Lead Generation
LendingTree Uncovers Breach of Lead Data
As reported on Twitter by an early tipster to the Lead Critic, and quickly confirmed by LendingTree in letters to customers and a website FAQ, LendingTree uncovered a breach of internal security that allowed some mortgage lenders unauthorized access to customer qualification forms. This is LendingTree’s description of the incident:
Recently, LendingTree learned that several former […]
Building a Lead Marketplace is Hard, as Zillow is Learning
Zillow has been at the lead marketplace building business for about two weeks, and I bet internally they are saying, “wow this is hard!” Early responders to the Zillow Mortgage Marketplace were easy to categorize, as I pointed out in my Zillow Gets Negative Reviews (from Non-Adopters), outside observers (non-adopters) were pointing out all of […]
18Apr2008 | Bill Rice | 2 comments | Continued
Lead Generation Industry, You Asked We Delivered
At LeadsCon 2008, there was a lot of interest in closing the loop between lead generation and lead management performance data–seen as a critical success factor for online originations.
As you may remember we had this discussion all the way back at Leads2007:
TODOs
These major themes drove this group to commit to three major initiatives:
Internet Leads Best […]
10Apr2008 | Bill Rice | 0 comments | Continued
RushmoreDrive.com Launched
Several weeks ago I got whiff of something new coming out of IAC, RushmoreDrive.com (Rushmore Drive is where the Ballatyne Offices of IAC/Interactive are located). Today it was revealed in an email to me:
A vertical search engine for the Black Community. Here is the description from the About Us page:
Launched in April 2008, RushmoreDrive is […]
Stop Using Cost Per Closing to Evaluate Lead Sources
Lead quality is increasingly front and center for new and existing online lead buyers, but that quickly begs a debate on how to measure quality.
One of the metrics that is often quoted by buyers and sellers is cost-per-closing, essentially ROI. Now, although I do not debate this metric in running your overall business, it is […]
LeadsCon: Internet Lead Market Up-close
I remember the first time I went to my Dad’s laboratory at the University of Kentucky and he showed me the magic of looking very closely at common everyday objects. You see, he had a scanning electron microscope and things you would think as simple as a common housefly’s eye are amazingly complex and interesting.
That […]
Zillow Mortgage Gets Negative Reviews (from Non-Adopters)
I have been following the Zillow Mortgage discussion with great interest. By reserving follow-up to my early commentary in BusinessWeek I have an opportunity to survey the discussion and distill a few important observations:
Zillow did something radical
The harshest criticisms are from non-participants
Smart folks are observing and participating with the intent to learn
This is an important […]
Reply.com Launches Blog and Lead Exchange
Reply.com just launched a new blog and revealed their new lead exchange. It appears the lead marketplace concept is about to get a bit more competitive, with Reply.com being one of two new entrants that I have heard whispers of emerging.
The concept of a lead exchange seems simple, but I think the challenge is in […]
Are You Creating a Customer Army?
We live in unique times. We are increasingly connected to the Internet. That connection is increasing social. That social connectivity is community.
The question becomes are you still trying to gather customers and make sales? Or are you creating a Customer Loyalty Army?
Wired featured Legos’ community strategy back in 2006, but we are still trying to […]
Where Have All of the Local Real Estate Ads Gone?
Have all of the real estate agents and brokers in your community lost faith and closed up shop? What happened to all of the local real estate ads in your local newspaper?
According to a new report from Borell Associates, they have moved their real estate marketing dollars online:
Total ad spending on real estate has declined […]
Nature or Nurture? Debating Math or Conversation in Advertising.
ESPN’s move to kick ad networks out of their premium content and brand has sparked several classic debates about publisher monetization. What is the best, and most profitable, way to monetize your content?
There are certainly two strong positions to be debated:
Commoditization of ad inventory can dilute the perceived value of the content and brand
Unsold […]
What Would a Jason Calacanis Mortgage Startup Look Like?
A pondering post by Jason Calacanis (Mahalo) about a camp to help startup entrepreneurs got me thinking. What would a Calacanis trained entrepreneur’s mortgage or real estate business look like?
Here is my guess:
It would be efficient with it’s capital and startup costs
It would have an expensive expresso machine
It would leverage the Internet
It would blog
It would […]
Morning Market Reads
Friday around the Web in lead generation:
FTC swinging big fines (settlements) and changing online lead generation
UK mortgage lead marketplace kicks off series on sales best practices
Is your online marketing and advertising asking customers to buy?
Ever want to ask a top affiliate marketer anything?
Learn to write a better blog for your company
What else should we be […]
21Mar2008 | Bill Rice | 0 comments | Continued
Zillow Giving Out Free Mortgage Leads
Has Zillow gone mad? They are obviously pursuing an innovative path.
Zillow is not yet revealing the whole strategy, but here is a peek at what to expect from Zillow Mortgage:
“…our new mortgage offering is coming soon. While we’re still several weeks away from an official launch, effective today, lenders can apply to be one […]
Does Your Ad Ask For Feedback?
Should your ads be asking for feedback? The increasing clamor for quality and increasing conversation marketing makes this a compelling question posed by Steve Rubel over at Micro Persuasion.
Have you added a feedback link to your advertising? Would you be willing to? Would you rather buy leads from a lead provider that did?
Bill,
I've been following your posts and am currently writing a paper for one of clients. Would you be willing ...
which companies are those? As established ones go, new ones sprout up. 
Of course this is important and NOT in any way blown out of proportion. If it is YOUR information that ...
Hi Bill, it's David from Zillow,
Your summary is excellent. Balancing supply and demand is a fascinating challenge and has been ...
Spencer,
You guys have certainly done something unique, and should be commended for it.
I will be interested in tracking the ...
Bill we appreciate the kind words. The site is now live and we look forward to hearing your thoughts. ...
I am seeking information on loan modifications. I have heard that if you have a subprime loan the lender is ...
Spencer from Zillow here.
Bill, thanks for your post. The Zillow Mortgage Marketplace is off to a great start. We've had ...
A very good metrics and various measurements for get succeed in the online marketing. I hope many of them are ...
Pay per lead sounds great. Are there any services you would recommend?