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Reasons
for Having a Website
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Why
do you have or want to have a Website?
I am sure you will agree that your reason should
determine or at least influence the content and design of
the Website you create or choose.
So, Good, Bad or Indifferent, here are the 4 most
common reasons why real estate agents set up Websites.
EVERYBODY
EXPECTS IT
The agent that is simply filling expectations can
probably get by with a minimal cost or a Freebie Website.
A
TOOL TO GENERATE NEW BUSINESS LEADS
Now we are getting serious and the need for
planning is obvious.
When I help agents with a Free Custom Web Plan I
ask questions such as: “What kinds of business leads do
you want?” Then
I make suggestions for Web content based on my knowledge
of the kinds of information and offers that appeal to
those types of people.
To find out what kinds of Web pages will help you
generate new business leads visit http://www.sellrealestate.net/
FreeWebPlan.asp.
Might as well start with a plan that will work for
you.
CUSTOMER
SERVICE / TIME SHARING
Some agents and brokers do not worry about
generating new business.
They have plenty of that but they would like to use
their Website to fulfill customer service needs as this
type of Website will foster increased referrals and save a
great deal of time.
DIRECT
SALES
If you are a discount brokerage it makes sense to
handle your real estate transactions online as much as
possible. A
lot of technology and programming goes into these types of
sites but the rewards are worth the effort.
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Custom
Web Design
vs
Template |
Let your
reason for wanting a Website guide your decision as to
the type of site you set up.
If you are setting up or maintaining a Website
because it is expected these days then a low cost template
Website may meet your needs. Any other reason for having a Website should steer you in the
direction of Custom Web design.
WHAT
IS A TEMPLATE SITE?
A template is a pattern from which many copies can be
made. A cookie
cutter is a template. A
template Website is one that offers a series of pre-designed
Web pages. Sometimes the pages can be “customized” to include the
agent’s name and contact information and sometimes the
agent’s info is simply found on the “Frame” on the top
or side of the template pages. Sometimes the template
provides blank pages allowing the agent to enter the
content. By
their nature template Websites do little to distinguish or
differentiate the agents and brokers who use them.
WHAT
IS A CUSTOM WEB?
A Custom Website, created by a designer-programmer
with marketing expertise will give you the best shot at
generating new business, providing excellent customer
service or, if it is your intention, to use your Website for
Direct Sales. The
custom Website gives you the possibility to interact with
your prospects in meaningful and helpful ways.
It can be designed to support your overall marketing
plan and to differentiate you from your competition in very
positive ways.
WHAT
IS A HYBRID?
We are hearing a lot about Hybrid cars these days and
there are hybrid Websites as well.
A hybrid Web Design uses custom elements where needed
for high impact but uses some template elements to keep
costs low. If
you want information about either a Custom or a Hybrid
Website, call me toll free or send an Email to Noel@revalues.com.
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The
poet, John Donne, said “No man is an island.”
I agree and add that no Website is an island
either and yet many agents and brokers treat their
Websites as if they were, indeed, islands.
In order for a real estate Website to generate
new business or to save time and money, other people
have to know about it.
Actually, the right other people have to know
about it and they have to know why they should care.
THE
RIGHT PEOPLE
Sometimes agents tell me that their Website is
not working for them because it is not well positioned
on the major search engines.
But if when I find out that what they really want
is LISTINGS, I tell them that the Right People for them
are not using search engines to find an agent.
There is a different way to promote a Website
aimed at homeowners from a site designed to attract
buyers.
HOW
WILL THE RIGHT PEOPLE KNOW?
It is up to the Web owner to know who the right
people are and to find out what they are searching for
and how they are searching for it.
In general, out of town buyers are most dependent
on the search engines for real estate information.
Most sellers have long realized that most real
estate Websites have little to offer them. The reason for this is that most real estate Websites are
templates. But regardless of the reason, if you want
sellers to know about your Website you will have to tell
them yourself or use some form of local advertising.
WHY
SHOULD THEY CARE?
How many agents in your area have Websites?
Hundreds? Thousands?
How many of these Websites display all the local
MLS listings? 99%?
95%? If
your Website is just one more example of the same thing,
why should anybody pay attention to it?
If you want people to care enough to seek out
your Website you have to give them a good reason. And, for all of those good reasons, it is in your best
interests to explore lead generation using Custom Web
design. For specific examples of how this is done, visit http://www.sellrealestate.net
/LeadGeneration.htm.
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