Following is a list of seven ways people connect with you online listed in the order of importance. Using all seven of these inroads to your website as a part of your overall marketing strategy will cause your business to be a force in the marketplace, kicking down the doors of the competition.

1. Web Site
If you're going to do any type of web marketing, you need a really good website that brands your organization to attract your target market. Your website should be very professional, consistent throughout and informative. Your website should offer easy-to-use tools for your visitors to use. Your website should be the type of place that people want to linger and bookmark. Ideally, your website would have fresh content and some sort of community feature such as a blog that allows comments, or a forum where your visitors can post questions and opinions.

2. Search Engine Optimization
Search engines cannot read every website on the web, therefore it's crucial to build your web site in the correct way so search engines can find you. Search engine optimization starts on day one (sometimes before you chose your domain name!) Your site should contain the right keywords in the right places, and should be built with clean code. The goal is to create a website that acts as a "Search Engine Sponge™" thus soaking up all the rankings you can get. Three keys for excellent search engine optimization are: Keywords, Content and Clean Code.

3. Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Campaigns
Natural search engine optimization takes time, but it covers a broad spectrum of keywords phrases. If you really want to push the envelope and turn your website into your primary lead generation tool, you are a candidate for pay-per-click web marketing. Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to lose a bunch of money with pay-per-click. There are ways to achieve the results you want without it costing a fortune. One of the most effective strategies for PPC is to hire an expert to run the campaign for you. Make sure you hire someone you trust, and don't sign any long-term contracts.

4. Email Newsletters - Drip Campaigns
The benefits of Email newsletters cannot be stressed enough. If you don't have one, GET ONE NOW. They are the number one way to efficiently touch your past clients, future clients and prospects. The key to effective email newsletter marketing is to create outstanding newsletters that are interesting to your targets. The more complex and comprehensive your email newsletter campaign, the better your results will be.

5. Social Networking
Social networking is a way to generate traffic to your website, to generate a buzz about your real estate practice, to make friends in far-away-places, and to achieve more spots in the search engine rankings. Social networking includes things like Active Rain, Localism, Blogging, Digg and posting in Forums. Stay tuned for an article on this topic in the near future.

6. Off-Site Website Marketing
It's crucial that you market your website online and off. Anything you can do to promote your website will increase your popularity online and generate more leads for your business. Off line marketing entails putting your website URL (domain name) EVERYWHERE! Ideas for off-site marketing include:

Ads in the paper
Email signature line
House Signs
Giveaways
Flyers
Billboards
Stationary
Voicemail Greeting
Car Signs & Bumper Stickers

7. Web Advertising
Web advertising is a way to generate traffic to your website by signing up for online website services such as Homes.com or Realtor.com. These sites will display your listings and provide a link back to your website. While pricey, you just can't go wrong when advertising on a reputible site on the web. We recommend getting connected with the reputible lead-generating real estate websites, so long as you can afford it.