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End of Year Website Checklist

By
Real Estate Agent with Dakno Marketing

As the end of the year quickly approaches, it’s a great time to tidy up and tie off any loose ends. While you are busy trying to finish up your end of the year todo list. Be sure to make time to give your site an annual checkup. Here are a few tips…

Contact Information

Ensure that all of your contact information is still current on your website. Don’t just check the contact us page but all the other places your contact info may appear (including your footer).

Are You Still In Compliance?

Has your company changed their required disclosures or branding requirements? What about your board? Can you still use terms like MLS?

Outgoing Links

Outgoing links all too often become dead links, this is because sites may move content, redesign their site or remove resources. So be sure to check all those links that link to 3rd party sites. And don’t just check to see if the link works. Check to make sure the content is still relevant and that the site isn’t advertising your competition. Yes, it can happen. We saw that one of our clients was linking to the real estate section of the local online newspaper. When someone clicked on that link, there was a huge banner ad for their biggest competitor!

Test Your Forms

It’s always a good idea to ensure all of your forms are still working in proper order. Also use this opportunity to look at things like required fields and confirmation emails. You may want to also ensure that the form properly notifies you of new leads.

Are You Still On Target?

What about your title tags and keywords for your website? Are you still on target? Does your site still have relevant content for your target audience? Are all the resources on your site still up-to-date? Calendar of events, Local businesses, etc. nothing drives people away from a website like old, outdated content!

I know, as if you didn’t have enough things to do already! But remember, these small little things may be the difference between an out dated website and an online lead generating machine!

Happy Holidays!

xxx .com
xxx - Coral Bay, VI
This is very helpful for those of us that are not exactly web designers!  Thanks for the informative post. 
Dec 18, 2007 08:15 AM
xxx .com
xxx - Coral Bay, VI
This is very helpful for those of us that are not exactly web designers!  Thanks for the informative post. 
Dec 18, 2007 08:17 AM
Ron Fuhrer
Nazareth,Easton, Bethlehem - Prudential Patt, White - Nazareth, PA
Lehigh Valley PA Homes
These are all simple, but important steps we can take!
Dec 18, 2007 11:39 AM
Cody Sperber
Clever Investor, LLC - Chandler, AZ
Real Estate Investing Education

I want to say thank you to Brad and his company Dakno Marketing for building me an amazing website and for putting so much FREE Content on Active Rain.  So many posts on AR are for earning points and that can get in the way of quality content....not ever the case with Brad's posts. 

Thank you and keep writing great articles!

www.codysperber.com

Cody Sperber

Dec 18, 2007 02:26 PM
Sally Zatkoff
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services PenFed Realty - Fairfax, VA
Making a Difference
Great Checklist. Thanks. I love computers and the internet, but GOD how I hate computers and the internet. It is getting more and more complicated for me as the industry works to simplify it. AAGGHHHHH
Dec 18, 2007 02:38 PM
Tina Merritt
Nest Realty - Blacksburg, VA
Virginia Real Estate
I can always use a website tuneup!  Thanks for the check list!
Dec 19, 2007 03:22 AM
Brian Wentz
Keller Williams Greater Des Moines - Des Moines, IA
Realtor - Des Moines Iowa Real Estate
Brad ~ thanks for another good tip. On to check links...
Dec 22, 2007 07:42 AM
Heather Fitzgerald
REALTY WORLD-Harbert Company, Inc. - Greenwood, IN
REALTOR Greenwood Indiana Real Estate
Thanks for the reminder, this is info that I need to work on.
Dec 27, 2007 05:25 AM
Bradley Kress
Restaged2sell.com -Re Stage to Sell - Saint Clair Shores, MI
CSP, Interior/Exterior Redesigner

Brad,

 

Great advice.  I will keep your tips in mind.

 

Brad Kress

Jan 02, 2008 12:22 PM
Donna Yates
BHGRE - Metro Brokers - Blue Ridge, GA
Blue Ridge Mountains
I'm always amazed at the agents whose contact information is incorrect.  Starting a new year is a chance at a fresh start and getting things in order.  Good reminders.
Jan 02, 2008 08:34 PM
Linda M. Cataldo
Dock Street Realty - Myrtle Beach, SC
Beach Destinations Realty Myrtle Beach

Thanks Brad.  As a novice who is constantly tweaking my website, I never thought to check the outgoing links.  Several were no longer viable. 

 Good information - I appreciate it!

Jan 13, 2008 02:45 AM
Jo Potvin
Design To Market LLC - Cincinnati, OH
Home Staging Cincinnati - Design To Market
Your tips are always very helpful...Do you think it is a good idea to incorporate forms into your website?  (As an example, I thought about a form to have us call them and set up a meeting.) 
Jan 21, 2008 02:26 PM
Stephanie Moen (Lazcano)
Champions Real Estate Group - Houston, TX
Commercial Property Manager and Leasing Agent

 Great Brad,

Nothing worse than a dead link on a really nice web page

Jan 21, 2008 05:48 PM
Roland Woodworth
Blue Cord Realty - Clarksville, TN
Blue Cord Realty
Great things to check on Brad...... always need a properly working site with accurate information. Dead links are not good.
Jan 22, 2008 05:25 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info
Really good housekeeping tips - for more than once a year.
Feb 03, 2008 09:00 PM
Brad Carroll
Dakno Marketing - Knightdale, NC
Real Estate Web Designer

Thanks everyone for all the positive feedback, I'm happy to see you're enjoying my post!

Cody: You definitely have "One Awesome Website!" and yes, information sharing is one of the greatest things about Active Rain.

Betty: We do have a great team here at Dakno and we are lucky to have Leslie as our Marketing Manager.

Feb 06, 2008 12:35 AM
Debbie Holmes
John L. Scott - Boise, ID
Gets the job done!
I never thought of that.
Feb 27, 2008 07:49 AM
Thomas E. Elder
Mortgage Broker Compliance Consultants - Forest Hill, MD
Founder, Mortgage Broker Compliance Consultants
Great reminders, thanks and have a great 2008
Feb 27, 2008 07:53 AM
Scott Guay
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services PenFed Realty - Ocean Pines, MD
Associate Broker. Ocean City and Ocean Pines MD
Great idea.  I really like the one to check your forms to insure they are working.  I know I have neglected that one (Till now)
Feb 27, 2008 08:35 AM
Tracy Santrock
Santrock Realty Group Inc. , - Cary, NC
Raleigh - Cary Broker

Nothing like a necropost to start the juices running.  Great checklist for the end of the year!

Dec 08, 2008 06:46 AM