Based on our 2021 interview with Michael Lee of 416 Home Buyer. Results below are Michael’s account of his experience at the time.
Michael Lee already knew how to get leads from Google Ads.
He’d run his own campaigns and built a consistent lead flow. But he was struggling to grow it enough to support his real estate business across Ontario.
His background was in sales. Acquisitions were where he felt most useful, and he wanted help managing the advertising.
That’s what brought him to AdWords Nerds.
Getting clear on where he wanted to buy
Michael ran a province-wide business, but he didn’t want to buy in every location within the province.
When we spoke, he was working with our team to refine the campaign around where he wanted to operate.
That distinction matters. A seller can be ready to sell and still have a property you don’t want. Your marketing team needs to know where you’ll buy and what makes a deal worth pursuing.
What he reported after two and a half months
At the time of our interview, Michael had been working with AWN for about two and a half months. He reported:
- More leads than when he managed the ads himself.
- Similar acquisition costs.
- Two deals picked up: one he’d wholesaled and another he planned to renovate.
The renovation still had work ahead of it. Michael was excited about the property, but he didn’t know the final profit yet.
We didn’t establish exact lead totals or campaign spend in the interview, so we can’t calculate a return on ad spend. These are historical, client-reported results—not a forecast for your campaign.
Michael still had to follow up
Michael described using calls, texts, voicemail, and email to reach sellers who had inquired. When someone didn’t respond to the first attempt, he kept working the lead.
Someone in your business has to own that work.
When we manage your advertising, you’re still responsible for speaking with sellers, evaluating properties, making offers, and following up. An inquiry starts that process.
Before spending more on leads, look at what happens to the ones you already have:
- Who contacts each seller, and what happens when they don’t answer?
- Which inquiries become appointments, offers, and deals?
- As lead volume changes, what happens to your acquisition cost?
Michael brought in help with advertising while continuing to handle acquisitions. If you’re considering doing the same, be clear about what you need your agency to handle—and what your team needs to do once a lead arrives.
You can watch my interview with Michael or read the full episode transcript.
For a walkthrough of the advertising itself, read our PPC guide for real estate investors.
If you’re getting leads but struggling to grow, take a look at our managed PPC service. Or book a strategy call and tell us where you’re getting stuck.