Ask anyone that uses the Internet on a regular basis what they expect to find when searching online and the answer will almost always be something akin to: “free information.”
The boom of the Internet is also its bane. The constant struggle with Internet entrepreneurship has always been devising ways to monetize a site.
The SOP for new developers is to first build a site, generate sufficient traffic, and then once a site is popular, try to figure out how to make money.
More often than not this approach fails. Advertising revenues will rarely support an enterprise. There must be a way to change the user mindset from “free” to “glad to pay.”
In the meantime companies are floated by speculators with venture capital that hope that one day the site will be profitable and yield some kind of return.
The majority of websites are no more than online pamphlets, and offer little value beyond delivering address and contact info. Surprisingly enough some do not even do that very well.
Users want information. Fast and free. If you provide it, they will return to your site.
Will it translate into more business?
Indirectly yes. But it takes time and patience, because it’s a numbers game.
And the more numbers, the better!
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Even the behemoth Menard,s has no useful info on its site. Just a couple of specials. You can't even view their products. That's why I buy at Home Depot and Lowe's.
Ron...
It take a LOT of money to develop an enterprise site ... and it's benefit can only be calculated once it is in place! Thx.
Richard - Congrats on the Feature right out of the box on this Friday morning!
John...
I appreciate the support ... ALWAYS!!!!
I agree that strong updated content will bring the user to your site and then hopefully keep them on the site as you provide more information on what they are looking for.
Great subject and you speak the truth. Give them what they want and don't hound them to sign up for this or that to be able to gather more info. I think some people appreciate not be asked for all their contact info on every page of a info website.
Richard-
Nice featured post. You write well and are very informative. Great points to ponder for all of us!!
Cindy...
I think that the point that I am trying to make is this: to get results, you have to get the numbers first! Thanks my friend.
The time and patience part gets me : )
A little over a year after having started, my internet presence is strong. Everyone keeps telling me it's going to pay off soon. I keep waiting...
If you build it, they will come...if the information is useful and free!
Richard that is a very good observation and something that we need to remember. Congrats on the feature.
Richard, so true. The question is -- what information exactly are they seeking? And how do you make sure your information is better and that they find you and come back?
I get overwhelmed -- I simply get overwhelmed. I have a personal web site but admit I am lousy at keeping it up-to-date with valuable information. I know it's something I have to keep working at, but getting past that "overwhelming" feeling is proving to be very difficult.
Another great post. Congrats on the feature!
Despite my less than stellar web site maintenance, I still manage to get found and business comes my way.
they expect it to be free, and they expect it to be fast.
Great post, thanks for sharing with us! Happy weekend.
Richard: Not only do people want free information they want it FAST. Instant gratification.
We should take a lesson from some of the major retailers who are beefing up their online sales platforms. This is where it is.
Fast, Free and informative seem to be the common denominator here. I guess it's safe to say if you don't provide the information someone else will
It is surprising how many people complain about job loss when they shop in a way that doesn't involve live people.
As a society we want it yesterday and it needs to bu accurate. It does't always end that way.
Yes, fast and free information gets people to your site. Getting them to your site on a regular basis definitely helps to build more business. As you said, sales is a numbers game and can take time. Sometimes a lot of time :)
Yes that is true in this day and age everything is NOW. I want it now, instant gratification someone said already, especially the younger generation like my son in their twenties. If you can't give it to them, they will surely find it somewhere else. I also believe too much on a website loses you. No one want to sift through information to find it so I believe it needs to be eyes friendly...to keep them there.
I have found that the successful real estate websites offer their viewers something for nothing to attract their business. For example, access to the MLS to search for properties, amenities offered in a specific subdivision or community specialist, coupons to local retailers, and rankings of local schools. Rather than trying to swim upstream, go with the flow and offer something valuable.
HI Richard,... and why not fast and free? This has been the internet culture from the beginning. And it is still perpetuated by Google and others. Me, too - guilty as charged!
I use the Internet for information more than purchases, but I like free info. It does seem to be the nature of the Internet to provide info without always asking for something in return. Good thoughts, Richard.
Richard: Not that I don't want people to find me via my website .. I obviously would love that. But I also realize that one small independent loan officer is probably not going to pull the number of visitors to his site to garner huge numbers of leads or business. Not in ratio to mega-lender banks. So my focus is a bit different with my site. I use it as a convenience and source of info for primarily those that I have already come in contact with. I keep info there that will help them as they go through the homebuying and lending process ... as reminders, resource. It works well for me that way. So is my website a huge success in the typical manner? No .. but it's a success for me ...
Gene
Think people expect to find the answeers to every problem they have and everything they read is the truth.
Not only do they want it for free some folks take the stuff they read on the internet for the Gospel truth.
The higher the numbers the more business.
I stopped building websites that try to answer everybodys questions years ago. Now, I just give them what they want - pictures of homes in the area they're interested in. They'll ask questions if they have them, and the questions will be specifically about the home or area. That type of website doesn't generate a lot of leads, but the quality is higher.
Ditto of what Gene Mundt said, I use my website as a resource for clients I have already been introduced to my services. But I do like it when I am found on the internet by a buyer that needs my services.
Three words..... CONTENT, CONTENT, CONTENT. Users want to be able to find information on not only houses, but how the home buying process works, areas of town, and generally good information surrounding the real estate experience.
What do I look for on the Internet? I look for answers. So... I need to be answering more questions on my blog posts. Thanks!! ☺
I'm always looking for free information too, just like everyone else.
Richard:
People want information and they want it to be free. And if they don't get it on one site they got to another. They don't stick around very long if they don't find what they want.
With sites like Zillow and Trulia, I find it hard to compete. One of my buyers contacted me the other day about a listing he'd found on Trulia. He told me it had been on the market for 4 years and he wanted to know what the deal was. I looked it up. Sure enough, the home was listed in 2008 for six months. It expired. The seller brought it back on the market last month but Trulia is showing it listed that entire time. It may be free information but it's not correct information.
Richard - Free information and content is what they we want from the internet. And, you're right; it's numbers that allow us monetize eventually.
Yes, it is very challenging to monetize a new site and I'm not surprised that so many fail in this endeavor.
Richard, Internet searchers want everything, they want it for free and all too many feel it's the gospel. Many, many are being deluded by the net. Especially in real estate.
Excellent post on what people expect from the internet. I am sure many of us expect the same when we are seeking new info on the new iPad or car or anything we may be thinking about period. What is important to remember is in the end, so far at least, people do business with people they know, like and trust and not the internet.
Well said...you remind us all of the "it's all data till someone turns it into information" aspect of the raw internet. How to get that info connection is what we are all struggling with, I think. Needs our editing function?