There’s no question that real estate agents, brokers, and investors must have an online presence in order to be competitive in 2017 and beyond. However, very few of the real estate professionals creating websites these days have a very good understanding of what it takes for a website to be successful. Do you?
4 Tips for Designing a Real Estate Website That Stands Out
There are millions of real estate websites on the internet. And, if you do business in a big city or competitive market, then chances are, there are hundreds of websites belonging to big time players in your vicinity. In order to give your website a chance at success, you have to focus on visibility and differentiation.
There is no perfectly balanced equation for making a website stand out, but with the right understanding of various factors that contribute to enhanced visibility, you can point your site in the right direction. Here are a few helpful tips:
- Sell Yourself
Real estate is highly personal. When someone chooses to buy a home, rent an apartment, or invest in a piece of property, they want to know that they’re working with someone they can trust. Instead of making your website about your company or listings, focus on selling yourself as someone who is relatable and trustworthy.
In order to sell yourself, you obviously have to know who you are and what you stand for. Portraying an inconsistent message isn’t a good look and will cost you dearly. Pick out two or three characteristics that you want to build your brand around and drive those home in everything you do.
- Get Photography Right
“According to research, the brain processes visual images 60,000 times faster than it can process text. It could be argued that this fact makes images worth 60,000 times more than text on your website,” Green Residential notes. “You need to showcase great images of the properties you’re selling so they entice buyers to stop in and clients to do business with you. Without a great photography platform, your website will be missing something essential.”
If you’re still taking pictures with your camera phone, or pulling generic stock photos from some free website, you’re missing out. A professional photographer who specializes in real estate is worth every penny you spend.
- Focus on Simplicity
Complicated websites with lots of different design elements are so 90s. If you want a competitive website that commands attention from the very first moment a visitor lands on your homepage, simplicity should be your primary focus. Minimalist websites do exceptionally well – when coupled with high quality photography and image selection – and are almost guaranteed to drive higher engagement.
- Develop Localized Blog Content
It’s impossible to discuss website visibility without mentioning SEO in some form or fashion. And while there are lots of different SEO tactics and strategies for climbing the search rankings, natural and organic is the way to go. If you really want to build a sustainable SEO strategy, localized blog content is the answer.
For example, let’s say you’re a realtor in Kansas City. Instead of just developing generic real estate content, it would be wise to create content that directly ties in with Kansas City and the surrounding areas. This will help you attract localized traffic that will convert at a higher rate.
Give Your Audience What They Want
At the end of the day, it all comes down to the visitors. What is it that your website visitors want from you? Once you understand the answer to this question, you’ll do a much better job of satisfying them and driving tangible results. We’ve discussed a few techniques and strategies in this article, but it’s worth noting that every audience has its own unique preferences and proclivities.