So you have a website. Big deal. Many do.
What does your site say about your professionalism?
I know many of you are proud of your company sites and agent sites you or your kids did for you but they are killing your business. Stop and take a look at what you are putting out there to the public, it may not be what you want to say about yourself and your company. It is hurting your business and you really need to look at what you are doing.
I could post hundreds of agent and office sites and compare them with others and you will agree. I actually cringe when I look at some and shutter when they load a song or video against my will. You forget that many people are looking for homes at work and really shouldn't have a song or video blaring while they look at homes instead of working. It needs to be subtle, let them decide on the video or music they want.
Take your site and change the information to lets say... a store like best buy. Would you buy a TV from your web site? Does it have the professionalism and zip to sell a TV? Probably not. There is no way I would buy a home from someone who has a site that looks and navigates like many of them do. Stange colors, odd buttons, obscure navigation and all the large fonts and colors in an assortment of arrangements not to mention the lack of quality information.
You are a professional REALTOR, use professional REALTOR tools and settle for nothing less. Get the tools you need to succeed and quit using products you were sold on.
There are expectations by the public and those include a site that doesn't look like it was produced by a 10 year old. (Granted some 10 year olds do better work than me. Just an example) You don't make your own business cards with any free piece of paper and crayon available, you purchase a professional card from a professional printing company. Your web site should be twice as good as your business card. Your web site only has to be paid for once and maybe some monthly service fees. It will benefit you while you sleep because you don't have to know who you are giving it to. People find it for you where as business cards have to be mailed, or handed to someone.
Make sure your digital business is the right image you want to portray because it has 10 times the potential your business card or brochures. Remember that the 10 times may go either way. Benefit or they may run.
What does your site need to accomplish this?
- Current MLS listings of all data available for search in your market area.
- Clean professional layout and design. I have these available. Realtor.com has these available and more.
- No amature looking free site builders that are not built for Real Estate.
- Professional Blogging system. Activerain.com, wordpress.com, blogger.com, and more.
- Drop the EGO or Elevate the EGO. Do it right or don't do it at all.
- Good real estate tips and articles
- Local knowledge and local information
- NO lead collection - Why not let them call you when they are interested. Give them what they want with no obligations. (they just put in a bogus email address and name.)
- Membership Options - They can sign up to recieve extra features on the site and to save favorites and recieve additional mailings from you. People want a Choice.
- Loose the automatic playing of video and audio - Don't assume you know what they want. Let the users decide.
- Match your site colors to your marketing program for you and your office. Follow basic marketing techniques on all your marketing materials. Online and Offline.
- An agent that actually returns emails the same day or better.
I will gladly look at some of your sites and make suggestions for all to read and see what I am talking about. I have been creating real estate web sites for 11 years now. Licensed as a REALTOR in Idaho in 1996 - 2002 or so, I forget when I went inactive and started as a marketing director for a real estate company. I do this every day and have many examples and insights you may need to know.
I would also love to see some really great sites. Post them here so we can all see a great site to compare.
www.irwinrealty.com www.magicvalleyrealty.com www.pocatellomls.com www.arizonahomepix.com www.twinfalls-realestate.com These are a few of mine that I do for clients who are very happy with the results. They all match their marketing materials and over all office image. Magic Valley Realty has an office manager that actually does all the graphics and colors herself on my Office DIY IDX program.
Get the right website that says the correct message.
We are all guilty of this. My selling sites for web sites are no where near what my sites are that I produce as far as technology or time spent. I just don't have the time. Too busy helping you guys out. But my agent and office sites are unmatched by any out there.
Here are some examples...
BAD...
http://www.real-estate-in-france.com/
Not too BAD...
http://www.viviun.com/
Even Better...
http://www.french-property.com/
