Problem with using a website to get business.

[ProJuMp2001]

If I sell something that can be packaged and shipped then a website can be a way to market the item so long as it is unique.

Real Estate is everywhere, so many agents have a website. To be the one that stands out you need to spend big money.. I don't think that google will allow all the people who pay the most money to be lower on the search page, they get the first pages.

The pay per click is just something that works for large companies that sell products and companies that are small but have big money.

I believe the point of making a website is for information. When someone looks at a business card if they want more information they will go to the website, if a person who gets a flyer's in the mail, and wants more information they can go to the website.

But to use a website for getting business its just seems that the people who spend the most money will always be number 1.

Now the companies that spend that money to be number 1 for real estate and are not in the real estate business who charge people a fee to have the honor to put their link and phone number on the site will be the way to go.

I just cant see why a search engine such as google will dare allow any website get on the first few pages over the thousands of people who pay for that service.

what do you guys think?

[OCTeam]

I think you are dead wrong. Usually the ones (agents) who pay are the ones who don't have a site that is found organically at the top or even close. Guess one would need to have their site found at the top to believe it is not about PPC.

Besides, people search many ways than just with real estate as part of the term. Even directories that charge you to have your link and phone number make it to the top and they don't use PPC.

[Agnafl]

I would also disagree. I have spent money getting my site into the top 5 for many terms. Granted, my area is not overly competitive on the interent. Agents in our area though are a dime a dozen. Many just do not have a very good interent presence, or no presence at all. I have done everything myself and continue to gain in the SERPs. Comparatively speaking, I have spent a ton less money than some. It can be done!

[jessiesc]

I also disagree completely with your logic.

Read these forums and you will find many agents who rank very well in the search engines and do 100% of their business from the web.

True, it takes allot of time and effort but with perseverance you'll do fine.

[Norcal Jim]

PPC still brings me the most traffic. Unfortunatly I have to pay for it,,, sigh...

[brandonre]

Hmm, I think there is a trend here, I also disagree. PPC is not just for big business and you can have a very effective ppc strategy that doesn't have to be on a huge budget. But most just sign up for ppc with no rhyme or reason in what they are doing. It takes smart planning and trial and error, tweaking, checking results, monitoring your results. It can be done but like anything else it isn't an easy fix.

[RonnieG]

Another negative vote on your logic here. PPC can be a great "kick start" to a new agent website and a new real estate career.

In real estate, PPC works well if done right, which means a strong and user friendly website to begin with, with attractive landing pages appropriate to the PPC ads, a strong IDX with a reasonable user registration policy, and good follow up on the leads who do register.

As the website gains organic search engine positioning, through a long term program of building content and inbound links, and organic leads become more frequent, reliance and spending on PPC can be reduced, in some cases to zero.

[ProJuMp2001]

I guess i am wrong.. sorry.. I just typed in real estate agents in shelton, CT.. that is where I live and all I saw was the main companies century 21 etc..

[ProJuMp2001]

I search for a few things and for about 4 pages all i found were large companies and alot of sites that said "find a agenst in your area" would it be best to just pay those sites a small price to add your website on to it?? They are all on the first search page.

[RonnieG]

Most internet consumers don't search for real estate agents right away. They search for "homes for sale in communityname" or "communityname real estate" or "communityname condos for sale" or some such.