a la mode
news & marketing tips — December
22,
2005
Using forms on your
XSite without turning off your visitors
A recent survey
of
consumer "pet peeves" about commercial websites
by
web hosting company Hostway Corp. found that 83 percent of consumers
get annoyed with websites with registration log-on pages that block
access to online content. But for many you, those
registration required pages
— or
"doorway forms" as we call them here
at a la mode
— are an effective way to get quality leads from your XSite.
As you may know,
you have two types of doorway forms available on your XSite: Page
specific forms that allow you to specify individual pages that should
be preceded by a form and global forms that allow you
to establish "triggers" to activate the doorway form of your choice
through the natural course of a visitor browsing your site. [After a
visitor has clicked on three pages, for example.]
So how do you
effectively use those doorway forms without annoying your visitors? The key is to use the forms sparingly, and only in places where the
destination content is of particular interest and value to your
visitors. For example, many XSite owners use global forms in their
listings so that when a visitor requests a listing detail page,
they're required to fill out a form such as "Looking to buy?" The
visitor's contact information then flows automatically into a specified contact
group so the agent can follow up.
To add doorway
forms to your XSite, click on the XSite icon in the My Office area of
your XSite and go to "Lead Capture."
Ultimately, it's up
to you to decide how and when to use your XSite's doorway forms
— if
you choose to use them at all. Many XSite owners have
success with password-protecting their content pages and listings. However, if you're not seeing the traffic you'd like, you may want to
consider taking the doorway forms down. Remember, the ultimate goal of
your XSite is to generate quality leads that build your business!
To learn more about
doorway forms, click
here. As always, if you need help, call us on the tech lines at
1-800-211-4514 any time, day or night. We'll even be here on
Christmas and New Year's Day. Promise.
Jump start your
marketing for the New Year
It can be hard to
get back into the swing of things after weeks of holiday shopping,
parties and eating. But this year, make it your New Year's
resolution to get a jump start on your marketing efforts. Here
are three types of customers that you should be marketing to early in
2006:
Sellers. Winter home
sellers often have an advantage over those who wait until the spring
or summer because there are fewer houses on the market
—
meaning less competition for them
—
and the buyers tend to be more serious as opposed to those who are
"just looking around" on a warm Sunday afternoon in June. In
addition, because of the limited supply of homes, your sellers may be
able to receive a higher purchase offer than expected.
First time
buyers. Many of us breathe a big sigh of relief once the
holiday season is over. But the end of the holidays marks the
beginning of another season: Tax season. Many Americans
file their taxes early in anticipation of getting their tax return
more quickly. Take a marketing cue from those car dealership
commercials and encourage your prospects to use their tax returns for
a down payment on a new home. Plus, the pre-built content page
"Your Down Payment" available your XSite gives prospects more ways to
accumulate down payment money so they can qualify for the best loan
possible.
Renters.
Many landlords impose rent increases at the beginning of the year on
properties that aren't rent-controlled.
XSellerate provides several
pre-built marketing campaigns that target renters. And be sure to
encourage your renter prospects to visit your XSite to use your Rent
vs. Buy calculator and read up on the home buying process. |
