RealTown's RealTalk

I am currently working on the trial version of Point2Agent and have found it to be a great tool for building a website, managing prospects, featuring my listings, connecting with other Point2Agents and offers an array of possibilities beyond these things...once you begin the monthly pay account.

Today I was contacted Z57 Internet Solutions. Their product seemed to be excellent as well, offering much of the same things as Point2Agent, but also including a Marketing Coach, building your website for you and offering a strong lead conversion system. They do not have a trial version, so I have not agreed to anything with them yet.

My question is: Does anyone know the differences/benefits between these two systems and which is preferred/suggested?

Thank you.

-Clif Cheek
clif@resort-brokerage.com

The best system/website is the one you use. Switching from one template vendor to another and doing nothing different usually makes no difference. Keep what you have, learn about what to do to make your site generate leads and network with other P2 agents about what they do. If you are truly serious about having a site that generates income, you should learn with what you already have. Then, if you decide to change down the road, you'll have a better idea about what you'll want to do which may be something totally different that what you would do now.

Clif, I have to agree with Drew: the web site that will work the best
for you is one that you really work hard yourself. Most any rationally
organized real estate web site will work well to generate leads once it
begins to attract upwards of 40-50 unique visitors per day. In today's
competitive Web search environment, getting that many visitors can be
quite a challenge.
 

Among other things, building traffic usually requires a lot of custom
written, search engine optimized text specifically about your local
geographic area. Very few agents bother to learn anything about search
engine optimization (or hire an expert) or take the trouble to write (or
have written) their own text content. I spend a lot of time "under the
hood" of Point2Agent member sites, studying their web site analytics.
Those that have no local content rarely get 5 to 10 unique visitors per day.
 

I have chosen to work full time customizing Point2Agent web sites
because I've found them to be the most customizable template web sites
available. (I suggest that you visit my web site to see what can be done
with a Point2 site.) Even if you never choose to invest in a
custom-designed Point2Agent web site, Point2's syndicated advertising
program is a huge asset. Some of my clients get as many as 25-50
visitors per day purely as a result of syndication to Craigs List.
 

Also check out the training resources offered by Point2Agent, and spend
time on the Point2Agent message board (under "Community" in your online
office), where you can get assistance from Point2 staff and subscribers
as well as by people like me.
 

Hope that helps!
 

Suzanne
--
Suzanne Hathcock Stephens
Point2Agent Qualified Web Site Designer
http://www.SuzStephens.com
360-666-0881
 

________________________
 

Clif Cheek wrote:
I am currently working on the trial version of Point2Agent and have
found it to be a great tool for building a website, managing prospects,
featuring my listings, connecting with other Point2Agents and offers an
array of possibilities beyond these things...once you begin the monthly
pay account.
 

Today I was contacted Z57 Internet Solutions. Their product seemed to be
excellent as well, offering much of the same things as Point2Agent, but
also including a Marketing Coach, building your website for you and
offering a strong lead conversion system. They do not have a trial
version, so I have not agreed to anything with them yet.
 

My question is: Does anyone know the differences/benefits between these
two systems and which is preferred/suggested?

I have been using Z57 for a short while and found that they are similar to Point2, however Z57 wants you to pay an up-front fee of $289. (for my base-model site, it was $199. + $35 for my domain transfer, plus the first monthly fee of $49.). They have other programs that bring the cost way up. They wanted this money the moment I agreed. They weren't going to invest any time in uploading my site and info until I gave them the credit card. I imagine this is also how they keep you. Most folks don't want to move from site-to-site when they've already invested the up-front fee. Also, my program does not include Instant "Home Evaluation" nor "IDX". But it does have the capability for people to search for listings on our local MLS.

I have been playing with the site to figure things out, and have often needed their assistance to customize with my own photos, colors, etc. Their cust. svc. is very good. They have been patient and answer the phone right away - no waiting. They always know how to solve my issue.

I also find that they have lead capture input all over the place, and visitors don't seem to be willing to fill it out, so I haven't gotten many leads. I've also gotten bogus leads (visitor gives bad info just so they can use the site). Mostly, visitors use the site until they get tired of hitting the lead capture wall (entering their contact info) then they move on. To be fair, I haven't totally begun to advertize my site. I wanted to be sure it looks and operates the way I want it to.

But it wasn't like magic. It hasn't gone crazy with business. Over time, however, I expect to have more hits than I am getting right now.

I agree with the statement that the one you use is the one that works. I am working it out!

Meagan Tambini, Sothebys Int'l Realty, Los Olivos, CA (805) 688-4200

www.MeaganTambini.com,

Meagan@MeaganTambini.com

Meagan, may I suggest a new strategy for capturing leads?

First, disable any requirement for users to register before searching
your MLS listings. If possible, you may want to allow them to view
listings with only minor limitations, such as not showing the homes'
addresses, but, for the most part, it's advisable not to require
registration. Visitors will either leave your site to find another site
that allows searching or they will leave bogus contact info.

Next, load your site up with so many pages of great information about
your geographic area and real estate in your area that buyers will find
themselves returning to your site over and over again to research your
area. Eventually, they will contact you to schedule a showing or to
request more info about a an interesting home. This will eliminate bogus
leads.

You wrote that you expect over time to have more hits than you are
getting right now. What is your strategy for increasing hits? They won't
increase unless you do something to increase traffic. Adding lots of
great local information is a great way to increase both traffic and
leads. Text content is magnetic to the search engines, especially if it
has been written with search engine optimization in mind.

Suzanne
--
Suzanne Hathcock Stephens
Point2Agent Qualified Web Site Designer
http://www.SuzStephens.com
360-666-0881
_________________________

Meagan Tambini wrote:
I have been using Z57 for a short while <snip>

I also find that they have lead capture input all over the place, and
visitors don't seem to be willing to fill it out, so I haven't gotten
many leads. I've also gotten bogus leads (visitor gives bad info just so
they can use the site). Mostly, visitors use the site until they get
tired of hitting the lead capture wall (entering their contact info)
then they move on. To be fair, I haven't totally begun to advertize my
site. I wanted to be sure it looks and operates the way I want it to.

But it wasn't like magic. It hasn't gone crazy with business. Over time,
however, I expect to have more hits than I am getting right now.

Meagan, I agree with Suzanne... there is basically no local information to entice them to stay on your site. The site needs to have information about what a visitor expects to find out about the area. Put yourself in the shoes of a visitor moving to your area. What would you expect to find on the site?

When they first visit, they are not looking to find out about you or what you do. They already know what you do. You state "I will be happy to provide all the information you need to buy or sell real estate in Solvang, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, Ballard, and Buellton. As a premier real estate agent in Santa Ynez Valley," , yet you don't provide any of the information. Personally, I have found have the "I', 'me', 'my' words are not what works, as a visitor really does not care about you when they land on your home page. Perhaps the call of action should be what benefits the visitor.. i.e.; Here you will find the information, you will find all the resources, how you can get top dollar for your home, etc.

Mainly, your site is canned content and there is no compelling reason for a visitor to look further, hence no leads. Do some more work on your site to catch a visitor's attention: add more compelling content on your home page, add some pages that may be of interest to the visitor and you will probably see an improvement in results. Make your site the Solvang real estate resource as you indicate in your meta description. Take advantage of what Solvang is all about... show the charm of the area to the visitor, what's special, etc. It is a tourist destination / stop over, so take advantage of that with local info, pictures, videos, etc.