Here's an idea, post craigslist ads with some interesting homes you find on your local MLS (maybe they're a good deal, or in a nice neighborhood) and then post links to your MLS search, free market analysis or any other landing page.

I'm sure some of you have thought of that before, but I thought I'd bring it up. As long as you're considering paying for PPC, might as well try this alongside and get some free visitors.

lol, I've done that already. I don't know if it helped or not because I was doing 1000 other things to promote the site at the same time.

I was starting multiple myspace accounts, joining lots of forums, swaping lots of links you name it I tryed it. I guess some of it worked because I come up #1 on G for most of my keywords. Then again I'm sure alot of it was a waste of time. Then again I'm a computer nerd so it was a learning experience. I forgot to go to bed last night because I was so excited about a new project I am currently working on so I may be a little out of my mind at the moment

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Coastal Delaware Real Estate Sales
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Hehe, take it easy over there My thinking with craigslist was that it's probably the same quality of visitors as those looking around on Google. Maybe even better if they're looking something specific. The only downside is that they might get to craigslist well after they've been on google and visited other realtors websites (meaning they probably already contacted someone). On the other hand, if they're researching realtors and your site is much better, they might just talk to you. Never know.

They were complaining on the forums there about too many agents posting there. I think it was traditionally FSBOs that used it.

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Charles Sweeney
http://SellYourHouseForFree.com

Only if the listings are for your own brokerage, and the listing broker/owner allows it. MLS listings belong to the listing brokerage and seller, and only they have the right to control where/how they are advertised.

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Ron Goodman, GRI, REALTOR®
Prudential Colorado Real Estate
Denver Colorado Real Estate: Highlands Ranch, Parker, Littleton, Castle Rock
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I never advertise it in a way that someone can identify it as their listing. No photos, no MLS numbers. This encourages the reader to call in or send an email. I've gotten many leads that way. If you write out the whole listing information then people will rarely contact you.

Btw, if it's in the IDX, what's wrong with posting a craigslist post claiming that so and so property, with MLS#xxx is for sale for so many $$? Then give them a link to your IDX search solution to look it up.

What's wrong? It is an ad, and it is not your listing. The amount of info is immaterial. It is not IDX. IDX is only on an approved agent or broker site subject to the rules of your MLS. In my state, what you are suggesting is illegal.

Why is it that so many agents dont have a fricking clue about what is legal vs illegal and ethical vs unethical? If you cant be honest, do the rest of us a favor and get out of the business.

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Bob

There's no need to be rude! I don't see how posting an ad on craigslist saying a house is for sale is unethical. I'm not saying bad things about the house, and I'm also adding a disclaimer that I'm not the listing agent. I would imagine the listing agent would be more than thrilled to have someone else do their work for them.

I also checked my local IDX rules and there's nothing about posting ads. All that's required is that I give credit to the brokerage that owns the listing, don't post any misinformation about it and clearly indicate that it's a listing from MLS by providing the MLS#.

Have a look at some of the REW websites. They have custom IDX solutions which post other realtor's listings right on their webpage! And all they have is a small IDX logo from the local MLS board to indicate where the listing info is from.

Go chill out and don't swear at people b/c you're in a bad mood.

Get their permission in writing and you can, otherwise it is at the very least unethical.
I wasnt being rude. I was being direct and calling you out. RonnieG gave you the correct answer. You continued to argue because you dont see what the problem was in advertising another broker's listing without permission. You either dont understand, dont care, or think that the end justifies the means. You sound just like those who argue when called out for copyright infringement.

I have been in this business for 17 years and I have seen more than my share of unethical and/or dishonest agents, those who dont know what they are doing, and those who just dont get it. They hurt consumers and agents alike. You keep saying you dont see what is wrong. You dont get it. Your local IDX has nothing to do with anything other than your website. If being tired of seeing agents continue to soil our reputaion as an industry because they dont know what they are doing is being in a bad mood, then oh well, Consumers and the industry dont need another clueless agent. Hopefully you will understand that and be a better agent as a result. If not, may your career be brief.

On the flip side, an agent in my market, Bob Crain, got called out by another broker for something kinda related, but completely unintential on his part. He looked into the issue, discovered that he did in fact have a compliance problem and fixed it immediately. He then came on here and took responsibility for an oversight after he had posted about the broker earlier. That took guts and integrity. That is the kind of agent I appreciate and respect, and we need more like him, because when he can be trusted to do the right thing in situations where no one would have known otherwise, you can also trust him to do the right thing for his clients. Its called character.

We are agents, otherwise known as fiduciaries. The end never justifies the means as a fiduciary. Its about trust and doing the right thing atxrealtor, that's all. If that offends you, so be it.

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Bob

Ok, maybe our IDX is a little different. We don't have listings displayed directly on a website, it's a standalone script that we link to (run from the idx provider's website) and frame. So really, linking to it from my webpage and saying here's listing so and so, and linking to it from a craigslist post is more or less the same thing.

And I am ethical, I'll never take credit or claim the listing was my own. All I was doing is announcing to the world that the listing exists and providing a link to the IDX on my website which then displays all the information in a manner consistent with the board's policies.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand. The other way to post it is to just say in genereal that there are homes for sale in a specific subdivision within a given price range. This doesn't refer to any particular listing and is a statement of fact. Then a link to those listing on my website is posted. These are just ways to drive traffic. I'm surprised to find out how many people browsing craigslist are not aware that IDX search exists or there's a way to get automated property emails.