The truth is a website could be one of the most valuable tools in your prospecting arsenal if utilized right. 

Here are 4 Ways Your Real Estate Website isn’t being Utilized Correctly:

You're not utilizing a landing or squeeze page 

Landing Pages or Squeeze Pages should be your website's bread and butter. Most of your paid-for advertising and organic traffic is going to land on these pages because they are geared for 1 goal: to “squeeze” the information out of the prospects. When it comes to service-based products such as real estate services you're going to need the prospect's email and phone number so you can follow up with them and set that appointment. Your landing pages and squeeze pages should be optimized for that. 

You’re sending traffic to your home page

One of the biggest mistakes agents make with their websites is they send paid-for traffic and organic traffic to their home page. This can kill your conversion ratio because your home page is filled with distractions like your bio, contact, blogs, and other pieces of content that will take them away from the main goal, which is to get them on a call. Make sure you are sending prospects to a strategic landing or squeeze page to minimize distractions.

You're not getting enough traffic 

Another obvious reason why your website is not converting is due to a lack of traffic. The internet is filled with noise and content being pushed out on a second-to-second basis. If you do not have a large audience to broadcast your content or landing pages to your website is not going to obtain a lot of leads. This is where paid for traffic comes into play. You can obtain this traffic through Facebook Ad’s, Google Ad’s and Youtube Pre-Role Ad’s. It really might make all the difference.  

Your offer is not concise or direct 

The majority of agents post a property in a story or post a just sold on a feed with no concise or direct messaging. You need some type of call to action if you want prospects to stop scrolling and visit your landing page. 

Example of a Concise and Direct Message:

 “Want to see more beautiful homes like this one in Forest Hills, Queens? Click the link below to see more homes like this one. 

“This home in Forest Hills, Queens just sold for $50k above the asking price! Click the link below to see what your house could go for on the active market. 

By using clear messaging you will improve your conversion rate and also find more ideal clients in your niche areas. 

If you avoid these top 4 mistakes your real estate website will convert more business and become a better and more useful asset in growing your real estate business.  

Are you generating new business from your real estate website? Share in the comments below.

Read more


4 Mass Text Message Strategies That Will Help You Sell More Homes

Posted by Alexander Fazelani on

SMS marketing is fast growing and being utilized by many Top Producing agents to help their clients and their sphere of influence stay up to date with what’s going on in their local real estate markets. If utilized right you can obtain more opportunities without doing the heavy lifting of other marketing avenues. How can you use these marketing strategies to help build your book of business. 

Make sure your audience opts in. Do not spam. 

The first thing you need to remember is that SMS is not email. You can't just spam people because that will quickly get you on the “scam likely” list. I would recommend that you have your clients, past clients, sphere of influence, and prospects opt-in with you personally. This way they will expect your message and appreciate the value you will bring. Let's face it, nobody likes a spammer. 


Pro tip: Make sure when someone opts-in you have some type of hashtag or tag set up within your CRM that will help you identify them. 

1. Send new listings to your book of business on a weekly to bi-weekly basis

As a real estate professional you should be studying your local market. One amazing way to build relationships is to reach out to your SMS list with new listings hitting the market in their local areas. The listings do not have to be yours, but they should be through your IDX solution (so you’re compliant - check your state’s rules). Your SMS list may not want to purchase it themselves but they might know someone looking to move into the area. Referrals are always welcome in my database. 

2. Share educational content directly to them

Don’t just share listings! That gets boring and eventually any text from you will be associated with just business. That's why it is always a good idea to share some educational content with them. You can educate them on mortgage rates, trends, real estate law, and current events that could affect their investments. 

3. Share local events and things to do 

This one is a must! Sharing listings and education can be fun to a certain extent. However, what is more fun than showcasing local restaurants, events and parties that they might be interested in. This will not only help develop conversation but potentially lead to a meet. 

4. Share other local professionals 

Giving your book of business access to your network is invaluable. It not only will solidify you as the local plug but it will promote your networks businesses which in turn will help your business relationships and potentially be another source of income (hello referrals). 


If you leverage these 5 SMS strategies in your business It will flourish. Your referral business and sphere of influence will thank you and you will become the go to local expert in no time. 


Are you using mass text messaging in your real estate business? Let us know what’s working in the comments below.

Read more

4 Mass Text Message Strategies That Will Help You Sell More Homes

Posted by Alexander Fazelani on

SMS marketing is fast growing and being utilized by many Top Producing agents to help their clients and their sphere of influence stay up to date with what’s going on in their local real estate markets. If utilized right you can obtain more opportunities without doing the heavy lifting of other marketing avenues. How can you use these marketing strategies to help build your book of business. 

Make sure your audience opts in. Do not spam. 

The first thing you need to remember is that SMS is not email. You can't just spam people because that will quickly get you on the “scam likely” list. I would recommend that you have your clients, past clients, sphere of influence, and prospects opt-in with you personally. This way they will expect your message and appreciate the value you will bring. Let's face it, nobody likes a spammer. 


Pro tip: Make sure when someone opts-in you have some type of hashtag or tag set up within your CRM that will help you identify them. 

1. Send new listings to your book of business on a weekly to bi-weekly basis

As a real estate professional you should be studying your local market. One amazing way to build relationships is to reach out to your SMS list with new listings hitting the market in their local areas. The listings do not have to be yours, but they should be through your IDX solution (so you’re compliant - check your state’s rules). Your SMS list may not want to purchase it themselves but they might know someone looking to move into the area. Referrals are always welcome in my database. 

2. Share educational content directly to them

Don’t just share listings! That gets boring and eventually any text from you will be associated with just business. That's why it is always a good idea to share some educational content with them. You can educate them on mortgage rates, trends, real estate law, and current events that could affect their investments. 

3. Share local events and things to do 

This one is a must! Sharing listings and education can be fun to a certain extent. However, what is more fun than showcasing local restaurants, events and parties that they might be interested in. This will not only help develop conversation but potentially lead to a meet. 

4. Share other local professionals 

Giving your book of business access to your network is invaluable. It not only will solidify you as the local plug but it will promote your networks businesses which in turn will help your business relationships and potentially be another source of income (hello referrals). 


If you leverage these 5 SMS strategies in your business It will flourish. Your referral business and sphere of influence will thank you and you will become the go to local expert in no time. 


Are you using mass text messaging in your real estate business? Let us know what’s working in the comments below.

Read more


The House Warming Party Playbook for Real Estate Agents

Posted by Alexander Fazelani on

Your deal just closed and you bought your client the good old bottle of wine, champagne, or liquor. You might get crazy and give them a little gift basket full of snacks and housewarming gifts. Although all that sounds great, what if I told you that there was an experience that you could give your client that will not only solidify you as the family Realtor® but also give you the opportunity to serve their friends and neighbors?

The house warming party strategy that I'm about to share has been an effective way for me to help build a community around my clients. By doing this gesture you're not only going to be remembered, but you are going to be raved about. So here is my house warming party playbook. 

Step One: The Fillable Sheet

The first thing I do after a deal closes and the client agrees to the house warming party is I find catering and clean-up services. My goal is to make this party less stressful for my client. I want them to focus on what matters and let me handle the rest.  I usually have a pre-made list of restaurants and cuisines that my clients can choose from on a fillable sheet. 

The fill-in sheet also lets them know how much the capacity of the party will be. In other words how much food will be provided. I also provide ideal dates for the party so we can have time to get everything prepped. I also let my clients know what I will not be providing so expectations are kept realistic and communication is clear. I usually do not provide entertainment, physical invitations, or DJs. 

Step Two: Invite

The second step is to create a Facebook event where I make my client an admin. This allows them to invite people directly. This is where the magic happens! After everyone is invited I personally reach out to everyone via DM to introduce myself and ask if there are any dietary restrictions to be aware of. Let them know that your goal is to make this party as stress-free for your clients as possible so if there is anything they need to reach out to you. 

Step Three: Party

The third step is to deliver and coordinate the day of the party. Pick up the catering, confirm with the cleaning crew and get ready to help greet people as they arrive. Remember this party is not about you, it's about your client. Only answer real estate questions when asked. Try not to do much selling! 

Step Four: Mingle

The fourth step is to have fun and mingle with your client's friends and family. Make sure to check in with your clients every so often to see if they need any help. Make sure not to get too drunk (if you do choose to indulge in alcohol during the event), and allow your clients to shower you with opportunities and new relationships. 

This strategy has worked wonders for me and I know it will work wonders for you. It might sound like a lot of work but it is well worth it.  Have you ever thrown a housewarming party for your clients? Share you tips in the comments below.

Read more

The House Warming Party Playbook for Real Estate Agents

Posted by Alexander Fazelani on

Your deal just closed and you bought your client the good old bottle of wine, champagne, or liquor. You might get crazy and give them a little gift basket full of snacks and housewarming gifts. Although all that sounds great, what if I told you that there was an experience that you could give your client that will not only solidify you as the family Realtor® but also give you the opportunity to serve their friends and neighbors?

The house warming party strategy that I'm about to share has been an effective way for me to help build a community around my clients. By doing this gesture you're not only going to be remembered, but you are going to be raved about. So here is my house warming party playbook. 

Step One: The Fillable Sheet

The first thing I do after a deal closes and the client agrees to the house warming party is I find catering and clean-up services. My goal is to make this party less stressful for my client. I want them to focus on what matters and let me handle the rest.  I usually have a pre-made list of restaurants and cuisines that my clients can choose from on a fillable sheet. 

The fill-in sheet also lets them know how much the capacity of the party will be. In other words how much food will be provided. I also provide ideal dates for the party so we can have time to get everything prepped. I also let my clients know what I will not be providing so expectations are kept realistic and communication is clear. I usually do not provide entertainment, physical invitations, or DJs. 

Step Two: Invite

The second step is to create a Facebook event where I make my client an admin. This allows them to invite people directly. This is where the magic happens! After everyone is invited I personally reach out to everyone via DM to introduce myself and ask if there are any dietary restrictions to be aware of. Let them know that your goal is to make this party as stress-free for your clients as possible so if there is anything they need to reach out to you. 

Step Three: Party

The third step is to deliver and coordinate the day of the party. Pick up the catering, confirm with the cleaning crew and get ready to help greet people as they arrive. Remember this party is not about you, it's about your client. Only answer real estate questions when asked. Try not to do much selling! 

Step Four: Mingle

The fourth step is to have fun and mingle with your client's friends and family. Make sure to check in with your clients every so often to see if they need any help. Make sure not to get too drunk (if you do choose to indulge in alcohol during the event), and allow your clients to shower you with opportunities and new relationships. 

This strategy has worked wonders for me and I know it will work wonders for you. It might sound like a lot of work but it is well worth it.  Have you ever thrown a housewarming party for your clients? Share you tips in the comments below.

Read more


What To Put In Your Instagram Bio For Real Estate Agents

Posted by Amanda Bohorquez on


5 Website Building Tips for Real Estate Agents

Posted by Alexander Fazelani on

 

It took me 90-hours of work but it was finally done! My real estate website was looking amazing! I DIY’ed it, and saved $4000 dollars, I thought to myself as I sipped my cappuccino in my local café. I couldn’t wait to launch it and let all my clients and peers know that I not only have the skills to pay the bills in real estate but I could easily moonlight as a web designer. Boy was I wrong! 

After what I considered a “successful” launch, I was ready for the leads to start flowing in. In the next 3 months I succeeded in getting one lead from my cousin. Who used a fake email to sign up for my email list. After consulting with some web designers and spending a bunch of money trying to fix the issue I was able to turn it around. Now my website converts at a higher level than it has ever done before, and I no longer have to pay a premium for leads from sources like Realtor.com and Zillow. So, here are the 5 tips I've learned that helped me take my website from zero leads to a lead capturing machine. 

Tip 1: You do not have to build your real estate website from scratch. 

This one might seem like a shock to you and it was a hard pill to swallow myself. I spent a week of my life building a website from scratch and apparently I did everything wrong. I overcomplicated it and I was ignorant of what makes a website stand out and convert. I thought it was the colors and copy that would pluck people off the internet and into my sphere. Although color and copy do assist in branding, it's less important than setting up a page that is geared to obtaining your prospect's information. 

There are many services out there that have optimized the proper conversion set up so you don’t have to. These pre-made websites allow you to do everything that Zillow does without breaking your bank, and messing it up yourself. Sometimes a simple approach works better. One example is Kvcore. It is an amazing all-in-one service that can help you create a great-looking website that is simple and converts. There are many of these pre-made website options available, it just requires a bit of research. 

Tip 2: Your homepage is not the most important page on your website. 

Many agents are guilty of this mistake. I was even guilty of it as well when I first started creating my website. When you think of the home page you think of the face of your website. It is the digital brochure of your business but what happens to most brochures? That's right, they get discarded, and thrown in the trash. 

A website is no different. Don’t spend a ton of time making your homepage perfect, because most traffic is not going to land or spend a lot of time there. Most traffic is generated through blogs, vlogs, paid traffic, and landing/squeeze pages. Which we will go over in the next tip. 

Tip 3: Utilize Landing Pages and Squeeze Pages. 

As mentioned above you should never send traffic or potential prospects to your website’s homepage. As attention spans grow shorter in our society our approach as Realtors has to be more direct. Prospects are jumping onto your website looking for something distinct, whether it be properties in a specific area and price range or information on closing costs. 

This is why landing pages and squeeze pages are so valuable. Usually, when someone ends up on this page there is literally only one thing to do: Browse for properties or give their information in order to obtain something. The prospect will not be distracted by your bio, contact information, and other irrelevant information (Now I’m not saying your bio or contact info are irrelevant, but they distract from being able to collect the lead’s contact information). They are getting what they want faster and it is overall a better experience for them. 

Tip 4: Make sure your website has an IDX solution. 

If you still decide to DIY your website make sure you have a live feed of MLS properties on your different pages. If your website only consists of forms and info pages you are really doing yourself a disservice. There are many IDX solutions to choose from. If you would like something basic I would recommend IDX Broker. It works with many different template websites and is simple to use. 

Tip 5: Don’t shy away from paid-for traffic! 

Most people think once they create their website prospects are just going to find them through the power of the internet. That may have worked at the beginning of the internet and when AOL dial-up was the only way to log on. However, now there is more competition and floods of people creating websites about real estate, daily. Paid advertising is one extremely good way of helping your brand stand out among the competition. Facebook, Google, and Youtube Pre-Roll Ads are the top three paid traffic sources of driving traffic to your slice of the pie.  

The more people see your landing pages and content the more conversions you will have. Which will inevitably lead to more business. 

Are you thinking of building your own website using a platform like Squarespace, or opting to use a service like KvCore? Let me know in the comments below.

Read more

5 Website Building Tips for Real Estate Agents

Posted by Alexander Fazelani on

 

It took me 90-hours of work but it was finally done! My real estate website was looking amazing! I DIY’ed it, and saved $4000 dollars, I thought to myself as I sipped my cappuccino in my local café. I couldn’t wait to launch it and let all my clients and peers know that I not only have the skills to pay the bills in real estate but I could easily moonlight as a web designer. Boy was I wrong! 

After what I considered a “successful” launch, I was ready for the leads to start flowing in. In the next 3 months I succeeded in getting one lead from my cousin. Who used a fake email to sign up for my email list. After consulting with some web designers and spending a bunch of money trying to fix the issue I was able to turn it around. Now my website converts at a higher level than it has ever done before, and I no longer have to pay a premium for leads from sources like Realtor.com and Zillow. So, here are the 5 tips I've learned that helped me take my website from zero leads to a lead capturing machine. 

Tip 1: You do not have to build your real estate website from scratch. 

This one might seem like a shock to you and it was a hard pill to swallow myself. I spent a week of my life building a website from scratch and apparently I did everything wrong. I overcomplicated it and I was ignorant of what makes a website stand out and convert. I thought it was the colors and copy that would pluck people off the internet and into my sphere. Although color and copy do assist in branding, it's less important than setting up a page that is geared to obtaining your prospect's information. 

There are many services out there that have optimized the proper conversion set up so you don’t have to. These pre-made websites allow you to do everything that Zillow does without breaking your bank, and messing it up yourself. Sometimes a simple approach works better. One example is Kvcore. It is an amazing all-in-one service that can help you create a great-looking website that is simple and converts. There are many of these pre-made website options available, it just requires a bit of research. 

Tip 2: Your homepage is not the most important page on your website. 

Many agents are guilty of this mistake. I was even guilty of it as well when I first started creating my website. When you think of the home page you think of the face of your website. It is the digital brochure of your business but what happens to most brochures? That's right, they get discarded, and thrown in the trash. 

A website is no different. Don’t spend a ton of time making your homepage perfect, because most traffic is not going to land or spend a lot of time there. Most traffic is generated through blogs, vlogs, paid traffic, and landing/squeeze pages. Which we will go over in the next tip. 

Tip 3: Utilize Landing Pages and Squeeze Pages. 

As mentioned above you should never send traffic or potential prospects to your website’s homepage. As attention spans grow shorter in our society our approach as Realtors has to be more direct. Prospects are jumping onto your website looking for something distinct, whether it be properties in a specific area and price range or information on closing costs. 

This is why landing pages and squeeze pages are so valuable. Usually, when someone ends up on this page there is literally only one thing to do: Browse for properties or give their information in order to obtain something. The prospect will not be distracted by your bio, contact information, and other irrelevant information (Now I’m not saying your bio or contact info are irrelevant, but they distract from being able to collect the lead’s contact information). They are getting what they want faster and it is overall a better experience for them. 

Tip 4: Make sure your website has an IDX solution. 

If you still decide to DIY your website make sure you have a live feed of MLS properties on your different pages. If your website only consists of forms and info pages you are really doing yourself a disservice. There are many IDX solutions to choose from. If you would like something basic I would recommend IDX Broker. It works with many different template websites and is simple to use. 

Tip 5: Don’t shy away from paid-for traffic! 

Most people think once they create their website prospects are just going to find them through the power of the internet. That may have worked at the beginning of the internet and when AOL dial-up was the only way to log on. However, now there is more competition and floods of people creating websites about real estate, daily. Paid advertising is one extremely good way of helping your brand stand out among the competition. Facebook, Google, and Youtube Pre-Roll Ads are the top three paid traffic sources of driving traffic to your slice of the pie.  

The more people see your landing pages and content the more conversions you will have. Which will inevitably lead to more business. 

Are you thinking of building your own website using a platform like Squarespace, or opting to use a service like KvCore? Let me know in the comments below.

Read more