Lead generation, a common concept in the sales and marketing industry, is the process of attracting customers to the business. It involves generating interest and inquiries that may lead to sales. But, manually looking for leads is time-consuming and requires a lot of effort. So, many businesses, including real estate organizations, have outsourced this task to lead generation programs and software that provide better results in a fraction of the time.

Features to look for in lead generation programs
Not all software is created equal. To get the best software for one’s real estate business, it is important to review specific features in any lead generation program.

1. Lead capture
Finding high-quality leads is one of the biggest challenges, both online and offline. Knowing who is interested in a specific product helps a business focus its promotion efforts correctly, ensuring more conversions. So, to find better leads, businesses must pick a tool that utilizes several sources to deliver results. These include web forms, landing pages, chatbots, SEO, paid search, and local search. For real estate businesses, using such tools helps them  find people interested in buying or selling properties. Please note that any information collected here must be used ethically. 

2. Lead nurturing and management
Collecting leads is just the first step. To drive sales, it is important to create more engagement and build or maintain connections with new or potential customers. Any quality lead generation software must also be equipped to manage these leads, track all conversations, and keep them organized.

3. Analytics and reporting
One must also have the analytics and reporting feature in place to know if the leads are being utilized properly. With this feature, businesses can track where and when their best leads are coming from, conversion rates, click rates, open rates, engagement levels, and more in a simple and structured manner.

4. Automation
While automating the lead generation process entirely is impossible, businesses can implement partial automation. Many lead generation software packages offer automation, helping companies be more responsive to their customers and taking some workload off the team.

5. Customer service
With any software, one is bound to run into issues at some point. To effectively resolve these issues, one needs to look for a software solution that comes with good customer service. This should include ongoing support, monitoring and reviewing results, and added discussions to improve lead campaigns over time.

Tips to choose the right lead generation software for real estate
Getting the right lead generation software may feel like a daunting task. To streamline the process, real estate business owners can follow certain useful tips. 

1. Consider the budget
The cost of lead generation software begins at a few hundred dollars and goes up to thousands. Before signing up for any service, be sure to know the price and any additional costs and fees associated with it. Ensure this fits well into the budget and can be sustained over time.

2. Check the scalability
The goal of any business, whether real estate or otherwise, is to grow and reach new heights. It’s only justified that their software grows with them. Find a lead generation software that is flexible enough to handle growth over the next couple of years at least.

3. Look for integration
Most businesses today use different CRM software. To ensure seamless functioning, look for a lead generation tool that integrates well with pre-existing systems.

4. Opt for a user-friendly tool
The team will not be too thrilled about the idea of learning new software. Picking software that is too complicated will require a lot of downtime, eating into the company’s productivity. To avoid running into these issues, look for a lead-generation tool that is intuitive and easy to use.

Top 5 lead generation software for real estate
1. Market Leader
One of the most comprehensive tools in the industry, Market Leader provides a full marketing suite with email and SMS marketing services, built-in lead management CRM, lead capture forms, etc., along with exclusive leads. The cost of signing up for this service is $139 per month per agent, and the company does not offer a trial period.

2. SmartZip
Those looking for seller leads must consider signing a contract with SmartZip. This software uses predictive analytics to predict likely sellers about 6 t0 12 months in advance, offering a clear first-mover advantage. It also comes with comprehensive marketing and nurturing tools. The software is available for a starting price of $500 per month, with the average monthly spend around $1000.

3. Zurple
Some real estate professionals may be more interested in automated lead nurturing. Zurple is the perfect software in such scenarios, providing immediate replies to queries via emails and text. This removes the responsibility of starting and holding a conversation for the agent, streamlining lead management. Subscription for this service starts at $309 per month.

4. Offrs
Real estate agents looking for a software solution without signing long-term contracts can benefit from Offrs. This program uses AI-powered predictive analytics to find likely sellers and comes with a well-trained conversational chatbot that can simplify lead management. For exclusive leads, prices for this software start at $499 per month.

5. Catalyze AI
For exclusively inherited property seller leads, Catalyze AI might be worth considering. This service uses predictive analytics and AI technology to find leads and present them on an intuitive dashboard. Although there are no marketing tools here, the service can be an exciting option to have on hand when needed. Prices for this service begin at $360 per month for 30 leads.