Just as you want every home that you show to be impeccably staged and styled, the look and feel of your website as a realtor must give off the same smart and polished vibe. When potential clients land on your professional real estate website, they will be looking for signs that demonstrate your skills as a business owner. In today’s technology-centric era, your website is frequently the first impression you will make.
Visitors to your website are naturally looking for a realtor who can meet their needs. Think of your website as an extension of your own office – one that can work 24 hours a day when you can’t. Because your website will be working for you while you sleep and while you attend to other clients, it is imperative that every page on your professional site accurately represents you and can do (almost) everything you can do when it comes to attracting new clients.
As a real estate professional, your business website should:
Present a clear description of your services
Whether they are looking for a realtor to help them sell or purchase a new home (or both), people visiting your site want to know all about you. Do you work as a solo realtor or are you part of a large real estate company? Highlight your professional achievements – don’t be shy about putting them on display! Doing so will instill confidence in your abilities in your profession. Share a few personal facts about yourself as well. Your clients want to have a connection with you that extends beyond buying or selling a property.
Make sure your contact information is easy to find
Once someone has decided that they’d be interested in working with you, the next step will be to get in touch with you. Research has shown that most Internet users will exit a website if they can’t find what they’re looking for within 15 seconds. That means you have to grab their attention immediately, ensure that your website is easy to navigate, and present your contact info clearly. Some people will pick up the phone and give you a call, while others will prefer to shoot you an email. Give as many contact options as possible so that there is no reason NOT to get in touch.
Include photos and videos of your properties
Most homebuyers today are browsing the Internet for potential homes long before they get in touch with a real estate agent. The most successful realtors include regularly updated photographs and videos of their current listings so that potential buyers can get an idea for the type of properties available.
When prospective homebuyers perform Internet searches for real estate agents to represent them, they typically include a geographic area in the search terms. For this reason, it is important that your real estate website be well optimized for your specific geographic area(s). When selecting your website designer, choose a team who also specializes in search engine optimization (SEO).
Because your website will contain so many visual aids and graphics (photographs, videos, walk-throughs, virtual tours) it’s in your best interest to choose a minimalistic website theme so that your visitors aren’t overstimulated and overwhelmed. Selecting a solid background and using consistent colors throughout your site will allow the text and graphics to really shine.
The home buying process is one fraught with a multitude of difficult decisions and questions. You do not want to add any additional stress to potential new clients with a website that is glitchy, slow to load, or confusing. Focus on presenting yourself well, making communication easy and highlighting your listings with a clean layout that is easy to navigate and read.