Custom Website vs. Template Design

Hi, Lisa;

You are so nice I hate to disagree with you, but I do disagree with your statement "people will do what works best for them, and I don't think any of us should say that one type of site or brand of site has no merit. "

That is very PC, but it does a disservice to those trying to learn the best course of action. If a site is a subdomain, it cannot be search engine friendly. If a site is mostly FLASH or Frames, ditto. It's the same with frameset. Why? Because search engines cannot see, will not index, thus consumers cannot find them. What good is a website that the shopper never finds?

I believe that it is inherent on those of us with real experience in working with sites to tell folks the truth when they ask; namely, that certain template sites have architecture that dooms their agents to anonymity on the Internet. It reminds me of a conversation one of our IT people had with an unnamed website company that makes "pretty sites" with Flash landing pages and sells them to unsuspecting realtors for $10,000. "Search engines canot see your page" we told him. "We don't care about that" he retorted, "we make good looking websites."

Well , when it comes to Internet marketing for realtors, it's not "pretty" that matters, it's "effective." If any site cannot be indexed properly by search engines, what is the point of spending your hard-earned money putting it up? There are already enough billboards in space that no one ever sees.

We think AA sites are a good template platform, incidentally, so please don't mistake what I am saying. Our point is simply that realtors are unhappy with their sites production over 90% of the time, according to NAR. If that is not changed, more companies will fail as their clients fail. It is everyone's job to give the agent a platform that helps them sell homes and anyone who knowingly puts an agent on a platform that Google can't see is cheating their client, in my opinion.

Best regards,

Mike Parker
mparker@theblackwatercg.com

I have been playing around with several websites. I tried Advanced Access and found that it was to techy for me to add pages etc.

I am now using ENeighborhood's website. It is extremely easy to work with and has unlimited pages. I find it is very easy to add pages to it.

I utilize their "Dream Home Finder" program which signs up visitors to an auto search for homes. I also love their "Home Sales Alert" which sends out a monthly e mail to people that register with the last 5 sales in their neighborhood. It is a great tool for capturing "nosey neighbors" at open houses and past clients.

The site also comes with the e neighborhood marketing tools, which have great graphics. It is pretty impressive for listing appointments. I put the "books" at my listings for buyers to take with them. The cost of this program with the website is $49/month You can check out my website...it is still a work in progress WWW.LisaAbrams.com

I also use IDXPro for a lead generation program with Pay Per Click...so far, so good. The name of the game is to capture the leads and turn them in to clients!

i hope this helps

You really really ought to do a custom site and not a cookie cutter look like everyone elses. In the middle of a whole new site to incorporate all the new media and feeds and building from stratch is time consuming but you get what you want and it will be useful, unique and fully functional!

Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers - Maine Real Estate For Sale

I have had Advanced Access website for a few years and say every year I am going to find something else. Anna from AA spoke about how easy to customize, etc. I just continue to have the basic problems over and over and over...AA hosts my email, and my email is always on the blink...I am forever needing to apologize to people who's email I didn't get or who didn't get mine...it just goes out there into cyber-space. The other thing that really irritates me is that the IDX never works properly. how technilogically advances is it when I can't put a listing into MLS and it be on my AA website the next day...no they say 48 hours I think...but the truth is it never goes in there auto, and when i click on the idx to load it, it's not there for sometimes a week or so...sometimes never. then there's the problem with photos...they don't come over even if the listing does. either me or my asst must spend time on every listing just getting it on with photos. yes, the tech says they will put it on, but that's not what i want. that means i have to try to put it on, then make a call and be placed on hold, then try to explain what's going on. the answer is usually that they are having problems with idx...that something has been updated and it should be ok soon. sorry, i am not very technically inclined, but I have learned much from things not working. i just want a website that i can count on to do what it is supposed to do by itself and i will do my part. anyone know of a good one that doesn't cost a fortune?

I have had great success with myers.com. It is already set up in Real Estate form, but you can customize it. As a Stager, I really didn't need all the information and plug ins. Never, ever had a problem and the support is great. Everyone that I have referred has loved the site. You get $$ just for referring people so if you do sign up, write in my name. Lori Kim Polk. Curious as to how you all like it!

Hi all,

I have both template and fully customized from the ground up. I advise all to go ahead and separate your email portion to an email service. I use to have problems with AA and Homes.com- I don't anymore.

My mail service is now through Godaddy, and I have never had another problem. I use Outlook and if I happen to be away from my computer, and I need to check my mail, I can use Web email and check it from any computer!

As for AA and Homes.com I doubt that I will ever use them again! For template sites that have well rounded templates, virtual tours, and such visit Point2agent.com! - Easy to use if you want to keep it simple.

Good luck,

Carlos