Suggestions appreciated

How can I get links to Mom's site?

[Lilliabeth]

My mom wants to sell her 11 houses (she's a landlady) and move closer to me. (Yes, this is a good thing!) Any suggestions? It's not like we can offer great free content to entice linking.

[pageoneresults]

Any suggestions?

Hello Lilliabeth, I'd suggest that your Mom contact a Real Estate Agent and utilize the resources available from them. An MLS listing should bring the exposure you are looking for and of course realtors are going to do their best to move the properties for you. Overall, I feel this would be your best alternative.

[sullen]

aaah.

But the property market is a big one: if you send a nice email to estate agent sites in neighbouring areas, you should find at least some link back. Plus many top-list type sites will list you automatically initially (and of course you won't need the link for very long anyway).

But do you really need a site for the one-off sale of 11 houses? Don't know about the US, but where I live there are several place-your-own-ad-for-free property sites (which make their money by selling "premium" ads). Might be an idea to do a search on "add property <<region>>" or something first?

[Lilliabeth]

Thanks. We were hoping to forego the Real Estate Agent, but are aware of the value of an MLS listing. I suspect after trying the site for a time, we will probably go with an agent.

The decision to try the site first was based largely on the fact that it is free. I have space on a server, and we just registered Mom's name, so that the domain will be re-usable for a hobby after the houses are sold. I'll definitely try the "add property" search.

[dougs]

Why not do pay per click. With real targetted words aimed at exactly what you have to offer....a targetted visitor must be worth good money to you.

Otheriwse just find some high pr sites and ask them to put up a targetted advert...then you win with the advert getting visitoirs and the pr will be perfect. With such a targetted offering you will win hands down as most big sites will never win against niche players....and you are a niche player here.

Doug

[rogerd]

Selling rentals is one thing that is probably better done through those with existing channels, i.e., agents and existing sites. Building traffic to a site takes time, and most potential buyers (other landlords?) probably aren't surfing the web looking for deals.

As much as I believe in the Web, for this marketing problem I'd probably resort to signage at the properties, local newspaper ads (don't forget the free distribution rags), and local landlord associations. Perhaps even a small flyer campaign on local supermarket bulletin boards, etc. Or, turn the properties over to a real estate agent & let them do the work.

[dougs]

I'd go with Rog here, especially as it is my other business and that is what we do.