Hints for a good real estate web site

1. Have a purpose for each page on your site(s) and make it a “landing page” for that purpose. The purpose needs to be reflected in the page name, the keywords, the content (text) and the graphics. Don’t mix purposes on the page.

2. Make your web site easy to use If the prospects see a lot of clutter when they get to the page, they won’t know what to do next. The navigation needs to be simple and easy to follow. For example, the link to your main page should be at the same location on each page. For the best results keep the theme the same for each page in your web site or section of your web site. You may create separate sections of your whole site that are unique, but that makes them appear to be a separate web site. If you do that, don’t make as many links between the two sections.

3. Make sure each page loads fast Avoid the temptation to add large graphics, flash and other large files to the page. Not everyone has high speed access. But even it the prospects you want do have high speed, they may not have the “plug-ins” needed to load your fancy site. Many people will not want to take the time needed. Then they will go on to your competitors’ web sites. The loading speed for your main page and ever ”landing” should be under 50-100 KB total. The other pages can be slightly larger (and slower).

4. Don’t use fancy coding Watch your web designer carefully. If they don’t use only html or asp pages, you may have problems. They may use things like java, xml, dhtm or other coding that makes the prospect make changes to their browser. That will have the same effect as flash will have and you will loose your leads to your competitors’ web sites.

5. Make your web site “search engine friendly” If you want prospects to easily find your web site, you need to make sure that the search engines like your site. Don’t use elements that your prospects may not like scrolling text and other moving objects on your page may make your prospects annoyed. Something moving over you content may actually keep them from reading your text. If they don’t like it, they will leave your site and, again, go to your competitors’ sites.

6. Give buyer prospects what they really want. At the beginning of their web search buyers are looking for information on the home buying process. But they want to easily find information on homes for sale. You should have IDX (Internet Data Exchange) easy to find and easy to use. Your own listings should also be on the site, but not just via a “My Listings” link to the IDX. The need to be on your site itself and contain more information and pictures of your listing.

7. Use your listings to attract prospects and the search engines. Each listing should have its own page that can also be used as a “landing page” and should be optimized for the search engines. You should also put a small amount of information on each listing on the main page of your web site.

8. Figure out how to get contacts to give you their contact information. Since web prospects want to remain anonymous, this is very hard to do. Make sure you site has enough content to get your visitors to come back again and again. Then give them an offer that will break down their “resistance” and give their contact information. Figure out how to keep in contact with prospects until they are ready to buy.

Once you get contact information, you need to start them on an e-mail drip system. You need to be careful not to use the same “rapport building skills” you use on the phone or in person.

The author of this article is Linda Grissette. Some of you may remember her as Linda Grayson. Linda is a Broker-Associate with River City Real Estate. She is also the company trainer. Learn more about how River City Real Estate can help you make more money...even in today's market...browse through this site.

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