A real estate website is an essential tool for any agent or broker in today’s digital age. Here are five reasons why having a good real estate website is crucial:
- It’s where buyers look first
According to a study conducted by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), nearly 97% of homebuyers used the internet to search for their new home in 2021. Of these, 51% of people from all generations except the silent generation (76-96 years old) found the houses they purchased online. In contrast, only 28% found their dream house through a real estate agent, and only 7% bought a house after seeing an Open House sign. A real estate website is the most preferred marketing medium on the digital frontier, with nearly 90.7% of prospective buyers preferring it over other channels like blogs, email marketing, social media marketing, print, and/or TV & radio ads.
It’s your brand ambassador in the digital space
Your real estate website should be more than just a business card. It is a tool to showcase your brand, your listings, and your expertise in the field. Use it to create a positive impression of your business and to find your next clients.
It builds trust
Having a website with high-quality images and videos that highlight the unique features of your properties builds trust with your potential buyers. Visitors will get an idea of what it would be like to live in a particular property and will be more likely to trust you with their home buying journey.
It establishes you as an expert
Lackluster content is a big mistake many real estate websites make. Creating original content that showcases your knowledge of the neighborhoods you serve, current market conditions, and home design and remodeling will establish you as an expert in the field. Good content also boosts organic traffic on your website through search engine optimization and social media shares.
It must be mobile-friendly
Nearly 60% of all website traffic comes from smartphones, according to recent studies. Your website must be mobile-friendly to ensure that potential buyers can access it easily from their mobile devices. Not being mobile-friendly can lead to a decrease in traffic, a higher bounce rate, and missed opportunities.
Avoiding Common Real Estate Website Mistakes
Now that we’ve discussed the importance of having a good real estate website, let’s talk about some common mistakes to avoid.
Not Using Engaging Visuals or Using Low-Quality Visuals
Pictures and videos are the backbone of your real estate website. A study by the National Association of Realtors shows that as many as 98% of homebuyers looking for a house online consider images among the most useful elements on a real estate website. Make sure to upload high-quality images and videos when adding listings.
Posing More Questions Than Answers
Make sure your website is easy to navigate and provides visitors with the information they are looking for. Adding unnecessary information or posing more questions than answers will lead to high bounce rates and a poor user experience.
Having a Confusing Navigation System
The navigation buttons and hierarchy play a major part in improving the user experience on your site. Make sure that your navigational buttons are thoughtfully placed to ensure a delightful user experience.
Not Giving Any Thought to the Website Content
Good content establishes you as an expert in the field and builds trust with your potential buyers. Take the time to create original content that showcases your knowledge of the neighborhoods you serve, current market conditions, and home design and remodeling.
Ignoring Mobile Visitors
Your website must be mobile-friendly to ensure that potential buyers can access it easily from their mobile devices. Not being mobile-friendly can lead to a decrease in traffic and missed opportunities. With more people accessing the internet through their mobile devices, it’s essential that your website is optimized for mobile devices.
Overcomplicating the Website Design
A complicated website design can lead to a poor user experience. Your website design should be simple, elegant, and easy to navigate. Avoid using too many fonts, colors, or design elements that distract from the main purpose of your website.
Not Including Social Media Integration
Social media platforms are powerful tools for real estate agents and brokers to connect with potential clients. Make sure that your website includes social media integration to make it easy for visitors to connect with you on social media platforms.
Neglecting Search Engine Optimization
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results pages. Neglecting SEO can lead to a decrease in traffic and missed opportunities. Make sure that your website is optimized for search engines by using relevant keywords, creating high-quality content, and optimizing your website’s design.
In conclusion, a good real estate website is crucial for any agent or broker looking to succeed in today’s digital age. It’s where buyers look first, your brand ambassador in the digital space, builds trust, establishes you as an expert, and must be mobile-friendly. However, there are some common mistakes to avoid, such as not using engaging visuals or using low-quality visuals, posing more questions than answers, having a confusing navigation system, not giving any thought to website content, ignoring mobile visitors, overcomplicating website design, not including social media integration, and neglecting search engine optimization. By avoiding these mistakes and focusing on creating a user-friendly, visually appealing, and informative website, you can attract more potential clients, establish yourself as an expert in the field, and build a successful real estate business.