Not sure how some site builders do it! (Low prices are too hard to compete with)

MrIMVO · 26th May 2013, 08:28 AM

I recently did a bit of research into the Real Estate mobile market that is so hot right now. The approach that I could build a simple mobile site for each of their listings seems like a great approach (and there are plenty of wso's that'll help you fulfill that niche).

I came across a site with only a $100 set up fee and then $25/mo for UNLIMITED listings! Also QR codes, Text service for inquiries, even IDX integration! How do they do that?

I'm not a real estate agent but I imagine each agent is listing about 3 or 4 homes a month (is that way off base?) so the service I came across is making 3 sites a month for a flat $25 monthly fee. Even if it was 1 site a month that's a long way from the $100 I was hoping to get.

Perhaps the site building is a loss leader when I can upsell them something else after that.

Any thoughts on the matter? Have mobile sites already dropped down to a tiny price point?

m

Jason Kanigan · 26th May 2013, 08:50 AM

You don't have to charge what others are charging.

Mobile sites don't have to be a commodity.

What value are you creating for your client? More importantly, what value do they see you creating for them?

You can find someone who will pay any price you want for something. Question is, how long are you willing to wait and sort to find that person?

Then, you have to learn how to elicit and create value.

Your competitor there is probably making money on the back end, selling the initial services as a loss leader and adding on more once the customer is hooked. Also they may have outsourced and templated as much as possible to keep costs minimized.
Quality in that situation? Who knows. Bet you can offer better.

MrIMVO · 26th May 2013, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Jason Kanigan

You don't have to charge what others are charging.

Mobile sites don't have to be a commodity.

What value are you creating for your client? More importantly, what value do they see you creating for them?

You can find someone who will pay any price you want for something. Question is, how long are you willing to wait and sort to find that person?

Then, you have to learn how to elicit and create value.

Your competitor there is probably making money on the back end, selling the initial services as a loss leader and adding on more once the customer is hooked. Also they may have outsourced and templated as much as possible to keep costs minimized.
Quality in that situation? Who knows. Bet you can offer better.

Thanks Mr. Kanigan for your response.

I need to be aware of competitors that my prospects might be shopping. I don't want to stay awake at night hoping that my clients don't discover a cheaper service - and I want to be the best value for them, secure in the fact THEIR services aren't as good as MY services.

Maybe it's my wrong thinking but in my opinion - in the mind of the small businesses owner - mobile sites ARE a commodity (whether I agree or not is irrelevant). Anyone 'googling' mobile sites will quickly find Duda, GoMobi and small band of $10/mo site builders that will get the job done with little hassle, little knowledge and little money.

The site I referenced in the OP is actually using an online platform so the client builds the site themself by inputing some information and clicking 'go'. This obviously keeps their fulfillment costs low although I'd imagine it's expensive to build the platform to begin with. (maybe it's a wso, lol)

I'd rather flesh out the scalability and competitiveness of the market before I invest time, money and energy into the niche. I appreciate your thoughts and look forward to hearing from others. If it's my mindset that needs adjusting then let me know. I'm open to ideas.

cheers,
m

WillR · 26th May 2013, 05:59 PM

The average business owner is not searching Google looking for ways to create a mobile website. The average business owner will never have even heard of a mobile site and won't know what one is.

You are also giving them far too much credit. Although services like Duda and GoMobi might seem simple and easy to use to you, to the average person they wouldn't have a clue where to start even with simple tools like that. I know if I sat my parents down at either of those two sites and asked them to build me a mobile site they would have about 1,000 questions. To the average person those tools would still be very hard to use.

The reality is those services are not your competition. Your only competition is other offline marketers trying to sell mobile websites.

Gladiator · 27th May 2013, 07:40 AM

Originally Posted by WillR

The reality is those services are not your competition. Your only competition is other offline marketers trying to sell mobile websites.

Will, you are correct about that! I have had several of offline marketers trying to get my customers to go with them.

I have also seen that one of the big problems - is that once you give them a mockup mobi site and you educate them about it. They contact there webmaster or the guy that first built them the desk website and that Webmaster steals your business! It has happened too many times!

Andre

WillR · 27th May 2013, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by Gladiator

Will, you are correct about that! I have had several of offline marketers trying to get my customers to go with them.

I have also seen that one of the big problems - is that once you give them a mockup mobi site and you educate them about it. They contact there webmaster or the guy that first built them the desk website and that Webmaster steals your business! It has happened too many times!

Andre

Ask them... if your webmaster is so great then why has he not already suggested you have a mobile website?

Once their webmaster build their mobile website go back and show them all the things wrong with it and why yours is better.

The reality is most 'webmasters' would know bugger all about creating a mobile website.

Jason Kanigan · 27th May 2013, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by MrIMVO

Thanks Mr. Kanigan for your response.

I need to be aware of competitors that my prospects might be shopping. I don't want to stay awake at night hoping that my clients don't discover a cheaper service - and I want to be the best value for them, secure in the fact THEIR services aren't as good as MY services.

Maybe it's my wrong thinking but in my opinion - in the mind of the small businesses owner - mobile sites ARE a commodity (whether I agree or not is irrelevant). Anyone 'googling' mobile sites will quickly find Duda, GoMobi and small band of $10/mo site builders that will get the job done with little hassle, little knowledge and little money.

The site I referenced in the OP is actually using an online platform so the client builds the site themself by inputing some information and clicking 'go'. This obviously keeps their fulfillment costs low although I'd imagine it's expensive to build the platform to begin with. (maybe it's a wso, lol)

I'd rather flesh out the scalability and competitiveness of the market before I invest time, money and energy into the niche. I appreciate your thoughts and look forward to hearing from others. If it's my mindset that needs adjusting then let me know. I'm open to ideas.

cheers,
m

Read this:

http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...vanishing.html

Gladiator · 27th May 2013, 02:45 PM

Yes, Will I have done that many times but it's a loosing battle and i try to not waste too much time on these kinds of deals!

But in some cases I have pitched the guy and even give them a mockup mobi site and try a soft and hard close. But still they say No.

I then check their websites a week or a month later and Bingo they have a mobile site! I Don't want to waste my time and call to thrash the guy around! :-) So I just let them go!

btw : some are local people that I know well. It's just that they go around you copying what you gave them. Guys this kind of thing happens so just move to the next lead!

Andre

Originally Posted by WillR

Ask them... if your webmaster is so great then why has he not already suggested you have a mobile website?

Once their webmaster build their mobile website go back and show them all the things wrong with it and why yours is better.

The reality is most 'webmasters' would know bugger all about creating a mobile website.

MrIMVO · 28th May 2013, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by WillR

I know if I sat my parents down at either of those two sites and asked them to build me a mobile site they would have about 1,000 questions.

lol, That drives the point home. You are correct sir.

MrIMVO · 28th May 2013, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by Jason Kanigan

Read this:

http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...vanishing.html

Great post Mr. Kanigan - and I appreciate you sharing your expertise. I actually took notes!

(I see you're from NC. I was raised in Chapel Hill and spent 10 years in Charlotte before move to Orlando. What part of NC are you in?)

einsmite · 29th May 2013, 11:48 PM

With regard to Duda Mobile, I found that their mobile sites load SLOWER than the desktop sites they're based on.

That's insane! IMO, the primary requirement of a mobile site is that it loads fast, fast enough so that even users on a weak cell connection will be able to view it. If it's so heavy it won't load within 5-7 seconds, the mobile-optimized formatting and "fat finger-friendly" buttons don't mean squat.

If anyone asks why they should pay for a custom-built mobile site when they can get a Duda site for free (or cheap), point that out to them.

Better yet, show them. Go to Which loads faster?, and compare the loading time of a desktop site and it's Duda Mobile version. That should drive the point home.

I've tested dozens of "Duda-tized" sites this way, and every single time, the desktop site was faster - oftentimes MUCH faster. Only tested a couple GoMobi sites, but saw the same thing.

WillR · 30th May 2013, 04:02 AM

Originally Posted by einsmite

With regard to Duda Mobile, I found that their mobile sites load SLOWER than the desktop sites they're based on.

That's insane! IMO, the primary requirement of a mobile site is that it loads fast, fast enough so that even users on a weak cell connection will be able to view it. If it's so heavy it won't load within 5-7 seconds, the mobile-optimized formatting and "fat finger-friendly" buttons don't mean squat.

If anyone asks why they should pay for a custom-built mobile site when they can get a Duda site for free (or cheap), point that out to them.

Better yet, show them. Go to Which loads faster?, and compare the loading time of a desktop site and it's Duda Mobile version. That should drive the point home.

I've tested dozens of "Duda-tized" sites this way, and every single time, the desktop site was faster - oftentimes MUCH faster. Only tested a couple GoMobi sites, but saw the same thing.

Yes, I have never understood why people seem to love Duda Mobile. It's a really bad way to build mobile sites. Any type of automated service like that is never going to give the best results.

Loading time is crucial to a mobile site and Duda Mobile definitely drops the ball on that. Why bother creating a client a mobile site if it loads just as slow (if not slower) than their standard website.

It's pointless.

DexterGallagher · 30th May 2013, 04:22 AM

Will,

I had a client recently who told me they had a mobile website, but in fact their web guy had done such a bad job on a responsive design that is showed up on iphones as though it was desktop.

They told me they had paid him $750 (this is their original webmaster...) I sent them a report on load time and that stuff and how crucial it was for mobile sites to load faster with minimum errors. They called me back and wanted to know how much we would charge - $799 and I gave them a look at the mock up we'd done.

They went for it and we also got their regular website too - they sacked the original webmaster!

Originally Posted by WillR

Yes, I have never understood why people seem to love Duda Mobile. It's a really bad way to build mobile sites. Any type of automated service like that is never going to give the best results.

Loading time is crucial to a mobile site and Duda Mobile definitely drops the ball on that. Why bother creating a client a mobile site if it loads just as slow (if not slower) than their standard website.

It's pointless.

WillR · 30th May 2013, 07:07 AM

Originally Posted by DexterGallagher

Will,

I had a client recently who told me they had a mobile website, but in fact their web guy had done such a bad job on a responsive design that is showed up on iphones as though it was desktop.

They told me they had paid him $750 (this is their original webmaster...) I sent them a report on load time and that stuff and how crucial it was for mobile sites to load faster with minimum errors. They called me back and wanted to know how much we would charge - $799 and I gave them a look at the mock up we'd done.

They went for it and we also got their regular website too - they sacked the original webmaster!

Damn cowboy webmasters.

26th May 2013, 08:28 AM	#1
MrIMVO The 'Voice' of IMers War Room Member Join Date: 2009 Posts: 73 Thanks: 44 Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts	Not sure how some site builders do it! (Low prices are too hard to compete with) Share on: I recently did a bit of research into the Real Estate mobile market that is so hot right now. The approach that I could build a simple mobile site for each of their listings seems like a great approach (and there are plenty of wso's that'll help you fulfill that niche). I came across a site with only a $100 set up fee and then $25/mo for UNLIMITED listings! Also QR codes, Text service for inquiries, even IDX integration! How do they do that? I'm not a real estate agent but I imagine each agent is listing about 3 or 4 homes a month (is that way off base?) so the service I came across is making 3 sites a month for a flat $25 monthly fee. Even if it was 1 site a month that's a long way from the $100 I was hoping to get. Perhaps the site building is a loss leader when I can upsell them something else after that. Any thoughts on the matter? Have mobile sites already dropped down to a tiny price point? m
	The 'Voice' of Internet Marketing - quality voice over with a quick turnaround at a 'wso' price. :)

26th May 2013, 08:50 AM	#2
Jason Kanigan www.salestactics.org War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: NC, USA Posts: 6,673 Thanks: 3,712 Thanked 8,236 Times in 3,584 Posts	Re: Not sure how some site builders do it! (Low prices are too hard to compete with) Share on: You don't have to charge what others are charging. Mobile sites don't have to be a commodity. What value are you creating for your client? More importantly, what value do they see you creating for them? You can find someone who will pay any price you want for something. Question is, how long are you willing to wait and sort to find that person? Then, you have to learn how to elicit and create value. Your competitor there is probably making money on the back end, selling the initial services as a loss leader and adding on more once the customer is hooked. Also they may have outsourced and templated as much as possible to keep costs minimized. Quality in that situation? Who knows. Bet you can offer better.
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26th May 2013, 05:59 PM	#4
WillR Digital Marketer War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 12,475 Thanks: 1,984 Thanked 8,187 Times in 4,079 Posts	Re: Not sure how some site builders do it! (Low prices are too hard to compete with) Share on: The average business owner is not searching Google looking for ways to create a mobile website. The average business owner will never have even heard of a mobile site and won't know what one is. You are also giving them far too much credit. Although services like Duda and GoMobi might seem simple and easy to use to you, to the average person they wouldn't have a clue where to start even with simple tools like that. I know if I sat my parents down at either of those two sites and asked them to build me a mobile site they would have about 1,000 questions. To the average person those tools would still be very hard to use. The reality is those services are not your competition. Your only competition is other offline marketers trying to sell mobile websites.
	. ➨ Here's How to Make Your First $177 Online This Week Using the Piggyback Method... .

29th May 2013, 11:48 PM	#11
einsmite HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2006 Location: USA Posts: 138 Thanks: 15 Thanked 39 Times in 34 Posts	Re: Not sure how some site builders do it! (Low prices are too hard to compete with) Share on: With regard to Duda Mobile, I found that their mobile sites load SLOWER than the desktop sites they're based on. That's insane! IMO, the primary requirement of a mobile site is that it loads fast, fast enough so that even users on a weak cell connection will be able to view it. If it's so heavy it won't load within 5-7 seconds, the mobile-optimized formatting and "fat finger-friendly" buttons don't mean squat. If anyone asks why they should pay for a custom-built mobile site when they can get a Duda site for free (or cheap), point that out to them. Better yet, show them. Go to Which loads faster?, and compare the loading time of a desktop site and it's Duda Mobile version. That should drive the point home. I've tested dozens of "Duda-tized" sites this way, and every single time, the desktop site was faster - oftentimes MUCH faster. Only tested a couple GoMobi sites, but saw the same thing.