Comments for Lead Marketwatch http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com Feel the Pulse of the Lead Market Thu, 21 Jun 2007 16:29:22 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Lead Buyers Hurt Their Own Lead Quality by » Where Will Lead-gen Be Tomorrow? LEAD CRITIC: LEAD CRITIC http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com/2007/05/04/lead-buyers-hurt-their-own-lead-quality/#comment-20 » Where Will Lead-gen Be Tomorrow? LEAD CRITIC: LEAD CRITIC Thu, 21 Jun 2007 16:29:22 +0000 http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com/2007/05/04/lead-buyers-hurt-their-own-lead-quality/#comment-20 [...] have been brief discussions on this topic here and here, but I would like to open up the discussion again and maybe it will spill over into the [...] [...] have been brief discussions on this topic here and here, but I would like to open up the discussion again and maybe it will spill over into the [...]

]]> Comment on Would you buy leads from this company? by mae Lynh http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com/2007/05/21/would-you-buy-leads-from-this-company/#comment-17 mae Lynh Tue, 22 May 2007 01:34:20 +0000 http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com/2007/05/21/would-you-buy-leads-from-this-company/#comment-17 How are leads created? How are leads created?

]]> Comment on New Lead Provider Logical Ads by Noel Collins http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com/2007/05/17/new-lead-provider-logical-ads/#comment-15 Noel Collins Thu, 17 May 2007 19:20:08 +0000 http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com/2007/05/17/new-lead-provider-logical-ads/#comment-15 I'll let you know how it goes, started accumalating data yesterday. I’ll let you know how it goes, started accumalating data yesterday.

]]> Comment on What Generates the Best Internet Lead? by Noel Collins http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/what-generates-the-best-internet-lead/#comment-14 Noel Collins Wed, 16 May 2007 18:34:22 +0000 http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/what-generates-the-best-internet-lead/#comment-14 Bill I agree, I am one of those that do actually pay attention to the organic search for our smaller firm. Check out "Bankruptcy mortgages" or "Foreclosure mortgages" on either Google or MSN and we'll be anywhere from 4th - 1st in listing. Equity Direct. There are drawbacks though for trying to drive more traffic to our webpage, dup'ing pages can drop placement, etc. Bill I agree, I am one of those that do actually pay attention to the organic search for our smaller firm. Check out “Bankruptcy mortgages” or “Foreclosure mortgages” on either Google or MSN and we’ll be anywhere from 4th – 1st in listing. Equity Direct. There are drawbacks though for trying to drive more traffic to our webpage, dup’ing pages can drop placement, etc.

]]> Comment on What Generates the Best Internet Lead? by Bill Rice http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/what-generates-the-best-internet-lead/#comment-13 Bill Rice Wed, 16 May 2007 14:26:31 +0000 http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/what-generates-the-best-internet-lead/#comment-13 Just the two guys I wanted to bite on this question. I, of course, would tend to agree. So, the question that begs is why are more lenders not taking upon themselves to learn this part of the business? They would be in the best position to generate that lead, if nothing else as a supplement. Arguably landing on the first page of Google is a virtual impossibility for small budgets and resources. However, could you get the top organic search for your company name? How about you local town? My point is I am amazed at how many mortgage businesses are frustrated with the quality of mortgage leads, but don't try to pick up the simple splash out from people seeing you name on Web form offers (like LendingTree or LowerMyBills) or even worse past clients trying to find you again. Most have websites, few are attempting to SEO, less are attempting to actively generate, and almost know one handles their organic web traffic and leads as aggressively as they do lead buys. This issue and lead providers is another deeper topic. Maybe we should start some commentary on why they don't use their marketing acumen to control the mortgage search space more effectively. Just the two guys I wanted to bite on this question. I, of course, would tend to agree. So, the question that begs is why are more lenders not taking upon themselves to learn this part of the business? They would be in the best position to generate that lead, if nothing else as a supplement.

Arguably landing on the first page of Google is a virtual impossibility for small budgets and resources. However, could you get the top organic search for your company name? How about you local town?

My point is I am amazed at how many mortgage businesses are frustrated with the quality of mortgage leads, but don’t try to pick up the simple splash out from people seeing you name on Web form offers (like LendingTree or LowerMyBills) or even worse past clients trying to find you again.

Most have websites, few are attempting to SEO, less are attempting to actively generate, and almost know one handles their organic web traffic and leads as aggressively as they do lead buys.

This issue and lead providers is another deeper topic. Maybe we should start some commentary on why they don’t use their marketing acumen to control the mortgage search space more effectively.

]]> Comment on What Generates the Best Internet Lead? by Noel Collins http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/what-generates-the-best-internet-lead/#comment-12 Noel Collins Tue, 15 May 2007 23:01:01 +0000 http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/what-generates-the-best-internet-lead/#comment-12 nice to see that someone still has an opinion on this. Organic - Organic - Organic. We all want the organic. The minor problem for marketing is simply filtering thru the cruddy companies out there that claim to have an organic pressence. nice to see that someone still has an opinion on this. Organic – Organic – Organic. We all want the organic. The minor problem for marketing is simply filtering thru the cruddy companies out there that claim to have an organic pressence.

]]> Comment on What Generates the Best Internet Lead? by Morinsight http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/what-generates-the-best-internet-lead/#comment-11 Morinsight Tue, 15 May 2007 21:05:37 +0000 http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/what-generates-the-best-internet-lead/#comment-11 I think the silence is the ultimate answer here...the fact that no one has commented leads me to believe that there is no answer. I think I can say that Internet leads, in general are better than email marketing leads, but to narrow it down to types of Internet leads is a little difficult. I read this post 3 or 4 times before I started writing this comment trying to come up with an opinion. Here it is: I think good organic placement holds priority over everything. I say this because our organic placement kills every lead source we buy from as well as our own PPC and CPM campaigns and we have a fairly unknown company (nationally speaking) and only a competent website (Better than most, but far from perfect). The fact is that many people today are becoming more and more savvy with regards to paid and organic search. They are more comfortable trusting in Google or Yahoo to give them relevant, trustworthy results than clicking on a paid search ad. So the short of it is Organic Search results, of which no Lead-gen company focuses on. I think the silence is the ultimate answer here…the fact that no one has commented leads me to believe that there is no answer. I think I can say that Internet leads, in general are better than email marketing leads, but to narrow it down to types of Internet leads is a little difficult. I read this post 3 or 4 times before I started writing this comment trying to come up with an opinion. Here it is:
I think good organic placement holds priority over everything. I say this because our organic placement kills every lead source we buy from as well as our own PPC and CPM campaigns and we have a fairly unknown company (nationally speaking) and only a competent website (Better than most, but far from perfect).
The fact is that many people today are becoming more and more savvy with regards to paid and organic search. They are more comfortable trusting in Google or Yahoo to give them relevant, trustworthy results than clicking on a paid search ad.

So the short of it is Organic Search results, of which no Lead-gen company focuses on.

]]> Comment on Lead Buyers Hurt Their Own Lead Quality by Morinsight http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com/2007/05/04/lead-buyers-hurt-their-own-lead-quality/#comment-10 Morinsight Wed, 09 May 2007 21:57:59 +0000 http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com/2007/05/04/lead-buyers-hurt-their-own-lead-quality/#comment-10 Bill, I agree with you to an extent. First, lead providers will always continue to ad "value" to their leads by implementing quality assurance steps or features. Do they really add value, not really, but it is an easy way to raise their perceived value. Second, CPM marketing (banners and text ads) will continue to interrupt people and do not create the same type of lead that a search specific lead will. My opinion is that search related leads (organic or paid) are best option when trying to acquire customers actively searching for mortgage information. The major problem with that is it takes 6-12 months to reach the first page of a search engine and this is only if you are employing every SEO tactic out there. The general and very competitive terms that are related to mortgage refi are difficult at best to achieve placement with. I must say it is not impossible, because we have been able to reach page 1 on all the search engines for very competitive keywords, but my point is that it takes time and CPC and CPM marketing creates instant, sellable leads. I think many lead-gen companies become solely focused on this type of marketing, because of the instant gratification, and forget about organic search. CPC, also included in organic search, but still not as effective as organic placement. Top CPC placement, at best may capture only 50% of consumers attention. Bankrate is a company that has perfected organic search game.(Well perfected may be an overstatement)They focus heavily on content and build solid links with their rate widgets.(Simply put) I know I am rambling here, but the issues is that many lead providers look no further than 6 months out and that may even be a stretch. They need to focus on content and quality information to gain quality traffic and in turn quality leads, which takes long term planning and a shift in mentality. Wow, I almost forgot what I was even responding too. Bill,
I agree with you to an extent. First, lead providers will always continue to ad “value” to their leads by implementing quality assurance steps or features. Do they really add value, not really, but it is an easy way to raise their perceived value.

Second, CPM marketing (banners and text ads) will continue to interrupt people and do not create the same type of lead that a search specific lead will. My opinion is that search related leads (organic or paid) are best option when trying to acquire customers actively searching for mortgage information. The major problem with that is it takes 6-12 months to reach the first page of a search engine and this is only if you are employing every SEO tactic out there. The general and very competitive terms that are related to mortgage refi are difficult at best to achieve placement with. I must say it is not impossible, because we have been able to reach page 1 on all the search engines for very competitive keywords, but my point is that it takes time and CPC and CPM marketing creates instant, sellable leads. I think many lead-gen companies become solely focused on this type of marketing, because of the instant gratification, and forget about organic search. CPC, also included in organic search, but still not as effective as organic placement. Top CPC placement, at best may capture only 50% of consumers attention.
Bankrate is a company that has perfected organic search game.(Well perfected may be an overstatement)They focus heavily on content and build solid links with their rate widgets.(Simply put)

I know I am rambling here, but the issues is that many lead providers look no further than 6 months out and that may even be a stretch. They need to focus on content and quality information to gain quality traffic and in turn quality leads, which takes long term planning and a shift in mentality.

Wow, I almost forgot what I was even responding too.

]]> Comment on Lead Buyers Hurt Their Own Lead Quality by Noel Collins http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com/2007/05/04/lead-buyers-hurt-their-own-lead-quality/#comment-8 Noel Collins Tue, 08 May 2007 22:18:57 +0000 http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com/2007/05/04/lead-buyers-hurt-their-own-lead-quality/#comment-8 Bill, many lead suppliers do utilize the feedback to maximize profits, that is the origin of the assumption. lead id's for funded and originated loans is provided to all my suppliers but i do so on a case by case basis depending on the relationship i have with a given account rep. some reps just don't know what to do with the data and companies rarely offer feedback on your feedback. What would impress me is if more companies took the approach the Key Leads did with us and offered us back suggestions on how to close more loans based on our "Positive" metrics. Negiotiated flat rate returns percentages negates the need to report back bad #'s, "Negative" metrics in most cases. Bill, many lead suppliers do utilize the feedback to maximize profits, that is the origin of the assumption.

lead id’s for funded and originated loans is provided to all my suppliers but i do so on a case by case basis depending on the relationship i have with a given account rep.

some reps just don’t know what to do with the data and companies rarely offer feedback on your feedback.

What would impress me is if more companies took the approach the Key Leads did with us and offered us back suggestions on how to close more loans based on our “Positive” metrics.

Negiotiated flat rate returns percentages negates the need to report back bad #’s, “Negative” metrics in most cases.

]]> Comment on Lead Buyers Hurt Their Own Lead Quality by Bill Rice http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com/2007/05/04/lead-buyers-hurt-their-own-lead-quality/#comment-7 Bill Rice Tue, 08 May 2007 19:13:52 +0000 http://leadmarketwatch.wordpress.com/2007/05/04/lead-buyers-hurt-their-own-lead-quality/#comment-7 I think the key to quality lead generation is content. I just don't see a lot of lead generators investing in content as a lead generation methodology. Sure, they place attention or interruption (as I--I think someone else coined this--like to call them) ads, like the LMB add in the previous post. I got this add off of my Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league page. If I clicked it and filled out a quick app, would you want that lead? Now let's think about all you would see--I have a big house, with a lot of equity, a great credit score, and a nice income. Would you pay for that lead? Sure, but it is going to suck because I am going to tell you LO to pound sand on the pay option ARM he is going to offer me to get the payment the LMB add offers. Would you rather instead pay for my quick app if I went to website that I found when searching for ways to get the best terms in a slow market (a little counterintuitive to a mortgage broker, but it works--http://www.longbeachrealestatehome.com/2007/04/10/how-to-get-the-best-home-loan-neatness-counts-when-you-want-a-home-loan --how many folder completes do you think he gets faxed in the first call?) I rambled a bit, but I guess the point of my original post was that we are getting our lead providers all focused on the wrong things. I think this is why little guys with little quotas are starting to win in the conversion game. All my humble opinion...thoughts? I may put this up into a multi-part post. Good topic! I think the key to quality lead generation is content. I just don’t see a lot of lead generators investing in content as a lead generation methodology.

Sure, they place attention or interruption (as I–I think someone else coined this–like to call them) ads, like the LMB add in the previous post. I got this add off of my Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league page. If I clicked it and filled out a quick app, would you want that lead?

Now let’s think about all you would see–I have a big house, with a lot of equity, a great credit score, and a nice income. Would you pay for that lead? Sure, but it is going to suck because I am going to tell you LO to pound sand on the pay option ARM he is going to offer me to get the payment the LMB add offers.

Would you rather instead pay for my quick app if I went to website that I found when searching for ways to get the best terms in a slow market (a little counterintuitive to a mortgage broker, but it works–http://www.longbeachrealestatehome.com/2007/04/10/how-to-get-the-best-home-loan-neatness-counts-when-you-want-a-home-loan –how many folder completes do you think he gets faxed in the first call?)

I rambled a bit, but I guess the point of my original post was that we are getting our lead providers all focused on the wrong things. I think this is why little guys with little quotas are starting to win in the conversion game.

All my humble opinion…thoughts? I may put this up into a multi-part post. Good topic!

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