Website help needed

[Russell Norgren]

I am sure there have been many posts like this and I am sorry if this is beating a dead horse. Unfortunately I have no idea where to start, other than the website "in a box" companies, or what all the tech jargon means (SEO, CMP, Wordpress, etc.). This post may be a little long but I believe that if I put specific information into the post then the responses will be better quality responses. I hope that you will bare with it and be able to help me. If there are posts that cover this then feel free to link them in your response. I will feel like a dummy but that is all part of the learning process. LOL

I am interested in having a website that is somewhat basic that I can add to my letters, post cards, etc. I will be marketing mainly to probate, absentee owners, and, I hope, FSBO sellers who have not sold their homes within a certain period of time.

I would like to start it out somewhat as a basic website which gives information as to how I can help their situation, an easy way for them to contact me through the website, and a way to capture their information so that I can follow up with them in the future. I know that I will want to expand on that in the future so I would like it to be able to be as flexible as possible.

I am decent with a computer but as far as websites go I am completely clueless. I do not feel like I am unintelligent but there is something about trying to create a website that is even remotely useful that makes me feel like I am stupid. Time is something that I do not have an abundance of so I have to consider that as far as a learning curve goes.

I have looked at several of the "website in a box" companies and I am not sure that they are what I am looking for based on their prices and set up fees. Also, I am not sure that their services are really necessary for what I am looking for. On the other hand, their basic services seem too basic for what they charge compared to what I have seen other people on here are building their own websites for.

I do not have much experience as a real estate investor, other than having purchased some rental properties through moving in as a OO and then renting them out and buying a couple of houses through an agent and working with an experienced flip partner. I have never really done much marketing for sellers and have no experience with marketing in general. To be honest, I am not 100% sure that I even need a website but I would like to have one, if the cost is reasonable, to explore whether or not it would be worth spending more money and time on having a better website created.

Like I said above, this is my first attempt at marketing to sellers to try to find some better deals than what I have been able to find lately. I hope to find some homes that I can purchase to flip or buy and hold, but I am also interested in wholesaling, through an experienced local wholesaler, anything that I find that is outside of the area that I am interested in.

I work a full time job and have a wonderful family, both of which take a lot of time and energy. I know that there is not a hands off way to truly invest in real estate the way that I would like to be involved in it, but my ultimate goal is to do this part time and build a good reputation over time so that when I retire in about 10 years I can move into REI as a second career. The more I can do now, part time, the better it will be for me when I make the transition. I feel like a website may be a great way to build a reputation, gain credibility, and allow me to have 24 hour contact with sellers who may not otherwise contact me. Also, if it were able to bring in some private money investors while doing the other basics that would be a huge plus.

I know my posts are long but I believe that the more information that I put in them the better quality of response I will receive.

If there is anyone out here that can either help me create what I am looking for in a website, or is willing to build a website for me that fits what I am looking for, at a reasonable price then please feel free to respond so that I can discuss things with you. If you think that having a website for the intentions that I have is a waste of time and money then feel free to let me know that also. Like I said, I am new to this aspect of investing and do not mind telling you that I know nothing about it. I believe that if I am going to have a website and start marketing then it would be best to have a website set up before I spend the time and money on post cards, letters, business cards, etc. so that I can start off with the website on all of my materials.