Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Have Housing Values Bottomed?
Some of you may know that along with a partner, have been buying a few rental properties in the Tampa area. I thought you might like to know how and why I am doing this and in the process of telling you, I hope to provide you with some very interesting information that you should share with your database. You may copy the information below and resend it to your database.
Three years ago, if you asked a room full of people "what is the best investment available today?", most would have quickly answered, "real estate".
But when everyone is positive about an an investment, that's the time to sell. Not an easy thing to do, to sell when everyone else seems to be buying.
Now we're on the opposite side of the spectrum - very few people believe that real estate is a good investment. But I want to share 3 charts with you that show why it may be getting very close to a great time to invest.
The first indication that real estate is near bottom is to look at new homes started by builders. When "housing starts" hit a bottom, prices tend to bottom 6 to 12 months later. And housing starts are at a record low right now:
As you can see, housing starts are lower today than anytime they have been in the past half century! The longer this continues, the better for real estate prices in the future.
Now let's take a look at the supply of homes that are available for sale. This indicator is called "month's supply" and is supposed to indicate how long homes sit on the market before they sell. But in reality, its simply a ratio of the amount of homes currently on the market divided by the amount of sales that occurred in the previous month.
If, in the previous month sales were low, then the "month's supply" increases. If, in the next month, sales pick up, then month's supply will drop the next month.
Month's supply looks like it peaked in early 2009. Look at the upper line after each peak in the lower line - the months supply of new homes. Prices continue down for a bit, but then start a new trend heading up. This also looks good for higher prices in the future.
Finally, and this one really says a lot, is the Housing Affordability Index. This index tracks the ratio of median family income vs. the mortgage payment for a median value home at current mortgage rates. Rates are low right now and that of course helps the index. Rising rates would change the index quickly but with all the troubles of today's economy, it certainly looks as if today's low rates will stay with us for a while.
Three years ago, if you asked a room full of people "what is the best investment available today?", most would have quickly answered, "real estate".
But when everyone is positive about an an investment, that's the time to sell. Not an easy thing to do, to sell when everyone else seems to be buying.
Now we're on the opposite side of the spectrum - very few people believe that real estate is a good investment. But I want to share 3 charts with you that show why it may be getting very close to a great time to invest.
The first indication that real estate is near bottom is to look at new homes started by builders. When "housing starts" hit a bottom, prices tend to bottom 6 to 12 months later. And housing starts are at a record low right now:
As you can see, housing starts are lower today than anytime they have been in the past half century! The longer this continues, the better for real estate prices in the future.
Now let's take a look at the supply of homes that are available for sale. This indicator is called "month's supply" and is supposed to indicate how long homes sit on the market before they sell. But in reality, its simply a ratio of the amount of homes currently on the market divided by the amount of sales that occurred in the previous month.
If, in the previous month sales were low, then the "month's supply" increases. If, in the next month, sales pick up, then month's supply will drop the next month.
Month's supply looks like it peaked in early 2009. Look at the upper line after each peak in the lower line - the months supply of new homes. Prices continue down for a bit, but then start a new trend heading up. This also looks good for higher prices in the future.
Finally, and this one really says a lot, is the Housing Affordability Index. This index tracks the ratio of median family income vs. the mortgage payment for a median value home at current mortgage rates. Rates are low right now and that of course helps the index. Rising rates would change the index quickly but with all the troubles of today's economy, it certainly looks as if today's low rates will stay with us for a while.
Most experts would advise to wait until there are more clear cut indicators of a bottom before jumping into real estate. But I disagree and here's why...
When I first moved to Florida, I began looking at rental properties. I came up with a simple ratio - with a price of 100 times the gross monthly rent or less, and with 80% financing, I'd see a small positive cash flow. But around 2002 - 2003, there were no homes to be found that cash flowed. So I stopped looking for rental properties.
But today, as prices have basically dropped off a cliff, I started looking again and began to see some amazing deals. The homes we have acquired so far have come at prices equal to 30 - 40 times gross monthly rents - and that includes closing costs and rehab costs. Ridiculously cheap if you ask me. If you look at gross annual rents, we are at "multiples" of only 4 - 5, meaning 4 -5 times gross annual rents - again, very, very cheap for real estate.
Maybe, we are still a bit early buying at this time. We could see further price drops. Certainly, we need to see lenders relaxing their underwriting criteria before we begin to see price increases again. But before they do that, there needs to be stabilization. So yes, it may still be early. But if we have learned anything from the past few bubbles - tech stocks, oil & housing values - better to buy early and sell early than the other way around. Why not seek out potential investors and discuss these points... if I'm right, you may create some "Raving Fans" for your advice and services.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Your Website Needs Traffic!
Michael Cheney Talks Traffic - Interview With A Traffic Expert
Michael Cheney, one of the most-respected names in Internet marketing, has been online since 1995 and is the man behind the 6-Figure launches of AdSense Videos and 11 Days To List Profits. He has unveiled a new videos product - "Michael's Traffic Videos" which covers everything to do with traffic and comes with 100,000 instant ad credits and a tailored Fast-Track To Traffic Action Plan.
I managed to grab some time with him recently and quiz him on his favorite topic - traffic.
You'll get a lot out of this interview including a killer 40-page E-book on traffic that Michael has written to help you avoid the Top 20 Traffic Disasters!
So let's get started.
Q. Firstly Michael, thank you for joining us today in your busy schedule.
A. Hey no problem. Good to be here.
Q. We all know that traffic is important but could you just explain a bit about traffic for the beginners out there?
A. Sure. Traffic is the lifeblood of any business online. Without it you just die. We all know that. But what a lot of us don't realize is that just like everything else on the Internet traffic changes very quickly. That is, the methods of getting traffic are changing all the time and that's where people get caught out.
Q. What do you mean by "caught out"?
A. Well people fall into the trap of thinking that just because they know one or two traffic generation methods that they are some sort of traffic master. In reality just because you know how to start a pay per click campaign or a little bit about search engines doesn't make you anywhere near a traffic expert. I'm trying to spread the word that there is a massive array of traffic tactics that most people aren't even aware of, let alone using or mastering.
Q. Can you give us some examples?
A. Sure. Offline for example. You might immediately think that getting traffic is a purely online activity but the truth of the matter is that there are lots of things you can be doing offline to get people into your website. And it's usually these sorts of areas that are being under-utilized and therefore there is less competition for that traffic as well.
Q. So by offline you mean advertising offline?
A. Not necessarily. That is one method, yes, but I'm thinking of more creative ways to get people into your website. It all comes down to the fact that having asked people on my list it came as no surprise that most people want to know about free rather than paid traffic sources. I've had to become an expert in free ways of getting traffic in my time online.
Q. What do you mean - I thought you were running a successful online business with lots of cash flow?
A. I am. But it's not always been this way. When I first started out in 1995 I had nothing. No money to play with. Just my own initiative and imagination.
Q. So are you saying you're against paying for traffic online?
A. No. No I'm not saying that at all. What I'm saying is that, especially when you first start out, you always want to focus on the free methods. You get the traffic in for free, make some sales and then you can reinvest some of that money into paid methods of getting traffic. This speeds up the process.
Q. So what particular offline methods are you referring to - can you give us some examples?
A. There's one tactic I used that costs nothing to implement, is relatively quick and ended up getting me thousands and thousands of targeted visitors into my websites. When I've shared this tactic with other marketers at seminars they've started laughing and slapping their foreheads when they saw how easy it was. They were also embarrassed that they had failed to use this tactic. It was quite amusing.
Q. So are you going to tell us what this method is?
A. No! (laughs) It's in my course! I truly believe in rewarding those people that are most eager to learn so instead of giving away all my traffic tactics in interviews like this I've put some of them in an E-Book I've written. It is free though if people want to get it.
Q. So how can people get hold of it?
A. It's called "How To Avoid The Top 20 Traffic Disasters" and you can get it by going to Michael's Traffic Videos - you'll see it mentioned on that page.
Q. What's in it?
A. Well I really wanted to raise the bar on a free E-Book so I spent a lot of time creating it. It's 40 pages long and stuffed with juicy content on what NOT to do when it comes to traffic. As far as I'm concerned too many people out there tell you what you should do but not what you shouldn't do. That's where this E-Book comes in.
Q. Okay. I think we're about done is there anything else you want to tell everyone?
A. Just that if they are serious about getting more traffic into their website they need to goto Michael's Traffic Videos and get that free E-Book.
Q. Cool. Well thanks for your time Michael and speak to you soon.
A. My pleasure. Speak soon.
Michael Cheney, one of the most-respected names in Internet marketing, has been online since 1995 and is the man behind the 6-Figure launches of AdSense Videos and 11 Days To List Profits. He has unveiled a new videos product - "Michael's Traffic Videos" which covers everything to do with traffic and comes with 100,000 instant ad credits and a tailored Fast-Track To Traffic Action Plan.
I managed to grab some time with him recently and quiz him on his favorite topic - traffic.
You'll get a lot out of this interview including a killer 40-page E-book on traffic that Michael has written to help you avoid the Top 20 Traffic Disasters!
So let's get started.
Q. Firstly Michael, thank you for joining us today in your busy schedule.
A. Hey no problem. Good to be here.
Q. We all know that traffic is important but could you just explain a bit about traffic for the beginners out there?
A. Sure. Traffic is the lifeblood of any business online. Without it you just die. We all know that. But what a lot of us don't realize is that just like everything else on the Internet traffic changes very quickly. That is, the methods of getting traffic are changing all the time and that's where people get caught out.
Q. What do you mean by "caught out"?
A. Well people fall into the trap of thinking that just because they know one or two traffic generation methods that they are some sort of traffic master. In reality just because you know how to start a pay per click campaign or a little bit about search engines doesn't make you anywhere near a traffic expert. I'm trying to spread the word that there is a massive array of traffic tactics that most people aren't even aware of, let alone using or mastering.
Q. Can you give us some examples?
A. Sure. Offline for example. You might immediately think that getting traffic is a purely online activity but the truth of the matter is that there are lots of things you can be doing offline to get people into your website. And it's usually these sorts of areas that are being under-utilized and therefore there is less competition for that traffic as well.
Q. So by offline you mean advertising offline?
A. Not necessarily. That is one method, yes, but I'm thinking of more creative ways to get people into your website. It all comes down to the fact that having asked people on my list it came as no surprise that most people want to know about free rather than paid traffic sources. I've had to become an expert in free ways of getting traffic in my time online.
Q. What do you mean - I thought you were running a successful online business with lots of cash flow?
A. I am. But it's not always been this way. When I first started out in 1995 I had nothing. No money to play with. Just my own initiative and imagination.
Q. So are you saying you're against paying for traffic online?
A. No. No I'm not saying that at all. What I'm saying is that, especially when you first start out, you always want to focus on the free methods. You get the traffic in for free, make some sales and then you can reinvest some of that money into paid methods of getting traffic. This speeds up the process.
Q. So what particular offline methods are you referring to - can you give us some examples?
A. There's one tactic I used that costs nothing to implement, is relatively quick and ended up getting me thousands and thousands of targeted visitors into my websites. When I've shared this tactic with other marketers at seminars they've started laughing and slapping their foreheads when they saw how easy it was. They were also embarrassed that they had failed to use this tactic. It was quite amusing.
Q. So are you going to tell us what this method is?
A. No! (laughs) It's in my course! I truly believe in rewarding those people that are most eager to learn so instead of giving away all my traffic tactics in interviews like this I've put some of them in an E-Book I've written. It is free though if people want to get it.
Q. So how can people get hold of it?
A. It's called "How To Avoid The Top 20 Traffic Disasters" and you can get it by going to Michael's Traffic Videos - you'll see it mentioned on that page.
Q. What's in it?
A. Well I really wanted to raise the bar on a free E-Book so I spent a lot of time creating it. It's 40 pages long and stuffed with juicy content on what NOT to do when it comes to traffic. As far as I'm concerned too many people out there tell you what you should do but not what you shouldn't do. That's where this E-Book comes in.
Q. Okay. I think we're about done is there anything else you want to tell everyone?
A. Just that if they are serious about getting more traffic into their website they need to goto Michael's Traffic Videos and get that free E-Book.
Q. Cool. Well thanks for your time Michael and speak to you soon.
A. My pleasure. Speak soon.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Don't Buy Internet Mortgage Leads - Generate Them Yourself!
In the December 2006 edition of "Broker" magazine, editor Brad Finkelstein began his column with this title - The Future is Online. He noted that at the final session of the 2006 MBA annual convention, three speakers gave a presentation entitled "The New Reality of Customer Acquisition and Retention. Interestingly, not one of the three speakers came from the mortgage industry. No, the three speakers were from Microsoft, Yahoo and Google.
The message these three speakers delivered was simple. It was this - in order to obtain customers more energy needs to be spent with online marketing methods. Well, that's not really a surprise now, is it? I mean, unless you've been living in a ditch somewhere, isn't it obvious that the Internet is where most mortgage leads are now generated?
Internet mortgage leads for sale! How many times have you heard that over the past 5 years or so? Why? Why are there so many companies selling the Internet leads? Before the Internet, was there anyone selling direct mail leads? No. Why? Because direct mail isn't hard. Anyone can start a direct mail campaign. How about telemarketing leads? As far as I can remember, we've always had companies that sold telemarketing leads. That's because setting up a telemarketing room has a much higher barrier of entry. You need to hire telemarketers, buy lists, develop scripts. Not so easy.
Same with Internet leads. There is a steep learning curve in developing these leads. The companies that want to sell you Internet leads have quite simply, just figured it out. They learned how to drive traffic (web surfers) to their sites and then figured out how to get those surfers to fill out an online application. These companies couldn't originate a loan to save their lives. But they got interested parties to fill out an online app. And originators throughout the country eagerly lined up to buy those leads. $30, $60, $85, I've seen as high as $120 paid for those leads!
Think about this for just a second. And allow me to make a couple of assumptions based upon my years of experience in this area. Half of the leads you buy will be people that cannot be helped. Whether it's loan to value, credit, lack of income, whatever, I think you would agree that half cannot be helped at this point. (Although better LO's will retain those leads and put them in the marketing "que", keeping in touch with them so that they can help them some time in the future).
So let's assume you're a strong closer and are able to close 3 of the 5 good leads. So for every 10 leads, you spend somewhere between $300 to as much $1,250 to close 3 loans. That means your "cost of acquisition" per loan lies between $100 to over $400. Now you have to know your average commission amount to see if this strategy is worth it. And it may be.
One BIG problem. In the real world, closing ratios are closer to only 1 or 2 out of 10. So now, your "cost of acquisition" can be as high as $1,250! I sure hope you are getting a pretty high split!
Here's the point. You simply MUST learn how to generate your own leads from the Internet. Look at it this way. Peggy White, GM of Yahoo Finance said that 54% of future mortgage borrowers do their research online. To me, that's low. Why? Because kids that have grown up with the Internet have not yet started buying homes. But that day is coming... and soon.
The Internet went mainstream in the mid to late 1990's. New technologies become commonplace within 10 years. Look at the PC. I bough my first one in 1991. By 2001, you couldn't live without one. Part of the reason for this is that teenagers are often "first users"of new tech toys. Over the next 10 years they grow up, get jobs and start buying things. And they use them. You have a teenager - say 16 years old in 1998. Now he's 26. Within the next few years, he's buying a house. You think he's going to be comfortable researching mortgages online? You bet. So it may be 54% now but that figure is going to rise every single year from here on in and within a few years it will be close to 100%.
Will you be ready? You can be ready now. I am going to show you how to gain a presence online, how to get people to inquire online for your services, how to use Internet technologies to take applications, how to automatically stay in touch with your prospects and clients... did I miss something? Bookmark this site, put it in your favorites, del.icio.us it (you'll learn), whatever, but keep coming back... I have SO much to share with you!
The message these three speakers delivered was simple. It was this - in order to obtain customers more energy needs to be spent with online marketing methods. Well, that's not really a surprise now, is it? I mean, unless you've been living in a ditch somewhere, isn't it obvious that the Internet is where most mortgage leads are now generated?
Internet mortgage leads for sale! How many times have you heard that over the past 5 years or so? Why? Why are there so many companies selling the Internet leads? Before the Internet, was there anyone selling direct mail leads? No. Why? Because direct mail isn't hard. Anyone can start a direct mail campaign. How about telemarketing leads? As far as I can remember, we've always had companies that sold telemarketing leads. That's because setting up a telemarketing room has a much higher barrier of entry. You need to hire telemarketers, buy lists, develop scripts. Not so easy.
Same with Internet leads. There is a steep learning curve in developing these leads. The companies that want to sell you Internet leads have quite simply, just figured it out. They learned how to drive traffic (web surfers) to their sites and then figured out how to get those surfers to fill out an online application. These companies couldn't originate a loan to save their lives. But they got interested parties to fill out an online app. And originators throughout the country eagerly lined up to buy those leads. $30, $60, $85, I've seen as high as $120 paid for those leads!
Think about this for just a second. And allow me to make a couple of assumptions based upon my years of experience in this area. Half of the leads you buy will be people that cannot be helped. Whether it's loan to value, credit, lack of income, whatever, I think you would agree that half cannot be helped at this point. (Although better LO's will retain those leads and put them in the marketing "que", keeping in touch with them so that they can help them some time in the future).
So let's assume you're a strong closer and are able to close 3 of the 5 good leads. So for every 10 leads, you spend somewhere between $300 to as much $1,250 to close 3 loans. That means your "cost of acquisition" per loan lies between $100 to over $400. Now you have to know your average commission amount to see if this strategy is worth it. And it may be.
One BIG problem. In the real world, closing ratios are closer to only 1 or 2 out of 10. So now, your "cost of acquisition" can be as high as $1,250! I sure hope you are getting a pretty high split!
Here's the point. You simply MUST learn how to generate your own leads from the Internet. Look at it this way. Peggy White, GM of Yahoo Finance said that 54% of future mortgage borrowers do their research online. To me, that's low. Why? Because kids that have grown up with the Internet have not yet started buying homes. But that day is coming... and soon.
The Internet went mainstream in the mid to late 1990's. New technologies become commonplace within 10 years. Look at the PC. I bough my first one in 1991. By 2001, you couldn't live without one. Part of the reason for this is that teenagers are often "first users"of new tech toys. Over the next 10 years they grow up, get jobs and start buying things. And they use them. You have a teenager - say 16 years old in 1998. Now he's 26. Within the next few years, he's buying a house. You think he's going to be comfortable researching mortgages online? You bet. So it may be 54% now but that figure is going to rise every single year from here on in and within a few years it will be close to 100%.
Will you be ready? You can be ready now. I am going to show you how to gain a presence online, how to get people to inquire online for your services, how to use Internet technologies to take applications, how to automatically stay in touch with your prospects and clients... did I miss something? Bookmark this site, put it in your favorites, del.icio.us it (you'll learn), whatever, but keep coming back... I have SO much to share with you!
Sunday, July 1, 2007
What Do You Mean, You're Not Using an Autoresponder?
As you have seen, to really take your business to the next level, there are a number of things you must focus on early to reap the rewards that await. As you develop your blog, your mini-site or opt-in page, you'll be providing a vehicle for people to contact you. Each time you are contacted, whether in the form of an inquiry or a comment becomes a lead. They provide their email and that is your invitation to keep in touch with them. The "keeping in touch" part determines if you make them a client.
There is a tool that actually automates this whole processor. It is called an AUTORESPONDER. An autoresponder allows you to "que up" a series of emails and then have those emails delivered on a pre-determined schedule to prospects that have inquired for your services.
Here's an example. A prospect comes across your Opt-in Page. They enter their name and email address so that they may receive the information you offered. The autoresponder will automatically send them the information. Then it will send a follow up. And another. And another. It'll send follow ups for as long as you want it to. You just write small snipets of information, enter them into your autoresponder control panel and you're off and running! It's really quite simple, super inexpensive and quite literally, you can't be without one.
The favorite autoresponder of the Internet gurus is, hands down, AWEBER. Tom Kunzler developed this wonderful service. He provides a number of short videos that show you step by step how to get your autoresponders working for you. There's a 30 day trial to see if you like it. You will... if you use it. Look, I know we're all very busy doing the day to day. But you know the old saying - Work ON your business, not IN it? Well, having an autoresponder is like having a full time assistant that works for you 24/7, making sure that every person that contacts you is contacted in return. Yes, there is an investment of time in the beginning, but that investment will return many hours of saved time. Never miss an opportunity to follow up with a prospect again!
Give it a try - just click here. You can thank me later.
There is a tool that actually automates this whole processor. It is called an AUTORESPONDER. An autoresponder allows you to "que up" a series of emails and then have those emails delivered on a pre-determined schedule to prospects that have inquired for your services.
Here's an example. A prospect comes across your Opt-in Page. They enter their name and email address so that they may receive the information you offered. The autoresponder will automatically send them the information. Then it will send a follow up. And another. And another. It'll send follow ups for as long as you want it to. You just write small snipets of information, enter them into your autoresponder control panel and you're off and running! It's really quite simple, super inexpensive and quite literally, you can't be without one.
The favorite autoresponder of the Internet gurus is, hands down, AWEBER. Tom Kunzler developed this wonderful service. He provides a number of short videos that show you step by step how to get your autoresponders working for you. There's a 30 day trial to see if you like it. You will... if you use it. Look, I know we're all very busy doing the day to day. But you know the old saying - Work ON your business, not IN it? Well, having an autoresponder is like having a full time assistant that works for you 24/7, making sure that every person that contacts you is contacted in return. Yes, there is an investment of time in the beginning, but that investment will return many hours of saved time. Never miss an opportunity to follow up with a prospect again!
Give it a try - just click here. You can thank me later.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
What's Better Than a Website?
Struggled trying to generate income from a website? Maybe you've given up even trying? Or worse - are you losing your shirt handing your hard earned cash to a "website company" each month with nothing to show for it?
Whether you already have a website or want to get one, if you don't MONETIZE it, don't bother. Meaning, if it doesn't make you money, why even have one?
After spending thousands of dollars and an indeterminable amount of time messing with websites, webmasters, designers, search engines - you name it - I had seriously considered hanging it all up when....
EVERYTHING for me changed. I got lucky. I'll tell you how in a moment.
First, You Need to Know One Thing -
IF WEB MASTERS & DESIGNERS KNEW HOW TO MAKE MONEY FROM WEBSITES, DO YOU REALLY THINK THEY WOULD BE CREATING WEBSITES FOR YOU?
No...they'd be working from home, creating money making websites for themselves, right?
You bet'chya!
Look... the companies that provide websites for mortgage companies and originators offer what are called "template sites". They offer up a bunch of templates that you need to fill with your own content. Otherwise, you'll get exactly what every one of their customers gets. Some of them
look nice but seriously... do you really think paying for a full blown application, a glossary and some articles is going to bring you actual applications? If you don't know how search engines work, know this - they definitely don't bring internet searchers to some template website.
I know because I've made ALL the mistakes. I've paid 6 different web designers over the past few years with little to show for it. I made some money but not close to what I was getting from my referred business.
See web designers prey on people's ignorance. They start talking about KEYWORDS. They talk about TRAFFIC, CONVERSION, FLASH. As if they were able to create a site that brings in tons of applications. Yea, right.
Trust me, it's bull#^*%!
Once I paid a "Search Engine Optimization" company $2,500. Within hours, I started getting tons of "visitors" to my site. MAN, I was ecstatic! I was thinking, "Yea baby, this is it! I really thought I found a short cut to getting people to my site. But you know, not one of those "hits" turned into an application. I found out later that these "services" are a complete scam... the whole things rigged!
I said never again!
AND THEN....I got lucky. I found 3 guys that taught me the most amazing thing about generating income from the Internet. They said I was going about it all wrong!
They said this: YOUR WEBSITE SHOULD DO ONE THING. CAPTURE LEADS! EVERYTHING ELSE IS PURE FLUFF AND WON'T MAKE YOU A PENNY!
Mmmmmm.... ok... I buy that. But how do I do that? How do I get people to my website? And once they are there, how do I "capture" them?
They said, Forget your traditional website. You'll never achieve a high ranking in search engines because the mortgage and real estate industries have many big players - don't even try to compete with them. Circumvent them!
How?
Ever hear of an Opt In Page?
How about a landing page?
Fair question... here's one example:
See, it's nothing more than a highly focused, prospect capturing, 1 page site. One simple page that does one thing and does it well. We need to stop trying to impress people, we just need to peak their curiosity. Then, we simply ask them if they would like more information. We make it easy to ask because all a prospect needs to enter is a name, an email and an optional phone number.
Once they request further information... drum roll... NEW CLIENT!!
Check it out -
www.OptInWebsite.com
Of course, you still need to get people to go there. Just do whatever it takes - EMAIL, POSTCARDS, CLASSIFIEDS, BUSINESS CARDS.
Ok...I see.. Do what I am doing anyway, but instead of trying to sell with my ads and direct marketing, just get them to visit the opt-in page. Then when they ask for more info, I simply send it to them. And of course, from then on it's a breeze to stay in touch. Once I get dialogue flowing, they're mine.
www.OptInWebsite.com
Whether you already have a website or want to get one, if you don't MONETIZE it, don't bother. Meaning, if it doesn't make you money, why even have one?
After spending thousands of dollars and an indeterminable amount of time messing with websites, webmasters, designers, search engines - you name it - I had seriously considered hanging it all up when....
EVERYTHING for me changed. I got lucky. I'll tell you how in a moment.
First, You Need to Know One Thing -
IF WEB MASTERS & DESIGNERS KNEW HOW TO MAKE MONEY FROM WEBSITES, DO YOU REALLY THINK THEY WOULD BE CREATING WEBSITES FOR YOU?
No...they'd be working from home, creating money making websites for themselves, right?
You bet'chya!
Look... the companies that provide websites for mortgage companies and originators offer what are called "template sites". They offer up a bunch of templates that you need to fill with your own content. Otherwise, you'll get exactly what every one of their customers gets. Some of them
look nice but seriously... do you really think paying for a full blown application, a glossary and some articles is going to bring you actual applications? If you don't know how search engines work, know this - they definitely don't bring internet searchers to some template website.
I know because I've made ALL the mistakes. I've paid 6 different web designers over the past few years with little to show for it. I made some money but not close to what I was getting from my referred business.
See web designers prey on people's ignorance. They start talking about KEYWORDS. They talk about TRAFFIC, CONVERSION, FLASH. As if they were able to create a site that brings in tons of applications. Yea, right.
Trust me, it's bull#^*%!
Once I paid a "Search Engine Optimization" company $2,500. Within hours, I started getting tons of "visitors" to my site. MAN, I was ecstatic! I was thinking, "Yea baby, this is it! I really thought I found a short cut to getting people to my site. But you know, not one of those "hits" turned into an application. I found out later that these "services" are a complete scam... the whole things rigged!
I said never again!
AND THEN....I got lucky. I found 3 guys that taught me the most amazing thing about generating income from the Internet. They said I was going about it all wrong!
They said this: YOUR WEBSITE SHOULD DO ONE THING. CAPTURE LEADS! EVERYTHING ELSE IS PURE FLUFF AND WON'T MAKE YOU A PENNY!
Mmmmmm.... ok... I buy that. But how do I do that? How do I get people to my website? And once they are there, how do I "capture" them?
They said, Forget your traditional website. You'll never achieve a high ranking in search engines because the mortgage and real estate industries have many big players - don't even try to compete with them. Circumvent them!
How?
Ever hear of an Opt In Page?
How about a landing page?
Fair question... here's one example:
See, it's nothing more than a highly focused, prospect capturing, 1 page site. One simple page that does one thing and does it well. We need to stop trying to impress people, we just need to peak their curiosity. Then, we simply ask them if they would like more information. We make it easy to ask because all a prospect needs to enter is a name, an email and an optional phone number.
Once they request further information... drum roll... NEW CLIENT!!
Check it out -
www.OptInWebsite.com
Of course, you still need to get people to go there. Just do whatever it takes - EMAIL, POSTCARDS, CLASSIFIEDS, BUSINESS CARDS.
Ok...I see.. Do what I am doing anyway, but instead of trying to sell with my ads and direct marketing, just get them to visit the opt-in page. Then when they ask for more info, I simply send it to them. And of course, from then on it's a breeze to stay in touch. Once I get dialogue flowing, they're mine.
www.OptInWebsite.com
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