Use CraigsList to Generate Leads - Real Estate and Technology News for Agents, Broker

Use CraigsList to Generate Leads

Lead generation is an important item in every agent's business plan and Bernice Ross, real estate coach and author suggests using CraigsList to generate leads.

CraigsList generates high traffic and it's important to understand the dynamics of how you can make your CraigsList advertising work for you.

First, Ross says, avoid these common mistakes:

Posting at the wrong time of day: "Research that shows that people visit Craigslist in the morning around 8:30 to 9:00 a.m., just before they begin work. They also visit Craigslist around lunchtime." Says Ross. And then it peaks again after dinner, but that time differs from winter to summer. In the wintertime, it's usually from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. In the summertime, it's more likely to be later, usually between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m."
Writing Boring Headlines and Boring Ads: "Make your ads intriguing." Says Josh Schoenly of ReTechulous.com. Make your ad speak to your reader. Instead of just listing the features, intrigue them with a few juicy details and then include a Call To Action so that they click on your ad for more information, which connects them to your website.

Once you have put these tips in place, the next thing you need to do is:

Create a Lead Capture Trap: Don't waste your money directing clients to a "branded website". What works best is a simple unbranded website devoted exclusively to the property you are marketing. "Schoenly's unbranded website normally converts 15 to 35 percent of the people who visit it into actual leads. This type of page is often called a 'squeeze page.' says Ross. "In contrast, when he used a branded website, the conversion rate was only a pitiful one percent."

When they visit the "squeeze page", make sure you have a call to action to capture their email address by having them sign up for (or phone for) more information like a "FREE weekly list of foreclosed and bank-owned properties."

"For this to work, however," says Ross, "you must be willing to compile and maintain an up-to-date foreclosure list. You must also be willing to respond quickly with a return phone call when someone decides to use the telephone option. Finally, you will also need an autoresponder system that automatically sends out the list to anyone who clicks on the link."

Last but not least, Be Consistent: In order to be effective, you must be consistent. Schoenly suggests that you set up a recurring appointment with yourself so that you always remember to do your posts three times per day.

Ross warns that CraigsList has very specific criteria that must be met and to avoid being "flagged" or pulled from the site, she suggests avoiding being "overly salesy, overhyping, using all caps, and using the word free."

Schoenly also warns that you can be flagged if more than two people report your ads. "Sometimes a jealous competitor may come after you about your advertising strategy." says Schoenly. "If this does happen, post your ads at night. Most snipers hang out at the office during the day and that's when they're most likely to be online."

Following these simple steps can help you be successful in generating more leads from your CraigsList ads.

For more great real estate tips, visit RealEstateCoach.com

photo credit: Dain Sandoval