Every real estate agent or realtor needs to tap every possible avenue for more sales. Advertisements on T.V. , newspapers are out of the reach of most real estate agents.In this scenarios, the only level playing field that remains is the INTERNET. A real estate website can not only advertise a real estate agent's services but also showcase the properties and even give a real estate agent exposure to million of customers all over the world at a fraction of cost. To sweeten the deal, the marketing efforts on internet are much more lasting then other traditional mediums.

Ideally, a website developed by a professional Real Estate website design company will have these following features. These are not only desired but absolutely required to distinguish itself from the clutter of other thosuands of Real Estate websites.  

1) Nice, clean Design : A Real Estate website should a clean design and easy to use navigation so as to ensure that a site visitor finds the required information with minimum of clicks. The information should be presented quickly. Many sites have great animation and flash which do nothing to enlighten a visitor but  only succeed in driving away a potential customer because they take forever to dowload. So the golden rule is to keep it SIMPLE.

2) Search Engine friendly : Search Engines like google, yahoo etc. are becoming the biggest sources of traffic. To ignore them will be downright suicidal for any real estate agent. A site needs to be search Engine friendly. All the titles, keywords, content has to be properly chosen so as to make the site as informative to a search engine as possible.


3) Real estate Listings : A Real Estate website without property listings is a like a glorified business card. It does very little to educate, inform and serve a visitor. A  easy to search listings will not only attract a visitor but also increase the stickiness of the site. A visitor will stay longer and explore the site. An easy control panel for the site adminsitrator to add, edit and delete listings should also be provided.

4) Image/Video Gallery : In this age of Utubes, one cannot take videos lightly. A virtual video tour can showcase a property to a potential client located across the globe. A virtual tour indicates how professional a real estate agent is and how much homework he has done for the property.


5) Content Management system :  A content management system (CMS) is essential for a real Estate website. A real estate agent may need to change the content of website. Pages may have to be edited or added immediatly. IN thsi scenario, it's imperative that a simple and powerful CMS be provided.

6) Contact management : Contacts are the cornerstone of any sales. People visting a real Estate website should be able to contact the real estate agent through contact form. A propr feedback form should also be provided so that site visitors can submit their feedback. A proper response strategy and contact management should be put in place so that no query goes unanswered. It also helps if newsletters are also provided. It's a very important tool to keep in touch with a site visitor. A monthly newsletter with new listings and helpful material goes a long way in establishing ever lasting business relations.

7) Internet Marketing : Now, that the your real estate website is ready and uploaded, it needs to be get seen. There are 1000s of real Estate websites. The only way to to rise above the heap will be a carefully thought of  and planned internet marketing. Internet Marketing can be in form of pay per clicks, banners or organic. While pay per click and banners have shown their effectiveness, the most long running, cost effective and natural marketing strategy is search Engine Optimization and link building. Another way to build brand and get traffic is to use socials, blogs etc. to reach a still wider medium apart from just search engines. 


 

 

15 Comments on Real Estate Website Essentials

Aniruddha, welcome to activerain and congratulations on your first post.

06/06/2008 08:34 AM by David Matney, CRS - Omaha, NE Real Estate (Alliance Real Estate)


Welcome to Active Rain and congrats on your first post.  Be sure to spend some time looking around at what and how others are blogging here.  It is a great education and lots of fun.  Looks like you're off to a great start...keep it up!

06/06/2008 01:21 PM by Greg Steffens (Coldwell Banker Sky Ridge Realty)


Welcome to ActiveRain. Congratulations on your first post. Get around and check out the community, you'll quickly figure out how to supercharge your blogging skills.

06/06/2008 03:05 PM by Ted Mackel Simi Valley Real Estate Simi Valley Homes, Simi Valley Realtor (Keller Williams Realty Simi Valley)


Welcome to Active Rain!  This is a great community for learning as well as sharing.  Check out some blogs, join some groups, and enjoy!  Just watch out - it's ADDICTIVE!

I look forward to reading some of your future posts!

06/06/2008 08:42 PM by Bill Kennedy - Greenville SC Realtor (Keller Williams Realty Greenville Central)


Welcome to the Active Rain community. You have chosen a great site with tons of information you can learn from.

06/06/2008 09:07 PM by Canton Georgia Real Estate--- Dwayne West (Atlanta Real Estate)


I see that you are new to Active Rain and I just wanted to welcome you. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do and that you find it a great resource.

06/07/2008 07:58 PM by Peg Gilliland - GRI, REALTORĀ® (RE/MAX Assured Properties)


Welcome to Active Rain! For some tips on how to get started here, check out my blog entry at ActiveRain Fast-Start Tips for Quick and Easy Points

Happy blogging and good luck!

 

06/07/2008 11:48 PM by Benjamin Clark - Exclusive BUYER'S AGENT - Salt Lake City, Utah (Homebuyer Representation, Inc.)


Benjamin :  I checked your post. Essential for newbie like me. Thanks :D

Charlie, David, Stefan, Greg, Ted, Bill, Peg: Thanks for the warm welcome.

Virginia: yes, #1 , #2 are most important for you right now.

06/20/2008 04:24 AM by Aniruddha Badola | Real Estate SEO (Enovabiz Solutions)


Good post, welcome, I'm sure you will be well read here in AR.  Stick around and "teach us"

 

06/21/2008 09:04 PM by Frank Bailey (Prudential Classic Realty)


Wow.......you're up and running! Pretty impressive..........not exactly sure what to do next with my website........but I'll keepreading and gathering info!  :-)

06/21/2008 11:12 PM by Liz Moras, Re/Max Associate Broker Chilliwack (Vancouver), B.C. (Remax Nyda Realty Chilliwack B.C.)


Liz,

I know what you can do to your website.

You have

Welcome!
 
Welcome to My Web Home! 

You should remove it and add some meaningful keyword rich text.

06/23/2008 01:39 AM by Aniruddha Badola | Real Estate SEO (Enovabiz Solutions)


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Real Estate Media: Aniruddha  Badola | Real Estate SEO  (Enovabiz Solutions)
Aniruddha Badola | Real Estate SEO
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Everything and more about Organic Real Estate SEO and Promotion. Proven, Effective, Economical, Long term (P.E.E.L.) results. That's what we provide and strive for. This blog reflects my views, my research and experimentation in the exciting field of Real Estate SEO and Marketing.




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