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Ginny Lee's Team America's Best Agents

How Much Would You Pay To Get New Business?

By: Ginny Lee's Team
Monday, February 11, 2008 3:21 PM

I am always looking for ways to get more business plus I am always looking for more ways to help my agents at www.americasbestagents.com and I was wondering what you think it is worth to you to get more business?

I use to be on www.e-agent.com and paid close to $1000 a month but I got about 20 leads a month and some of them were really great...but the leads quit coming in so I stopped it.  I also tried out www.clicksmart.com and paid $500 monthly for the 3rd spot but got no leads, at least no good leads.  I also paid $150 a month which has been reduced to $99/monthly with www.housevalues.com The only reason I keep it is because it sends out new MLS listings to my 650 buyers as soon as the listings are listed. It is all sent automatically, I do nothing and my buyers think I am working so hard and if they buy they buy from me...it has worked pretty good so far. I have tried lots of things and wasted a lot of money so that is why I put www.americasbestagents.com  together. (I know where the money is going and how it is spent)  I only charge $99 a year to be one of America's Best Agents and I wanted to raise the price to $150/monthly to be able to get more great buyer and seller leads for my agents.  It costs a lot of money to keep our name out there and I thought if I charged more money I could almost guarantee more leads.

You do have to qualify to be one of America's Best agents and now for the $99 a year I give exclusive territories, press releases, Free websites,our logo to put on their websites and all print advertising and the great networking we all have to give each other referrals.  But I want to give more but I have to charge more money. I am not making any money now but that is not what is important to me....I just like to help agents succeed and I love marketing and the internet. Plus I believe that the real secret to life is to help others. I get so excited when one of my agents sells a home or gets a listing.

I think branding yourself as the best agent in your town gives a lot of buyers and sellers confidence that they have chosen the right agent. But I think I can help my agents even more. I am working on commercials and jingles and print advertising to promote all of us but it costs a lot of money.  I love helping everyone but my husband says I cann't give the house away because now it is costing us money to run this business so I wanted your opinion do you think that agents would pay $150 a month to get more leads to get more business? Do you think it is important to get my agents more leads and recognition? 

I always look at it and compare it to an ad in the newspaper $150 a month isn't much.  A full page one time ad in the news paper or a magazine can be anywhere from $2000-10,000 and I hardly get any leads when I put money in print advertising. Plus TV advertising is so expensive.

I have so many great ideas I want to do but I would have to charge more money. How much would you pay if you could get 8-10 more listings or sales a year?.....Ginny

 

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Comments

Mike Farmer
Member Since '03

Mike Farmer said:

I would pay 25% of my commision on each one that closes.

February 11, 2008 6:14 PM
Steven Burnett
Member Since '06

Steven Burnett said:

Buyng leads at any time from any source is a waste of money IMO.

Spend some $$ or time to get your site ranked for your key words organically.

I average 143 unique visitors a day and get 2-3 leads a day through my web site.  Right now I'm working with eight "active" buyers who are keeping us very busy :)  I couldn't care less about listings.  I want buyers.

I spend about $100 a month on PPC but right now have most of my key words turned off.  It's worth the time to learn about SEO.

February 11, 2008 7:07 PM
Chantal Gakwaya
Member Since '06

Chantal Gakwaya said:

I know of a guy that charges $250 per year for a referral membership. He puts 100% of that money plus extra money from his side into promoting the site. He then takes a 25% referral fee for sending clients that come through the website. I think that kind of a set up is well worthwhile if done properly.

February 11, 2008 8:36 PM
Dennis  Jonas
Member Since '07

Dennis Jonas said:

I'm also trying to increase my business, but I'm doing it from the point of view of providing it free to real estate agents.  I'm developing a website for each state, such as www.moving2alabama.com, www.moving2california.com, moving 2newyork.com, the idea is that by joining we will build a referral network that everyone will benefit from without have to pay monthly fees.  I hoping that an agent who joins one of the moving2... websites will put that logo on their website, this becomes a win win for everyone.

I have spent a lot of dollars over the years, and very seldom get the return that I would like, I'm hoping that this free concept takes off.  Would like some feedback, if you look at the sites.

February 11, 2008 9:06 PM
Gary Szolosi
Member Since '03

Gary Szolosi said:

Ginny the secret is to not selling leads but to cultivate them and then turn them into profit. If someone had the lead generation system and put them out as referrals and made the 25%, then they would end up with word of mouth selling their organization. You have a base of agents, you generate the leads, not names but actual referral type leads and you will have a winner. The rest of them out their only get names and phone numbers. That is not tough to do with PPC. The secret is turning them into prospects and having a method to know if they are ever closed. I don't think that problem has been solved or more would be in the game. Good luck.

February 11, 2008 9:11 PM
Cyd  Weeks
Member Since '05

Cyd Weeks said:

I'm surprised you didn't discuss this with the agents you have as members.

I would not pay $150/month.

February 12, 2008 10:19 AM
Nate Covington
Member Since '07

Nate Covington said:

Ginny, converting leads into clients are much harder than referrals, as someone has referred you.  Which means to say that the referring party thinks that you will take care of the client.

A lead is merely step one of you selling yourself to a possible prospect.

Lead generators are good, but it is kind of a crap shoot.

Referrals are a kin to insider trading.

I lately have been getting more closings from my P2 sight than from any other source, and it is less than $150.00 a month.

However, if the referrals are good, they are worth 25% of my closing.

February 12, 2008 11:44 AM
Joe Leksich
Member Since '06

Joe Leksich said:

Ginny,

I would be willing to pay the $150/mo depending on my commission split with the office.  If my split is 50/50 there is NO way I am paying any additional money out to the office for advertising.  

I have spent $150/mo on a lot of useless advertising.  If you were offering a variety of advertisements to generate leads for $150/mo, I think it would be a bargain.

Good Luck

Joe

February 12, 2008 11:50 AM
Candice A Donofrio
Member Since '07

Candice A Donofrio said:

[Gary sez: then they would end up with word of mouth selling their organization.]

YES. I would rather provide excellent service and develop a reputation that draws referrals. Not sure if that amount can be quantified.

February 12, 2008 1:05 PM
Ginny  Lee's Team
Member Since '03

Ginny Lee's Team said:

Thanks everyone....it is amazing all the different responses...it helps me a lot.

Mike...I tried giving out referrals to CRS agents and they didn't follow-up...so no 25% but I bet you would have sold them.

Steven... you must be a genious at SEO marketing....how did you do that? How much did you pay to get it done or did you do it by yourself.

Chantel...that guy really charges a lot...25% plus an annual FEE?

Did you pay for it?  Has it worked?

Hi Dennis...that is great can I have moving2naplesflorida.com?

How do you do it for Free sounds like a lot of work.

Hi Cyd....I am so glad you are one of America's Best Agents...you are in for the $99 a year fee no more and I know you will do great because you are very creative...and you care about home buyers and sellers!

plus I know you will use all our great tools...make sure you use the press releases and logos I sent you.

Nate, I find that a lot of the website leads take a lot of work and time

I have 650 buyers in my data base I am selling them but the bad media about houseing has slowed them down...You are right leads are more work then referrals.

Thanks Joe...I hope your commission split is better than 50-50 you are a 100% agent! I can tell you really care about your clients too.

Candice...you and Gary are rignt...that is exactly what I am trying to do is build an outstanding organization of America's Best Agents that give the best services and they develop the reputation so that all buyers and sellers will want to use only America's Best Agents...I am just trying to find the best way to do it. I want to generate everyone more leads but only for agents that will follow them up...I don't want to charge a 25% referral fee because I want everyone to make money.

There is so much out there it gets confusing for the home buyer and seller to know who to trust!  With over 2 million real estate agents I am trying to make it easy for agents to be the best and for buyers and sellers to find them.

I will keep trying until I get the word out the best way I can...so far the Internet has been the most cost effective. Once I get it done I know it will generate lots of quality leads for all my America's Best Agents.

This is my passion and I appreciate all your suggestions...if you can think of any new ideas...please let me know!

February 12, 2008 6:53 PM
Chantal Gakwaya
Member Since '06

Chantal Gakwaya said:

Hi Ginny:

I haven't used the lead generation system yet, but I know a few that have and they have been quite successful in closing a couple of deals. I guess one extra deal a year will pay for any expenses. They are double verified leads - in other words the lead comes through the website, then the gentleman that owns the website calls and does a secondary screening and refers the client over. I like the idea of this system because the lead has:

1. Signed up to the website

2. Provided a valid email address and phone number

3. Has been verified that they will answer their phone when called

4. Already agreed to meet with an agent in their area

To me that would justify an annual fee and referral commission as it is likely to be a higher quality lead.

February 17, 2008 12:49 PM
Ginny  Lee's Team
Member Since '03

Ginny Lee's Team said:

Thanks Chantal,

That gives me a great new idea that we can do....I just need more help to follow-up leads. With referral fees and an annual fee

we can offer a lot more.

What is the name of this website...does they give you anything else for the $250 a year like branding or exclusivity or a logo to put on your website? Do they give you a website or a listing on their website?

Do you know how many agents he has signed up?

Ginny

February 20, 2008 5:43 PM

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