Websites, I need help plz

Start talking to people in your office, or find a website you like and usually the supply is on the bottom of it. Be sure to find out what they are willing to do for you.  I found some that you have to load the listings yourself (one more thing to do and maintain that I don't have time for), or some will upload regularily from your MLS provider (these are the best - don't have to worry about forgetting to change the status on your listing).  I'd give you some recommendations, but I don't know how helpful that would be, being as I am in Calgary Alberta.  Good luck.

Carla,

I call my children.  Perhaps a friend has a teenager who could help you. Heaven knows, they're all on MySpace....you cannot imagine some of the designs my kids showed me on there!!!

Other than that, I'm as stuck as you.

We have a web designer in our RE office who at our monthly meetings has started to spend 2 hous a month helping us to design. I don't know if he could refer you to anyone or not but you could google him at www.DavidAbernathy.com

Karen

Carla, Go to ALAMODE.com

They have an excellent website which you can subscribe to and design with your own information. I have one from tem and it was $395.00 for a year....THATS CHEAP. They allow for a 10 day free trial period to test it out. It is extremely user friendly and very professionally done. Please, if you do decide to subscribe, please shoot me an e-mail because they do give current subscribers referal credits. Check out my website, although it is for mortgages, you can get a feel for the quality... www.TheMortgageProfessionals.biz

Good luck,

Sean Allen

I would start off with something simple and clean.  Take a look a geocities.com website, they have a free website service which only allow access to the basics but I think it is a good start.

Once you get the hang of building and things you like in your website you can branch out.

My original real estate website was through http://www.vreo.com/.  They're not very expensive, and they're a great place to start to get a professional looking website with good content that's already written for you.  It doesn't offer too much cusomization (you can change text though), but until you have a site for a while, you probably don't know what you want to customize anyway.  I eventually upgraded to a different web site, and because I'm a bit of a control freak, I am in the process of working with another company to completely overhaul my site, hopefully for the last time (at least for several years anyway).  But http://www.vreo.com/ really is a great place to start!

I agree with Tania King above. Your Broker or others in your office may have web sites, but make sure that it can interface multiple listing service in your area. It will save you tons of work.

My website was put up by my broker. You can visit it at http://marykennedylasvegas.com/

The company that built the network for all of our Realtors is http://www.lwolf.com

The listings and listing informatrion all come from the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors. There is an interface. All I do is pick the template and add my personal information and links. They stay there until you change it.

My site is very basic and simple.

Good Luck, Mary Kennedy

Web Agent Solutions! Hands down. We love ours!

Be more clear about your target and your goals.

That's the first step.

Once you know what you are going after, it is easier to go after it :)

Parked and learning. We are in the middle of a website redo and I can use all the suggestions I can find.

Carla, I have two websites.  My original I built myself and work as my own webmaster and do my own SEO.  It has been a LONG work in progress.  I would probably not recommend going at it that way; it is long and tedious.  My site does great in the search engines but putting pictures on it is beyond my capabilities; it is a content only site.  It does however have great content.

I have just recently purchased a point 2 agent site.  I like the functionality that point 2 agent provides.  I am having mine custom designed as I wanted it to be mine but you can start by just adding their free site then see if you like it and go from there.

Carla, I use top producer websites they also have other programs that will help your real estate business , such as IDX tha allows your clients to search your local mls.  They have a thrity day trial if you want to test it out.  http://www.topproducer.com/ they allow you to customize the site and have great technical support.

My website is an alamode site and it is a great place to start.   You can then built from there....

 

Carla, Like a home buyer, we recommend you become a highly educated consumer when selecting your website partner so you will make a sound buying decision. Be sure you hire a "Real Estate Marketing Firm" to design and develop your site or you can go the "FSBO" route and DIY. Either way, you're off to a good start by asking for assistance from the AR community.

 

Integral components of a lead-generating website:

• The site has a Target Market identification & Solid Branding
• Offers a site design that conveys a consistent message with your target market
• Original Copy/Content that embraces the Internet Empowered Consumer and speaks to their "wants, needs and fears"
• Multiple Site Interactivity & Engagement opportunities including the use of irresistible offers
• Easy Navigation-Information should be easily obtained in 3 clicks
• Insure the site is "IEC Friendly" and it protects the site visitors right to privacy
• The site has ability to Track Visitors (IE.  Google Analytics)
• The site is "future-proof" allowing the site to be easily updated via a user-friendly backdoor access
• The site offers you a lead management tool to track your conversion rates

That should get you started and good luck, 

 

Take a look at my blog for several articles that will assist you before & during your web design.

 

http://activerain.com/blogs/realestatetechdesk