In today’s real estate market, we can see more clearly than ever that having the ability to easily tailor your website to fit the needs of your customer is an essential part of having a strong online presence. To that end, I want to bring to light a tool – or more accurately, two tools – which are going to be able to help you achieve this goal.

This service recently came to my attention when one of our customers asked about the ability to have users upload files, photos, and blueprints directly to him through his public website – a service Point2 doesn’t offer natively. Some coworkers and I pooled our collective knowledge, and out of that union we found JotForm, a powerful one-two punch which provides highly customizable forms for your website, as well as the option to upload files directly to your existing Dropbox account. (You DO have a Dropbox account, right? If not, it’s time to make one! We’ll come back to this in a second.)

This is an incredibly powerful tool, and it provides you everything from the ability to add forms and capture data from Facebook, to the ability to take payments through trusted vendors like PayPal, ClickBank, and Google Checkout. The more in-depth you wish your form to be, the more complicated it’s going to be to set up – however, that said, there is a fantastic User Guide which goes over nearly every question I could think of, which you can access through this link.

Now, moving on to the highlight of this little blog post: The ability for a client to upload files directly to your existing Dropbox account. Now, those of you who have Dropbox already and know what it is may skip over this next paragraph. For those of you who are wondering exactly what I’m talking about, Dropbox is another free service which provides you the ability to host files online, which you can then access from any computer with an active internet connection (in fact, for those of you with smart phones, you can get the app). So if you haven’t already set up an account with Dropbox… what are you waiting for?! Did I mention it was free? You can sign up for the service by clicking this link.

Once you’ve got your Dropbox account set up, the next step to getting your customers the ability to upload files through your website, is to sign up for JotForm (or if you’re already signed up, integrate your Dropbox account), by going to www.JotForm.com and following the on-screen prompts. Once this has been completed, you’re nearly set! The last step is to simply find an existing template which uses the Dropbox integration (Templates available here), or create your own from scratch.

Once you have your custom form, or your new upload page, simply copy the code provided in JotForm, and paste that into an “Advanced Content Module” within your Point2 website. The form will immediately show up on the public end of your website.

Now, one last note: as with all free services, both Dropbox and JotForm offer more space and the ability to use more forms with paid subscriptions. For most users, the free service provided will be more than you’ll need – however, if you find yourself hitting your limits, both services provide upgrades at a reasonable price for a great reward.

I really cannot say enough good things about these two tools. The fact that they integrate so well with each other, and with Point2, is really just “icing on the cake”.

No guess work here. Load up your website up with listings and you would have covered one of the top two things on a home buyer’s list of most valued information on a REALTOR®’s website. 83 percent of buyers who used the Internet last year to research properties said that detailed information about homes for sale are ‘Very Useful,’ according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ (NAR) 2010 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers report.

And given that 21 percent of sales agents reported generating between 11 and over 100 inquiries from their website, 3 percent pulling between 51 – 100 inquiries and 4 percent more than 100 inquiries, your online store has the potential to be more than just a pretty place. The reason I say this is that there are still 31 percent of agents out there whose websites bring in no inquiries at all! That’s a huge opportunity.

Established REALTORS® seem to be well set then, if they typically carry good inventory. Provided they do most other things right of course. We covered some of those things or ideas, in Parts 1-3 of this series.

Undoubtedly though, even the best sellers’ agents can benefit from additional listings, to attract even more visitors and generate more return visits to their websites. For those who have no listings or just few, this particular challenge can be daunting. Here are three surefire ways to add more listings to your site. As in, many more.

1)    Expand your personal network – This is an on-going exercise that requires time. If you want instant gratification, skip this step and go to points 2 and 3. But in the long run, this step will be key to success and business resilience especially in tough markets.

Here are some facts, also from NAR’s report. The most important thing people look for in an agent is honesty and trustworthiness, and nearly half of all buyers find their real estate agent through a referral from a friend, neighbor or relative, especially first time home buyers.

The more experience and transactions you facilitate, and the larger you grow and foster a supporting network of friends and contacts, the more business and listings you’ll get. Join and participate in local societies and groups, join one or more charities, volunteer time on a not-for-profit board and attend school events if you have kids. A note to self: ‘I won’t spend all my time at such events with people I know. I will reinforce those relationships and make it a point to meet several more people and exchange more business cards or phone numbers. And, my networking does not mean spending lots of time in online chat rooms with other agents.’

2)    Build IDX into your website – This can be as easy as cutting and pasting some code onto your website. IDX or, Internet Data Exchange, is a solution that allows visitors on your website to search approved Multiple Listing Service (MLS) properties in your area. The service is subscription-based and for the value it adds, many would concur is worth every penny.

There are several great IDX service providers in the marketplace today, so here are some things to look for:

-       Easy to plug (technical jargon: frame) into your website.
-       A solution that seamlessly integrates (funnels) leads into your prospect management system.
-       Don’t get held up by a long term contract. You should have the right to get out at any time.
-       Double check on the IDX service provider’s ‘uptime.’ You want a service that is ‘on’ all the time.
-       Affordable. You can usually secure a top name IDX directly or through your website service provider at a reasonable price.

3)      Handshake™ with other REALTORS® in your market – This idea applies only to Point2 Agent users. Handshake™ is proprietary technology that allows you to publish other REALTOR® listings on your Point2 Agent website, and the other way around. The idea is to automatically and immediately give you credibility but importantly, a large inventory to market. Especially for new agents, this advantage can make a significant difference. The more local co-marketing relationships you initiate and approve through your Point2 Agent site, the more listings you’ll get. You can test this technology for free here.

A real estate agent, let’s call him John, for privacy purposes, started a website after much research, only to dump it just one day later – and for good reason. Your website is your mainstay on the Internet. It’s your image, your lead generation and lead management system. Investing your precious time and money choosing and setting up the right website for your business is of paramount importance. It is not something you want to switch in and out of frequently, if at all. Do your homework before you commit.

In this series of short articles, we will explore key things to consider when selecting a website platform and host. You want good value, efficiency and productivity. A site that will give you a competitive edge. One that will work hard for you and not distract or frustrate you.

Pillar #1: Look for world class customer service.

Yes, top notch customer service takes the number one spot. Ahead of functionality and cost.

Just this month, John dropped his former website provider within 24 hours of signing up, due to some unpleasant surprises on the customer service side of things. The software had checked out well and the price seemed right. The real test came when John needed some help. Instead, he got a couple of unpleasant and unsupportive interactions – or lack thereof from the support staff who was supposed to be helping him.

A quick discussion with the sales team about the company’s customer care philosophy and procedures, work hours and team size is usually a good start and can save you a lot of pain. Try to get feedback from current users. Current users on the company’s blog or message board are only too happy to share their experiences. Needless to say, if this part of the check fails, you got your answer.

A solution provider with solid customer care is organized. They ought to have a set response time frame and systems in place to ensure care tickets get answered within reasonable terms, well trained support personnel with decision making abilities to help resolve questions or issues quickly, and a pleasant approach. They should also offer a strong support personnel to customer ratio, and various ways for you to contact them: e-mail, phone, online chat, message boards and so on.

Two key companies have a number of VA’s trained and skilled not only with Point2 Agent, but a plethora of other softwares, tools, and skills.  Contact them for full details and special pricing for members of the Point2 community:

REVStaffing
(404) 819-2933
Point2Support@revstaffing.com
www.REVStaffing.com

RealSupport, Inc.
(847) 705-1655. ext. 201
Info@RealSupportInc.com
www.RealSupportInc.com

Your success revolves around listings.

We help you market them through audio, advertising, and a great website.

The vendors in the Alliance Member Program have the knowledge and experience to help you see the success and revenue you want to see in 2011.

Check out what we have to offer!

   Simple Sites Serious Success
   Kathy Stephens
   www.simplesitesserioussuccess.com
   602-476-8096

Simple Sites Serious Success provides a number of great services to help your Point2 Agent site look fantastic.  From visually-appealling website designs to custom headers, content creation to Search Engine Optimization, graphics to email marketing campaigns, Simple Sites Serious Success can help you look and be your best online.

Plus, check out two new great widgets!  Best of all, sign up for the Simple Start and Second Steps package before January 1, 2011 and get one free.  Go for the gold with the Super Star Sampler or Serious Success package and get both at no additional charge!

So, what are these wonder widgets?  The first is a custom form that you can add to your Point2 site that allows you to ask your visitor specific questions designed to create a more interactive experience.  The second is a great new slide show where agents can feature up to six of their best listings.  Visitors can control the show AND click anytime to view more details of the property.  Check it out today and watch your site soar!

Call Simple Sites at 602-476-8096 or email them for more information on their services or their great new widgets for your Point2 Agent website!