When I started out with marketing my real estate services online, I started looking for the "best real estate website" out there and see how I can create something similar.
At that point I thought that really pretty and flashy websites were probably the best... Since then I know that it's not about the looks and the prettiness about the website. It's about CONTENT!
The "Best Real Estate Website" is the one that generates lots of new business for you, lot of new buyer and sellers leads.
For this, you definitely need 2 things:
1. You need to please potential buyers and sellers.
2. You need to please the search engines.
So how can you go about it:
1. To please potential sellers and buyers, you need to give them what they are looking for: HOUSES! According to the National Association of Realtors 2006 Research, 96% of people were looking for homes when they went online. Only 3 % were looking for a real estate agent... So, get those listings out there and show them to potential buyers. Or better yet, gove them full MLS access in return for their e-mail address.
2. To please the search engines, you need to optimize each and every page separately for keywords that potential buyers and sellers actually search for. You can use the 15 point search engine optimization list in Real Estate Internet Marketing Formula, or you can hire a professional to do it for you.
You can also use Web 2.0 tools such as blogs, articles, press releases, social networking sites, podcasts and videos to be more relevant to consumers and to catapult your site to the top of the search engines. More on these in later posts...
If you are looking for a real estate website that can help you do a great job, you can check out Rapid Listings.
Do you want to share your experience regarding real estate websites?
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4 comments:
Hi,
I've been doing real estate business on the www for about 10 years now. My experience has shown me you need basically 3 things to be successful:
1. Consumers need to be able to find you. You can have a gold plated telephone but if no one knows your number it's not going to ring.
2. You need to offer compelling content to cause consumers to stay on your website once they find you. Lisitngs is the best thing I've found.
3. You need to offer compelling benefits to cause them to want to contact you and give your their information.
http://www.KnoxvilleMLS.com
Realtor marketing is something that every real estate agent should look into.
I divide this into two areas:
1.) Marketing your listings
2.) Marketing you real estate business.
Each should be done separately. You can make a general website for your business that markets you. But for the real thing, a separate listing site for each home you're selling has some definite advantages.
Unfortunately, most realtors list homes through the MLS system and it is very limited in what you can say about a house or property. If you direct market a home through it's own website, you have the advantage of direct marketing instead of the mass marketing through the MLS system. With direct marketing techniques, you will be able to use the emotional benefits of a property that the MLS doesn't allow you. Benefits sell. Features of a home justify why someone buys.
Utilize your business marketing through your realtor website and the MLS, but sell houses through their own unique websites.
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