Guestbook or no Guestbbok?

Yucaipa Real Es...
Agent
92399

On my Yucaipa Real Estate Website I have a connection to the local MLS. I currently request that people fill out a short guestbook before going on to search for a home. I have captured 5 real leads from this portal. However, I have been told by some agents that it is a bad idea, since fewer people will go through the request...
What are your thoughts...Guestbook or no guestbook?

Answers (23)
Best answer: Eric Wong
First to answer: Eric Wong
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Home Buyer
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Mon Jun 15 2009, 17:50
Cathy Chaudeman...
Agent
Edison, NJ

Hi there,

As always, it really depends on your competition. If there are very few agents in your county offering MLS access through their websites then you are offering something of value and asking for visitor’s information is something that most folks would give you in exchange of the value you are giving them. However if almost every agents in your area offers IDX or other type of MLS access, then it might not be a good business decision to place a lead capture at this level.
In general, to place a successful lead capture, it has to be in exchange for offering something valuable (timely, insightful and local).
Also the best leads are the ones calling you just because they have been browsing your website and found it different and useful. Do you still have on your website the original template content? What kind of timely, insightful and local information do you provide? How frequently do you change your content?

I hope it helps
Cathy C.

Mon Jun 1 2009, 03:33
Mary Matero
Agent
South Daytona, FL

I've tried my site with and without mandatory registration to search using my IDX provider. I've settle for a happy medium. I allow a few (three or four, I think) free searches and then after that there is just minimal information on the listings available and registration is required to see the full listing details. It seems to be working. As others have said, an up front registration requirement is a major turn off, when the info is available all over the internet. And if you have no lead capture capability you'll have no leads.

Sun May 31 2009, 22:22
Melissa Riley
Agent
Westport, CT

I would say that a guestbook would have been a great way to capture consumer info a few years ago. However, the driving motivation for consumers to go on sites now is to search for homes. Very few sites require registration. Particularly, with the growth of mobile applications that anyone can search via a smart phone for property detail through GPS. I quickly bomb out of sites that require registration. The younger generation is probably not used to registering at all. I would focus more on providing compelling information on your site, make it value to a consumer and giving them a reason to return. Then, develop the relationship and potential opportunity to work with them. As sobering as it is, times have changed and all of us have access to any and all info we need. We need to make the adjustment in thinking that they need us for this type of data, but they do need our hyper local knowledge and nuances of your area.

Sat May 23 2009, 16:38
Eric Thompson
Agent
Siesta Key, FL

My guestbook experience was mixed. About 70% left pleasant, appreciative comments, others left self promoting comments, and a few left undesireable comments. You must monitor it closely. Hope this helps.

Fri May 22 2009, 11:08
Eric Thompson
Agent
Siesta Key, FL

My guestbook experience was mixed. About 70% left pleasant, appreciative comments, others left self promoting comments, and a few left undesireable comments. You must monitor it closely. Hope this helps.

Fri May 22 2009, 11:08
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Home Buyer
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Fri May 22 2009, 10:51
David Lovelace
Agent
Flower Mound, TX

I TOTALLY disagree with those agents. I feel very strongly about having a registration page before they can search. We have had this discussion several times in my office and my thoughts are you need to have one! I ask for a name,e-mail, and phone number before they can view the homes. Lets say 100 people view homes, how many do you think are really going to call you? Now lets say 100 come to your site but only 20 decide to register, now you have 20 leads that you can e-mail and call! I would rather have 20 leads then 100 people I can't talk to!! I have closed a LOT of business of the internet and can tell you the registration page does work! My experience with the internet is that most people start searching the web 3 to 6 months before they are ready to buy. If you can contact them early in their searching and establish a relationship with them in the begininng your close ratio will be much higher! I call it building my pipeline. I talked to 2 buyers this week that did register but are not buying till end of summer. I answered all their questions and will keep up with them until it is time for them to buy. By the time they buy I will have already talked to them several times and built that bond and they will want to use me! Without that registartion page I would have never been able to build that relationship! Thats my thoughts....

Wed Apr 22 2009, 12:06
Mary Gaines
Agent
Oak Harbor, WA

I used to have a guest book on my website as well and found that these were people just surfing the net. Most of them didn't even give real names or email addresses. I discovered that if a buyer is serious he will get in touch with me. Allowing access to my listings is more important than trying to capture them at the beginning of their search for homes. I agree some individuals may not want to fill this information out so you end up loosing them. Hope this helps.

Wed Apr 1 2009, 13:55
Andy
Broker
California

Yucaipa

cc: Sandy and Eric,

Most of the answers here focus on marketing issues. Yes, as a real estate person, we should think about business as our main part but especially in CA, we should not forget legal issue. Every wroten document whatever hardcopy or e-file, has its own legal function. If the guestbook is designed as a buyer/seller questionary, then it may protect you in the further dispute or litigation.

Andy

Sun Mar 29 2009, 23:54
Kathy
Both Buyer and Seller
San Bernardino County,...

I as an avid home searcher personally hate and refuse to use websites where you need to put in any personal information at all in. No Guestbook please Real estate websites are a dime a dozen. If you actually get someone on your site you want to keep them there by ease of use. Kathy

Sun Nov 9 2008, 18:27
Daisy Heidmiller
Agent
Lake Arrowhead, CA

I believe that your web site is the first place many potential buyers will know you are available to help them buy or sell a home. My belief is that a major part of my job is to give information. I like to do it in a way that makes them like the information, how I present it to them and make them desire to get more information.


Personally I thought about how I would react if I was required to give information to a stranger that I was attempting to get information from and my reaction would be to go to another site with available information.

Our mls in Lake Arrowhead is a closed board. We have just begun to be able to provide IDX links. Sadly they do not work with my website without professional intervention. I have located someone to set this up for me.

The biggest challange is to get people to your site. I am sure you are doing lots of ways of marketing to do that. Why have them turn away when they are required to give you their life story in blanks to fill out.
Instead why not show your ability to provide information and your contact information.

In summmary I would not ask others to do what I would not do. Anyone can go on to realtor.com and get the mls. Maybe in not the form they want but it is all there.

Make they know you understand their needs and can fill them. With a smile.

Tue Apr 29 2008, 16:43
Ramon Vega
Agent
12550

I am back. I used to have an open policy to allow everyone enter my website. Since I am using the guestbook in a specific area/town I am getting more and better qualified leads, people that appear more serious to make business. Like Sandy states below... track results and do what is better for you.

Mon Apr 7 2008, 18:37
Jay Thompson
Broker
Phoenix, AZ

Here's a blog post I wrote over a year and a half ago about requiring registration for an MLS search.

Short answer: I don't do it, and get plenty of qualified leads.

http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/mls-registration-require…

Mon Apr 7 2008, 11:32
Trisha Wade
Agent
York, PA

I personally think that if your website is good enough, you give people good information, and you have your info clearly visible you should have no problem getting leads. I think asking people for personal information draws people away. They could easily get the same info somewhere else without giving away any info. If you do decide to go with a guestbook, you might want to just ask for an e-mail address.

Sun Apr 6 2008, 15:11
Ramon Vega
Agent
12550

This is a very good idea when you want to know who is visiting you. It gives you the opportunity to develop some additional contacts as they come to you closer by giving you information. It is difficult otherwise, when you have no idea who is coming into you web site. After all you want to make business and the best way to do it is by knowing who wants to connect with you or not. It will be the visitors choice to visit or not.

Sun Apr 6 2008, 15:04
Sandy Shores Me...
Agent
Melbourne, FL

I think that in working with a website you have to experiment with different options. Track the results over a period of time and then determine what is giving you the best results. I think it varies for different people.

Good luck!
Sandy Shores

Sun Apr 6 2008, 11:05
Yucaipa Real Es...
Agent
92399

Thanks for your answers. It is a tough call. I agree with you Eric that there is a large amount of information that doesn't require a guestbook, but I realized this morning that the MLS service doesn't feed that lead info to me. So that would make it pointless for me to remove it since I don't have any other point of capture.

Sun Apr 6 2008, 10:55
J.D.
Agent
Orange Park, FL

I think that if you have developed real leads from the process then continue doing it and dont change a thing. You obviously have a user friendly manner to request the data.

I have found serious buyers fill in my information request even if it is only to get up todate listings.

JD “Dan” Weisenburger, GRI
Broker-Associate REALTOR®
Vanguard Realty, Inc. GMAC Real Estate

Sun Apr 6 2008, 10:30
Lise Wang
Agent
Seattle's In-City Ne...

I would have to agree fully with Eric on this one. I also treat Buyers and Sellers who visit my public open houses that way and don't require signing in so they can view the home I am holding open. I think we all are tired of giving personal infomation away like name and email. I know I read all the privacy notices before I agree to give my email to ANY site. Do you have a privacy policy on your sign in page, maybe that would relieve some concerns and up your sign-ins if it feels non-threatening to them. But, if visitors to your website don't fill out the guest book, they don't WANT to be contacted, and wouldn't be a lead for you anyway. Good Luck, Lise

Web Reference: http://www.LiseWang.com
Sun Apr 6 2008, 09:36
The Leonardo Te...
Agent
Rancho Mirage, CA

Hi Yucaipa,

I think it is a good idea. if someone is uneasy about filling out a form when searching for real estate they have many othe options to look for. If on the other hand they fill it out then as you said they become a valid lead.

Sun Apr 6 2008, 00:18
Sandy Shores Me...
Agent
Melbourne, FL

I agree with Eric's response. Our job as REALTORS is to provide knowledge. Customers are smart and savvy today. The more information you provide the more useful you have become in the potential client's eyes.

I believe you will get many different responses as to whether the guest book on your website will be effective for you.

Best of luck to you,
Sandy Shores

Sat Apr 5 2008, 23:19
Eric Wong
Agent
Berkeley, CA
BEST ANSWER

There are so many ways people can get information these days without having to fill out any kind of information sheet. Even with my own internet searches. If I have to put my name down someplace, I will simply go to another site that does not require me to do so.
I have always been of the mind to be geenerous with my knowledge. If people like the way I do business, and that I respect them and their needs, they will contact me of their own accord. I think you will get more leads by giving people what they need, than by acting like a gatekeeper.

Sat Apr 5 2008, 22:53

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