Cyd Weeks : Question on Realtor dot com advertising

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Question on Realtor dot com advertising

By: Cyd Weeks
Monday, September 17, 2007 1:21 PM

I have the enhanced package through my agency. They pay for it. I've noticed that their information is a little more prominent than my own. And if someone clicks on 'see other listings' the list comes up with only the company information, not my own and you don't see it unless you click on a listing itself. I called realtor.com to see if I could pay for the package myself which would give me more prominence. I was told no. That because the office is paying for the package they have removed my ability to do it on my own. The only way I could do my own package would be to leave that agency. I find that kind of hard to believe and was wondering if any one knew if that was true or not... it might just be the person I was speaking with.

Since I don't get leads out of the office and everything that goes into the office via the company website or realtor.com (if there are any) are sent to the broker (I think... I have NO idea how they are handled) if I am given a lead it's considered as her own and we do a split then I have to pay the agency percentage, I'm trying to get myself out there on my own as much as possible. Should I just leave things the way that they are? I'm not sure what/how much actually comes through there or what I would get on my own. Any suggestions?

Sorry for the run on sentence, lol. Boy, that was a mouthfull!

Comments

Member Since '07	Michael Klijanowicz said: That sure sounds like a lowsy deal you have, if the office gives you a lead that you have to give them 50%? Do you have floor duty at your office? Do you do open houses? If not, take a look at my latest BLOG post on Active Rain to give you some more ideas on how you can market your open houses better http://activerain.com/blogsview/206959/Open-House-Marketing-Before September 17, 2007 11:38 AM
Member Since '03	Gail Griffin said: Cyd, It might be a good idea to check other brokers to see what they offer in comparison to the one you are with now. In my opinion, limiting the agent's exposure on Realtor.com to enhance the broker is counterproductive. September 17, 2007 12:20 PM
Member Since '05	Millie Rowan said: My office also pays for the enhanced realtor.com listings but we have the option to pay $19.95/mo to be a featured agent and the leads go directly to us. If an agent does not pay the extra $19.95/mo we get the first shot at the lead and pay the company a referral fee or we can pass it on to someone else. Have you asked your broker what is included in your enhanced package? September 17, 2007 1:36 PM
Member Since '05	Jana Davis & Virginia Houghton said: Doesn't sound like a great plan for you. But I don't think you are missing too much. They are paying for it, but you can show your clients all your great websites LOL I paid a few years back and got very few "real" leads... Jana September 17, 2007 8:28 PM
Member Since '03	Kathi Olivo said: My previous broker did not pay for our Realtor.com sites but would contact Realtor.com and have a link added that led to the company referral dept. Realtor.com would not remove these links because the listings are actually owned by the Broker. The Broker would not give the ok to remove the link because it was seen as a right. The way it was explained was that the agents benefited from many different forms of advertising that they did not pay for and by just being affiliated with this particular well known company the agents benefited greatly. Needless to say I am no longer with the franchise. September 17, 2007 8:44 PM
Member Since '05	Cyd Weeks said: Ok, let me make this a little clearer. I'm not sure that the office leads are handled that way. I've never gotten an 'office' lead where nothing is required other than the regular split. Customers that I am getting are either my own or I have someone now that we share listings..we kind of teamed up on them. He can have his own, I can have mine, but a majority of them are split...a team type effort. I have my own buyers from my website and advertising. The broker and I will also split listings and buyers as she is a 'working' broker. Again, I've never received a company lead. I don't know if anything comes in to the office from Realtor.com or not. I just know, for myself, that if I was looking at a listing and there was the agent information and right below it was this flashing thing telling me to call this number for all sales and rentals, I would probably call the office number or click on the flashing icon and hit the company website. Now, do people go to the company website? I have no clue...I've never been given a lead from there. I'm not unhappy where I am, I was questioning what I was told at realtor.com. And I see now there is something that I can pay for that might solve part of the issue. The rest I'll have to clarify with my broker. As for floor time, no, I'd given it up for this month. First off I was too busy to sit in the office. Right now, well, this past couple of weeks, business completely died on me which is why I have time to be looking at various things. As for open houses, they weren't working in our area. Our city has this law that signs can't be put out to direct people to the open house and they had workers going around and pulling up any signs...it wasn't worth the lost money. They just this month have decided not to pull the signs for a period of time to see how it goes so I'll do a couple of them again. Millie: do you get leads off of there through the extra that you pay? It doesn't seem like a lot of money so I will probably persue that avenue. And, I'm going to bump up my ppc for my website also to see if I can't get something going again. September 17, 2007 8:54 PM
Member Since '07	Shelly Constantz said: Cyd, it sounds like you are not unhappy with the arrangement, just wondering if you had it different on Realtor.com would you get leads? Maybe / Maybe not. I have enhanced listings and I don't get leads from there. It is mostly so my listings will see themselves and be happy. Since you are getting that for free, spend your money elsewhere.... JMHO. Shelly September 17, 2007 9:24 PM
Member Since '03	Gene Carey said: Cyd - Be glad someone else is paying for it! Since you have enhanced listing ability, add a scrolling marque directing them to call YOUR phone number for a private showing or more information. Some brokers in my office scroll their personal websites with verbiage that says " To view more photos visit www.MyWebsite.com". That should overcome any flashing graphic your broker has added somewhere else on the page. I pay $53/month since the office elected to go with an office package but the leads are zippo. The only advantage I have found is that I can add my own visual tours at no added cost. September 17, 2007 9:38 PM
Member Since '05	Cyd Weeks said: Thank you Shelly. Yes, that is what I was wondering and I guess I just added too much in there for it to be clear. I hadn't really even checked out my listings on there except through my office or control panel or whatever broker.com calls it. So, when I saw one I was surprised to see the extra advertising and it made me wonder. Anyway, I probably am not getting leads through the office because they aren't getting any from there, lol. So, that solves that problem. The featured realtor thing is inexpensive and might just bring something in so I'll try that for a little bit. If it doesn't work, I'll drop it. Time to work on my site again and get that rolling. I don't have an assistant so when I do have deals going on there doesn't seem to be enough time to 'cultivate' new business and I end up with these down times. And THAT makes me crazy. :) September 17, 2007 9:39 PM
Member Since '05	Cyd Weeks said: Gene.. I spent an hour or so yesterday doing just that... scrolling my name and phone number. And I added it to the listing verbiage itself. I didn't think to put the website up there... smart move because it means more "natural" clicks! I'll do that tomorrow. Thank you one and all! You are a godsend trust me! OMG, was that a REALTOR that just said trust me? rofl September 17, 2007 9:42 PM
Member Since '05	Lonn Dugan said: Finish the remarks posted to Realtor.com with this sentence For more photos and information, please visit www.yourwebsite.com Adding this one sentence increased web site traffic on my web site significantly. September 17, 2007 10:40 PM
Member Since '06	Joe Schutt said: hey Cyd, I also have the enhanced Realtor.com through my company. With ours we are allowed to go in and enhance them as an agent a little further. We can do scrolling text and add our own headlines to the listings. Mine usually read "Call Joe 617-833-3376" right across the top. Does yours offer you that? Even if it doesn't...who cares. It's free and gets exposure for your listings and makes your clients that much happier. Joe September 18, 2007 5:33 AM
Member Since '07	Shelly Constantz said: JOE!!! Welcome back, my long lost friend!!!! September 18, 2007 5:34 AM
Member Since '06	Joe Schutt said: Hey Shelly...it has been a while. I have missed all of you!! September 18, 2007 5:37 AM
Member Since '07	Shelly Constantz said: I just emailed you. September 18, 2007 5:42 AM
Member Since '06	Rick Belben said: I would be happy that they are paying for it. I agree with Shelly in that I would spend the $ your saving on other marketing. And follow Gene & Lonn's advice about putting your info in the scrolling text. September 18, 2007 11:21 AM
Member Since '05	Millie Rowan said: Cyd, I have gotten a few calls & emails but so far so nothing "solid". The people that have contacted me though have been mostly out of state and for some of my airpark properties that is the kind of exposure I need. So for now, I stick with my $20 a month to add 25 photos, vt, scrolling marquee and edit ability. September 18, 2007 3:51 PM
Member Since '05	Cyd Weeks said: Thanks again to all. I'm glad I posed the question! September 18, 2007 3:58 PM
Member Since '05	Dan Grammatica, e-PRO said: Free is Good! What would the extra $19.50 a month get you? That might be worth it, otherwise spend your money on promoting your website elsewhere. September 19, 2007 6:48 PM