Everyday, I get at least one phone call from a mortgage broker, appraiser, inspector, title insurance representative, or attorney – all asking the exact same question:
How can we get more of your business?
I smile when this happens. It feels nice to be on the other end of the sales pitch. But, their question has always left me a little anxious. Of course, I tell them to give me excellent and quick service. But, I always felt that I was missing an opportunity.
Then one day – lightning struck. I was thinking about my Web Site and how I could get more traffic. As I looked at my home page – an idea began to grow. Then it happened. Like clockwork – the phone rang. A new mortgage broker asked me “the question”; how can they get more of their business – and I answered:
“You can help me by placing a link to my Web Site on your Web Site.” There was silence on the other end of the phone. After a few seconds, the broker said “Sure. Can I get a link on your Web Site?”
“You bet!” I answered
And within 30 minutes – our Web Sites were linked and ready to go. Now here’s the juicy part. My mortgage broker partner’s Web Site started sending my Web Site visitors. Because, the broker had a pretty decent Web Site – my traffic grew every month.
The quality of the traffic – you ask? Superb. The people I want to talk to usually visit a mortgage specialist to get pre-approved. In my case, my partner provided online pre-approvals. He just included my link in the online pre-approval confirmation. As you already know, these leads are burning hot.
By the way, I’ve named my firstborn after this mortgage broker (just kidding) and he gets all of my business (dead – serious).
What struck me about this joint-venture arrangement is that it is very easy to do. You don’t have to be a marketing genius – just dedicated to driving visitors to your Web Site.
Here are a few quick tips that I took from my book to help you set-up your own online linking partnerships.
Build a Great Links Page: Add a page to your Web Site dedicated to listing high-quality links to resources that you trust. Don’t just put the link – but also a small description of what the business does. A high-quality links page gets high-quality businesses who will happy to swap leads with you. Check out www.RealtorInternetTips.com/article.htm for an example of excellent links page.
Put Their Link on Your Web Site First: Before you ask a business to put your link on their Web Site – take the initiative and put their link on your page – first. Top Realtors know that “givers – get”. It will be very difficult for anyone to turn-down placing your link on their Web Site, if you already have a link you Web Site.
Provide Your Partner with eye-ball grabbing attention-getting text for your link: Take a moment to write a two sentence headline that makes it impossible not to click your link. Put a clear benefit in your link description that will make your potential prospects sit-up and take notice of your link. Here’s an example:
www.Toledo-Homes.com Homebuyers! Let us show you your dream home. Click here to find out how we make the homebuying process fun and stress-free!
I suggest devoting 30 minutes every month to trading links with your professional sphere of influence. In no time, you will have blazing hot leads pouring into your Web Site. Not bad.
Stan Smith is the Author of Master Realtor Internet Secrets Revealed! a comprehensive guide that teaches real estate professionals how to build and market lead-generating Real Estate web sites. Click here for more information on this ground-breaking online success guide – written exclusively for real estate professionals. Check it out at http://www.RealtorInternetTips.com
