Nearly 90% of home buyers search online during the home buying process. Not only are they using the internet for their next home, but to find an Agent who has experience buying or selling their particular type of home. Many real estate agents understand that having a strong web presence is important, but don’t often know where to start.
Here are the top 5 elements to consider when building out your real estate website:
1. Consider your brand. A website often serves as a visual representation of your brand, so be mindful of the voice, tone and images you elect. For example, if you specialize in selling modestly priced homes in a modestly priced area, your homepage image should reflect this. In other words, don’t show pictures of flashy, urban condos if you’re primarily focused on buying and selling in a suburban setting.
2. Make sure it’s user-friendly. It’s not enough to just have a website—you need to have a website that is informative, easy to navigate and friendly to both buyers and sellers. Consider what function you want your website to serve. What information do you want visitors to absorb when they come to your website and what’s the fastest way to get them there?
3. Create clear CTAs and contact opportunities. For many real estate agents, their website serves as a form of lead generation. In this case, it’s vital to have clear Calls to Action (CTAs), as well as contact information right on the homepage. Adding a contact form to your site can also help you capture new leads. When that lead form is connected to a real estate CRM such as IXACT Contact, they can automatically be added to a drip marketing campaign that ensures you’re connecting with them as swiftly as possible.
4. Provide IDX search capabilities. Having the ability to let users search listings in their area right from your website is a key functionality that cannot only help boost engagement on your site, but keep them coming back.
5. Consider the mobile user. Many popular real estate websites provide mobile friendly sites, as well as easy to navigate apps for both tablets and smartphones. If your potential buyer or seller is already on a mobile device, it’s important to make sure that your website is easy for them to view and navigate. Opt for a responsive design website which automatically adjusts scale and navigation based on the type and size of the user’s device.
Your website can also be a place for buyers and sellers to get vital information and establish yourself as an expert in your field. Provide helpful resources, such as links to local government agencies or tips and tricks for finding a new home. Your site should contain content that is not only useful, but shareable, meaning visitors are inclined to share what they found on your site via social media or email.
Once your website is ready, make sure you update your other marketing materials to match it. With an Agent CRM such as IXACT Contact, it’s easy to customize the look and feel of promotional materials such as emails and e-newsletters.
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