Tuesday, April 7, 2009

7 Real Estate Website Essentials





Every real estate agent or realtor needs to tap every possible avenue for more sales. Advertisements on television, newspapers are out of the reach of most real estate agents. In this scenario, the only level playing field that remains is the INTERNET. A Real Estate Website Design can not only advertise a real estate agent's services but also showcase the properties and even give a real estate agent exposure to million of customers all over the world at a fraction of cost. To sweeten the deal, the marketing efforts on internet are much more lasting then other traditional mediums.

Ideally, a website developed by a professional Real Estate Website design company will have these following features. These are not only desired but absolutely required to distinguish itself from the clutter of other thousands of Real Estate websites.

1) Nice, clean Design: A Real Estate website should a clean design and easy to use navigation so as to ensure that a site visitor finds the required information with minimum of clicks. The information should be presented quickly. Many sites have great animation and flash which do nothing to enlighten a visitor but only succeed in driving away a potential customer because they take forever to download. So the golden rule is to keep it SIMPLE.

2) Search Engine friendly: Search Engines like Google, Yahoo etc. are becoming the biggest sources of traffic. To ignore them will be downright suicidal for any real estate agent. A site needs to be search Engine friendly. All the titles, keywords, content has to be properly chosen so as to make the site as informative to a search engine as possible.

3) Real Estate Listings: A Real Estate website without property listings is a like a glorified business card. It does very little to educate, inform and serve a visitor. An easy to search listings will not only attract a visitor but also increase the stickiness of the site. A visitor will stay longer and explore the site. An easy control panel for the site administrator to add, edit and delete listings should also be provided.

4) Image/Video Gallery: In this age of Utube, one cannot take videos lightly. A virtual video tour can showcase a property to a potential client located across the globe. A virtual tour indicates how professional a real estate agent is and how much homework he has done for the property.

5) Content Management system: A content management system (CMS) is essential for a real estate website. A real estate agent may need to change the content of website. Pages may have to be edited or added immediately. In this scenario, it's imperative that a simple and powerful CMS be provided.

6) Contact management: Contacts are the cornerstone of any sales. People visiting a real Estate website should be able to contact the real estate agent through contact form. A proper feedback form should also be provided so that site visitors can submit their feedback. A proper response strategy and contact management should be put in place so that no query goes unanswered. It also helps if newsletters are also provided. It's a very important tool to keep in touch with a site visitor. A monthly newsletter with new listings and helpful material goes a long way in establishing ever lasting business relations.

7) Internet Marketing: Now, that your real estate website is ready and uploaded, it needs to be get seen. There are 1000s of real estate websites. The only way to rise above the heap will be carefully thought of and planned internet marketing. Internet Marketing can be in form of pay per clicks, banners or organic. While pay per click and banners have shown their effectiveness, the longest running, cost effective and natural marketing strategy is search Engine Optimization (SEO) and link building. Another way to build brand and get traffic is to use socials, blogs etc. to reach a still wider medium apart from just search engines.

So before choosing a Web Design Company for your real estate website, remember to check if the company provides the above mentioned features. A bit of your own research and time will ensure that your money is well spent.

Enovabiz.in is a SEO Company in Mexico providing Affordable Organic Internet Marketing Services around the world. We offer professional Search Engine Optimization Services, SEO Consultancy, website marketing, internet promotion & online advertising.

Aniruddha Badola

SEO Services in Mexico, Search Engine Optimization Arizona




Best way - DIY or SEO specialist ?

I have been asked multiple times by clients, if they can learn and do SEO themselves for their sites.

My belief is that if proper time and hardwork is applied, anybody can learn any skill. Same is the case with SEO. Yes, there will always be people who are much better than the rest due to their extra hardwork, innovative techniques, flair and other variables. But, as far as learning any skill (SEO included), it should not be difficult for anybody.


The reason why clients ask me this question is because of human nature. Human mind is curious. My clients also are. They are intrigued and curious on how we can get their sites in top 10. And some client are also intrigued(and frustrated) when they are impatient and their sites do not climb to top 10 in 15 days :(


So essentially more than from saving few dollars, what the client really wants to know is how and what are we doing for their sites. So I make it a point to tell them (in most cases Guide will be more appropriate) on what all steps we undertake for SEO and what are the benefits. I am specifically transparent about this. This also helps when some SEO competitor tries to brainwash a client by impressing with technical jargons, and various facets of SEO like whitehat/blackhat etc.. Due to my guidance, my clients are most of the time so well informed that they don't demand explainations from me everytime. Moreover, since my clients are up to date, it also forces me to update my knowledge constantly. Many times my clients give me new ides, that can help their sites.


Another thing, I tell my clients is that their time is better spent on other activities more directly related to his/her business. That is their time is worth more than just USD 6-10 per hour. I believe that my clients can do probably much more $$ worth of work in an hour. It has to be understood that SEO is hardwork and takes lot of hours. Is the client willing to devote that many hours consistently without sacrificing his other dutees. I think not.


And now the another fact. Real Estate SEO company usually have dedicated group of SEO consultants , Link builders and Content Writers each proficient in their field. And it's their job to keep themselves abreast of latest updates and news in SEO world. It's only natural that they can do the Job best then anybody else.


Have other SEO Company also faced this question from their clients? if yes, then what's your answer.

Enovabiz.in is a SEO Company in Mexico providing Affordable Organic Internet Marketing Services around the world. We offer professional Search Engine Optimization Services, SEO Consultancy, website marketing, internet promotion & online advertising.

Aniruddha Badola

SEO Company Mexico, Search Engine Optimization Arizona