Real estate agents use websites as a means of capturing leads and spreading online visibility for their listings and services. In such a competitive business, you need every opportunity to stand out, and an attractive website is just that.
You’re probably pretty busy with your growing real estate business, but investing in your website now will be a huge monetary advantage in the long run as online real estate services are now greatly flourishing and become one of the latest home for sale trends. Greater online visibility means more clients and higher commissions.
“It’s much easier to attract clients and sell homes when you have an online landing place that draws buyers and sellers,” says a blog post from the Houston property management firm Green Residential.
Let your hard work pay off with a website that will help you sell your products and services. As you evaluate your site, consider some of the things top real estate websites do differently.
- Make Your Name and Logo Clear
As a real estate agent, you probably haven’t put much thought into a logo. However, it makes a great addition to a website. It helps users to remember your name and services when it comes time for them to use yours. A good logo will be simple and connect your name with the services offered.
Put your logo and name in a noticeable place on your website, such as the top right corner. It should be there on every page so it’s always in the back of visitors’ minds.
- Litter Pages with Calls to Action
Each page on your website should also feature a call to action. It’s the best way to capture leads. A good call to action will be brightly colored or boldly lettered so that it stands out from the page behind.
It should also feature actionable language like “tour your dream home today!” or “call now to see your dream home!” When it’s easy and compelling, clients will make contact.
- Use SEO to Increase Visibility
Best practices for search engine optimization (SEO) for real estate agents can’t be explained in a small portion of a blog post, but it’s worth mentioning. SEO increases online visibility through keywords, link building, guest blogging, and more.
Research good SEO practices or hire a company to do your SEO for you. It can help your website climb to the front of search engine results, beating your competitors.
- Incorporate Multimedia
Every good agent understands the value of high-quality imagery in selling houses online, but quality media usage goes beyond that. Incorporate multimedia as much as possible, including infographics, charts, graphs, and more.
Video is one of the most important multimedia tools for realtors. Video marketing statistics from 2016 showed that 73 percent of homeowners were more likely to list with a realtor that uses video. It’s a great marketing tool for your organization.
- Take Some Things Off the Homepage
Simplicity is best as a general rule of good website design. Cluttered, busy homepages distract clients from your main goal. They prefer a streamlined homepage with enough information to direct them and plenty of useful visuals.
- Make Content Useful and Easy to Read
Content personalized for your target audience is increasingly important for today’s websites. Clients crave information that will solve their biggest problems, especially regarding the confusing land of real estate.
Write content in an easy-to-read format. As a general rule of thumb, make content easy to scan with bolded headings, short paragraphs, and bulleted lists. You’ll capture a lot more customers this way.
- Organize Your Listings and Images
The manner in which you display your listings and images can influence the way they perceive your content. Most realtors recommend using a platform that makes it easy for viewers to click through all the images associated with your listing, be it IDX, Placester, Point2, or Agent Evolution.
- Listen to Your Customers
If you listen, your clientele will share what they want from you. What they say on social media, during showings, and in reviews will illustrate the changes you should make to the way you do business, which translates to your website.
This tenet is particularly useful for updating blog content. Customers will tell you what they want to read about, and you can comply with detailed blog posts that answer their concerns.
- Consider Color Psychology
Color psychology is the study of how colors affect the brain. Certain colors can encourage action in customers when used appropriately. For example, the color red can indicate passion, hunger, or anger, and it’s probably not the best color for a real estate website.
On the other hand, blues and grays can encourage feelings of calm and peace, which are enticing to stressed out homeowners. Study the way colors can affect your clientele, and choose website colors with a positive effect.
- Sell Your Benefits
Don’t talk about your greatest talents and what makes YOU stand out. Instead, use your website to illustrate the many benefits that a customer gets when they use your services. They want to learn more about the money and time they can save when they list with you, so make that a priority with your website content.