The future is digital, and the sooner you accept that, the better your chances are of succeeding. Even the highly traditional industries, like banking and legislation, are starting to embrace this movement.
As a real estate agent, you can no longer just depend on conventional marketing methods. While cold calls and referrals are still relevant, you have to do more. These days, successful realtors are the ones who know how to make good use of digital marketing.
Consider this: 42% of people who bought homes in 2017 started by looking for properties online. Only 17% went to a realtor first. Buyers are also spending more time researching the market online.
If you’re a realtor, you should prioritize building a website for real estate agents. Having a website will make it easy for prospective buyers to see you. Luckily, developing a website isn’t rocket science. This article will guide you on how to do it.
Set Up Your Domain and Host
There are three things you need to build a real estate website, and that is the domain name, a host, and a good website builder like WordPress.
The first thing you need to do is come up with a good domain name. Picking a name isn’t as easy as it sounds. Your domain name will be your online identity and address to your website. It should be easy to recall but must also represent what you do. Many realtors include their given names to ensure clients can easily find them. Avoid putting hyphens. It’s hard to write and indicates a longer than usual name. You can go to sites like GoDaddy or NameCheap to secure your domain.
Once you’ve come up with an address for your business, your next step is to get a space on the web. This is done via hosting. You’re spoiled for choice here as there are thousands of hosting companies and plans to pick from. You should start with a basic plan and upgrade it as the need arises.
Now that you have the domain and a host, it’s time to build your site. Ideally, you should leave the actual design of your website to a professional. But if you prefer to do it yourself, there are hundreds of website builders you can use. Wix and WordPress are popular options because of the plug-ins, templates, and their robust ecosystem.
Add the Best Features
When building websites for real estate, make sure you incorporate these key features:
Responsive Design: Most consumers do their browsing on mobile devices. To make user experience satisfying, your site should load fast and the interface should adapt to the device.
Simple Navigation: Design your website with the user in mind. It should be easy to navigate so visitors can go from one page to the next quickly. Navigation buttons should be easy to find too. Put them at the top and the bottom of the page.
Clean Layout: Viewers can find the information they need quickly with an uncluttered layout. There should be the right balance of photos, text, and dynamic components.
Good Quality Photos: Most people prefer visuals, and the internet is a highly visual medium. You’ll attract your market’s attention with the right colors, striking font, and high-quality photographs. Use them to showcase the listing’s best features.
Integrated Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms are fantastic for building brand awareness and client relationships. Social media also makes it easier to reach your target audience and interact with them. Make sure you incorporate icons and links of different social media channels on your website. Use sharing buttons on your website and your blog posts.
Calls to Action: Multiple calls to action (CTA) are essential when building a website for real estate agents. Your CTA will encourage potential buyers to reach out to you. It also encourages them to take the next step without committing. For instance, a button saying “Read More” can prompt people to check more of the website.
Fresh Information: Check out any top 10 real estate website and you’ll find that it has a blog. This is an indispensable feature as it lets you post fresh and evergreen content. Use it to share market trends, answer frequently asked questions, or educate your market on the latest design trends or financing options.
Did you find the article informative? Then you’ll certainly like our post on this year’s web design trends.
Before You Go
Building a website for real estate agents is easy with Tulumi Digital Marketing. We are a full-service digital marketing agency dedicated to helping people succeed in their businesses. Our marketing specialists can handle everything, from website design to online reputation management.
All you need to do is call us at (800) 481-1720, and we can start on your journey to the top. You can also drop us a line at hello@tulumi.com. We’re waiting to hear from you.
