Virtual Views - The View From Here : May 2009

A great way to find out exactly what your target market expects of you and/or your website is to ask them via a survey.  Many times, your family and friends won't tell you how you can improve your services, how to improve the information you provide or in what ways you can improve your website. They won't tell you because, in most cases, they don't know and, if they know, they are afraid to tell you.  Another reason family and friends don't know how to help is simply because they are not currently a buyer/seller or a member of your niche.
 
The purpose of a survey is more than the obvious (you want their opinion).  A survey allows you to build a relationship of trust.  There is a saying I am quite fond of, "Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care".  A survey lets your target market know that you care about their opinions and meeting their needs.
 
Who to survey:

    *      Website visitors
    *      Blog readership
    *      Prospects
    *      Clients past and/or present
 
Where to post a survey:

    *      Post a short survey on your blog.
    *      Email a survey to your contact list or to a specified target group.
    *      Post a survey on your website for a specified amount of time.
 
How to ask survey questions:

    *      Keep it simple, concise and focused.
    *      Ask short simple questions that can easily be answered with a yes or no.
    *      Ask multiple-choice questions.
    *      Mix it up a bit with both yes/no and multi-choice questions.
    *      Conclude your survey with a comment box for additional feedback.
 
What to ask in a survey:

    *      Website design: Do they find the text easy to read and the site easy to navigate?
    *      Website content: Did they find the information they were looking for and was it helpful?
    *      Customer/Client service
    *      Are you aware: Tax credits for first-time buyer or home improvements, low down payment loan programs, the benefits of an FHA loan, etc.
    *      Questions that provide the type of feedback you feel is important.
 
Survey Tips:

    *      Assure participants that any private information will remain private and confidential.
    *      Always say Thank You.
    *      Publish the results of the survey on your website or blog and invite comments.
 
Don't forget to thank all those who participate in the survey with a "thank you" and a free gift.  I think the best gift is something that can be downloaded immediately after the survey is completed.  You could offer a free report or an ebook of interest to your target market.  An automated email sent immediately after the survey is submitted that includes the gift attached is also acceptable.  Make sure that the gift you choose is of value and will make the participant feel they have been rewarded for their time.
 
The answers to your survey may be enlightening or surprising.  But, whatever the results are, act on them.  It is not your opinion that matters.  It is the opinion of those you serve.  After all, they are they ones that will keep you in business.
 
Survey Tool:
Surveymonkey.com

Pamela Cendejas - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

    
 

Subscribe in a reader

 

Pamela Cendejas

Enter the Amazon Kindle marketplace with your blog.  Your blog subscribers will be able to read your blog while on the go using their Kindle app.
 
Amazon has just announced its new publishing and blogging tool that allows you to upload your blog to the Kindle Store.  Thats right - any blogger can enter the Kindle sphere!
 
Subscribers will be able to subscribe to your blog for $0.99 to a $1.99 per month.  As blog owner, Amazon will share the profits with you.
 
You can create an new account, enter your setup information, including your blog feed, in just a matter of minutes. You can then preview the blog immediately after setup.
 
Establish yourself as a real estate expert in your community with a published blog on AmazonKindle and get paid for your efforts.

Pamela Cendejas - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

    
 

Subscribe in a reader

 

Pamela Cendejas

Personal computer technology is rapidly changing.  At the top of the list is the rapid advancement of mobile phones.  Generation 4 smart phones already affect our lives and most certainly will affect the way we market our business in the future.
 
Italy already has more mobile phones in use than people in the country.  Current statistics show about 84% of Americans use a mobile phone.  "Americans" in this example are defined as 84% of the total US population: men, women and children.  By the year 2013, that figure is expected to reach 100%.   There are four times as many mobile phones than personal computers in America.  Statics also estimate that as much as 10% of all web traffic is accessed by mobile phones.  The home buyers of the future (your teenager) use text messaging more than emails or voice conversations.  Young people consider talking on the phone or emails "old hat".
 
As of today, there are over 6,700 apps (program applications) available for mobile phone users.  Reading the latest novel is fast becoming common place.  This is a strong indication of how mobile phones will affect your marketing, blogs and websites in the future.
 
Here are some mobile phone applications (apps) which make your blog or website visible to the "mobile client": 

Mippin	Mofuse	Site.mobi	WordPress

Some real estate professionals still do not see the need for a website or a blog, but you and I know that the web and mobile phone technology is the way of the future.  Make your site visible.

Pamela Cendejas - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

    
 

Subscribe in a reader

 

Pamela Cendejas

Buyers and sellers are looking for information.  Property searches or estimating their home's value may bring them to your website, but providing them with all the information they need will bring them back.  The longer a visitor remains on your site and the more times they return increases the possibility of converting them from a visitor to a client.  So, give them lots of reasons to make your website their one-stop home resource center.  Create a one-stop resource with customized informational pages.
 
1. Home Page (First Page)
The information on your homepage is your opportunity to grab someone's attention.  Give a brief overview of your community, market conditions and your services.  Always include your contact information.
 
2. Service Page
Tell your prospective buyers and sellers what you are going to do, how you are going to do it and why you are the best person to do it.

3. Contact Page
Even though you have placed your contact information on the home page, you want to make it easy for your website visitors to contact you.  This page should contain a "Contact Me Now" button, which will send you an email.  Many agents are including a "Chat Now" button both here and on their homepage.  This page should include your name, your company name, addresses, mailing address (if different), email address, office number, cell phone number, fax number and your website address. 

4. About Us
This is the page that tells your visitors why real estate is your passion.  This is the page to toot your own horn by listing your educational accomplishments and industry awards.  This is the page where you can also get up close and personal.  Include any information, web links, articles or press releases as well as photos of you and your staff.  You will also want to include a "Contact Me Now" button on this page.  If you work with a team, include a "Meet The Team" page.
 
5. Testimonials
What other people think about you is important to your web visitors.  Post client testimonials which speak to your expertise and knowledge of the real estate industry.  Place a photo of the home or the client next to the comment to give it a "real" feel.
 
6. Buyers Page
Use this page to add relevant buyer information, such as how to make an offer, your personal viewpoint of current market conditions, the importance of a home inspection, mortgage information, the escrow process, title information, inspection and repair negotiations and local or federal tax credit or buyer assistance programs.
 
7. Sellers Page
This is where you would place relevant seller information, such as home values, your personal view point of current market conditions, negotiating the offer, inspection and repair negotiations, customary seller paid items, the escrow process and capital gains information.
 
8. MLS Property Search
 
9. Featured Listings
 
10. Current and/or Sold Property Statistics
 
11. Community Information
Offer facts about the communities you serve.  Tell people why you love the area and why they will, too. Include large subdivisions and/or neighborhoods,  Create a photo gallery of your favorite sights in your town, local landmarks and interesting places.
 
12. Community Helpful Numbers and Links
Here, you can list utilities, school district, local business, service organizations, entertainment, city and county offices and departments.
 
13. Community Events Calendar

14. Frequently Asked Questions
Include an inquiry form that will allow someone to contact you with additional questions.  Including a "Contact Me" form is a great way to begin a relationship with someone and an opportunity to change a visitor into a client.  Just ask for a name and email address.  Most visitors do not like to divulge too much information on the Internet.
 
15. Blog and/or Newsletter Page
 
16. Subscribe/Feedback Page
Give your visitor the opportunity to subscribe to your blog or newsletter, offer suggestions or submit questions.  Allow them to give you feedback through a survey or feedback form.

17. Real Estate News/Articles
You can use a widget that will publish the latest real estate news, such as Inman.com, Rismedia.com or RealtyTimes.com.  You can get articles from services and vendors or write your own.
 
18. Helpful Resource Page (Link page)
Provide relevant and helpful links to outside sources.
 
19. Site Map
A site map shows visitors how the site is laid out and which sections are where.
 
20. Privacy Policy
Privacy continues to be a major issue online users.  Reassure them that their privacy will always be respected and their information will be kept confidential.

21. Copyright Information
Your website should carry a copyright notice to protect its intellectual property.  It is generally in the form of "Copyright © 2009, Your Company Name".  Make a note to yourself to update this yearly.
 
Hope this puts you on the path to creating lots of new fresh content for the search engines and lots of information for your website visitors.

Pamela Cendejas, Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

    
 

Subscribe in a reader

 

Pamela Cendejas