Written By: Sharon Hassler, President of Go Get Experts, is a former California loan officer, real estate agent and Communications Manager for First American Title in Arizona. Her company provides affordable, professional web pages for loan officers at www.GoGetLoan.com/Pro with related sites for notary, escrow and real estate. Email Sharon@GoGetLoan.com, or call toll-free at 1-888-438-9778.
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If you don't have a web presence yet, this is a great time to get started since it no longer requires shelling out thousands of dollars to have a location online.
First, you must answer this question: What are your goals? Repeat customers. Referral business. New leads. Increased productivity. Automated marketing. Don't do anything until you have a good handle on what you want to accomplish on the net.
There are three main avenues of entry:
Web directory listings
Single web pages
Full-Blown Websites
There are pros and cons to consider about each.
Web Directory Listing
Consumers still turn to directories like the Yellow Pages though more frequently they do it online through a "find" search at Google, Yahoo, MSN or other Search Engine. Online industry-specific directories are available not just for loan officers, but also for nearly every vocation from attorneys to zoologists.
A directory listing typically consists of only basic contact information but may include space for one or two lines to describe services and/or specialties. You submit your information by completing a form online, and, depending on the site, you may receive an email confirmation when your listing is posted.
Fees for a basic listing vary markedly from free to $59 a year to $100 per month (yes, per month). Directories exist for loan officers and mortgage brokers but the higher-priced ones typically feature listings for lending companies, not individuals.
Examples of free directories are www.LoanInfoHome.com, www.MortgageLinks.org, www.Mortgage-X.com (requires website address), and www.WorldWideWeb-X.com (requires link exchange with related content). A high-end director with lots of traffic, starting at $50 per month/per state, is www.Mortgage101.com operated by www.LionMTS.com.
PROS:
A directory listing is usually the least expensive way to place your contact information online. Directories may provide an opportunity for new leads since they can generate traffic (attract customers). If your directory listing includes a link to a web page or website, it could improve the search results or page ranking for your other web address. (More about links and search engine ranking later.) The bare minimum for an online presence, a directory listing is better than nothing and, with heavy traffic, may provide leads.
