Mumbling Out Loud : Pssst, hey you...wanna generate some TRAFFIC?

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Pssst, hey you...wanna generate some TRAFFIC?

By: Ron Tarvin
Saturday, March 24, 2007 10:13 PM

Yeah, you, that's right. I'm talking to you. You're the only one I see around here with that Point2Agent website and talking about how you just don't get enough traffic or registrations on your site!

Don't have time for SEO stuff (whatever that means)? Embarrassed

Don't know how to run an effective Pay-Per-Click campaign with Google and Yahoo and MSN (more greek)? Angry

Want to improve your P2 PI the easy way? Cool

Here's an idea that will drive your potential customers RIGHT to your website, on an easy to swallow budget and get them to register to boot.

You let me know when you're ready for the idea, and for the right price (free), I'll let ya have it. Huh?

Comments

Member Since '04	Mary Welch said: Ron-I can see you standing there in a trench coat full of watches....Whatcha got? March 24, 2007 9:41 PM
Member Since '06	Natalie Ginnow said: I don't know what you are talkin' about. :P March 24, 2007 9:53 PM
Member Since '06	Todd Clark said: I have the rolex in the back row Ron. - lol March 24, 2007 9:59 PM
Member Since '03	Gene Carey said: Is this 'easy to swallow budget' system going to make Lonn envious? How late do I have to stay up tonight to here about it? March 24, 2007 10:08 PM
Member Since '06	Heather Kramer said: You've got my attention.... March 24, 2007 10:23 PM
Member Since '07	Brad White said: Ron; I think we are all sitting on the edge of our seats.... Please let me know what you the program is. March 24, 2007 10:33 PM
Member Since '04	Mary Welch said: Hey, throw us a bone or we will organize a group tackle... I can sound pretty tuff miles and miles away... March 24, 2007 10:41 PM
Member Since '06	Heather Kramer said: I've gotta go to bed....open houses tomorrow. I hope there is an answer here when I get up tomorrow....otherwise, that's just mean :) Have a good Sunday everyone! March 24, 2007 10:54 PM
Member Since '04	Ron Tarvin said: Ok, so I was brainstorming on how to drive traffic and as I was sitting around thinking and it occured to me. You can run a marketing campaign with the prize to be paid for by the business you WILL generate, right? So, here's the idea. You put together a very organized postcard campaign. The size of the campaign is irrelevant and you can do BULK postcards if you do a geographic area. You can do this to 200 addresses or 2000 addresses. Anyway, the idea is to offer a contest to get the people to register. It could be something small or something large. One Prize or many, but it will DRIVE traffic to your site and it's all in the presentation. 1. As your neighborhood "expert" (or whatever term you choose in place of expert), I need your help. 2. In return for your help, I'm holding a drawing for 10-Starbucks gift cards in the amount of $20 or I'm holding a drawing for a TV, valued at $350 (have a picture of the TV on the site because it makes the giveaway REAL to the visitor), or go large and say I'm holding a drawing for a trip for 2 to "SOMEWHERE" 3. Have a place on the form on your site for REFERRALS and tell them for every name/address/phone number in your local city that they know of thinking of buying or selling a home this year, you'll enter that person in the drawing and give them TWO extra entries into the drawing. 4. Create a buzz...draw it out...get SEVERAL mailouts out of it and always offer something else of value with the mailout (CMAs are tired, but still good). Now , you have to come up with something you need HELP with. It could be that you want them to report thier average summertime electric use. Or a poll on how many homes in the subdivision have a sprinkler system...something that allows you to gain more insight into the neighborhood being served and allows you to gain registrations! IT will set you apart because you ASK questions about their homes! This will have NOTHING to do with SEO or PPC advertising and ultimately will DRIVE YOUR PI crazy. I have noticed that increased visitors helps in the PI! Now, how to make this work on a meager budget. 1. Instead of mailouts, do door hangers and hire teenagers to hand them out every two weeks...you can get that done for about a nickel a flyer plus printing if you do it that way. Cheaper if you walk the neighborhood yourself, depending on how much time you have! 2. If you do mailouts, use BULK mail to send them and save on every postcard that goes out! 3. The prize at the end will be paid for by the business that YOU WILL GENERATE with the give away...write it off on your taxes too! Hold the contest long enough to insure that you get business off of it. If you use the idea of you needing HELP, and it's a legitimate HELP, then people WILL help you. You could subsititute a weekly, or bimonthly TRIVIA question as an entry that would have people coming back to your site. Now you could also get creative with the delivery and mail out a postcard saying that on SATURDAY, SOME DATE at 1pm you will be driving by with your kids/spouse/whoever and giving out FREE icecream (get a couple of coolers and some dry ice and a bunch of various ice cream types) as you way to thank the BLANK subdivision for their continued business. Of course each icecream postcard has an invitation to the website for the contest and each person you talk to while handing out icecream gets a personal invite (on a flyer) to the website to participate in the contest. You could have special car magnets made up for the ICECREAM DAY. You could have special car magnets made up for the contest (but obviously don't HAVE TO). Ultimately, you are looking to drive not only TRAFFIC but registrations on your site and then watch your text message notifications go NUTS!! March 24, 2007 10:58 PM
Member Since '04	Ron Tarvin said: Awww....all that waiting and suspense and everyone hated it or did I drag it out too long and everyone went to bed already??? March 24, 2007 11:19 PM
Member Since '06	Auctions And Options For Real Estate said: I'm still up, but then, I'm on Pacific time. Ron, your idea is fine, but why don't you just promote an auction for the property to stir up interest and end your campaign with a sale? Yep, I've got a one-track mind. March 24, 2007 11:46 PM
Member Since '06	Lesley Wagstaff said: Great idea Ron. I have copied it out and am going to digest it tonight. Thanks for the help. I need to find new ways to get people to my site. I am doing okay, but want to be GREAT!! March 24, 2007 11:57 PM
Member Since '07	Sara Kareer said: Hi Ron, I had a similar idea last week (offering a monthly draw for a "free dinner for two" for registrants to my site) and before proceeding with the idea, I checked with RECO, our governing body in Ontario, and I was flat-out told "NO" this cannot be done. We are not permitted to entice people with giveaways. This is very annoying as its done all the time by the big names in our area who can afford the fines. Any other ideas to generate the traffic? March 25, 2007 6:04 AM
Member Since '06	Kevin Orak said: I love brainstorming . . . the drawing part of your idea would not be allowed in Florida, I just found this out as I used to offer drawings at my open houses. Please see latest issue of your FAR magazine / Legal Hotline section or section 849.11 of FL statutes, be careful for those that live in Florida. I think the basic idea of driving traffic with print media, mailouts etc. is a great one!! Thanks. March 25, 2007 6:24 AM
Member Since '07	Gemma Mahoney said: Ron, I would entice Realtors for extra commission for helping me sell my listing. What do you think?? March 25, 2007 6:39 AM
Member Since '03	Mark Cohen said: Your suggestion as presented is illegal in Florida. The car dealers do something similar but legal. March 25, 2007 7:04 AM
Member Since '06	Gary De Pury said: Great Idea. But instead I am going to offer a free ROLLEX, not a ROLEX but a ROLLEX, maybe even a ROLLLEX that I bought from the famous RON. I am working on an IDEA that if it works I will post the results. Now in the famous word of some guy..."IT AIN'T CHEAP", but it won't break the bank either. So I will post the idea and results later. Gary March 25, 2007 8:28 AM
Member Since '06	Gary De Pury said: My other Idea is a celebrity look alike contest. I already have a Tom Hanks (Ron) The Judge will be Bay Vista's very own Billy Owens AKA Billy the Phone Freak http://www.billythephonefreak.com/photo.htm Sine he knows most of these people, he would be a great judge. The question is, what does the winner get? Maybe a ROLLLLLLLEX March 25, 2007 8:43 AM
Member Since '05	Lonn Dugan said: Ron, good idea (s) ! Did I read this correctly? 1. Offering a drawing to those who register on your site is one idea.... 2. Offering extra credit for referrals / leads is another... Idea number 1 seems like it should be legal. Idea number 2 might not be since your would be "paying for" referrals. In any state where you can give away a dinner by drawing to induce open house registrations then you should be able to run a drawing and award a prize for web registrations. No ? ihouse2000 does it as part of their system... What would be wrong with that? March 25, 2007 8:45 AM
Member Since '04	Ron Tarvin said: I was just informed on the Ice Cream giveaway idea that you can actually RENT an ice cream truck for the day (makes it a bit more expensive, but I imagine that the photos you'd get from that day would be better marketing than you could ever BUY in a photo studio). As far as the LEGALITY of doing a drawing for registrations, it's NOT that at all and while that is ultimately what it DOES, the idea centers around the EXCHANGE OF SERVICE! You are ASKING for help with something. They are providing the help. As a means of thanking those that help, you are providing a drawing. In order to be in the drawing, the people have to obviously provide a way for you to contact them but that is secondary. You are NOT exchanging registrations for prize entries. You are exchanging INFORMATION for prize entries and while that may be a thin line, I do not believe it crosses that line. (THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE AND EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED TO FIND OUT FOR THEMSELVES BY CONTACTING THEIR BOARDS...HOPEFULLY YOU FIND SOMEONE ON YOUR BOARD THAT IS HELPFUL AND NOT JUST GIVING A YES/NO ANSWER BECAUSE THAT PERSON CAN EXPLAIN HOW TO MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THIS LEGALLY WORK FOR YOU IF YOU APPROACH THEM RIGHT!) This may not work or be workable for everyone in every state. However, instead of saying, THIS IS ILLEGAL AND CAN'T BE DONE, if you like the general idea, tweak it and get to where it IS legal and do it. There is SOME form of this that can work for you if you are interested enough to make it work. That's what's so great about sharing information so freely...those that share information know that 85-90% of those we share the information with won't do anything with it anyway! Now you other 10-15%, I'm concerned about...so stay outta my market!! ;) March 25, 2007 9:22 AM
Member Since '06	Todd Clark said: I used to have the Boy Scouts deliver my flyers and post cards. They delivered 1000 post cards the first time with a contest similar to what you are suggesting where I gave them a free cruise for just coming to my site and guessing the trivia question. Everyone who registered and put in an answer was entered into the contest. Out of that thousand 4 people signed up. Out of those 4 people I have had no business from them even though one couple went on a cruise on me. So good luck, Todd March 25, 2007 9:28 AM
Member Since '04	Mary Welch said: Note to self: Odds of winning sound great, watch Todd's website for contests, encourage Todd to try yet another cruise, tell Todd when I win I will hand out his business cards on the cruise... I found when I had my gift shop contests the first year were not that great because alot of people had that "hide and watch" mentality, but when they saw someone actually win they realized it was for real. (says alot about my credibility in this town). So the second year was always received well. Todd, do your cruise thing again and IF I win I will hand out your business cards on the ship. Win win. Ron, good ideas, will need to tweek for my area, but good ideas. I couldnt' sit up and wait for the watch when I could buy one on Ebay. March 25, 2007 10:05 AM
Member Since '04	Ron Tarvin said: Now you bring up a good idea...how about a scaled contest. This week, we are giving away 5 gift cards to Starbucks, IHOP, Target (whoever). Next week we are giving away BLAH BLAH BLAH... Finally, in (6months-1 year) we are giving away SOMETHING BIG! All entries from throughout the year are eligible to win and just because you win a weekly contest, doesn't mean you can't win the end contest . In fact, Say that they person who wins the weekly contest, as part of the weekly prize will get 5 additional entries into the final contest... hmmmm...structrure it to get results. What a concept!! :) March 25, 2007 10:27 AM
Member Since '04	Mary Welch said: Ron, you might loose them the second week as most people have tons of blah blah blah, No, I agree, have it build up to something. I have actually in the past, in my retail days, teamed up with another business in town for drawings, one year a television during our big Harper County Fair. It was a restaurant right behind my business so people could go in there to register as I am not open 24/7. We split the advertising, they sold food, I got my name out there, etc. I bought the tv from another local business-so it was a win win for 3 of us. Of course, this would be modified to fit real estate and the idea was getting hits on our site-but I can see it working. Now, I am thirsty for a carmel frapp at Starbucks, thanks alot, 60 miles from here. March 25, 2007 10:39 AM
Member Since '04	Ron Tarvin said: Another good point...I hear the hammers pounding as we shape and form this idea. How about teaming up for this with your mortgage person, your inspector, your title company (egad, that's a bad word), your maidservice (if anyone even has one of those), your lawn company...anyone that will help to defray the cost, would like the advertising and could add VALUE to your ongoing contest. Hmmm.... March 25, 2007 11:00 AM
Member Since '06	Todd Clark said: Mary, I've down graded the cruise a little. You now get a free trip in a un-air conditioned GEO metro (Back seat - 1st class all the way) Then you will be driven to a row boat that will be pulled across the pond at the sewage treatment plant. Not quit the same, but if you want to enter. I promise you will be the only entry. The geo-metro trip will from the Portland Airport only and you have to pay for airfare to get here. Please give me fair warning when you enter so I can buy the geo. (LOL) Please sign up for your chance to win at http://free_cruise_for_mary.ifoundyournewhome.com LOVE YA, Todd March 25, 2007 8:36 PM
Member Since '04	Mary Welch said: Todd, you are too kind. Row boat, sewage treatment plant, and back seat/first class, un-airconditioned, probaby in heat of July. You have outdone yourself! Makes me think your original cruise was a tad bogus. I think you need to tweek the cruise idea just a bit, maybe a big bit to get this off the ground. I am trying to remember why I wanted this cruise in the first place, this must be the fine print people tell me about. I am already positive this will not be a pleasure trip and to top that off, I will probably loose my luggage AND probably my lunch (going by the sewage treatment plant). If you were seriously trying to paint a good picture, I would recommend you taking some art lessons........LOL Now, get to work on your marketing skills!! March 25, 2007 9:28 PM
Member Since '06	Todd Clark said: YOU DIDN'T SIGN UP - You promised - lol The original cruise was actually a real cruise on the Williamette and me and my wife did really enjoy it along with the person who won the cruise. But I'm glad you enjoyed the link - lol Todd Back to more marketing...I'm actually in a pretty good mood. In the last week I've had 12 people sign up on my website Also had an investor call me and put an offer on one of my listings. He found me via my blogs that the P2 network put out through their syndication. March 25, 2007 10:11 PM
Member Since '04	Mary Welch said: Wow, you really set it up, I didn't follow the link originally. So, was your last job in tourism? March 25, 2007 10:16 PM
Member Since '06	Todd Clark said: Thanks for the laugh Mary. No, but I did at one time work in the legal department of a credit card company. Notice the fine print on everything. You have to protect yourself - lol P.S. - Your brochure should be arriving in your inbox sometime in the next week. March 25, 2007 10:24 PM