Websites are vital aspects of any strategic marketing plan for businesses of any size. However, creating and maintaining a website is often pushed to the back burner. Real estate agents who recognize the value and benefits of a website will be able to reap all of the rewards. This helpful guide will outline the importance of a website for real estate agents and highlight why they are an essential aspect of your marketing plan.
A Website Allows You to Reach Your Intended Audience
Your audience is out there, but you just have to find a way to reach them first. One of the best ways to reach your audience is by utilizing a website. A website that is functioning properly and following good SEO techniques will help to boost you up through the rankings. When a user enters a search query and wants to find information, having a website alone will give you a better chance of being shown in the search results.
When a user is searching for a real estate agent closest to them or the best one in their area, you will want to be part of the search results that are shown to them. It is unlikely that a Facebook page or Twitter account of yours will be shown to that user. This is because Google prides itself on providing users with the best results to their search query that they can. So, having a website can help you to reach this audience.
Websites Help Generate Leads
There are plenty of tools real estate agents can use to generate leads, including Google ad campaigns, direct mail postcards for real estate (such as those you can find at wisepelican.com), and video ads for YouTube.
With a website, you can provide your prospective leads with a place to learn more about your real estate services with a click of a button or typing in your URL. This can help you generate more leads at scale, saving you hours of time a week.
Why is SEO Important?
SEO stands for search engine optimization and it is one of the key aspects you want to consider when launching your website. This is because search engine optimization and organic traffic go hand-in-hand. SEO is an accumulation of different tactics to make your website more recognizable to a search engine, which is primarily Google. Boosting your SEO means that you could also boost your organic traffic, as you would be shown in more search results.
You may be wondering about some ways that you can enhance the SEO of your website. The first thing you will want to consider is that you will want to make sure your website is functional.
Make sure all your pages are working properly. You will also want to ensure that you are providing your audience with quality informative content. Google will be able to pick up on scammy aspects of your website or content that is repetitive. Instead, focus on providing your audience with value.
Creating a website that is also mobile-friendly is vital; in fact, when Google assesses the value of a website, they focus primarily on if the website boasts functionality on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. In addition to having a website that is mobile-friendly (also known as responsive), but also fast.
A Website Allows You to Connect with Potential Clients
Having a means of connecting with your audience can make the difference between having a client and just having someone who is interested. This is because a website allows you to be more personal, provide more information, and provide helpful engaging content to your audience. This, in turn, helps a real estate agent build a foundation of trust amongst its audience.
This is especially true if you incorporate a blog aspect onto your website. Providing blogs on your website shows your audience that you are knowledgeable in a particular neighborhood in your city. Demonstrating expertise goes a long way in determining whether a client wants to work with you. Blogs can also provide you with shareable content that you can share on your social media platforms. This may help to provide you with engagement on these platforms and connect with a larger audience.
A Website Gives Potential Clients a Place to Find More Information
Your marketing plan thus far may have consisted of primarily business cards or direct mail postcard templates. While utilizing direct mail postcard templates can be very helpful for getting potential clients interested, they may want to have access to a place where they can learn more about you and what you will do for them. A website can provide just that.
Everyone’s time is valuable, especially in the real estate business. If a client wants more information, they may not feel like calling you or shooting over an email. This can also be more time-consuming or be more frustrating for potential clients. Instead, they can pop over to your website and learn more about you, which will help them determine if they want to give you a call.
A Website Helps to Prove You’re Trustworthy
Being handed a business card or promotional brochure is great, but how will that potential client know how much they can really trust you? With a website, there are basically no limits as to what you can customize and create. This helps to build up your brand and make you more recognizable to the public. The more you are in front of the public’s eyes, the more likely they are to trust your brand.
On a website, you will have more room and capabilities to provide your audience with testimonials on your work. You can even have a separate section dedicated exclusively to testimonials. Testimonials help to show potential clients just how satisfied your previous clients were and what they can expect from you if they were to decide to work with you.
Do not make the mistake of not knowing how essential it is to have a website as a real estate agent. Websites provide you with tried and true ways of establishing an audience, as well as connecting with that audience. Although you may not know what exactly goes into a marketing plan, you will need to be sure to include a website as part of that plan. This is because websites are vital aspects of any marketing strategy.