Search results for: “credibility”

  • How AI is Reshaping SEO for Real Estate Investors: What You Need to Know

    How AI is Reshaping SEO for Real Estate Investors: What You Need to Know

    The search landscape has seen huge changes in recent years. If you’re a real estate investor who’s been watching your website traffic fluctuate or noticing fewer clicks from Google searches, you’re not imagining things.

    Google’s AI Overviews now appear in nearly half of all search results, and in May 2025, Google launched AI Mode for all US-based searchers. The era of traditional SEO strategies is rapidly evolving.

    For real estate investors who depend on their websites to generate motivated seller leads, these changes are business-critical developments that require immediate attention. When prospects search “cash home buyer,” “we buy houses,” or “sell my house fast,” Google increasingly provides answers directly in search results, pushing the #1 ranked website further down the page than we’re used to. So how should you adjust your SEO to make sure you still show up on top in 2025? Let’s cover some key strategies!

    KEY TAKEAWAYS (TL;DR)

    • AI Overviews are Dominating Search: Google’s AI-generated summaries now appear in nearly half of all search results, often providing “zero-click” answers, which means many searchers never leave the Google search results page.
    • Brand Authority is Key: Google’s algorithms now heavily emphasize brand recognition and mentions across the web, not just on your site. Backlinks are still important, but you’ll also want your company mentioned by name on trusted, relevant sites.
    • Unique Content is More Important Than Ever: Generic content is being de-ranked, and often even ignored by Google. Focus on providing your own unique and helpful expertise, local market insights, and real-world case studies that AI tools like ChatGPT can’t replicate.
    • Local SEO is Evolving: Optimize your Google Business Profile and target hyper-local keywords, as AI Mode prioritizes local intent.
    • Diversify Your Marketing: Reduce reliance on single marketing tactics by investing in omnichannel marketing, including social media, video content, and offline networking.

    Let’s get you up to speed on the most significant AI-driven changes impacting search in 2025 and beyond. In this guide, we’ll cover what these changes mean for your real estate investing business, and give you actionable SEO strategies to help you maintain and grow your online presence.

    Table of Contents

    1. The AI Revolution in Search: What to Know
    2. Building Brand Authority in an AI-Dominated Landscape
    3. Adapting Your Content Strategy for AI-First Search
    4. Measuring Success in the New SEO Landscape
    5. How to Stay Ahead: Real Estate Investor Marketing in the A.I. Era
    6. Your Action Plan: 15 Essential Steps to Future-Proof Your Marketing Strategy
    7. Conclusion
    8. Frequently Asked Questions
    Carrot icon
    Lead generation, at its best
    Attract, convert & close more motivated leads
    Try Carrot Today

    The AI Revolution in Search: What Real Estate Investors Need to Know

    Google’s AI Overviews Are Dominating Search Results

    The most dramatic change affecting real estate investor websites began in May 2024 when Google officially launched AI Overviews.

    By December 2024, these AI-generated summaries appeared in 47% of Google search results, and recent data shows they spiked even higher during Google’s March 2025 core update.

    Most recently at Google’s I/O annual developer conference in May 2025, they announced the rollout of AI mode to all users in the U.S.

    Screenshots showing Google's AI overviews for a search of "sell my house fast".

    Here’s what’s especially challenging for real estate investors: AI Overviews show up heavily for broad, top-of-funnel queries—exactly the type of searches your potential sellers are making when they first consider selling their property. When someone searches “how to sell my house fast” or “cash home buyers near me,” they’re increasingly getting AI-generated answers without ever clicking through to your website.

    The numbers are staggering:

    • Research shows that nearly 60% of searches in 2024 resulted in “zero-click” outcomes, meaning users get their answers directly from Google without visiting any websites.
    • A study by Datos and SparkToro found that for every 1,000 searches on Google in the United States, only 360 clicks make it to non-Google-owned properties that aren’t paying for ads.

    The Rise of Forum Content and Video Results

    Another significant shift impacting SEO strategies for small businesses is the increased prominence of forum content like Reddit and Quora in search results. This trend is particularly relevant for real estate investors because many forum discussions reveal the distrust and skepticism people have toward “cash home buyers” and the real estate investment industry in general.

    Screenshot showing Reddit forum answers in the Google search results.

    When potential sellers search for information about working with real estate investors, they’re increasingly finding forum discussions where people share both positive and negative experiences. This shift emphasizes the critical importance of reputation management and building authentic trust signals across multiple platforms.

    Video content is also showing up more often in search results, with both YouTube videos and short-form video content appearing more frequently. This presents opportunities for real estate investors looking to diversify their content strategy. Plus, research shows that websites with video content see 50% more engagement than those without.

    You can stay ahead of things by monitoring relevant forums and conversations in your local market area. Then develop content in both written and video formats that speaks directly to the concerns people have. Showcase the trustworthy, local people behind your company to combat the skepticism that some motivated sellers may have about cash home buyers.

    Building Brand Authority in an AI-Dominated Landscape

    The Growing Importance of Brand Mentions and Recognition

    One of the most significant revelations from the May 2024 Google algorithm leak was the emphasis on brand authority.

    In Rand Fishkin’s original analysis of the leaked Google Search API documents, his primary takeaway was that “brand matters more than anything else.” He commented:

    If there was one universal piece of advice I had for marketers seeking to broadly improve their organic search rankings and traffic, it would be: “Build a notable, popular, well-recognized brand in your space, outside of Google search.”

    For real estate investors, this means your reputation and brand recognition across multiple platforms now directly impacts your search rankings. Google measures brand mentions on YouTube transcripts, social media platforms, and across the web.

    The stronger your brand presence beyond your website, the better your chances of ranking well in traditional search results and being cited in AI Overviews. More than ever, off-page SEO isn’t just about building backlinks. It’s also about social media visibility and digital PR & publicity for your business.

    You can monitor referring domains, backlinks to your website, and your Authority Score with Carrot’s Domain Overview Tool. We also recommend adding your company’s business name to the Keyword Rank Tracker to monitor that your website ranks at the top of the search results when people search for your company by name.

    The Role of Engagement Signals in Rankings

    Google had insisted for years that they don’t use anything from Chrome for ranking, but the Google API documents leaked in May 2024 suggested that they actually do use Chrome and Android device data to understand how users interact with websites.

    Engagement signals are crucial ranking factors. Google looks at what happens after users click through from the search results to your website.

    Your website’s user experience directly impacts your search rankings. If visitors quickly return to Google after visiting your site (known as “pogo-sticking”), it signals to Google that your content didn’t satisfy their intent. However, if they spend time on your site reading content, watching a helpful video, or filling out a form, those engagement signals can play a role in how Google will rank your website in the future.

    Adapting Your Content Strategy for AI-First Search

    The Challenge of AI-Generated Content Saturation

    Google’s March 2024 core update, described as their “largest in history,” resulted in 45% less low-quality, unoriginal content in search results. The search engine giant is actively working to combat the flood of AI-generated commodity content that lacks originality and value.

    In January 2025, Google updated its Search Quality Rater guidelines to focus on spam and unoriginal content. Google expanded the definition of what it considers spam, and it called out low effort content in Section 4.6.6 of their guidelines:

    “The Lowest rating applies if all or almost all of the [Main Content] on the page (including text, images, audio, videos, etc) is copied, paraphrased, embedded, auto or AI generated, or reposted from other sources with little to no effort, little to no originality, and little to no added value for visitors to the website. Such pages should be rated Lowest, even if the page assigns credit for the content to another source.”

    Google’s quality raters are human consultants hired by Google to manually spot check the quality of Google search results and provide feedback to help Google improve their algorithms. The Search Quality Rater guidelines tell these consultants what they should look out for when evaluating the search results.

    Understanding Information Gain and Content Uniqueness

    Google’s “information gain score” patent, granted in June 2022, represents a fundamental shift in how search engines evaluate content quality. Rather than focusing solely on word count or how recently a page was updated, Google now measures how much new useful information your content provides that doesn’t exist elsewhere online.

    For real estate investors, this means that simply publishing generic content is not only unlikely to improve your rankings, it could actually hurt your search visibility. Instead, you need to consistently add your specific expertise, local market knowledge, case studies, and unique data that differentiates you from competitors.

    This is why we’ve built our Unique Content Tool to help you see how different your edited content is from the original template. Plus, our updated AI Rewrite Tool makes personalizing your content easier than ever! You’ll still need to add your own insights, but our built-in tools can expedite your content creation process by making sure the AI-generated copy matches your unique brand — an excellent starting point.

    Screenshot showing Carrot's Unique Content Tool

    Creating Content That Stands Out

    The key to a successful content strategy in 2025 and beyond lies in combining AI efficiency with human knowledge and authenticity.

    Real estate investors have a unique advantage here—your direct experience with local markets, specific property challenges, and successful deal structures provides the exact type of unique information that both Google’s algorithms and your potential clients value most. You can still use AI tools to help you write, just be sure to add your own insights and flair. (Carrot’s Automated Content Library is a perfect example of this. It offers well-researched, pre-written blog posts that you can use as a starting point, then customize to your market and with additional insights and expertise you’ve honed over your career.)

    When you combine well-optimized website content with video marketing, you can build trust and credibility with local homeowners and increase your potential visibility in Google search results.

    Measuring Success in the New SEO Landscape

    Traffic Attribution and Traditional SEO KPIs are Changing

    The traditional SEO metrics that real estate investors have relied on for years—keyword rankings, organic traffic, and click-through rates—are becoming less reliable indicators of holistic marketing success. As Google’s search results pages continuously evolve with AI Overviews, video content, and forum results, these metrics don’t tell the complete story of your marketing performance.

    A critical issue affecting real estate investor websites is attribution of traffic sources. Research in 2024 showed that significant percentages of web traffic from social networks, messaging apps, and even AI chatbots are often lumped in under “Direct” traffic by Google Analytics.

    This “dark traffic” phenomenon means you might be receiving more referral traffic from social media, AI chatbots like ChatGPT, and other sources than your analytics show.

    The Rise of Brand Awareness Metrics

    In this new landscape, brand awareness metrics are becoming increasingly important. Brand mentions across the web, branded search volume, and your visibility in AI-generated responses are now crucial indicators of your market authority and future search performance.

    For real estate investors, this shift means monitoring how often your company is mentioned on social media, in local forums, and in AI chatbot responses when people ask about local home buyers. These mentions often lead to branded searches and direct traffic that may not be properly attributed in traditional analytics.

    We always recommend tracking branded terms (like your company name) in our Keyword Rank Tracker so you can make sure you are controlling the conversation around your brand.

    Aligning with Business-Critical Metrics

    More than ever, SEO success and marketing efforts need to align directly with business metrics that matter to your real estate investing operation. A decrease in organic traffic might be offset by higher-quality leads or better conversion rates from other sources.

    For real estate investors, this makes it even more important to focus on business metrics like revenue, lead quality, cost per lead and lead-to-close ratios rather than website traffic or rankings alone. (Make sure you have a strong, real estate-specific CRM to help you monitor these key metrics.)

    How to Stay Ahead: Real Estate Investor Marketing in the AI Era

    The changes we’ve seen in 2024 and early 2025 are just the beginning of AI’s impact on search and digital marketing. Google’s introduction of AI Mode with Gemini 2.0 in March 2025 shows even more sophisticated AI capabilities are coming, with particular emphasis on local intent and complex query handling.

    For real estate investors, this means the strategies that work today need to be flexible enough to adapt as AI becomes even more prominent in search results.

    The most successful real estate investors in this new landscape will be those who maintain competitive advantages that can’t be easily replicated by AI or competitors. This includes deep local market knowledge, strong personal relationships, proven track records, and authentic brand authority and content built over time.

    Your Action Plan: 15 Essential Steps for Real Estate Investors to Future-Proof Your Marketing Strategy

    Based on the major shifts happening in search and AI, here’s your comprehensive action plan to adapt and thrive:

    1. Optimize Content for AI Overview Inclusion – Structure your website content with clear, concise answers to common seller questions. Utilize dedicated FAQ block patterns, bullet points, and numbered lists to make information easily digestible for both human readers and AI algorithms. Ensure your content directly addresses user intent, making it a prime candidate for Google’s AI Overviews and featured snippets by providing direct, authoritative responses.
    2. Target Hyper-Local and Intent-Driven Keywords – Shift your keyword strategy from broad, competitive terms like “we buy houses” to highly specific, long-tail, and geographically focused phrases. Think “sell my house fast in [your specific neighborhood]” or “cash home buyer for inherited property in [your city].” Rather than old-school keyword stuffing, use entity-based SEO to provide context and meaning through synonyms and related words. This approach helps you capture niche local demand and signals to Google’s AI that your content is highly relevant to specific local queries.
    3. Prioritize Unique, Expert-Driven Content (Information Gain) – Move beyond generic advice and focus on creating unique content that provides genuine “information gain.” This means consistently adding your original expertise, local market knowledge, real-world examples, and proprietary data that can’t be easily found elsewhere or replicated by AI. Your direct experience with specific property challenges and successful deal structures is what will differentiate you from your competitors.
    4. Create Transparent Process Guides – Develop detailed, process-driven educational content that clearly outlines your actual methods for evaluating properties, calculating costs, and negotiating deals. Sharing your transparent approach builds significant trust with potential sellers, demystifies the real estate investment process, and positions you as an honest, knowledgeable authority in your local market.
    5. Cultivate a Consistent Multi-Platform Brand – Establish and maintain a strong, consistent brand presence across all relevant digital platforms. This includes not only your website but also YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and specialized real estate forums. Ensure your messaging, visual identity, and value proposition are consistent, building credibility for your brand and recognition across the web, which Google increasingly values.
    6. Engage Actively on Community Platforms – Proactively participate in online communities where homeowners discuss selling properties, such as Reddit, Quora, Nextdoor and local Facebook groups. Provide genuine value by answering questions, offering insights, and sharing helpful resources without being overly spammy or self-promotion. Focus on bringing your humanity into conversations, building trust, establishing yourself as a helpful expert, and driving referral traffic and brand mentions.
    7. Develop High-Value Video Content – Create diverse video content, including property walkthroughs, authentic seller testimonials, and educational videos explaining various aspects of selling to an investor. Optimize these videos with relevant titles, descriptions, and tags for YouTube and embed them strategically on your website. Simply upload your video and Carrot’s VideoPost will transcribe it into a blog post that’s optimized for search engines.
    8. Showcase Authentic Customer Success Stories – Document your successful deals and share them as case studies on your website, video testimonials, and social media success stories. These real-world examples provide powerful social proof, demonstrate your ability to solve problems for sellers, and build trust and credibility that generic AI-generated content simply cannot replicate.
    9. Optimize Your Google Business Profile for Local Dominance – Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is more critical than ever. It’s often the first touchpoint for local sellers and a primary data source for Google’s AI Overviews, especially for “near me” searches. Ensure your GBP is fully claimed, verified, and meticulously optimized with accurate business hours, services offered (e.g., “cash home buyer,” “fast house sale”), high-quality photos of properties and your team, and consistent updates. Actively encourage and respond to reviews, as these build trust and signal local authority to both potential sellers and Google’s algorithms. A robust GBP is foundational for appearing in local search results and being cited by AI.
    10. Proactively Monitor Brand Reputation – Set up comprehensive monitoring systems like Google Alerts and specialized social listening tools to track all online mentions of your company, key personnel, and brand. Actively manage your online reputation by responding to reviews, addressing feedback, and correcting misinformation. A strong, positive brand reputation is a crucial signal for Google’s algorithms and AI Overviews, influencing your visibility and trustworthiness.
    11. Align Marketing KPIs with Business Outcomes – Shift your focus beyond traditional SEO metrics like keyword rankings and organic traffic, which are becoming less reliable. Instead, analyze performance through the lens of core business metrics: lead quality, cost per lead, lead-to-close ratios, and revenue generated. Pay close attention to how AI Overviews impact branded versus non-branded searches, and track referral traffic from social media, forums, and AI chatbots, even if it’s initially misattributed. Make sure your marketing efforts are directly tied to tangible results for your real estate investing operation, even if traditional traffic numbers fluctuate.
    12. Focus on Brand Visibility & Public Relations – Actively seek out credible brand mentions for both your company and personal brand across various platforms. Engage in relevant forums like Reddit and Quora, and leverage PR platforms like HARO and Qwoted to secure publicity. Remember that mentions by brand name on third-party sites, including YouTube and LinkedIn, are just as crucial as backlinks for signaling authority and can significantly enhance your visibility within LLMs and AI Overviews, directly building trust and recognition in your target market.
    13. Establish Deep Local Authority (Offline & Online) – Build authentic local market authority by actively engaging with your community both online and in the real world. Attend local investor meetings, sponsor community events, and develop strong relationships with real estate professionals, contractors, and local businesses. These real-world connections increase your credibility, generate valuable word-of-mouth referrals, help you find off-market properties, and reinforce your local presence to Google’s algorithms.
    14. Embrace a Diversified Omnichannel Approach – Reduce your dependence on any single lead source by investing in a truly omnichannel marketing strategy. Diversify your efforts across search engine optimization, social media marketing, targeted direct mail campaigns (make sure your mailers include your URL or a scannable QR code!), email nurturing sequences, and in-person networking. This creates a resilient lead generation ecosystem that can withstand future shifts in search algorithms and consumer behavior.
    15. Leverage an AI-Powered CRM for Sales Efficiency – Integrate and fully utilize CRM platforms like Carrot CRM with embedded AI features to streamline your sales process and manage high-volume pipelines effectively. Carrot CRM’s newest features — Autonomous Lead Manager (ALM), AI Opportunity Summaries, and AI Lead Scoring — can automate follow-ups, prioritize leads, and provide real-time property analysis, giving your acquisition team improved clarity and speed without replacing the essential human touch.

    Conclusion

    The AI revolution in search represents both significant challenges and unprecedented opportunities for savvy real estate investors. While traditional SEO strategies are evolving, the fundamental principles of providing value, building trust, and solving real problems for homeowners remain as important as ever.

    Remember, AI is changing how people find information, but not why they need to sell their houses quickly or work with reliable investors.

    To be successful, you should adapt to changing technologies while focusing on what makes your real estate investment business unique.

    The same time-tested strategies are true both online and off:

    • Build lasting relationships and genuine brand authority with people in your local market.
    • Provide valuable solutions for motivated sellers, then share that know-how online (while providing “information gain” that sets you apart from competitors).
    • Diversify your offline and digital marketing channels, but remember that other human beings will make or break your success.

    By combining these timeless principles with modern strategies adapted for an AI-first world, you’ll be well-positioned for continued success.

    Ready to future-proof your real estate investment marketing? Analyze the competitive landscape in your local market area for free with Carrot’s Market Scout.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Q: How do I know if AI Overviews are affecting my real estate investor website traffic?

    Look for decreases in organic click-through rates for broad, informational keywords like “how to sell my house fast” or “cash home buyers.” Monitor your Google Search Console Search Performance data for impressions versus clicks, and check if you’re seeing more branded searches relative to non-branded terms. AI Overviews typically impact top-of-funnel, question-based queries most significantly.

    Q: What’s the best way to optimize my real estate investor content for AI citations and overviews?

    Structure your content to directly answer common homeowner questions using clear, concise language. Use FAQ sections, numbered lists, and headings that match how people naturally ask questions. Focus on adding unique local market insights and specific processes that demonstrate your own experience and knowledge rather than serving up only generic advice that AI can easily replicate.

    Q: Should real estate investors still focus on traditional SEO strategies for local markets?

    Yes, but with modifications. Local SEO remains crucial since Google’s AI shows heavy local intent, but you need to emphasize unique geographic content and make it clear that you are a trusted local expert. Combine traditional on-page SEO and local SEO tactics with broader brand building and off-page SEO across multiple platforms to maximize your visibility in both traditional search results and AI-generated responses. Leverage video marketing to further boost SEO, brand visibility, and build trust with your local community.

    Q: How can I track if my real estate investment marketing is working when analytics are becoming less reliable?

    Align your marketing metrics to business KPIs like revenue, lead quality, cost per lead and lead-to-close ratios, but continue to track your digital marketing success. Track your backlinks and website authority with Domain Overview, pull Google Search Console data directly into your Carrot dashboard by connecting Search Performance, and use campaign tracking links to monitor your results.

    Q: What types of content should real estate investors prioritize in 2025 to compete with AI-generated information?

    Focus on content that showcases your unique experience and local market knowledge—detailed neighborhood investment guides, case studies of actual deals, process explanations with real examples, and market insights that only an active local investor would know. Combine this expertise-driven content with video testimonials and success stories that build trust and authenticity. Learn more about creating unique content.

    People also read …

  • Top 5 Ways to Find Off-Market Properties (That Other Investors Miss)

    Top 5 Ways to Find Off-Market Properties (That Other Investors Miss)

    You don’t have to be lucky to get off-market properties as a real estate investor. You just need to know how to find them and how to get them to you before they go on auction sites, Zillow, or to a competitor. 

    These five proven methods show you exactly how to build that pipeline ethically, legally, and in a way that’s scalable. 

    KEY TAKEAWAYS

    • There are a variety of ways to attract off-market properties, and strategies that will fit any real estate investor’s budget. Some are more manual, some produce quick results, and some set you up for long-term success.
    • Real estate investors benefit from using multiple methods of attracting off-market properties to balance quick lead generation with long-term lead flow.
    • You can attract off-market properties with both online and offline methods.

    Attracting off-market investment properties is a good option for both new and seasoned real estate investors as there are multiple strategies and some budget-friendly options. Keep reading to see the top five ways to attract off-market properties, the pros and cons, and how to set up each one.

    Table of Contents

    1. SEO (The Best Way to Find Motivated Sellers)
    2. Driving for Dollars (Most Budget-Friendly)
    3. PPC Ads (Fastest) 
    4. Networking
    5. Radio Ads
    6. What’s next?
    Carrot icon
    Lead generation, at its best
    Attract, convert & close more motivated leads
    Try Carrot Today

    1. SEO (The Best Way to Find Motivated Sellers)

    When someone types “sell my house fast” into Google, you know they aren’t casual sellers — they need to sell now and are willing to accept a lower price for speed and convenience. That’s exactly who you want to attract.

    How do you make sure they come to your website? 

    It happens through SEO (Search Engine Optimization) — the process of getting your website to show up in top search results when sellers type phrases like “sell my house fast” or “cash offer for home” into Google.

    To tell Google what phrase you want a specific page to rank for, put the phrase or some variation of it in:

    • Your page title (what shows in the browser tab)
    • Your website address (the page URL) 
    • The page’s meta description (the short description that appears under your link in search results)

    For example, if you search for ‘sell my house for cash in Texas,’ the top-ranking websites have exactly what I described: 

    If you look at “Jamie Buys Houses” in the screenshot above, it includes “We Buy Houses In Texas” in their title, “Texas” in their URL, and “sell your house fast without paying commissions” in their description.

    It’s also good to include the phrase you’re targeting at least a couple of times in the content of your page as well. 

    Look at Four19 Properties’ page for the keyword “sell my house for cash in Dallas.” They’ve included phrases like “sell house fast in Dallas” and “cash offer” on their page. 

    Four19 Properties - Sell Your House in Dallas

    To find the right phrases to include on your page, you need to do keyword research. It is simply figuring out what words people actually type into Google when they’re looking to sell their house fast.

    Instead of guessing which search terms to target, keyword research shows you exactly what motivated sellers are searching for (the keyword) and how many people search for those terms each month (search volume).

    For example, you might discover that 720 people search for “sell my house fast Dallas” every month, but only 50 search for “Dallas home buyers.” 

    This tells you which phrase to focus on for better results.

    You can do basic keyword research using free tools like Google’s Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest. Just type in phrases you think sellers might use, and these tools will show you search volume data and suggest related terms you might not have considered. If you’re a Carrot member, Carrot also has a built in Keyword Explorer tool so you can easily find and implement the best keywords for your site.

    For a deep dive into real estate SEO best practices, check out the free guide Real Estate SEO: Top Strategies, Tips & Examples. It covers everything from keyword research to website optimization. 

    Pros of SEO for real estate investors: 

    • SEO leads convert at much higher rates because they found you, not the other way around. According to Carrot’s data, SEO leads generate approximately 2.5 times higher profit compared to leads from other sources. 
    • Unlike paid ads that stop working the moment you stop paying, SEO continues working for you 24/7 once you’re ranking well. You won’t have to spend time chasing leads. 

    Cons of SEO for real estate investors: 

    • SEO typically takes 3-6 months before you start seeing motivated sellers coming in. You need patience and can’t rely on it for quick deals when you’re just starting out.
    • Because it’s so effective, SEO is competitive. So it can be hard to rank for the high-intent keywords like ‘sell house in {city}, ‘sell fast for cash,’ etc. (To see how competitive top keywords are in your market, search your city with Market Scout.)
    • Getting your website to rank isn’t rocket science, but you’ll need to spend time learning the basics of keyword research, backlinks, etc. 

    If you don’t want to learn SEO yourself, there are real estate SEO experts you can work with.

    2. Driving for Dollars (Most Budget-Friendly)

    Driving for dollars is when you actively search neighborhoods for distressed properties that aren’t listed for sale. Though the name suggests driving, you can also walk, bike, or jog through neighborhoods — driving just covers more ground faster.

    Let’s look at five steps to make driving for dollars a success. 

    Step 1: Pick your target neighborhoods

    Start with areas you already know or where you’ve done deals before. Check your county records for zip codes with higher foreclosure rates or tax delinquencies — these often have more motivated sellers.

    It helps to schedule regular 30-minute driving sessions each week rather than trying to do it randomly. 

    Step 2: Look for signs of distress

    Look for homes with:

    • Overgrown yards
    • Peeling paint
    • Broken windows
    • Piled-up mail 
    • Or posted notices

    Record the address and move on. Being too obvious — like taking photos or lingering — can make neighbors uncomfortable. You can do more research later on. 

    Step 3: Leave a note (Optional)

    Leave a simple handwritten style note on the door letting the owner know you’re interested in buying. 

    You can write — “I noticed your house while driving by and wondered if you’d consider selling? Call me at [number].” 

    Or you can use pre-printed door hangers that look like they’re handwritten, like these from Ballpoint Marketing.

    Just respect “No Soliciting” signs and be considerate.

    Step 4: Research the property

    Before adding to your marketing list, quickly check if the property is already listed for sale (check Zillow or the MLS if you have access) to avoid wasting time on properties already on the market.

    Then, look up the property on your county assessor’s website (just google “[your county] property records” or “[your county] assessor”). This gives you the legal owner and usually their mailing address, which often isn’t the property address itself.

    If you can’t find the owner’s current contact information, use a skip tracing service like TLO, Batch Skip Tracing, or PropStream (costs typically range from $0.25-$1 per lookup). This will get you phone numbers or the email address of the owner. 

    Step 5: Reach out to owners

    Add these properties to your regular follow-up system

    For the highest response rates, use multiple contact methods — send a yellow letter or postcard first, then follow up with a phone call 3-5 days later. 

    Tracking which properties respond helps refine your targeting for future driving sessions.

    Pros of Driving for Dollars for real estate investors: 

    • Extremely low startup cost (just gas money to get started)
    • Lets you personally evaluate neighborhoods and property conditions
    • Can be done part-time during evenings or weekends

    Cons of Driving for Dollars for real estate investors: 

    • Time-intensive process requiring personal effort
    • Limited by how much ground you can physically cover
    • Not scalable without additional help or technology

    Can you do this virtually? 

    DealMachine is an app that lets you browse neighborhoods through Google Street View, without actually driving there. You can identify potentially distressed properties and mark them just like you would if you were driving. It’s great if you’re short on time or want to scout neighborhoods that are far from where you live. 

    To improve response rates, add a QR code pointing to your website to your postcards. When sellers scan the QR code, they’ll land directly on your site, where they can learn more about your services and see that you’re a legitamate business. 

    3. PPC Ads (Fastest) 

    If you have some marketing budget, PPC (Pay-Per-Click) ads and pay-per-lead services are the fastest way to generate deals.

    You set up your Google Ads account, create campaigns targeting keywords like “sell my house fast [your city],” and within hours people will be clicking and filling out forms.

    But competition is fierce, and hence expensive. 

    For example, when I searched for “sell my house for cash in Chicago” I saw 4-5 different ads. Meaning everyone is bidding on the same keyword.

    When you have this many competitors, the cost per click skyrockets. 

    You might pay $15 – $50 just for someone to click your ad. If only one out of 20 people who click actually fill out your form, you’re looking at $300 – $1,000 per lead before you even talk to them.

    Here are three tips to make sure you’re not burning money on ads:

    1. Track every single keyword and ad. 

    Set up conversion tracking to see which exact keywords brought you actual seller calls. If you’re spending $500 on the keyword “sell house fast” but getting zero calls, turn that keyword off. 

    If “we buy ugly houses” is bringing quality leads for $50 per lead, increase the budget for that keyword. The goal is to not spend on keywords that won’t bring you quality leads. 

    2. Set up instant callback systems. 

    When someone submits your form, the system should immediately call both you and the seller, then connect you both on the same call within 30 seconds.

    Most investors wait 10-20 minutes to call leads back. By then, the seller has moved on or filled out three other investor forms.

    3. Your ad better stand out.

    In the example above, notice how each competitor tries to differentiate themselves:

    • “Cash Offer in 24 Hours”
    • “We Buy Any Condition”
    • “No Agent Commissions”
    • “Offer in 30 Minutes”

    You can’t just say “we buy houses.” You need a specific hook that makes people choose your ad over the others. 

    Facebook ads work completely differently than Google ads. 

    With Google, people are actively searching for you. With Facebook, you’re interrupting their scroll through family photos and memes.

    This means your creative needs to grab attention in under two seconds, and every single element of your ad needs to work together perfectly.

    Here’s how to structure a Facebook ad that actually converts:

    1. A compelling description that builds credibility and captures attention
    2. A clean, engaging video (or image) related to houses
    3. A clear value proposition
    4. A direct, specific call-to-action button

    Pros of PPC for real estate investors: 

    • Generates leads immediately after campaign launch
    • Highly targeted based on specific keywords and search intent
    • Scalable by increasing budget as needed
    • Provides measurable ROI and performance data

    Cons of PPC for real estate investors: 

    • Requires upfront budget 
    • Google Ads has a learning curve
    • Lead costs vary widely depending on market competition (see the average cost-per-click for popular keywords with Market Scout)
    • Success depends on quick follow-up and conversion systems

    4. Networking

    You can’t buy houses from people who don’t know you buy houses. So you need to get the word out about what you do.  

    But that doesn’t mean you waste time at generic business events making small talk. You need to connect with people who either have deals or know people with deals.

    Here are some ideas: 

    Build professional networks

    Connect with estate sale companies, bankruptcy attorneys, and eviction lawyers. These people deal with motivated sellers every day.

    Insurance adjusters deal with the “3 Ds” — Death, Divorce, and Disaster. These are exactly the situations that create motivated sellers. Make connections with them. 

    Go to garage sales. 

    What do people do before they sell their house? They get rid of junk first. Walk up to someone running a garage sale and say “Hey, I’m not here to buy anything, but are you open to selling the house too?”

    Talk to everyone. 

    Tell every single person you meet that you buy houses. Your barber, server, Uber driver. Everyone either has a property problem or knows someone who does.

    Here’s proof this works:

    Post on Facebook: “I need to buy a house this month. If you bring me a deal that closes, I’ll pay you $500-$1000.” Your network might connect you with someone. 

    Get to know a few real estate agents.

    Most agents can’t handle problem properties. Tell them: “If you get a hoarder house, something boarded up, or a place needing serious repairs, send it my way. You still get your commission.”

    Now when that agent gets a problem property listing, instead of dreading it, they immediately think of you. You become their go-to solution for deals that don’t work in the regular market.

    Pros of networking for real estate investors:

    • Gives you access to deals that never hit the market or listing sites
    • Professionals like agents and attorneys can pre-screen deals based on your criteria
    • Relationships tend to strengthen and improve over time

    Cons of networking for real estate investors:

    • Requires consistent follow-up to stay top-of-mind
    • Results often come in unpredictable waves rather than a steady flow
    • Hard to scale beyond your personal capacity to maintain relationships

    5. Radio Ads

    Radio can be an underrated way to generate motivated leads. There’s a misconception that they don’t work. But that’s because most investors pay way too much. 

    Check out this interview with Chris Arnold to learn more about how he relied on radio advertising to build and grow multiple companies.

    All Radio. All Virtual. How I Used Radio Ads to Build My Business and Lifestyle w/ Chris Arnold

    Here are the steps you can follow to get started with radio advertising:

    Step 1: Choose the right stations

    There are three main radio genres to target:

    • Urban stations – for deals in cities with younger demographics
    • Rural stations – for small town and countryside properties
    • Over 50 stations – for older homeowners who are more likely to sell

    Ask stations for their demographic breakdowns — listener data showing age, income, and location of their audience — and advertise on stations that match your seller persona. 

    Step 2: Negotiate pricing and secure good time slots

    Start with relationship building: Find a media buyer who already has relationships with radio stations. Solo investors rarely get the pricing they need to make radio profitable.

    Negotiate hard: Posted rates are just starting points. Most stations have flexible pricing, especially for longer-term commitments.

    Target prime listening times: Book morning and evening rush hours when people are actually in their cars listening.

    Write your own ads (avoid the station’s help)

    Radio stations will offer to help write your ad. Avoid them completely. They don’t understand how to position you to motivated sellers.

    This framework works great: 

    • Call out the problem your listener has
    • Present your solution
    • State who you are clearly
    • Give a clear call to action

    Keep it empathetic, not aggressive. 

    People are nervous and possibly heartbroken during the selling process. Don’t use harsh language like “We’ll stop your foreclosure now!” or “Get quick cash and leave your home!”

    Step 3: Set up your phone system before you launch

    Use easily memorable phone numbers for radio. Something with repeating numbers or similar sounds works best. People hear your ad while driving and need to remember your number instantly.

    You can also set up unique phone numbers for each station so you can track which ones generate the most calls.

    Pros of radio ads for real estate investors: 

    • Radio makes you sound like the established expert in your market compared to other investors
    • Most investors don’t use radio, so you’re not fighting five other “we buy houses” ads

    Cons of radio ads for real estate investors:

    • Without good negotiation skills or connections, you might pay $280 for what others get for $20
    • You need to answer live calls throughout the day, not just when your ad plays

    What’s next?

    Most investors spend all their time and money trying to get leads. They send out mailers, put up bandit signs, and make cold calls. But then what happens when someone actually calls?

    They write the person’s info on a sticky note, and forget to call them back for three days. 

    Getting leads is only half the battle. The real money comes from actually turning those leads into closed deals.

    That’s where Carrot comes in.

    It’s not just a website builder. It’s a complete system with CRM and digital marketing tools designed specifically for real estate investors to capture leads and turn them into deals.

    The data proves it works: Carrot leads convert 7 times better and are 2.5 times more profitable than non-Carrot leads. The average Carrot lead is worth nearly $1,900 compared to just $102 for non-Carrot leads. 

    Even in competitive markets, investors with a Carrot website hold 45% of top search positions in most U.S. metros. With over 1 million motivated seller leads generated, the platform works whether you’re tech-savvy or not.

    Check out Carrot today and see why thousands of investors trust their websites, lead capture, and follow-up systems to this powerful platform.

    People also like …

  • Videos Increase Website Conversion Rates Up to 56% — Here’s How to Get Started

    Videos Increase Website Conversion Rates Up to 56% — Here’s How to Get Started

    Video content is the best way to boost motivated leads without requiring any extra website traffic. This article explains why video is a game-changer for website conversion, and shares practical tips to get the right video content on your website!

    Key Takeaways

    • Website visitors who start watching a video are 24% more likely to convert to a lead and visitors who watch an entire video are 56% more likely to convert!
    • You should have five types of videos on your website to share key information that visitors are looking for.
    • You can quickly and easily create videos with free tools like VN and Canva.

    If you want to increase your website conversion rate and number of motivated leads, read on to discover how to quickly add videos to your site.

    Table of Contents

    1. The Data Behind Why Video Matters
    2. The 5 Types of Videos Your Website Needs
    3. How to Produce Videos, Easily
    4. Where to Put Videos on Your Website
    5. Conclusion: Make 2025 the Year of Video
    Carrot icon
    Lead generation, at its best
    Attract, convert & close more motivated leads
    Try Carrot Today

    The Data Behind Why Video Matters

    Online video consumption is estimated to hit four hours per day in 2025, according to Oberlo. When sellers do their research on who to work with, they don’t just like to gather information via video, they expect it! That’s why it only makes sense that your website should include videos.

    It’s not just a matter of giving web visitors information in a format they prefer. Having videos on your website can dramatically improve your lead conversation rate (how many website visitors turn into leads). Based on recent data analyzed by Carrot, when a web visitor starts watching a video, their chances of converting to a lead increase 24% (over visitors who don’t watch videos). Visitors who watch an entire video have a 56% better chance of converting!

    Adding videos to your website also helps with SEO. Google places a lot of weight on “high quality” content that it believes will help users answer their questions and find valuable information. Since today’s users like to watch videos, Google likes when videos are available to answer their search queries. Answering common questions or covering popular topics lets you capture that search traffic more easily.

    As people watch videos on your site, they’re also inherently spending more time on the page. Google also views this as a positive indicator that your content (and by extension, your website as a whole) is valuable, which can positively impact your domain authority and search rankings.

    The 5 types of videos your website needs

    Videos are a great way to answer common questions, highlight your experience, and put visitors at ease about working with you. Think of video as your chance to be “face to face” before you ever meet a lead. You likely get some of your best deals by networking, so bring that same personality and energy online with video! Here are the most important videos to make for your website.

    Note: If you’re new to video, get our free Video Marketing Playbook for R.E. Investors for ideas, scripts, and easy steps to recording!

    1. “About ” Video

    Who are you? What’s your experience? Why should people work with you? Make a short video introducing yourself and let people get to know you so they feel comfortable reaching out. 

    Here’s a video that walks you through creating an “About us” video as a real estate investor or agent:

    How to Create an “About Us” Video for Real Estate

    2. Working with [Your Company Name] Video

    A “How it Works” video can put potential leads at ease by detailing what it’s like working with you. How does the process work? What steps can they expect? What objections might they have?

    3. Customer Testimonials

    Video testimonials from happy clients talking about what it’s like working with you and how pleased they are with the results are great on websites. Website visitors may be skeptical of a written quote, but watching people talk about their experience generates a lot of trust. 

    Here’s an in-depth video on exactly what to say to get perfect testimonials every time you close a deal.

    4. FAQ Videos: Explain Complex Topics

    Odds are your leads aren’t real estate professionals. They may even be dealing with a new-to-them situation, like selling an inherited home, renting-to-own, or selling a house fast for cash. Put them at ease by answering questions they’re likely to have. Leads want to work with an expert, so show off your knowledge!

    Investor Brad Woodall is a prime example of someone who went all-in on creating videos that answer prospects questions. He doubled down on probate-related video content which he posts on YouTube and an entire video library on his Carrot website & now consistently generates high-quality probate leads because of it!

    FAQ Videos Example from Investor Brad Woodall

    5. Share Local Trends

    Talking about local trends are great videos to publish on social media channels, and they can add an engaging element to blog posts covering the same topic. If you’re discussing a particularly important trend that leads should know about, you can even add this type of video to your homepage while it’s a hot topic.

    Overall, videos build your credibility and put leads at ease, making them pre-disposed to want to work with you! 

    How to produce videos, easily

    Videos don’t have to be complicated or daunting, and you don’t need to start a YouTube channel or become a TikTok star (though you certainly can if you like making videos!). Today’s consumers are used to seeing natural, self-shot videos, so simple videos recorded on your phone or computer work just fine. There are even services that make it easy to produce animated videos if you’re uncomfortable being on camera (though showing your face will build stronger trust with potential clients).

    Don’t worry too much about the length of the video, both long and short videos have their place. Let the topic dictate the length of the video. And while you don’t have to worry about Hollywood standards, your videos should look nice and reflect your brand. Make sure the lighting is good and you have a non-distracting background. If you have shirts with your logo, consider wearing it in the video to reinforce brand recognition.

    Videos don’t need to be overly produced, but if you want to do a little editing or add your logo or contact information, we recommend finding a video editor on a website like Fiverr.com. If you’re more DIY, VN is a simple (free!) video editing software available for both Mac and PC. If you want to add music to your video, make sure you get royalty-free audio clips. You’ll also want an eye-catching “video thumbnail” (the image people see before clicking on the video). These are easy to create for free with tools like Canva, which has thousands of pre-built templates to match any style. If you’re creating several videos, choose one thumbnail style or one style per video type. This keeps your brand look consistent and professional.

    Where to put videos on your website

    You don’t want to cram all your videos onto one page, that would be overwhelming. Instead, think about where each type of vidoe makes most sense. If you were visiting a website, what type of information would you expect to encounter on each page? With that in mind, you want to make sure key videos are posted to your most high traffic pages — the home page, about us, and contact us pages for most real estate investor websites.

    Introduction videos and video testimonials in particular should be published on your homepage, about us page, and contact us pages — preferably toward the top of the page. In addition to generating the most traffic, these are also the highest converting pages, so putting videos here gets them in front of visitors at critical points in their journey. It also makes it easy for them to contact you immediately after watching the video — remember, visitors are significantly more likely to convert to a lead after watching a video!

    If you’re answering common questions, breaking down a topic, or discussing a local trend, add these videos to topical landing pages, blog posts, or niche credibility pages targeting the same topic and keywords. Publishing topical content on your website (especially around commonly searched questions or terms) will help you rank better in search results. The more valuable content you add to these pages — both written and video — the better chance they have of ranking.

    Carrot has a video post feature that makes adding this new content to your website even easier. Designed to help you get more leverage from videos explaining topics, trends, or answering questions, the VideoPost feature automatically transcribes your original videos into an SEO-optimized blog post. This is a great way to publish videos quickly.

    Here’s how easy it is to put video content on your website. This example ranked #1 for the keyword we were aiming for!

    Create Real Estate Video Content in Under 10 Minutes with Carrot's VideoPost

    Bonus video publishing tip: Post the same videos on YouTube. It’s easy to create a YouTube channel for your company on posting video to this popular platform give them an even better chance of showing up in search results. Make sure the video has a clear, accurate title with your target keywords and a good description with a link to your website. As a bonus, publishing videos on YouTube make them even easier to embed into your webpages, simply choose the Youtube block when editing the page and drop in the video URL.

    Conclusion: Make 2025 the year of video

    Video has been a popular way for Americans to consume information for years, and it’s only getting more popular. At the same time, competition in the real estate investing industry is getting stiffer, so any little tactic to give you an edge is a welcome advantage. Video could be the ticket to making you stand out, attract leads, and close more deals in 2025.

    In short, businesses that adopt video win far more often than those that don’t.

    Don’t overthink it and don’t be nervous about getting started, it’s not as hard as you think! For more on how to get started with video, check out Video Marketing for Real Estate: A Step-by-Step Guide.

    Happy filming—You’ve got this!

  • Listen to the Carrot Podcast

    Carrot's Evergreen Marketing Podcast

    Want more freedom & impact?

    From online marketing to mindset, join us as we unlock the best stories, tactics, and strategies from America’s top investors and agents.

    Listen to the Evergreen Marketing Podcast on your favorite platform

    High-Converting Websites
    CARROT WEBSITES

    High-Converting Websites

    Launch a website that’s built to rank, convert, and drive more motivated leads—without the hassle.

    See Carrot in Action →
    Content Marketing Automation
    AI Search Challenge

    Turn AI Search Into Your New Lead Engine

    Join Carrot’s 3-Day AI Search Visibility Challenge and learn how to get your site showing up in AI answers and Google results.

    Take the Ai Search Challenge →
    Follow Up & Close Deals
    CARROT CRM

    Follow Up & Close Deals

    Turn leads into deals with follow-up tools that nurture relationships and maximize conversions.

    How CRM Helps You Scale →

    Leadership & Growth with
    Trevor Mauch

    Join Trevor Mauch, CEO of Carrot.com, as he shares his journey from solo entrepreneur to intentional leader. Get unfiltered insights on leadership, mindset, and the lessons learned while building a $9M/year SAAS company. Tune in for actionable tips to help you grow your business and create a life of freedom and impact.

    Listen to the Entrepreneur Freedom Formula on your favorite platform

    Craving Even More Carrot?

    Join our Free Community

    Carrot.com Community

    or

    Find us on Other Platforms

    dark indigo wave background
    Carrot's 3-Day AI Search Visibility Challenge. Join at carrot.com/challenge
  • Mike Wall – Success Story

    Mike Wall – Success Story

    From Zero to $100K/Month in 12 Months: How Mike Closes 3-4 Carrot Deals Every Month

    Investor/Agent Mike Wall turned EZ Sell Homebuyers into a steady business, closing 3-4 deals monthly with an average profit of $25,000 per deal by focusing on high-quality lead sources that saved him time & energy.

    From Zero to $100K/Month in 12 Months: How Mike Closes 3-4 Carrot Deals Every Month

    Closes 3-4 Deals Monthly

    $25k Profit Per Deal

    Over 400 motivated leads in just 1 year

    I never got anything from my old custom websites… You go where people are getting results. I saw people in competitive markets using Carrot, so I knew it was the platform I needed.”

    Take our free demo to walkthrough what Carrot can do for you.

    The Challenge: Chasing Unmotivated Leads & Overspending on Marketing

    Mike was a real estate agent with a brokerage of 20 agents, doing 300 deals per year, who dabbled as an investor but decided to get serious about it.

    It only took a few months into investing to get tired of chasing down unmotivated leads and competing against other investors for the same lead lists — cold calling, direct mail, text blasting, etc. He was spending time chasing dead leads and blowing his marketing budget without closing deals.

    Before Carrot, Mike paid $7k for two custom websites and spent $5k/month on offline marketing but was hardly getting any visits to his website and had ZERO leads. He’d wasted money and wasn’t standing out.

    “I never got anything from my old custom websites… You go where people are getting results. I saw people in competitive markets using Carrot, so I knew it was the platform I needed.”

    He realized it was time to rebuild his investing business on proven, consistent marketing sources. That’s when he found Carrot:

    Mike Wall Carrot website

    The Solution: Mike’s “AHA!” Moment – Finding Carrot & Dominating Google

    When Mike realized the most motivated leads were searching on Google, he started researching which website builder to go with. The AHA moment was when Mike was Googling “we buy houses” in competitive markets and found Carrot sites were the ones ranking.

    He noticed Carrot laid out a path for creating an inbound flow of leads like he was searching for – and that a Carrot site was the “hub” to send all your marketing to so it converts better.

    Step 1 was getting a Carrot site launched and doing the initial work to optimize it for SEO. Mike knew that SEO results take diligence and time, so to get leads immediately, he began sending Google Ads/PPC traffic to his new site.

    Step 2 was logging into his Carrot site and using tools like the one-click Location pages, and Automated Credibility Posts, along with the AI rewrite tool to pump out content that would rank well in Google. He made sure to save time by following Carrots training and guidance every step of the way.

    427 Total Leads from Dec 2023 – Jan 2024

    Mike Wall Carrot.com Leads

    Mike’s 6-Month Plan to Generate Consistent Inbound Leads

    Month 1 – January 2024

    • Mike joined Carrot and personalized his site, adding testimonials, etc. He loved how quick and easy it was to launch his Carrot site.
    • Since Mike wanted his website to rank high in Google for terms like “sell my house fast Dayton, Ohio” so it would generate leads, he dove into Carrot’s comprehensive SEO training & free resources as opposed to hiring it out to one of our partnered SEO agencies.

    Months 2-3

    • Now that Mike had a grasp on SEO, he went to work. He launched “location pages” on his website for all the various locations he wanted to rank for and attract leads. This can be done in just a couple of hours with Carrot’s Auto Location Pages. Note: Did you know Carrot members who use Auto Location Pages generate 94.19% more traffic and 116.03% more leads per month than members who don’t?
    • He posted blog posts on topics like “how to sell my house during divorce” to help educate & convert prospects (and help rank in Google.) Carrot’s content tools tool makes this a breeze.
    • He used Carrot’s AI Rewrite tool to help make his Carrot-provided content more unique.

    I couldn’t survive without the SEO Tools…I love the SEO & content tools, but it’s more about combining everything.

    • He built out “citations” like a Google Business Profile, YellowPages, Yelp, BBB, etc. Carrot also offers a done-for-you option for citations.
    • With the work he put into Carrot, Mike began ranking in less than 3 months for some of his blog posts & location pages!
    • After tracking his progress in Carrot’s Domain Overview and using the Keyword Rank Tracker to track 53 keywords, he realized his location pages and blog posts were paying off! He’d achieved ranking #1 in many markets all over the state!
    • While Mike was working on his SEO, he hired a Google Ads/PPC service (Brendan from SoaringSEM) to run ads to produce quality, inbound leads. He gets steady ROI from this and continues to pay for Google Ads. You can find additional PPC & SEO agencies we trust & recommend in the Carrot Marketplace.
    Mike Wall keyword rankings

    Months 4-6

    • With most of the upfront work out of the way, Mike focused on getting backlinks to his website by creating or contributing to content on other people’s websites. Mike loves using the backlinks analysis tool to see which links give him the most SEO juice, like this article he contributed to.
    • He also got creative with blog posts, used ChatGPT to outline articles, used Carrot’s AI rewrite tool, and was getting even more leads from his market & around the state, even more motivated because they’re searching specific problems like “how to sell a house in probate” divorce, with termites, etc.

    Months 6-12

    • Mike was enjoying the fruits of his labor and continued to iterate by adding new content and discovering more keywords that other investors weren’t ranking for. He was also getting so many leads that he needed to keep better track. He’d been waiting for CarrotCRM to release and switched over from Follow-up boss to CarrotCRM to manage his leads and is loving it!

    The Result: Mike’s Path to $100k/Mo in Deals

    Mike Wall deal tracking
    Mike Wall deal results

    After 1 year with Carrot, Mike is averaging $75k-$100k profits per month (that’s 3-4 deals per month at $25k average profit per deal!) – All but two of the deals he closed this year were from SEO & Google Ads to his Carrot site, and those two were referrals from Carrot deals!

    Before Carrot (June 2024)

    • $5k/mo on ineffective offline marketing
    • $7k on worthless custom sites
    • ZERO leads

    After Carrot (January 2025)

    • Only $245/mo for Carrot, plus SEO Tools, Content Tools, Premium Designs, and Carrot CRM essential
    • Under $4,000/mo in done-for-you Google PPC Ads
    • Sweat equity creating content for his website and getting backlinks
    • Over 400 motivated leads in just 1 year

    Want Results Like Mike?

    Launch a website in just minutes and use our marketing tools to drive truly motivated leads, so you can close more deals.

  • Carrot CRM Annual Pricing

    Carrot real estate CRM pricing

    Plans for all real estate investors — from getting started to growing to scaling a large team.

    Carrot annual subscription pricing

    Essential

    $59/mo

    billed annually @ $703/year

    Perfect for: Dedicated real estate investors who want tools to grow their business.


    • 3 Users
    • AI features
      • Pay-per-useage AI Lead Scoring, Autonomous Lead Manager, and Opportunity Summaries
    • Automated follow-up sequences 
      • 8 total sequences
    • Property reports 
      • 50 property reports /mo
    • Electronic contract signatures 
      • 5 electronic signatures /mo
    • Enhanced reporting 
      • More insights = better decisions

    Scale

    $152/mo

    billed annually @ $1,825/year

    Perfect for: Small teams that need deeper insights into their lead flows and closed deals.


    • 5 Users
    • AI features
      • Pay-per-useage AI Lead Scoring, Autonomous Lead Manager, and Opportunity Summaries
    • Automated follow-up sequences
      • 15 total sequences
    • Property reports
      • 100 property reports /mo
    • Electronic contract signatures
      • 20 electronic signatures /mo
    • Automated lead response 
      • Instantly contact new leads
    • Lead grouping 
      • 2 groups
    • Automated workflows 
      • Trigger actions and outreach
    • My Scorecard 
      • Performance at a glance

    Team

    $297/mo

    billed annually @ $3,559/year

    Perfect for: Full-time investment teams who need a top-of-the-line real estate CRM.


    • 10 Users
    • AI features
      • Pay-per-useage AI Lead Scoring, Autonomous Lead Manager, and Opportunity Summaries
    • Automated follow-up sequences
      • Unlimited sequences
    • Property reports
      • 200 property reports /mo
    • Electronic contract signatures
      • 50 electronic signatures /mo
    • Automated lead response
      • Instantly contact new leads
    • Lead grouping
      • Unlimited groups
    • Automated workflows
      • Trigger actions and outreach
    • My Scorecard + Dashboard Reports
      • Performance at a glance
    • User Restrictions 
      • Keep team members focused
    • Weighted Round Robin 
      • Automatic lead assignment
    • Employee Scorecard 
      • Real-time team performance

    Want to see CarrotCRM in action?

    Free CarrotCRM

    $0/mo

    Just getting started? Keep expenses down and start with a powerful and robust CRM that grows with you.

    1 user, 3 sequence templates, 5 property reports/mo, manage all of your leads in one place.

    credibility elements

    Full CarrotCRM Feature Comparison

    Free

    Perfect for: Beginner real estate investors or those only doing a few deals a year.

    Join Now

    Essential

    Perfect for: Dedicated real estate investors who want tools to grow their business.

    Join Now

    Scale

    Perfect for: Small teams that need deeper insights into their lead flows and closed deals.

    Join Now

    Team

    Perfect for: Full-time investors with built-out teams who need a top-of-the-line CRM tailored to real estate.

    Join Now
    $0/mo $59/mo
    billed annually @ $703/year
    Save $125!
    $152/mo
    billed annually @ $1,825/year
    Save $323!
    $297/mo
    billed annually @ $3,559/year
    Save $629!
    Users 1 User 3 Users 5 Users 10 Users
    Integrations Zapier Zapier and Integration Specialist Zapier and Integration Specialist Zapier and Integration Specialist
    Support Online Help Center Personal Support Priority Support Priority Support
    Setup Guidance One-on-One Onboarding One-on-One Onboarding One-on-One Onboarding
    Notifications Email Only Text and Email Text and Email Text and Email
    Texting ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
    Emailing ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
    Custom Labels ✓ ✓ ✓
    View Filtering ✓ ✓ ✓
    Campaign Autoresponders Automated responses to new leads ✓ ✓
    Inbound Call Popups ✓ ✓
    Outreach Sequences Drip campaigns 3 Sequences 8 Sequences 15 Sequences Unlimited Sequences
    Property Data 5 reports/mo 50 reports/mo 100 reports/mo 200 reports/mo
    Contracts 5 e-signature sends/mo 20 e-signature sends/mo 50 e-signature sends/mo
    Groups ✓ ✓
    Reporting Basic Reports Enhanced Reports Enhanced Reports, Mini Dashboard & My Scorecard Enhanced KPIs, Mini Dashboard, My Scorecard & Employee Scorecard
    Employee Scorecards ✓
    Guest Access ✓ ✓ ✓
    Resurfacing ✓ ✓
    Workflows ✓ ✓
    Saved Views ✓ ✓
    Transaction Management ✓ ✓
    External Sending ✓
    Restricted Users ✓
    Weighted Round Robin ✓
    AI Tools
    AI Autonomous Lead Manager Pay-as-you-go Starting at $0.02/action
    AI Lead Scoring Pay-as-you-go Starting at $0.02/action
    AI Opportunity Summaries Pay-as-you-go Starting at $0.02/action
    Average Monthly Cost Will vary based on usage $2/mo $30/mo $115/mo
    CarrotCRM reporting and analytics

    Lead Generation + CRM

    Need a real estate CRM and a lead generation website? Carrot offers a range of top-of-the-line products to help you attract, manage, and convert real estate leads into deals.

    To get started, choose your Carrot subscription, then add your CRM from inside your Carrot account!

    I’ve used multiple CRMs in my time as an investor and I have to say… Not only is the platform awesome, but they have all the functions necessary to operate a high-volume investment company. Lastly, the team is always super responsive and helpful. Much better than my prior CRMs. I cannot overstate how awesome their support agents and helpdesk are. Thanks team!

    Josh

    Mike Wall Loves Carrot CRM

    Mike Wall

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is the free account a limited-time trial?

    No! The free account is free for however long you need it! Only pay when you need more users or features.

    Does CarrotCRM come with a website?

    You can get CarrotCRM with or without a website. Want to add a website? Select your Carrot subscription, then simply add Carrot CRM from inside your Carrot account.

    If you have another website, you can connect those leads to CarrotCRM with a Zapier integration. (Carrot leads are automatically integrated into Carrot CRM.)

    How do I get non-web leads into CarrotCRM?

    If the leads come from another online source, you can connect that source to CarrotCRM with a Zapier integration. You can also upload a list of qualified offline leads.

    Are there setup fees?

    No! CarrotCRM does not have any setup fees. CarrotCRM Free is easy to set up yourself and the Essential, Scale, and Team plans include setup support.

    How is it different than other CRMs?

    We’re the only platform that gives you a “step-by-step” lead follow-up process. It strips away all the complexities and just gives you the essential functionality needed to turn leads into deals. Plus, it’s hyper-customizable to fit your structure and needs, allowing you to do more deals with less confusion.

    (Always dreamed of getting the InvestorFuse CRM? That’s what CarrotCRM is! InvestorFuse joined the Carrot family and created this great new offering built on their already amazing experience.)

  • Carrot CRM Pricing

    Carrot real estate CRM pricing

    Plans for all real estate investors — from getting started to growing to scaling a large team.

    Carrot monthly pricing

    Essential

    $69/mo

    Perfect for: Dedicated real estate investors who want tools to grow their business.


    • 3 Users
    • AI features
      • Pay-per-useage AI Lead Scoring, Autonomous Lead Manager, and Opportunity Summaries
    • Automated follow-up sequences 
      • 8 total sequences
    • Property reports 
      • 50 property reports /mo
    • Electronic contract signatures 
      • 5 electronic signatures /mo
    • Enhanced reporting 
      • More insights = better decisions

    Scale

    $179/mo

    Perfect for: Small teams that need deeper insights into their lead flows and closed deals.


    • 5 Users
    • AI features
      • Pay-per-useage AI Lead Scoring, Autonomous Lead Manager, and Opportunity Summaries
    • Automated follow-up sequences
      • 15 total sequences
    • Property reports
      • 100 property reports /mo
    • Electronic contract signatures
      • 20 electronic signatures /mo
    • Automated lead response 
      • Instantly contact new leads
    • Lead grouping 
      • 2 groups
    • Automated workflows 
      • Trigger actions and outreach
    • My Scorecard 
      • Performance at a glance

    Team

    $349/mo

    Perfect for: Full-time investment teams who need a top-of-the-line real estate CRM.


    • 10 Users
    • AI features
      • Pay-per-useage AI Lead Scoring, Autonomous Lead Manager, and Opportunity Summaries
    • Automated follow-up sequences
      • Unlimited sequences
    • Property reports
      • 200 property reports /mo
    • Electronic contract signatures
      • 50 electronic signatures /mo
    • Automated lead response
      • Instantly contact new leads
    • Lead grouping
      • Unlimited groups
    • Automated workflows
      • Trigger actions and outreach
    • My Scorecard + Dashboard Reports
      • Performance at a glance
    • User Restrictions 
      • Keep team members focused
    • Weighted Round Robin 
      • Automatic lead assignment
    • Employee Scorecard 
      • Real-time team performance

    Want to see CarrotCRM in action?

    Free CarrotCRM

    $0/mo

    Just getting started? Keep expenses down and start with a powerful and robust CRM that grows with you.

    1 user, 3 sequence templates, 5 property reports/mo, manage all of your leads in one place.

    Carrot credibility elements

    Full CarrotCRM Feature Comparison

    Free

    Perfect for: Beginner real estate investors or those only doing a few deals a year.

    Join Now

    Essential

    Perfect for: Dedicated real estate investors who want tools to grow their business.

    Join Now

    Scale

    Perfect for: Small teams that need deeper insights into their lead flows and closed deals.

    Join Now

    Team

    Perfect for: Full-time investors with built-out teams who need a top-of-the-line CRM tailored to real estate.

    Join Now
    $0/mo $69/mo $179/mo $349/mo
    Users 1 User 3 Users 5 Users 10 Users
    Integrations Zapier Zapier and Integration Specialist Zapier and Integration Specialist Zapier and Integration Specialist
    Support Online Help Center Personal Support Priority Support Priority Support
    Setup Guidance One-on-One Onboarding One-on-One Onboarding One-on-One Onboarding
    Notifications Email Only Text and Email Text and Email Text and Email
    Texting ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
    Emailing ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
    Custom Labels ✓ ✓ ✓
    View Filtering ✓ ✓ ✓
    Campaign Autoresponders Automated responses to new leads ✓ ✓
    Inbound Call Popups ✓ ✓
    Outreach Sequences Drip campaigns 3 Sequences 8 Sequences 15 Sequences Unlimited Sequences
    Property Data 5 reports/mo 50 reports/mo 100 reports/mo 200 reports/mo
    Contracts 5 e-signature sends/mo 20 e-signature sends/mo 50 e-signature sends/mo
    Groups ✓ ✓
    Reporting Basic Reports Enhanced Reports Enhanced Reports, Mini Dashboard & My Scorecard Enhanced KPIs, Mini Dashboard, My Scorecard & Employee Scorecard
    Employee Scorecards ✓
    Guest Access ✓ ✓ ✓
    Resurfacing ✓ ✓
    Workflows ✓ ✓
    Saved Views ✓ ✓
    Transaction Management ✓ ✓
    External Sending ✓
    Restricted Users ✓
    Weighted Round Robin ✓
    AI Tools
    AI Autonomous Lead Manager Pay-as-you-go Starting at $0.02/action
    AI Lead Scoring Pay-as-you-go Starting at $0.02/action
    AI Opportunity Summaries Pay-as-you-go Starting at $0.02/action
    Average Monthly Cost Will vary based on usage $2/mo $30/mo $115/mo
    CarrotCRM reporting dashboards

    Lead Generation + CRM

    Need a real estate CRM and a lead generation website? Carrot offers a range of top-of-the-line products to help you attract, manage, and convert real estate leads into deals.

    To get started, choose your Carrot subscription, then add your CRM from inside your Carrot account!

    I’ve used multiple CRMs in my time as an investor and I have to say… Not only is the platform awesome, but they have all the functions necessary to operate a high-volume investment company. Lastly, the team is always super responsive and helpful. Much better than my prior CRMs. I cannot overstate how awesome their support agents and helpdesk are. Thanks team!

    Josh

    Mike Wall Loves Carrot CRM

    Mike Wall

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is the free account a limited-time trial?

    No! The free account is free for however long you need it! Only pay when you need more users or features.

    Does CarrotCRM come with a website?

    You can get CarrotCRM with or without a website. Want to add a website? Select your Carrot subscription, then simply add Carrot CRM from inside your Carrot account.

    If you have another website, you can connect those leads to CarrotCRM with a Zapier integration. (Carrot leads are automatically integrated into Carrot CRM.)

    How do I get non-web leads into CarrotCRM?

    If the leads come from another online source, you can connect that source to CarrotCRM with a Zapier integration. You can also upload a list of qualified offline leads.

    Are there setup fees?

    No! CarrotCRM does not have any setup fees. CarrotCRM Free is easy to set up yourself and the Essential, Scale, and Team plans include setup support.

    How is it different than other CRMs?

    We’re the only platform that gives you a “step-by-step” lead follow-up process. It strips away all the complexities and just gives you the essential functionality needed to turn leads into deals. Plus, it’s hyper-customizable to fit your structure and needs, allowing you to do more deals with less confusion.

    (Always dreamed of getting the InvestorFuse CRM? That’s what CarrotCRM is! InvestorFuse joined the Carrot family and created this great new offering built on their already amazing experience.)

  • Want to make your website stand out? You’ll love block patterns!

    Want to make your website stand out? You’ll love block patterns!

    There’s a fine balance between ensuring your website performs well and stands out. We’ve spent the past 10 years refining website templates for real estate investors, making them excel at ranking well in search engines, building your credibility, performing lightning-fast, and turning visitors into highly motivated leads.

    Carrot has expanded website customization options with new block pattern designs that allow real estate professionals to easily create unique, professional websites that reflect their personality while maintaining high performance.

    Key Takeaways

    • Block patterns are pre-designed webpage sections organized into categories like Call to Action, Content, Credibility, and Data that can be easily implemented without design expertise.
    • The patterns come pre-loaded with your brand colors for seamless integration and allow for customization to create visually appealing pages that stand out.
    • Using different block patterns helps break up text-heavy pages, making information more digestible for visitors and creating a more engaging user experience.

    With ongoing design improvements planned for the future, Carrot members can now better differentiate their websites from competitors while maintaining the high-converting, SEO-optimized foundation that drives lead generation success.

    Table of Contents

    1. What’s a “block pattern?”
    2. Block Pattern Categories
    3. Find your design
    4. More to come
    Carrot icon
    Lead generation, at its best
    Attract, convert & close more motivated leads
    Try Carrot Today

    But that doesn’t mean we don’t care about how your website looks. Your website is your online business card and should reflect your personality.

    That’s why we’re excited to announce that Carrot members now have even more website customization options! Did you know that Carrot has a team of in-house website designers dedicated to improving your site and Carrot experience? Well, they recently added 50 new block pattern designs so you can easily customize your website and make it look as unique as you are.

    What’s a “block pattern?”

    Think of each webpage as several sections stacked on top of each other. You have the “hero” section at the top of the page (usually with an image and the page title), then maybe a section of text or an image gallery, probably a “call to action” section that lets visitors easily contact you, a section that shows off your customer reviews, and so on. We pre-built many of these key sections as “block patterns.” It simply means a section pre-designed to serve a specific purpose. 

    We know it’s important to you that your site “doesn’t look like every other website.” Using block patterns is a great way to do that! Carrot offers a variety of block pattern styles for the most important sections of a site. All you have to do is pick your favorite style and add your information. You can use any block pattern on any page. The beauty of pre-built patterns is that you can customize the look of your website without being a web designer. With just a few clicks, you can quickly transform key pages from the out-of-the-box template into something that stands out and fits your style.

    Block Pattern Categories

    Finding a design to meet your needs can be difficult if you’re searching through a seemingly endless library of options. What if you use one and then find something you like better? Pattern Categories solve that problem.

    You can easily browse pre-built sections that meet your needs by deciding what you’re trying to accomplish with that webpage section.

    Block pattern categories included:

    • Call to Action
    • Content: FAQs
    • Content: How It Works
    • Content: Situations/Niches
    • Content: Solutions
    • Credibility: Bio/About Us
    • Credibility: Meet Our Team
    • Credibility: Reviews
    • Credibility: Videos
    • Data: Experience Stats
    Carrot block patterns

    The patterns you see are pre-loaded with your brand colors, so they’ll seamlessly blend into your website’s look and feel. Feeling creative? You can edit these patterns and add content, then save them to “My Patterns” for easy use on other pages.

    Find your design

    Using different block patterns is a great way to break up a page and make it easier for visitors to process information. For example, you can replace a block of text with icons and short blurbs that draw attention and make a big impact. Select from over 500 pre-loaded icons across a dozen categories and customize your icon color so your site truly reflects your business.

    Whether you like sharing maximum information or prefer a sleek design, the block patterns give you options. Some patterns are text-heavy, others are very streamlined, and others stylishly mix images and text.

    The “Content: How it Works” and “Content: FAQ” patterns, in particular, offer a wide array of styles. If you have those sections on your website, now is a great time to revisit them and refresh your site design.

    Not sure exactly which block pattern you like best? Add the section to your page and scroll through the different pattern designs to see how they each look in real life.

    More to come

    That’s just the latest update. The Carrot design team is working on even more block patterns and other design options to let you customize and differentiate your site further. You can expect to see more features roll out over the next few months, so stay tuned!

    Take a free Interactive Carrot website demo and see how we can help you stop losing deals to an underperforming website!

  • Keith Sant Success Story

    Keith Sant Success Story

    How Keith Sant Transformed His Real Estate Business and Closed $500k/yr Using Carrot

    Keith Sant was once stuck in the grind of chasing cold leads and pouring countless hours into old-school marketing methods that weren’t delivering quality leads.

    Today, Kind Home Buyers closes 2-4 high-value real estate deals every month, generating six-figure revenue from quality Carrot leads. By shifting his focus to Evergreen Marketing and mastering SEO with Carrot, he transformed his business, reduced his workload, and finally focused on the quality leads that drive real growth.

    Here’s how Keith overhauled his business – with Carrot at the center of it.

    How Keith Sant Closes 500k/yr in 50% Less Time with Carrot + SEO: A Carrot.com Review

    Closing 1 in 15 Leads

    vs. chasing 35 leads per deal

    <90 Day Closings

    vs. 6-12 months before Carrot

    $24,750 Average Profit

    per deal, at 2 deals per month

    If I could go back, I’d tell myself to take this leap sooner. Carrot didn’t just change my business; it changed my life. I’m not stuck grinding through endless cold calls anymore. Now, I’m building something real, with clients who are grateful for my help. It’s exactly the kind of business I wanted.

    Take our free demo to get a full walkthrough of what Carrot can do for you.

    The Challenge: Keith Was Reliant on Offline Marketing that Generated Low-Quality Leads, Wasting His Valuable Time

    He was at his wits’ end. As a real estate investor, he poured long days and late nights into traditional marketing—cold calling, text-blasting, anything to bring in potential leads. But it was exhausting, and the results were rarely worth the effort. “I was burnt out,” Keith says. “I was talking to people who weren’t ready to sell, and I felt like I was spinning my wheels.” He knew there had to be a better way to reach motivated sellers.

    Like many wholesalers, he was spending too much energy chasing leads who weren’t serious about selling.

    He wanted a way to attract people who were ready to make a decision and get off the marketing hamster wheel – for good.

    The Solution: Generating a Stream of Quality, Inbound Leads with Carrot

    One of Keith’s first leads through Carrot was a call he’ll never forget. It was a seller who had reached the end of their rope—desperate to sell quickly and willing to offer owner financing just to get the deal done. Keith stepped in and made it happen, closing the deal with ease.

    “That was a $100,000 deal,” he recalls, the excitement still fresh in his voice. “It was incredible. Here was someone who needed real help, and I had the solution they were looking for. This was what I’d been missing.”

    It was this win that solidified Carrot’s value for Keith. The $100,000 deal didn’t just mark a financial gain—it was the turning point where Keith realized he could genuinely help people in need while building a successful business.

    Keith Sant Carrot SEO Lead Testimonial

    Keith’s Success Steps: How He Transformed His Business and His Life

    Keith’s journey wasn’t just about getting a website online; it was about creating an online presence that brought him motivated sellers who needed his help. Here’s how he made the shift, one step at a time:

    1. Launched a Carrot Website
      The first step is to launch a Carrot site. Your site is the hub of all your marketing efforts – so make sure it’s optimized for lead gen and conversion.
    2. Take Carrot’s “3 Leader Per Day” SEO Training
      Keith followed our training to the T. You’ll learn how to drive high-quality traffic by understanding things like keyword research for Google and how to build credibility online.
    3. Content + Saving Time = Motivated Leads
      Keith executed a location page strategy on his Carrot site to attract leads all over his market and added blog posts for credibility & lead-gen. Carrot’s Auto Location and Niche Authority Builder tools will save you hundreds of hours or agency $$.
    4. Ditched Low-ROI Marketing Methods
      Once Keith realized that the inbound leads from Carrot took half the time to close and were juicier deals, he stopped cold calling & paying for leads, saving him over 40 hours per week.
    5. Refined & Scaled for True Freedom & Impact
      As Keith continued to refine his online marketing, branch into other markets, and make a name for himself in the REI space, he used his newfound time & energy to help other investors generate consistent leads through his company, SEO Meets REI.

    The Result: Keith is Closing High-Value Deals, Consistently

    Keith’s journey is a testament to the power of pivoting when you need change.

    If I could go back, I’d tell myself to take this leap sooner. Carrot didn’t just change my business; it changed my life. I’m not stuck grinding through endless cold calls anymore. Now, I’m building something real, with clients who are grateful for my help. It’s exactly the kind of business I wanted.

    Keith Sant deal results screenshot 1
    Keith Sant deal results screenshot 2

    Our Follow-Up Q&A

    How has Carrot changed your day-to-day life?

    Keith: “Carrot has changed everything about my day-to-day. I’m not cold-calling or pestering people anymore. Now, when people reach out to me, they’re truly ready to sell. I’m working less, but it’s more meaningful. I feel like I’m helping people who genuinely need it, and that’s something I never felt with cold leads.”

    What’s the lead quality like?

    Keith: “The lead quality has been night and day compared to traditional methods. My first lead through Carrot turned into a $100,000 deal, which immediately showed me the platform’s potential. Instead of chasing cold leads, I’m talking to motivated sellers who are ready to move. Before Carrot, it could take 5-6 months to close deals, but now I’m closing in as little as 90 days. Plus, I’m working with fewer leads—about one in 15 turns into a deal versus one in 35 when I used outbound methods like cold calling. The quality and genuine nature of the conversations make all the difference.”

    Why Choose Carrot over a custom site or competitor?

    Keith: “Choosing Carrot has been one of the best decisions I’ve made for my business. Unlike custom sites requiring endless trial and error, Carrot is built specifically for real estate investors. The SEO tools, support, and resources are unmatched, and they’ve directly impacted my ability to generate quality leads. The community has also been a huge asset—just being featured on Carrot’s podcast helped me close two deals. The values and transparency behind Carrot make it stand out from the competition, and I didn’t have to worry about my website not performing—it just worked from day one.”

    Start Your Journey to a Profitable Business Today

    Launch a website in minutes and use our content marketing, automation, and SEO insights to drive leads that convert.