A year ago I wrote about the importance of a website for REALTOR®. Now a year later, I have changed to Alamode. My new website is much better. Not every REALTOR® has the same needs. It is important to customize a website to meet abilities, personality and budget. Everybody has home searching on their website. Nice, but not everything. If visitors can save searches that makes it easier for them, and gives them a reason to return.
One thing I learned is that it is easy to make a website too complicated and confusing. The easier it is for visitors to quickly find what they want keeps their attention. Having six different ways to search for the same information didn’t cut it. The trainer for the site missed the boat. Having six different options to find different information makes more sense. The easier it is for Buyers and Sellers to find the information they need the more likely they are to stick around. If your goal is to get Buyer leads, then emphasis toward Buyers would be a serious consideration.
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What are Buyers looking for in your area? |
Keep in mind whoever comes to your website will knowingly or unknowingly asking WIIFM (What’s In It For Me)?
If you cannot answer that question for them within a few clicks, they won’t be back. What value does your website have for visitors? We tell our sellers that first impression for selling there is important, yet we forget first impression of our websites are important to us. If visitors like what they see, they’re going to look around. If you give them a reason to return, they’ll be back.
Organization of your website is something to consider. Can Buyers quickly find what they need? Can Sellers find what they need? If I am selling my home how is your website going to help me? If I am a Buyer relocating to your town can I find information about schools, to get my utilities turned on, etc? What makes your website better than the next guys?
Having pull downs on your websit makes the home page look cleaner and allows visitors to seach for what they want to see. Breaking the pull downs by Buyer, Seller, Applying for a Loan, or other categories will help visotors to see what they want to see. You can answer WIIFM without at first appearance. Having a blog on your site where you are the expert, doesn't hurt either. A blog is a good tool to give visitors a reason to come back. Being able to show your listings is something that Sellers and potential Sellers may be interested in. Especially when they want to know how you are or will be promoting their home.
If you like what you see I highly recommend Alamode. You can pick and choose features based on your needs.
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