Have You Given Your Website a Checkup Lately?

Getting your agent website up and running is a huge undertaking - and once you've finished you probably don't want to think about it again for a while.

Unfortunately, websites can get out-dated quickly. So if you haven't given yours a checkup in the past few months, it's probably time to take these 4 steps:

1. Click on all your links
2. Enter your own address in all the "capture" forms and really read what you get in response
3. Read all your content pages, looking for information that's out of date
4. Check to see if your photo still looks like you

Clicking all your links ensures that every one of them is a "live" link that takes your visitors where you want them to go. It's easy to change a page here and there and forget to go back and change the links.

Checking all your capture forms shows you whether the information you're providing in return for prospect names and addresses is correct.

One agent I talked with this year had done a presentation at a wedding show and had gathered names to put in his autoresponder. Later he decided to put a capture box on his website and offer the same special report that he offered at the show. But he forgot one thing - changing the greeting. When I checked his box by entering my name a couple of months later, I got a greeting telling me that he had gotten my name at the wedding show. OOPS!

But it is easy for a mistake like that to happen, because of the many steps required in setting up a capture form.

Read your content pages looking for information that has changed. For instance, I've seen sites that still refer to the homebuyer tax credit.

Your bio pages could also be out of date. I've seen agent bios that cite accomplishments up to and including 2007 or 2008 and say nothing about the following years. That can give visitors the impression that you haven't done anything since then.

If you've expanded or changed your niche, this is also a good time to talk about it, and even to add a page or two to your website. If you specialize in a niche, let your visitors know!

Since you do want people to recognize you, check that photo! If you've changed your hairstyle or hair color, or if you've switched from glasses to contacts, it's time to get a new one.

Most of us don't read our own websites very often, so we don't notice these little gitches. Then we're embarrassed when someone else points them out.

So start the New Year on the right track - give your website a check-up and fix anything that's out of date. Then you can mark yourself "excellent" on all points!

And of course, if you need help with the content, get in touch. I'd love to help you with new marketing copy, a new agent bio, or a new drip marketing campaign.

Happy New Year!

(Photo by Dominik Gwarek at http://www.kikashi.webpages.p)

marte@copybymarte.com
www.copybymarte.com

Priest River, Idaho
208-448-1479

 

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