Thanks for the comments. One of the features of viewing the maps next to homes is that you can choose to view just the map, just the homes, or both (default). We will definitely consider your advice on showing more map as the default.

Feel free to reach out to us in the future as we offer websites as well as free IDX.

So far I think the nicest one is DiverseSolutions. Here’s an example (thanks Fick):

http://thephoenixrealestateguide.com/phoenix-homes-for-sale/

Some shortcomings:

–a tick complicated
–no way to search in a county
–no way to search on a given street
–if you adjust the search criteria, the map does not update automatically

But other than that, it’s very nice, fast, well done, “pretty” and fairly addictive – which is what you definitely WANT!

Use this link to test out our map features which include vids, photos, traffic, even wikipedia

http://bit.ly/2KxoSa

It is more involved than just IP address or cookies, but that is our “Coca-cola secret formula” if you will –

Let me know your thoughts on the map.

To really add to the consumer experience… check out this link and play with the map features – videos, pics, wikipedia, etc…

http://demo04.publishpath.com/property-search/?Page=Search;PageIndex=1;PageSize=10;PostalCodes=30096;PropertyTypes=1

As far as the IP address question, it’s more involved than just IP addresses or cookies, but that’s our “Coca-cola formula” – if you will..

For sellers, you may want to try and capture the FSBO market. Although I did start this on my website, I never had the time required to follow thru, but in therory I thought it was a great idea. http://www.lovingcharlotte.com/fsbo/

I like what I see, so far. Second video, was well defined and clear. Top video, while good sometimes it was hard to see details.

How do you get the anonomous, IP address?

Keith

The top video worked, the bottom one didn’t. But I think I got the idea from the top one.

Very interesting concept and definitely a first. So that’s a cookie-based anonymous login, I assume.

Please don’t forget to code in a way to select ALL anonymous and delete them all at once from the database.

Perhaps we should take the conversation off line, or to Starbux. You guys are in Atlanta, right?

Full disclosure here – I am the creative director for an IDX software company

I would love to get your opinion of a product we have that actually doesn’t fit in that black and white model of typical lead capture.

Here are 2 videos I have created that better describe what I am talking about:
http://www.softrealty.com/Video/LeadCaptureRedefined/

One video is broad while the other shows specific process details.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, if you have the time.

Having the IDX interface be so simple that instructions are not required is the goal, I think.

But people love videos. I for one can tell you when I hit web sites, if there’s a video there I will take a look at it, at least the first few seconds.

As far as “paradigm shifting” arguments, I’m not sure what that’s supposed to mean. It’s a very black and white issue. You either require registration or you don’t.

I really don’t care what anyone else does, why would I?

I think it is vital that the interface design for the property search be extremely simple but also powerful. You really want your property search to keep your website visitors coming back again and again. That is where features like Street View and being able to show pictures, videos, traffic, and even Wikipedia entries directly on your search map are critical. This allows your website visitors to really get a feel for the area they are looking in.

Other great features for a property search on your website:

-Easy to use photo display (people love pictures and videos)
-Ability to save properties as well as searches
-Terrain/Satellite map
-Mortgage calculator
-Easy to print brochures (with your marketing info built in)

As far as lead capture, I am fully against forced registration and feel that there is the need for a paradigm shift in that argument. Such a polarizing topic obviously deserves a different approach.

Sometimes I’ll blow it all off for a entire weekend and I’ll have like 30 leads to enter into the database and send the first contact to. I know it’s ironic to say, but I dread doing it.

So this “card” is a email post card?

I also get an email when I get a new registration, I used to get cc’d but kind of forgot what the point of getting the cc was. I know what it says and I know it got sent, so I just get the one now.

What the heck is a “card?”

Currently when someone registers on my IDX, I get two emails at the same time: one from the IDX to me, and another that I got cc’d on to the lead.

On my blackberry it goes “pop-pop” since I have my email notification set to a little pop sound.

Kinda cool, even my wife knows the pop-pop sound and will say something like “wondering whose poking around on your site.”

From that point on, I’m full manual mode: I hand enter it into ACT and it’s into the whole lead management scheme.

I like the auto entry you described but I suspect you spend as much time adjusting the data on the real ones and going in and deleting the bad ones, as I do manually entering only the good ones.

Just a hunch.

Registration requirements
– You can customize this however you want. Right up front, based on number of searches, number of results viewed, etc. You can definitely test the registration theories pretty easily.

User Interface
– When I was up in Portland, I was one of 2 people that was using it. It was great, looked better then anybody else. Here in Phoenix EVERYBODY has it, so it doesn’t stand out as much, but it still looks like it was designed in the last few years (good) as opposed to 1998 (wolfnet, anyone?).

Integration
– I use Top Producer 8i for my database, and the leads are populated directly into my DB.

Forms
– You can create web forms for your site fairly easily

What I hate about it:
Lead Follow Up
– Seriously, using “cards” instead of just regular emails is stupid. And the only lead follow up is using these cards. I understand they are not a crm, but still it’s stupid.

Forms (I know, its a love hate thing)
– Creating the forms is easy enough, but every time I try to customize the lay out, they get screwed up. Not when I create my own forms, but only with their forms. Not sure why.

Registration requirements
– When the screen pops up for someone to register, they layout looks a little weird. If I want to add phone numbers as a requirement for a lead, I don’t want the layout of the form to look weird.

I know that the benefits out weigh the negatives, that’s why I’m still using it. But what I’ve noticed is people falling off fairly quickly after they register. I do the regular follow up with calls, emails, etc but there seems to be an initial excitement when they sign up but then they don’t come back.

But, for the rss feeds alone it is almost worth it.

Just checked out your site. I like that DiverseSolutions IDX a lot. Every time I see it, I like it more.

I’m currently investigating all IDX alternatives for my site. Thus me writing this post.

The problem is, my current IDX is only $390 per year and it actually works. But I have a goal to double my IDX registration rate and not sure I can get there with my current provider.

Any comments on DS?