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Using FREE Reports to Create Hits on your Website

The Real Estate industry is buzzing with various "hot topics" of timely interest to your clients and prospects. These are items that consumers see "in the news" on a regular basis. A few hot topics appear below.

• Hazardous Mold

• Housing Industry

• Current Interest Rate Trends

• Market Conditions in your area

How do you let your prospective clients know about these important concerns? Wouldn't it be an effective marketing tool if your website visitors could come to YOUR site to find out more information about important and timely topics.

In one of our first Marketing Tips we discussed our Free Reports program.  We talked about how to include the "magic word" in marketing on your website. What is the magic word? FREE! There are so many ways you can entice consumers to your website. With your Free Reports program, it's easy to add items of interest on a regular basis and to maximize your exposure through promotion of this important tool.  

Here's an Example: 

For the past few months we've seen a lot of publicity regarding issues of mold in homes. As a consumer, I would naturally be concerned if I was in the market to buy a new home.

As a Realtor®, a great way to drive traffic to my website is to continually keep it updated with new and inventive ideas. In addition, it's important to promote yourself as an informed professional who keeps up with the latest topics in the real estate industry. 

As you come across articles regarding the hazards of mold, it would be easy to add some links into your Free Reports program (located in the Virtual Office).  

First, think up a flashy title for your new report. Granted, it might be difficult to think of something flashy regarding the subject of MOLD, but you could try, "The Hazards of Mold - Find out How It Affects YOU". 

For your report text, gather up some of the links to the reports on the hazards of mold. Here are a few links regarding mold for your review:

• www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/moldresources.html

• realtytimes.com/rtnews/rtcpages/20020404_mold.htm 

Then, create a report using the reference material above and add some advertising text asking the consumer to contact you if they have any questions. Be sure to include ALL of your contact information INCLUDING your website address.  

Now that you have your new "hot topic" in your Free Reports section, how do you promote it? There are numerous ways to generate excitement through your website.

• Add a special link on the front of your Website directing your visitors to your Free Reports section. The message could be as simple as 'Free Report! How to Avoid Hazardous Mold in Your New Home!'.
    

• In your monthly postcards and newsletters to your farm area, include a special note regarding how your "Important" Free Report can be accessed from your website. *** This works best if you are updating your free reports on a monthly basis.
     

• In your voice mail message, be sure to tell your prospects to visit your website for free reports and special updated information.
     

• On your business cards, invest in a special stamp that displays your website address in red ink with an invitation to receive your free special reports.

Be inventive! The more you do to promote visitors to your website, the more exposure you'll receive, which will equate to more SALES. 

If YOU have a clever and successful marketing idea using one of the features in your website that you would like to share with our customers, please share it with us. If we print your idea in one of our marketing tips, we would be happy to give you a month of hosting FREE.

Link Popularity Update

This week we would like you to visit SeekOn.com. SeekOn.com is a very small search engine type of site that you can add your website listing for FREE! 

"Sara,

I just want to say THANK YOU!! for your quick response to ALL...... my questions and concerns. You have been Great and I really appreciate all of you help. I also enjoy your monthly tips, they help out a great deal."

Carolyn Muha

"Thank you for following up with me! If there is anything I think of I'll be sure to give you a call. Thanks for all your help and quick response when ever I need something! It sure is nice to have that kind of service, being that I have delt with lots of people through email and over the phone. Have a good one and I'll be in touch." 

Justin Donnelson