I've read that it takes about a 6-9 month incubation period for web prospects to start turning into actual leads. My website found its way onto G pg 1 in mid-June last year. I have two new listings and buyers coming out of my ears and guess what? It took about 6-9 months for the leads to pour in. I'd be interested in seeing what others have to say about this.

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Sam Chapman
Austin, Texas
Austin, TX Real Estate |Austin Luxury Homes |Austin Real Estate Blog

I just started capturing my leads in Top Producer about two weeks ago. I have about 50 leads so far. Most of them are either 6-9 months out, fishing the waters, or unqualified. Being able to catagorize them is a skill I'm quickly trying to learn.

These leads come from being #1 on MSN and Adwords, as well as "long tails" from Google. While I'm too new to be able to tell what will happen in 6-9 months, I can certainly verify that it seems as if your wisdom is true.

Drew

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Drew T. Nichols
Greenville SC Real Estate

Not sure how accurate it is, but, at Coldwell Banker's recent national convention they said the average "incubation" period is now around 14 months. I will say that we started 2 years ago with 12 month action plans in Top Producer and we were having to restart so many action plans that our action plans are now 3 years. It's so crazy how you can call, email, snailmail etc etc forever with no response and then all of the sudden they just show up.

One thing that we've started doing is very simple and seems to really be helping... simple hand addressed notecards with a business card so they have something to hold on to... its "old school", but, they will call whoever they feel "familiar" with.... especially relo's.

Just my two cents...

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Buddy Blake, Broker
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty
Wilmington, NC
http://www.buddyblake.com

I'm seeing 6-9 month incubation period on many of my leads too. Then again, some sign a contract in only a month.

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Aaron

Minneapolis Real Estate | Twin Cities Real Estate | Edina Realty Agent

Mine varries from 1 day to 3 years. In general though you are right 6 to 9 months out when they first contact you via your website.

I guess we've already determined, and most people agree that the average internet customer goes to the web when they are 6-9 months away from making a buying decision, just in the dream/planning stages.

Ok, I'm struggling with getting people to contact us. Why do people contact you? Here are all the ways I can think of:

1) General Contact Us form
2) Send me info about this house
3) Schedule an appointment to see this house
4) Sign up to have houses matching my search criteria emailed to me
5) Required Registration - don't show them any houses until they give you all their personal info
6) They see the website, and they call you
7) Sign up for some free real estate report
8) Sign up to get mortgage prequal

Which way do you get the most contacts?

By calling them! Most people won't call you but some will. Being the first agent to make contact will get you alot of closings.

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Charlotte NC Real Estate | Charlotte Uptown Condos and Lofts |
Charlotte Homes for Sale

Most of my prospects call or email after around 6-9 months because they found contene on my site that they liked. For example, one liked my Moving to Texas page, on which I have info about registering and inspecting your car, getting a driver's license, registering to vote, etc.

As far as landing them as clients, U2Man is absolutely right. Immediate contact when you get a message or email. That is why you need a way for a text to be sent to your phone if you get an email through your contact me page on your site.

Aaron and CedarCity are also absolutely right. Some will jump after the initial contact and be under contract within days.

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Sam Chapman
Austin, Texas
Austin, TX Real Estate |Austin Luxury Homes |Austin Real Estate Blog

Ahh, OK! So you REQUIRE a phone number, then YOU call THEM. Then I'm going to remove this field off my CONTACT US FORM:

>What is the best way to reach you?

Other then pay per click, and other ways of buying your way to the top, what are your most sucessful ways of driving the proper traffic to your website.

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James Boyer
RE/MAX Properties Unlimited
Morristown, NJ 07960
973-647-0253
Serving the Real Estate markets of Morristown, Morris Township, Madison NJ Real Estate, Chatham NJ , Summit, Short Hills, Millburn, Maplewood, South Orange, & West Orange Referals happily given and accepted. For information on home sales in New Jersey please contact. Morristown NJ Real Estate Madison NJ Real Estate Chatham NJ Real Estate