What would a potential client see if they arrived at your real estate website right now? If an engaging and effective platform isn't the solution, your website is probably out-of-date.
Nearly 90% of prospective homebuyers begin their search online, according to studies. Although many agents have websites for their real estate businesses, few of these sites are functioning as effectively as they could. Agents are using digital technologies that offer tons of value and organically and rapidly get clients into a lead pipeline as modern websites become more and more competitive.
There are numerous harmful, out-of-date online features that serve as blatant indicators that it's time to update.
Consider the following inquiries for yourself:
- Does the first page of Google results for my name or a pertinent hyperlocal term have a link to my website?
- Is it simple to navigate my website?
- Is it simple to get in touch with me and learn more about the services I provide?
- Are my website's visitors turning into reliable inquiries?
- Do I provide more or the same number of useful integrations on my website as my peers and rivals do? Is the chatbot? a dynamic map? IDX lookup?
Your website needs to be updated if you have any of these questions or a negative response.
Integrate Helpful Components
Your real estate website must provide more than simply your contact details and a brief bio in 2023. Your website serves as both your virtual office and the central location for all of your digital marketing. It is a place where you can easily connect with your ideal customer and encourage them to contact you. The interactive technologies that enable this are integrations and add-ons.
By providing clients with access to information like real estate listings and hyperlocal data through an aesthetically pleasing medium, integrations help clients save time. Additionally, they give you the chance to establish yourself as a contemporary thought leader in your field and win over clients by imparting expertise.
Neighborhood Handbooks
People who want to buy real estate never seem to do enough research on the location they are interested in. Create and regularly update an area guide to make their entire research process simpler.
These continuously updated neighborhood pages include information on everything from the most recent open homes to market analyses and Yelp company reviews. Every aspect is covered, right down to nearby recreation facilities and school rankings.
Visitors can feel confident that you are knowledgeable about the local area and understand what they are seeking when they visit these hyperlocal, value-packed pages.
ClickMaps
An interactive map that visually displays all the logistical information clients are seeking is the next level of hyper-local information.
With an emphasis on distinctive landmarks in each client's hyperlocal area and a visual depiction that is tailored to their target audience, our designers create personalized maps for each of our clients. For instance, our designers will make sure to include mountain ranges, trails, national parks, and the like if you reside in a region renowned for its surrounding natural beauty.
Any of the elements that can be clicked on can be linked directly to sites about the area, IDX pages, or a particular page of your choice. Our bespoke legend and table of contents make it simple to explore through these components. Our agents have an advantage over real estate marketplaces and stale rival websites because of these hyperlocal specifics.
Home Prices
How much is (my, this, that) home worth is one of the most frequently asked client queries, as every realtor and broker is aware of. Share a home valuation tool to make things simple for you and your future clients. The property valuation provides the answers to these pointless inquiries, allowing clients to approach you fully informed and more prepared than ever to make a purchase.
While some clients utilize a link to their house valuation tool as a call-to-action on a content page or sellers' page, many clients prefer to have their home valuation on a dedicated landing page. No matter how you decide to present it, your branding and graphics will be incorporated into your home valuation tool.
Boost SEO
The majority of real estate agents and brokers don't have the time or expertise to create effective SEO campaigns, despite the fact that they are crucial. It's straightforward: if your website isn't optimized for search engines, it won't be found. The reason websites get buried on page 2 or higher in Google search results is that Google believes they are less relevant.
Based on competitor research and clever keywords, Hike SEO collaborates with agents to create a customized SEO strategy. The application will remind you of simple SEO tasks throughout your SEO campaign and track the progress of your campaign. You can't possibly fail.
Including Social Media
Perhaps the most popular and priority marketing tactic in use today is social networking. Agents must ensure that people get on a responsive page that inspires action when they click from your social media post to your website.
Your social media channels should be prominently displayed on your website, on the other hand. Potential customers can gain a comprehensive understanding of who you are and what your firm stands for by linking these internet platforms. Many contemporary customers start to wonder why you don't have an online presence and what they might be hiding if you don't have linked social media profiles.
Although there are many tiny tweaks you can do to improve social media effectiveness across all platforms, at the very least, they need to be linked to your real estate website and vice versa.
Use Only Top-Notch Pictures
Professional graphics and photography are excellent tools for conveying the worth of services in addition to physical properties. Low-resolution photos give the impression that your real estate company is unprofessional, out-of-date, and sluggish. There is no need to utilize grainy images because the majority of smartphones can shoot shots of professional quality in a matter of seconds.
It is simple to overlook the fact that a single image can appear differently on different screens. Images must be prepared such that they will fit on a variety of displays and look good on each one.
Additionally, it takes longer for larger files to load, and slow websites may turn away visitors. A talented site designer can assist you in balancing image size and resolution without degrading quality or loading time.
Modernize The Design And Style
Real estate clichés are a dime a dozen now. In today's quick-paced online environment, a company logo that features the outline of a house and a key just won't cut it. Visitors to your website are used to seeing contemporary designs with carefully selected themes and colors. When your real estate website is physically unpleasant, they will probably notice it more than if it were really attractive.
For a step-by-step breakdown of how we constructed some of our favorite websites, check out our case studies or sign up for a free demo.
Functionality and aesthetics and layout are related. If your website is extremely complicated, visitors may be turned off by it or may leave without reading your most crucial content.
For instance, agents that serve a large non-English speaking community might offer translation choices or simple primary menus with large fonts for seniors.
Update Copy Content
Real estate changes quickly, so your text must follow with. A variety of copy may be found on your website, including blog entries, case studies, testimonials, and landing pages. The "meat" of your website is this content; it's what users take away from it and what search engines use to index and categorize it.
Search engines like Google can crawl and rank your page with the help of on-page information, making it appear in pertinent queries. Search engines will lower your rating if your content isn't updated frequently and changes and becomes erroneous or irrelevant.
Start by searching your sites for dated stats and supporting data. Then, using carefully chosen keywords, look for areas where you may provide more pertinent information. Additionally, search for chances to use more modern vocabulary (e.g., primary suite vs. master suite).
Last but not least, pay attention to the minor pieces of text that play important roles, including meta descriptions. When your website is displayed on a search engine results page, a meta description of your material will show up as a small excerpt. These descriptions outline what to expect from both visitors and search engines. They also assist in lowering your page bounce rate by only drawing visitors who are specifically looking for the type of material you are offering.
Adapt To Different Devices
92% of internet visitors are passing over your website if it isn't mobile-friendly. The majority of internet users are used to ingesting bite-sized content with clear text and vibrant images. A large portion of web browsers will click away if these pages don't fully load in under 3 seconds.
Work together with your web designer to ensure that your real estate website looks stunning and performs flawlessly on all mobile and desktop platforms.
Start Now
A functional, up-to-date website is a crucial component of your internet marketing. Unfortunately, there are very few websites that are both visually appealing and intuitively built. Your online brand will be updated with a few noticeable improvements, which will also help you reach the correct audience.
Change is a constant in the real estate industry. Working with a talented designer to frequently adjust to these changes will put you ahead of the competition.