Conversion rate is AWFUL!

[bss2t]

Hey guys. I really really need some help on this one. I had a website built out. It doesn't look very good in my opinion, but ranks #1 google for murfreesboro homes for sale which is a good keyword. The thing is, I don't get any leads even though I have forced registration. Can you guys give me any ideas or do you know anyone that can redesign the site to optimize conversion? The URL is www.murfreesboro-homes-tn.com

Thanks,

Brad

[abcharlton]

It may be because it looks like a referral site. I don't think people realize that the website is run by a local service professional. They think that you are based out of Uzbekistan and are going to make them fill out a 10-page form so you can sell the lead to 10 different local realtors. People are sick of referral sites, so you want to do whatever you can to convince them that they can talk to a real, live person who sells real estate in Murfeesboro. If I were you, I'd make it easier for people to do a home search, and I'd add a local phone number in a prominent place. I'd also get a less computer-y name than Fusion. You might also try fewer stock photos and more photos of Murfeesboro. A lot of people add a picture of themselves. I don't do that, but I think it may help you to establish your site as being a local site. Hope this helps.

[Joelrunner]

I agree with Aaron in the fact that it's a pretty canned looking site.

HOWEVER, I don't see any reason it shouldn't be converting at least a small percentage of visitors into leads. (I've had WAY uglier sites than that that have converted just fine.)

Are you sure you've tested for long enough? How many uniques are you getting per month? If you've gotten less than 500 quality visitors, it's too early to make a determination.

I'd recommend bidding on adwords only for the exact phrases you want to get buyers for. It could be the best few hundred bucks you'll spend, because if you can't convert your visitors for highly targeted search phrases, you'll know that you can quit focusing on SEO and focus more on site conversion.

After you get your site conversion up, you can go back to SEO.

[MarcinSarasota]

I agree as well. It does look like a referral site. I tried clicking on the links next to your logo and none of them seem to work. Can you set it up where you give people a taste of properties to look at and then have them register to get more information. Visitors want to see houses and I think if they can't find them rather quickly they will hit the BACK button and go to one of your competitors. Regardless, I think you should be getting some leads.

[Scott.Hack]

The sound every time I change pages is obnoxious too! If I'm at work and I'm trying to browse real estate listings, my co-workers are already looking over my shoulder wondering what I am doing... something else to think about.

[Malok]

Echoing others sentiments....It FEELS like a referral site. Even the About Us / Meet our team page screams it. (The team photo looks like a generic one you'd get on istock.)

[alohatony]

just a guess - your bounce rate is really high? Like 90%?

I think it's because of the text in that registration box. It doesn't make me want to put my info in there. It makes me think if I do that, somebody is going to call me and spam me.

Instead of "instant access" and just their registration info, I think you want something that entices people like, "View Homes in Murfreesboro Now" with some search parameters. Put the registration info below that, or even in the 2nd window.

[CarlosAT]

I think the main reason here is that you are not giving anything prior to asking for their information. I clicked on search for homes and you are asking me to register right away, why?

If the site looked more professional I may be more inclined to register prior to searching but I'll rather move on to the next one.

But, let's say I decide to register (which I did), you call that a search??? That's the most confusing search I've ever seen, and then I figured out how to search and you tell me that my search had more than 250 results and I need to refine it??? I keep refining it and still can't get below 250 results.

If you want to play this game you need a new site. Period.

Make the investment, it'll be worth it if you already have a good raking domain.

[tommytx]

What is your actual conversion rate. Total forms/Total visitors?
When you say bad conversion have you had more than 500 visitors without anyone filling in a form...
If they are looking for Murfrees boro real estate then have them land on a page full of color photos for Murfree boro homes not on your home page..

[Gary Halbert]

The reason you are ranking highly in Google is not necessarily because the SEO construction is fantastic, but because there is no competition for your keyword "Murfreesboro", probably the only reason for your high ranking. But seeing it gives you high SE rankings, take advantage of it and set to the work of converting clicks to click throughs, leads to sales. This has to take place on the front end, not the back end of your site, for example ...

The wording style quoted below, together with the blue boxed panel where these words appear, really do suggest nothing of the genuine, sincere, honest-john real estate sales business. Instead they project a "gimmicky" look, one that implies "hard sell"! "MLM"! "Beware"! ... if you know what I mean. The blue box is typical of one of those stereo-type professional e-zine, e-book, promo sales sites that rely on referrals. My advice is ditch it. Put something more in keeping with real estate - more conservative. Keep in mind that mostly the sector buying real estate are not fast talking rappers, hip or youthful, but family people with serious responsibilitites, who are long weary of the hype and scams of the world.

Our complete online database

Sounds like some statistic data collecting bureau, totally unrelated to real estate and ...

Instant Online Access to every home sales listing.

Sounds gimmicky, insincere and sales hype-like, used by the 'hard sell' spin doctors - try more "homely" language, for example - "Instantly view our comprehensive list of properties online at your leisure, in your own time" ... by slowing down the pace, rather than giving the impression that you are going to be an unstoppable runaway train on a mission and ...

YES everything you need to get the best home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee at the right price.

This is just pure, shallow, unadulterated spiel - try to give it greater personal depth, to reach out to 'touch' the client and draw him/her in by sounding like a real person and not a spruker standing at the door of a circus tent.

Even using the word "database" is not a great idea - can put pc illiterate people off because it does not refer to lovely pictures of listed houses, but instead suggests [to them] some other techie stuff that sounds complex [to them]. Also I would change your logo. The orbiting spheres are usually associated with IT, techie, gadgetry, geek sites and not real estate.


I would also review your layout. Try bringing the pics up to eye view to exactly where the page opens and moving the registration form over to the side or preferably right down the bottom. Give visitors time to absorb the content of your site, arouse their interest first, b4 you hit them between the eyes with the request to register. They are walking away because what you are telling them first, you need to tell them last. The requirement to register hits them in the eyeballs as soon as the page opens. You want to tell them this after they have found a property they are keen to view and will register anyway just to see it. If you ask them to register b4 they can even establish whether your site interests them, you will get a "bounce" every time.