Reasons Why You Need A Personal Mortgage Website
It is estimated that there are 60 million internet domain names registered world-wide. The number of websites is projected to be more than 500 million within ten years. These numbers alone should make every Mortgage Professional sit up and take notice of what is happening on the Internet.
Every Mortgage Professional needs a personal website...no ifs, ands, or buts about it! Here's my short list of nine reasons why you need an online presence:
1. Prospects will search for you online. It doesn't matter if you're new to the business, a one man shop, or work for a mortgage broker company. Today, not having a website is like not having a phone listing. People are looking for you as you read this...will they find you?
You'll learn that your website will be one of the most cost effective traffic/lead generation systems available to you. And it's working for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.
2. Websites are inexpensive. It's never been cheaper to set-up and run a website. Today you can reserve your domain name and even find a host for your website for only a few dollars a month.
Goodness, you don't even need to hire a web designer or programmer to get your site up and running. There are many services and programs that are free and many come with your hosting package.
3. Your website can save you lots of time. There's no doubt about it...being "The Mortgage Information Person" in your marketing area does take some time and effort. It goes without saying that a prospect could fill-in a mini-loan application as part of an inquiry.
But, the real efficiency and time savings will be experienced in the responding to...the handling of...and the sending of your free information. Why pay postage when you can email it?
4. Websites are easy to set-up and use. Gone are the days when you needed to hire a programmer to have a web presence. Most web hosting services provide some type of WYSIWYG program for you to set-up, change, add and delete information from your website.
WYSIWYG stands for "What You See Is What You Get" and is a type of program very similar to MS Word. Even a dummy can produce a website today using this front-end program. Make sure your web hosting service provides this service.
By being the master of your own website and domain you have ultimate control of your mortgage direction and future. I for one wouldn't want it any other way.
5. You will be promoting your Mortgage Business, not the business of your employer. It doesn't matter whether you work for a small company, a large company, or just yourself, set-up a website using your personal name as your domain name.
As the years go by and as mortgage companies and lenders retreat from the market, your personal mortgage website will continue to evolve and work for you. As a reminder, never ever commit to a program that provides a stock mortgage website used by hundreds of others and forces you to use a sub-domain.
6. You can build an opt-in mortgage email contact list. Couple your website with a good autoresponder and you are well on the way to building a great opt-in email list.
A good email list is the ultimate benefit of having your own website. Now that you have a targeted list, your mortgage marketing will not only become more efficient, it will be less expensive.
7. You can compete with the biggies. It doesn't matter if you're a small company or a "Fortune 500" company, all websites view the same way. In fact, it doesn't even matter if you're right next door to your competition. Your website can very easily level the playing field.
Promote the information you are will to give, the lessons you're willing to impart, and the time you're willing to invest with your mortgage prospects. Let everyone else promote the loan programs and "how good they are." It's no contest...you'll win hands down!
8. There isn't a better way to advertise your Mortgage Business. Review your current advertising methods and expenditures. You'll definitely want to make some adjustments as your website becomes operational and assumes more responsibility for loans you are originating.
Your website is now your virtual tri-fold brochure. And the nice part is...It never stops working for you.
9. You'll make money with your website. Isn't that what it's all about? Your little "always open for business" website will build your contact list, establish your unique selling position, provide you with a never ending supply of mortgage prospects, build your pipeline, and add to your closings or signings.
What more could you ask of any single marketing effort? In summary...start immediately...take the time...and, make the small investment to build your personal mortgage website. Years from now, when you look back at the decision you just made today, you'll realize that it was the greatest career move you could have ever committed too. The future is just hard to ignore! Just do it!
