Different Registration Approaches

[boywithk9]

I see that most REW sites (and many other IDX approaches) use an approach where registration is required *after* a user enters search parameters. For example, a user can fill out a search form and see a list of results (or see a map-based search), but then a registration form appears when a user tries to go to a property detail page (or sometimes after viewing X number of detail pages).

My IDX provider (ihomefinder.com) integrates registration into the search form. The benefits I've found from this are that:

1. They are automatically registered for listing alerts that match their search parameters, which is the best kind of drip email there is. Most users end up back on my site over and over again as they receive listing alerts.

2. Their search parameters are included in the new subscriber alert that's sent to me so I can take their parameters into account when deciding whether to follow up (I don't follow up on mobile homes, raw land, or searches under $XXX,XXX).

When users are asked to register later in the process, the agent only receives a registration notice, and you don't have any information about the user's search parameters. And the user won't receive any future listing alerts unless they fill out a second form requesting them.

Am I missing something, or is that an accurate distinction? I have other misgivings with my provider, but I'd be reluctant to switch because of this one *major* advantage.

[Discover Davis Homes]

My IDX is set up to default to send a user new listings that match their search unless they request something else. There are many different opinions but one thought is to let the user get some information before they are required to give you any information.

[boywithk9]

Thanks, Carolyn. My question isn't about whether to have users register to see property information. I'm a strong believer in requiring registration, and I've tested both methods over the last 4 years. I get *way* more registrations when it's required.

My question is, for people who use IDX solutions that don't require registration at the same time that the search form is being filled out (which is the case with your site), when someone registers, do you get details on their search parameters, or do you just get an email alert of a new registration with the user's name and contact info? I'm assuming you get only the name and contact info, but maybe I'm mistaken.

The reason I ask is I don't see how follow-up would be effective if all you know is who they are, but not what they're looking for.

[Discover Davis Homes]

I don't have a lot of information on what people have searched for. I know that some people have more information custom coded on the back end of their site and do have what people have searched for. I agree that it is more useful to know what people are searching for. I can often figure out how someone gets to my site though by comparing the time I get a registration to how that person got there through hittails.com I can also see in google analytics how long that person was on my site. I will eventually have a lot more information programmed into the back end of my site, but put my budget into visible things first.

[Discover Davis Homes]

I just noticed that this REW site does ask for some search criteria in the registration section: http://www.nashvillebuyers.com/idx/register.html

The great thing about REW is that you are only limited by your own ideas and your budget.

[metaylor9]

Also, with the most recent REW IDX you can see every page the user views as well as how they landed on your site.

[Daniel Gaitan]

I can't wait until I have my custom IDX. My leads should skyrocket.

[Micheal Pannell Realtor]

tHEY WILL SKY ROCKET

[boywithk9]

I just noticed that this REW site does ask for some search criteria in the registration section: http://www.nashvillebuyers.com/idx/register.html

The great thing about REW is that you are only limited by your own ideas and your budget.

Being limited only by my vision and budget is a curse, as well as a blessing. Frankly, I find it very irritating that even though REW has implemented so many custom solutions, they (at least in my experience with their sales staff) put all the work of defining the functionality on me. Since creating these solutions is their business, having to recreate the wheel (and pay for it) is very burdensome. I would prefer if they had a menu of functionality that they've created for clients in the past so I could pick and choose combinations of features, rather than having to define them explicitly myself.

In any case, it's true that it's also a blessing.