Seeking additional opinions from everyone...
We used to design, as many still do, to require registration to view properties. Over time, what we felt was that this produced a huge amount of worthless leads that took time to sift through with an very low conversion rate. We have since changed over everything last year to provide all the information and listing up front while still offering registration as an option. The lead (if that's what you want to call someone who types in a name and email address), count has dropped quite a bit but the quaility of lead and conversion rate has improved dramatically. Our Clients are MUCH happier with what they're getting.

What are you doing on your sites and what's your thoughts on all the time wasted chasing bad leads as apposed to narrowing the scope to those that raise their hand for help?

No first hand experience, but that logic make a lot of sense since only people that are really serious and interested will go through the effort of registrationm making the list more relevant.

__________________
My real estate web site and webmaster web site. Got a bit of everything, just look.

I have heard a lot of varying opinions about registration, there are probably as many opinions as there are Realtors (one million at last count). It seems that the vote on which is better lies on how they are currently doing it.

Here is mine, at least for the moment.

I don't make people register to see my listings. However, I do require registration to search the MLS. Some Realtors don't even get to make this choice. NAR's policy on VOW's require registration while IDX users do not unless required by their local board.

I know a lot of "consumers" have said in surveys that they do not like to register. My feeling is that these same protesters are likely the same ones that have 18 agents out working for them. You know -- the ones who won't sign a buyers broker agreement but tell you that they are loyal...blah, blah, blah.

Time will tell on which way is better but for now we will continue to use it as a way to sift out the serious and the loyal.


Jim

as a non agent, and a consumer I am really hesitant to give info before I can view, I just find it violates trust somehow. If I want to call you I'll call you, just show me something I like first

__________________
Don't miss out on the 12 days of Christmas promo

I wish you had to registar to every real estate site to view the MLS. You might not be selling a product but you are giving out information and the price of admission should be your identy. Everyone tries to give away the farm.


I have a friend that is an adult webmaster he said it is getting a lot harder to sell his memberships because adult material is found for free all over the place. Too many webmaster giving away what people would glady pay for.... well and then deny..lol


As for my real estate sites I try a mixture of things. One thing is for sure you get better quailty leads when you don't pressure surfers to registar. But if everyone's site required surfers to register before they viewed any mls info I would be all for it.

crap---dinner time to be cont.....

I would have to say asking site user to fill out a registration before searching is asking for to much info. People like to search and feel no preassure. Were dealing with sales here.. Tell me how any agents have had a phone call saying " Yeah I ready to sell my house please come stick your sign in my yard, ohh and I would be happy to pay you 7%." It doesn't happend, and with todays society people want information for free , no obligation and for you to respond in a timely matter and when you stick a registration road block up your creating a detour to another agents site that will give them the information..

__________________
Edina is home to the first indoor mall. Search Edina Realty to find your new home.

Would those that feel registration is detrimental to lead generation care to share the average number of leads they get per month?

I'd been debating about this issue for a long time and I finally went with a straight forward IDX solution without registration. THere're always two camps with opposite opinions about this. But the way I look at it, most people will give me bogus info anyway. Plus, there're other sites that offer listing info with no registration. Why would they come to me if I require it. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I'm glad I made the decision of not requiring registration. Most people who contacted me end up becoming a real client. I didn't have to waste time chasing after people who gave me bogus info.

__________________
Portland Oregon Real Estate Portland Real Estate
Lake Oswego Real Estate

We opted not to require registration and it is working out to about 20 "good" leads a month. I did add some content that has created "sizzle" for our site - I hand code the MLS HOTSHEET daily - we are the only site in our area that offers this to the public. I get many return eyeballs and have created stickiness with this feature.

www.c21beachrealty.com

I believe we get many IBLs (Internet Based Leads) through callins too, if the agents do not ask where they found us then we cannot track our ROI so we encourage our floor agents to do their best to find out where they found us.

I agree

__________________
Infinity Commercial Group - Commercial Lending Services

Infinity Website