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Has anyone run a test on Vow 2 vs Vow and compared conversion ratios?

Please Advise...

We have actually been discussing this around the campfire at the office. MLSFinder launched their VOW2 product a few months ago, and we've gotten some mixed impressions from consumers & agents alike.

First, I (personally) think their interface was clumsy to begin with, and the implementation of VOW2 has only made things more confusing. IMHO, unless it is painfully clear to the consumer that they are not seeing the full MLS, I think most people don't realize that there's an option to register & see more homes.

We're still debating how to implement this "the right way", because while you may gain more page-views on a VOW2 site (which could garner a warmer lead), you also decrease the chance that they will register at all, based on your seemingly incomplete list of homes. You also run the risk of their seeing the listing agent and searching for them directly -- the top 10% savvy consumers will do this, if the listing agent's site is decent.

That's my opinion thusfar. It may change when/if we launch ours.

-Matt

This seems to be how my MLS (MLSNI-Northern IL) offers our solutions. We can get IDX which is only a small portion of the MLS but doesn't require registration, or VOW, which does require registration but offers much more. My prior broker offered both on his site & even I was confused when it first came out.

It starts off with the IDX so that's where people would naturally begin their search. Out of the 20 homes available (an example) maybe 2 show up. They know there's more than 2 so they think it's a bad service and don't follow through with the VOW, not realizing it offers all 20 homes.

The instructions are there in the beginning, but once the search is started I don't think it's as explanatory. Because of this I chose to only offer VOW on my site & my MLS requires registration.

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Southwest Chicago Suburbs Real Estate is an affordable area with close access to downtown Chicago. Money Magazine says that Orland Park real estate is one of the best places to live in the U.S.

Coincidentally, Judy, I'm in MLSNI territory, too. I recognized your Point2 site, but what're you using for a VOW?

-Matt

I'm using what MLSNI offers. They had me believe I had to go through them only & that there were no 3rd party vendors available. I'm hearing that isn't correct. I tried to search for 3rd party solutions when I originally got VOW but couldn't find any that dealt with MLSNI at the time.

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Southwest Chicago Suburbs Real Estate is an affordable area with close access to downtown Chicago. Money Magazine says that Orland Park real estate is one of the best places to live in the U.S.

Yikes! To be honest, you're the first Realtor I've met who uses their VOW (and I've met quite a few).

Attempting to be completely unbiased, here are your alternatives:

• BirdView - The king kong of VOWs, very poor search engine placement, $100-$200/month.
• WoflNet/MLSFinder - OK Search Engine placement. Only commercial VOW2 solution in MLSNI land that I'm aware of. $199/setup, plus $65/month. More for Brokers.
• Advanced Access (new) - Very good search engine placement, VOW solution is new last quarter. Price is $599 to set up, plus $39/month.
• WebPointCentral - It does the job. Several thousand dollars a year.
• Homes 1-2-3 (or something like that) - Only saw this one once, don't know about pricing.
• PMPVOWs.com - Me! $300/year, requires mortgage comarketing.

-matt

Matt,

I didn't check them all since I'm already contracted to MLSNI for several more months. Aren't some of the mentioned sites full web sites that simply offer VOW? Also, I pay $600 annually for VOW, how can you offer it for the price of IDX, which isn't full MLS?

If you're offering full MLS access for $300 I'll definitely look into your service when my contract expires with MLSNI.

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Southwest Chicago Suburbs Real Estate is an affordable area with close access to downtown Chicago. Money Magazine says that Orland Park real estate is one of the best places to live in the U.S.

Hi Judy,

Most can be implemented as either a full site with a VOW or strictly as a VOW. I've seen each kind of site framed within another hosting environment, so that's pretty much covered.

MLSNI actually bumped their price up to $750 (as I understand it). Anyway, we do the VOW as a pass-through for the MLSNI licensing cost ($300), in return for the mortgage co-marketing.

Yes, I realize that can be a major turnoff, but it subsidizes a great product with no real intrusion into your business.

-Matt