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Ambassador
2,178,603
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

The ones you don't have to pay for:
Your blog
Your website
Your online marketing

Don't get sucked into buying leads.  The ROI is meager, at best. There are way more effective way of spending your dollars.  Your blog, website and other online marketing efforts are the least expensive best way of generating ongoing leads for the long term.  

Dec 19, 2016 06:20 AM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Not a single one if you are talking about sites that sell leads.  Try your own website, your own blog and maybe some social networking sites.  

Dec 19, 2016 07:09 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Amen to what Carol Williams said!  Those that you don't have to pay for.  Blog, Website (ok, that one may cost a little), online marketing, branding, etc. 

Example: I ran into a local agent at a Christmas party for a firearms training school.  He recognized me because my photo is all over my listing photos.  Branding.  Name and face recognition.  Boom!

Dec 19, 2016 10:20 AM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

I prefer offline

calling soi

direct marketing

working open houses

working fsbo's

working expires

 

Dec 19, 2016 07:14 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Your own activities online. No PPC, all content driven through blogs, organic SEO.

Dec 19, 2016 06:21 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,291
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

There are no good online lead generation sites. I don't think you are clear as to what question you are asking.

Dec 19, 2016 07:38 AM
Ambassador
5,049,133
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Steer away from sites that charge for leads. Focus on generating leads through your sphere, blogging, doing open houses, onlinemarketing including social media sites

Dec 19, 2016 07:27 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Nicole,

What Sandy Padula and Norm Padula, JD, GRI NMLS#1483386 , Carol Williams and Patricia Kennedy said.  A

Dec 19, 2016 07:13 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder! Carol Williams , Patricia Kennedy , Richard WeeksSandy Padula and Norm Padula, JD, GRI NMLS#1483386 all  provided a good answer.

Dec 19, 2016 10:32 AM
Rainmaker
4,936,677
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

I pass on buying leads, work your own network

 

Dec 19, 2016 09:23 AM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Your own website

Your own efforts with blogging

Your own knowledge of the communities you serve

Your ability to stay connected with clients and get repeat and referral business

Your ability to network with other agents and receive referrals

Dec 19, 2016 01:32 PM
Rainmaker
2,182,552
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

I don't buy online leads

Dec 19, 2016 07:16 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,398
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

I only use the Rain and no pay per lead sites!

Dec 19, 2016 06:20 AM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

The best online generation ihave is my Active Rain blog.  No pay per lead service has come even close to what i can generate on my own. 

Dec 19, 2016 06:16 AM
Ambassador
3,043,262
Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!

1. Your website 

2. Your own blog 

3. ActiveRain 

4. Facebook Ads and Live streams 

Dec 19, 2016 02:06 PM
Rainmaker
864,658
Les & Sarah Oswald
Realty One Group - Eastvale, CA
Broker, Realtor and Investor

1. Your own leads 

2. Your own leads

3. Your own leads

4. Your own leads

5. Generate your own leads.

Dec 19, 2016 09:20 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,134
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Blog about what is most effective for you.

Dec 19, 2016 08:57 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

It depends on your target markets.

Dec 19, 2016 08:07 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Others have answered.

Dec 19, 2016 06:59 AM
Ambassador
6,393,404
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671
  1. Active RAin Localism posts
  2. Active RAin Localism posts
  3. Active RAin Localism posts
  4. Active RAin Localism posts
  5. Active RAin Localism posts
Dec 19, 2016 07:16 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Any free site would rate in the top 5 for me.  You cut your throat and others in this profession when you patronize these sites

Dec 19, 2016 01:50 PM
Rainmaker
2,224,473
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

The general consensus is to NOT pay for leads. I think there are better, less expensive ways to generate business. 

Dec 19, 2016 01:25 PM
Ambassador
2,684,009
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Your blog.

Your website.

Your IDX.

Your social media sites.

You.

Dec 19, 2016 11:05 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

A special report from Inman begins,

What you will observe is the 'rich agents' do use online lead generation companies. The question to ask yourself is why?

Because of the agreements between these websites and how mobile users are treated differently by each enterprise, ranking which lead aggregatee is more significant is increasingly difficult. Be aware, if you use online of free access software on your computer the results you see will be dramatically skewed because your 'location' will be an important element determining the results you will see.

Since Trulia is now owned by Zillow, it becomes easy to see who owns the dominate consumer voice in real estate.

As others have made clear, it may be in your best interest to learn how to generate leads using tools such as: website, blogs, adwords, Facebook ads.

 

Dec 19, 2016 07:19 AM
Rainmaker
544,014
Dave Halpern
Dave Halpern Real Estate Agent, Inc., Louisville, KY (502) 664-7827 - Louisville, KY
Louisville Short Sale Expert

call sphere

call past clients

open houses

call FSBO's

call expireds

 

Sep 17, 2017 10:25 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,544
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Start working on YOUR online presence, and you will see leads coming without paying.

Dec 21, 2016 07:07 AM
Rainmaker
821,118
Eileen Burns 954.483.3912
Trans State Commercial Realty Inc. - Fort Lauderdale, FL
FLorida Real Estate Connector

Welcome to Active Rain Nicole! I am anxious to see the answers to this very good question.  I am in process of exploring IDX then lead gen.  Since you are in Miami...we should connect.  I live in Hollywood

Dec 20, 2016 05:42 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Patricia Kennedy nailed this one!

Dec 20, 2016 04:34 AM
Ambassador
5,230,057
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Don't pay for it - whatever you decide to do when it comes to online leads! Use your blog and your website for leads but, more importantly, work your sphere...your past clients, your neighbors and farm!  

Dec 19, 2016 07:57 PM
Rainmaker
4,160,412
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Nicole Schuery Other members answered properly.

Dec 19, 2016 05:42 PM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I really don't have a clue.

Dec 19, 2016 05:01 PM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

What is the criteria for "top 5"?

Dec 19, 2016 03:39 PM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

learn to market online and use your own website first....then go to other sites, including ActiveRain....

Dec 19, 2016 03:34 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Nicole Schuery calls, notes. pop-bys, customer parties and business mixer. None of them would expect you to spend thousands of dollars.

Coaching from Buffini & Company.

Dec 19, 2016 03:12 PM
Rainer
43,610
steve weiser
ReMax Evolution - Dana Point, CA
Real Estate Agent

ECHO App

Apple App store

search ECHO-gram

great for prospecting ... FSBOs and Expired ///

Dec 19, 2016 01:42 PM