BUSINESS IS BOOMING on the Internet these days. You can't turn on the TV, listen to the radio, or read the newspaper without someone telling you why you should be on the Internet. It's the modern day equivalent of "Go West".

More households have Internet access than ever before. Thus, more agents and agencies are online than ever before. Agent web sites are popping up all over the web, and rightfully so. Every agent should develop a strong Internet presence, it's the new frontier for selling homes. However, there are some pitfalls to watch out for:

1. Planning.
Know the reason why you want to get active on the web. Be able to sum up in two sentences to yourself and your web designer exactly what you hope to accomplish with a web presence. Check out your competition, see how they present themselves.
2. Content is Key.
Don't make a web site just so you can print the web address on your business card. Make sure your site contains relevant, useful information. Get in the mind of the web surfer and think about what they would find informative-that's the content for your site.
3. Hire A Professional.
If you decide to go the route of a personal web site, don't make it look like you have just purchased the most recent version of a "do-it-yourself" web kit. Internet surfers can spot these somewhat unprofessional sites a giga-mile away. You're going to the trouble of breaking a new marketing front. Don't go to the trouble of learning a new industry at the same time. Baby steps.
4. The Visual Assault.
Being a real estate agent involves selling yourself as well as the property. Many agents produce bright, multi-color, fully animated, web sites full of scrolling text and flashing banners. People cannot read text on a page when half the items on the page are moving in different directions, and after all, you want them to read your pitch. Simple, elegant sites, using warm colors are more inviting and cause less eye strain. Just because technology CAN do it doesn't necessarily mean you SHOULD do it.
5. Follow Up.
Many agents have their own sites and make use of postcard systems and newsletter forums, but never follow up on the leads it generates. The technology is hardly worth it if you don't plan to take advantage of the fruits of your labor.
6. Domain Names.
If you are committed to making a web site, then you should be committed to getting a decent name for it. It costs $70.00 to buy a name, and it's worth every penny. Be wary of free web services like GeoCities, TriPod, or CitySearch because many search engines put up blocks to keep you from registering these sites, making marketing efforts difficult to say the least. The bottom line-you get what you pay for.
7. Keep it Current.
Two months is a really long time on the web. If you have a site that isn't updated with new information constantly, your site becomes stale. You can avoid this problem by using an Interactive service that generates pages on fly when you log on. These Internet agent support services keep you from having to make your own web site, and still give you the high tech edge you're looking for.
8. Download Time.
Most Internet users operate on 28.8 modem speed. That means if it takes longer than 15 seconds to download, they leave and go elsewhere. The bottom line is not pack the top of the home page with graphics. Give them some text so they can be reading as the page loads.
9. Web Promotion.
Your site is fairly worthless if people cannot find it. You have to get your site registered in all the Internet search engines. Furthermore, strategic links from community resource centers, Chambers of Commerce, relocation guides, industry related sites and tourism boards will increase traffic to your web site, which translates to more leads for you.
10. Spam.
Some agents have learned to unleash the power of email, and over-use it. "Spam" is an Internet term for inappropriate over-use of email, which is the Internet equivalent of junk-mail. In fact, it is so serious that some Internet authorities have actually revoke people's online privileges because of this type of harassment, and it doesn't score you any points.

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