When buyers are ready to buy and sellers are ready to sell, they no longer use the Yellow Pages to find a real estate professional. Instead, they head straight for their computer and begin their search.
When the prospective buyer or seller has found your site, are they going to stay there? Even more importantly, are they going to return?
You only have a few seconds to grab a prospect's attention. Your homepage must have original and informative content, it must be user-friendly and it must have good graphic design.
Search Engines may not look at graphics, but people do. If your website is poorly designed, the prospect will most likely leave your site within 10 seconds; but if the website is appealing, they are more likely to add your site to their "Favorites" and return again.
Your website must be eye-appealing and attention grabbing. Forget the neon colors. If the design is hard on the eyes, the prospect will click out faster than they clicked in. Most website visitors do not like pop-ups; especially when they request information. So, instead of getting information, you have annoyed the prospect (who closed the pop-up in the first 3 seconds). Avoid immediate voiceovers or music as most people consider this an annoyance as well.
Ten years ago, it was all about brochures and business cards to help you stood out from the rest. Today, it is your website that must stand out. Take a look at your competition's presentation. If it is eye-appealing, they are probably doing more internet generated business.
Designing a website, choosing graphics, color-schemes, etc., can be time consuming. I would advise seeking expert advice and assistance. Of course, I think a Virtual Assistant is a perfect choice for this job. Hosting companies will help and advise; but you may end up with a very "canned" look, which is not memorable at all. Whereas a Virtual Assistant will help you design a site that looks great and reflects your personal style. A Virtual Assistant is usually more economical than a website designer as well.
Pamela, I don't know why so many of even our own members put on loud music when you enter their sites. I spend the first part of my visit trying to locate and turn off the intruding music. If I can't find it, I usually leave without reading further.
So do you have some GREAT websites that believe stand out from the rest to prove your point ? I would be VERY interested to see an actual example. Thanks
Personally, I don't stay on a website with a lot of music. If it's soft, calm music, that's ok for a little while, but give me the option to turn it off if it starts to annoy me, or I'll be gone - off searching more of the multitude of sites out there on the web. Another thing that really gets me is the all black backgrounds with the glaring green or red font colors, or the white backgrounds with yellow colored fonts that you have to strain to read. Make it soothing to the eye, so the content stands out.
I really don't mind a pop-under that asks how I found the site, as long as it's when I'm leaving. Oh, while I'm listing my website pet peeves here, don't get me on a site with those silly trailing cursors or that box that keeps following me down the page - click, I'm out.
I click out of websites that are slow to load, have music and are generally too busy.
Sandy
I have heard other good things about virtual assistant. Thanks again for the insight.
I like sites with frequently updating info like area market stats, interest rates, news blogs, and up to date listings. Don't bog me down with cutsy graphics, music, or video streams. I would also be interested in seeing some sites that work well in your view. Thanks!
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