How to create a lead generation website?

Question

Is there a cheap website template or system that I could use to generate buyer and seller lists? Is there an article somewhere, describing how to setup a lead generating website? I have seen where other investors have setup a website to capture contact info and I was just wondering what template/system did they use or did they hire a web developer. I would like to avoid hiring a web developer right now, since I am just starting my real estate investing career and don't want to spend a lot of money developing a web site. I would like to know the steps from no website to a fully functional lead generating website. I know the first step would be to create a domain and register it but I don't know how to create the content as I have never created a website.

Thanks.

Don Konipol · Answer

Homestead owned by Intuit is the best combo of price/results I have found

Jerry Puckett · Answer

True enough just about anyone can put a site together these days. I've made many of them, and little by little I've learned how to tweak SEO to get sites ranked for relevant keywords.

The OP's question was regarding something inexpensive, but I maintain that using up your own valuable time recreating the wheel is one of the more expensive routes you can take. Especially if it doesn't perform the way you expect it to.

Jodi Barraclough · Answer

You mentioned not wanting to hire a web developer due to finances.  I placed a bid on Elance about 4 years ago for a swimsuit website that was quite cumbersome in design and functionality and it cost me $350.00

I would suggest that you first get your domain name. Then find a lead generation website that you like.  Place a bid on Elance and put a link to your example website so that the developers can see exactly what you are looking for. You can put budget requirements on the job and then see of anyone is interested in working with you on the project.

Vikki Waln · Answer

We are setting up with Wordpress and that's free. Just pick a template, and enter your text content, get a free forms plugin to add on. Make your form fields and tell it to email it to you. Done!

Vishal Verma · Answer

Tony,

Creating a website is step 1, which is easiest and most inexpensive. A lot of people have given you good suggestions. If I was you, I would think about the next step. How you plan to get people on that website. SEO has become rocket science these days (I am an online marketer for past 7 years now). Big G has openly declared war against SEO. Primarily, SEO hits their revenue (PPC), thus they have done everything possible in their algo to kill SEO (as per recent Penguin update) and promote youtube videos (G earns revenue from YT ads also) and PPC is always there. This industry is highly competitive and ranking your website on page 1 can take years of hard work and a LOT of money. How you plan to get traffic (people) to your website. I have always preferred the traditional referral system over any other lead generation system. And when I say that, I say that with 12 years of marketing experience utilizing almost everything there is, SEO, PPC,  Call centers, mailers, email marketing, radio/ TV ads, etc.

[Solicitation Removed by admin]

PS: It is always good to have your own website, so do get it. And always get an email with it. It really gives a professional look to have an email like name@companyname.com rather than our teenage yahoo accounts, LOL.

James Wilson · Answer

Tony,

I didn't know anything about websites when I started but I will +1 for WordPress. Very easy to use and their is a plugin or theme available for almost anything. With hosting and my domain for a year I think I put out $100. Google "how to set up WordPress", "real estate themes" etc and you will find more than you want to know.

Sean F. · Answer

Kyle hit the nail on the head. Anyone can create a site nowadays. Getting to the top of the page with keywords is the tricky part. SEO and paying for the adsense words can get pricey. You can also drive people to your site by creating content, writing articles etc...

Kyle C. · Answer

The problem with these type of sites is that it will still take A LOT of work to get people to them.  For real estate that will be mostly through craigslist posts, bandit signs, marketing $$$.  If you want people to get there organically, you're going to have a hell of a time trying to optimize your site to be on page one for "sell your house" or "cash offer" or whatever you are trying to attract people to do.

I do a lot of SEO for adsense and ecommerce sites, so feel free to shoot me a PM or ask away on the forums if you have any more questions.

Tony Colquett · Answer

Thanks, Jodi!  I had forgotten about elance.

Justin Williams · Answer

Mike, would you mind sending me his info as well?  Thanks.

How to create a lead generation website?

Most Popular Reply