Online Marketing

[kennon 0]

Hello, I have been thinking about this one for a while. I can get sellers online, I can place ads in newspapers online to get both sellers and buyers, this costs money. I have challenged myself to try and not spend a dime on marketing to get buyers online. I have read the great posts about postcards to both buyers and sellers--good posts by the way. So, I have been doing some basic marketing on regional sites for buyers. no luck. That is fine. I am just having some fun and seeing what the outcome could be. I decided to post here because of the fine posts I read all the time. My question is. With no website, no money, where would you look/advertise for buyers? What would your ad be? does anyone do this already?

have a great day

kennon

[MichaelC 160]

Kennon, if you're starting with a marketing budget of $0, obviously you are limited as to what you can do to attract buyers. However, you can still get the word out by placing a sign on the property, and directional signs around the neighborhood. You can distribute flyers in the area. Try, for example, any area apartment complexes. Ask any local businesses if they will allow you to post a flyer in their window or leave some flyers on their countertop.

Homemade bandit signs can be put up around the area.

You can also place a free ad on Craigslist, which is very active and very popular, and has proven effective for many on our site here. If you are looking to build a list of potential buyers, place a generic "dummy" ad for a typical home in the area you will be working. Offer terms, sound like the motivated seller, and your phone will ring.

[Craig 0]

Hello, I have been thinking about this one for a while. I can get sellers online, I can place ads in newspapers online to get both sellers and buyers, this costs money. I have challenged myself to try and not spend a dime on marketing to get buyers online. I have read the great posts about postcards to both buyers and sellers--good posts by the way. So, I have been doing some basic marketing on regional sites for buyers. no luck. That is fine. I am just having some fun and seeing what the outcome could be. I decided to post here because of the fine posts I read all the time. My question is. With no website, no money, where would you look/advertise for buyers? What would your ad be? does anyone do this already?

have a great day

kennon

Welcome, When I started I had the same thoughts as you. Marketing can be very expensive. Michael has said don't spend more when what you have.

 

I do have a website its 11.95 per month no contract no set up fees. I use the internet almost exclusively to market. Yes it is being done. I measure my marketing by the hits I get on the website pages. This can be measured with Yahoo Web sites for this price.

 

If you don't have a website it still can be done. Hint use Craigslist.com, use photos and use lines like motivated seller, reduced price, etc.

 

Good luck start as soon as you can.

 

Craig

[Doug Pretorius (ON) 9]

With all the free hosts out there these days, there's no reason not to have a website unless you simply don't want one. And if you have a few bucks there are quite a few hosts that will give you everything you could possibly want in a site for $3 or $4/month.

 

Personally I find the most effective marketing for buyers is to use bandit signs to direct them to your website. There you can capture their info or they will simply bookmark your site and check back to see if you have something they're interested in.

[kennon 0]

Yes, Craigslist is one that I use. I have tried different headings and different messages in the body. I still havent got a bite. I realize different markets will get different responces. Also different markets will respond to different advertising. Yes, other advertising is valid, bandit signs have gotten me fined (but somehow it is all right for the politicians and homebuilders to do the same thing. Though I havent found anything on the books saying what they do is any different). Anywho, that is why I am trying to use different advertising. I decided might as well have some fun and keep trying to use places like craigslist to see if i could get any buyers that way. I havent found a good ad that brings in emails or calls. That is when I decided that ya'll might have a few suggestions that might get the ball rolling. I am particularly looking for buyers. I have read posts on blanket marketing (brilliant by the way). Something I plan to implement soon. I guess I havent found the right ad (words) to get my market to respond. If people are utilizing craigslist for buyers, what ads are they running? Thanks for the responses so far.

Thanks

kennon

[Craig 0]

Kennon:

 

Are you adding in photos to Craigslist? If not the photos are real important. Use that as a leader to bring them to the next level. Website. They are real easy to make and well worth it to.

 

Craig

[Jason (AL) 1]

Doug and Craig,

 

Where y'all gettin' y'alls websites from?

 

I'm now wanting to get one, just to get one.

No porn or anything ...just real estate-related.

Did you's guys design/edit your sites personally?

 

Thanks.

[Doug Pretorius (ON) 9]

Jason, I'm with Doteasy, they're not the cheapest but I've been very happy with the performance of their servers and their customer service.

 

As for my site itself I downloaded a free template and edited it with FrontPage.

 

No porn or anything ...just real estate-related.

That's missing like 99% of the money to be made from having the site; are you sure???

[MichaelC 160]

Jason, I'm with Doteasy, they're not the cheapest but I've been very happy with the performance of their servers and their customer service.

 

As for my site itself I downloaded a free template and edited it with FrontPage.

Nice link, Doug. And Jason, there are hundreds of domain registration sites that include website building programs and hosting packages. Do a search on Google and you'll be busy for weeks.

 

No porn or anything ...just real estate-related.

That's missing like 99% of the money to be made from having the site; are you sure???

True dat. Sex sells.

[Jason (AL) 1]

Thanks for the link, Doug.

I might just check it out.

 

 

As for you, Michael....

If I recall correctly you were wondering why Adam was up at 2 am typing away at the computer.

I think you just broke the record, as I see you were up in the wee hours of 4:30 am.

Still awake, or just woke up?

With your Italian heritage, I'm guessing those alcoholic dranks you suckle on came into play somewhere, yes?

Or were you healing your paper cut wounds from all those CAs you're signing up?

 

What gives?

 

 

 

 

 

....wait...I bet your daughter has turned you onto MySpace!

Friend requests just melt your heart, eh?

[Craig 0]

I use Yahoo basic starter plan, no contract and they provide you with lots of templates to edit with there software. Its very easy. $11.95 basic starter plan gives you many statics about you visitors and when they went to your site. The information is a great marketing tool.

 

That day I was up in business with a edited templete. Again not the cheapest but its nothing hidden you get alot for the $11.95.

[CS1977 0]

True dat. Sex sells.

 

OMG I am just picturing MC saying "TRUE DAT." ROFL!!!!

[MichaelC 160]

True dat. Sex sells.

 

OMG I am just picturing MC saying "TRUE DAT." ROFL!!!!

Hehe. . .there's much to me you don't know, Christine. I never did show you my tattoos, did I??

[rrk 0]

Hi guys and gal(s). It may seem easy to get POs with sellers (FSBOs). However, going over the other side of the fence, we need buyers. Yes there are buyers out there. Because when one family sells their home they have to buy another home. Typically the family gets bigger and need more room/ space. Therefore, they "have to" move out into another bigger place. The same goes for if the family gotten shorten and they do not need additonal rooms (they do not want to run a "hotel"), therefor, they move out and move into a smaller place. The point I am making is that there are BUYERS out there. To get or "attract" the buyers seems to be the most important ingredient in our success.

 

I have noticed that most buyers tend to go to a realtor because of the famous MLS. It seems to be a common thing to do - call up a realtor. There are hundreds of real estate agencies that they ae out in the battle field. Would it be a great idea that we advertise ourselves as "non-realtors" (or whatever name) who have a "special listing"!? That is the next project I am going to work on. Tell everybody about my "special listing" with excellent or better incentives than realtors.

 

I need assistance in sharpening the "marketing skills". I have placed general ads on The Flyer (free via online), Craiglist.com, and backpage.com. I had one call (potential T/B) and still working on it getting the ropes tied (locating the apt with appropriate price range to fit T/B's needs). My question to all of you experts: Is it better to advertise as if you are selling a piece of property ("for sale" or "for rent to own")? If so that would mean advertising 5 - 10 homes a shot! Time consuming? But worth it, probably. I read previous posts about leading potential buyers to a website. Does the website do the "explaining the works" or it shows the houses or both? Any other suggestions in "attracting" buyers??? Thank you.

[Doug Pretorius (ON) 9]

The Quick and Dirty Guide to Selling Houses:

DEAL, SIGNS, WEBSITE

 

In that order. First you need a DEAL, either a low cash price, or easy terms. Next, put up a bunch of SIGNS to advertise your DEAL. Finally, direct buyers to your WEBSITE so they can fall in love with the DEAL before you have to spend you time showing it.

 

Get enough DEALS and SIGNS out there and your WEBSITE will get its own vibe going so that you don't need as many SIGNS. And if you're really lucky, your WEBSITE will start bringing you DEALS too!

 

DEAL, SIGNS, WEBSITE

 

That's how successful realtors have always done it (with the exception that the WEBSITE used to be a PHONE NUMBER).

 

With that said, I like to use my website for both explaining and showing. The idea is to give tire--kickers a place to fill up on info without wasting your time, and at the same time give real buyers a safe and easy way to fall madly in love with one of your houses. Just make sure that your target buyers are statistically internet users, if not (i.e. very low end homes) then you should use voicemail instead. The nice thing about websites is that they are dirt cheap and you can provide a virtually unlimited amount of information.