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!

Step #1: Choosing a Photo
Choosing a photo might be the easiest step for some, or one of the hardest for others. The header graphic is one of the first things that a visitor will see when they arrive at your site, so take your time. Also note that the picture will be cropped into a panoramic shape, so try to find an image that will look great even when it gets modified in this way.

For the sake of the tutorial, I’m going to pretend I’m an agent from Las Vegas. I want my header graphic to display my city, but, again, you can choose whatever image you want that suits your style, location and/or niche. Here’s my choice:

It’s also worth mentioning, that you should own the rights to your photo, or have permission to use it on your website. Once you have selected the photo you wish to use, open it in Photoshop (File> Open> Select the Photo).

Step #2 – Cropping the Photo
The Wave header graphic is designed to be exactly 1010×250 pixels large, so you’re going to need to edit your photo accordingly. Select the cropping tool, and enter the dimensions listed above:

Remember to add “px” after the number to denote pixels – you don’t want to crop your photo 1010 inches wide! Next, click and drag the cropping tool over the desired area of the photo:

When you’re happy with the crop, hit “Enter” (or Return) to activate the cropping.

Step #3 – Adjust Levels
For the Wave theme, the website title and slogan are layered in front of the header graphic. You’ll want this text to be easily readable, so light colored text on a dark background or vice versa is best.  I’m going to choose a darker text on a lightened header, so I’m going to adjust the levels first.  Select - Image> Adjustments> Levels:

All you need to do is lower the black output levels so the your photo appears substantially lighter. I pushed it to “96″ but you’ll need to adjust it in accordance with your original photo. Keep in mind that the header for this theme is meant to be subtle and soft, so it’s fine if it looks washed out.

Step #4 – Adding a Gradient
To add an extra dimension to the header, let’s add a white gradient over the photo to enhance the soft, dreamy look. Select your Gradient tool (click and hold on the Paint Bucket tool if it’s not visible), and set your foreground color to white.  Make sure you have your gradient type set to “linear,” and choose the “foreground to transparent” preset (click the drop down arrow highlighted with a red circle to change presets):

Next, click and drag the gradient tool up your photo starting from near the bottom. Hold the “Shift” key at the same time to maintain a perfectly vertical line.  Release when you get about 2/3 up the photo :

The result will be a soft fade to white towards the bottom  of your photo which will seamlessly transition into the main content area of your website.

Step #5 – Save for the Web
Keeping the file size low allows your website to load faster.  To save a graphic for the web, select File > Save for Web & Devices.  Next, choose “JPEG” as your file type, and adjust the “Quality” to about 70-80.  It won’t affect the overall look of your header too much.  Click “Save,” name your file and select where you want to save it to, then click “Save” again.

You’re all finished!  If you need help uploading it to your website, see the Graphics and Buttons section of the user manual.

Here’s my final result: Las Vegas Header – Feel free to use it if you like