Quicklist Agent - The Best Realtor Web Site Solution

Be informed on the key components of web design!

As was identified in the "The benefits of online marketing?", recent trends in the Real Estate business have resulted in agents incorporating a personal website into their existing marketing strategies. As a result, competition now exists in both the physical and the virtual world. Realtors who do not have websites are starting to become more aware of the benefits or importance of an online presence, while those who already have their own website are becoming more aware of the importance of a quality website.

It is always a disappointment for anyone in the business of design websites to hear of anyone feeling shafted by a web designer. It is not unlikely that someone feeling shafted might assume the position that websites are not worth the expense. I think we all can agree that it is important to understand how or why something like this may happen, and identify some basic principles intended to help you when you need web design services.

Software programs have made it seem so easy to create a web site. This is one of the problems with web design, because if you have software, it won't take you long to build a web site. There are also thousands of templates available to make it even simpler to put together a web site. The problem is not with getting a professional website, this is actually quite simple. But having a quality website includes so much more than just a professional lay out, this is really only just the beginning.

Just think, there are some ugly websites out there that are making a lot of money! For example, Craig's List is not the most aesthetically pleasing website, yet it is VERY popular. What is the secret? How is that fair when you are trying your hardest to maintain a professional image while the ugly web sites are collecting all the money? It is not that maintaining an attractive professional image on your website isn't important, it just isn't enough.

The reason why a professional looking website isn't enough is because there are limited numbers of web designers who are actually marketing people, and since small business people do not always have a big advertising budget, so they naturally are attracted to the low rates available by the average web designers. As Realtors, however, you have probably already come to realize that good marketing means setting priorities and effectively using the resources you have available to accomplish your marketing goals.

One of the most serious elements we have found missing in web design is the thing of fundamental importance in online marketing: differentiation. In any of your basic marketing class you will ways hear about differentiation. The same thing goes for online web sites. There are millions of people on the internet, thousands in the same field of business as yourself, so what is going to make you different? The same principles applied in conventional marketing can and should be applied to the online market as well. Your web site should answer the question that consumers are asking: Why should I buy from you, and what makes you different from everyone else? If your website can answer this question for your potential customers, you will see great success. If it does not, things may not go the way you had hoped they would. Potential clients will leave your site, they probably won't come back, and they probably will not be telling you why they left either.

Your web site needs to address the needs of your clients, and solve their problem, be it through buying or selling. Your website needs to compel them in a way that will draw them in and sell them your solution to their needs.

The fact that so many web sites do not address the basic needs of potential clients online, gives you the opportunity to rise above your competitors. This is good news for you, just imagine the benefit you will get from hiring a website designer who actually understands marketing? If the majority of business websites are violating even these most basic principles, you can reap the benefits!

As many of you have likely already realized, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is 'all the rage', and it should be because it is VERY important if you want to have your website showing up the search engines when people are looking for Realtors in your area. It has been estimated that for most websites, search engines account for roughly 80-95% of all of their visitors. This is huge! At the same time, you need to make sure that this SEO is targeting clients signing up with you, if it is getting people to look at your website and then leave right away, this is not nearly as effective as it could be if the right marketing principles were applied to your website.

It may come as a bit of a surprise, but people will actually read your website! Now you're probably thinking that this may be true, but they have short attention spans. And you're right! This short attention span is referred to as the 3 second rule. According to websites, if you can't capture the attention of your visitor in approximately 3 second, that is just about how fast they will be leaving your website. This is probably because of the fact that there are so many websites out there, and a lot of them are just a waste of time, so this 3 second rule is a result in other people's websites wasting their time. One of the solutions to this problem is to have a fast loading page, the second solution is to have something on the loading page that quickly clues them in on what you have that may solve their problem or satisfy their needs. If you have content they can skim over quickly to capture their attention, if it does, then they are likely to stay for a while.

There have been several studies done in an attempt to document the way people us web pages. These studies found that even though a fair amount of attention is paid to graphics, well over 75% of the time, web page users will actually read the text before they will notice the graphics.

This is not to say that the graphics are not important, but visual elements are just one of many advantages a website can provide. Considering people primarily use the internet to find information, it makes sense that although visual elements may make a site appear more appealing, the content on the website is usually what they are looking for. Having the right information on your site can make the difference between a customer choosing to you, or your competition.

Overall, to achieve maximal success with your website it should include components such as a professional appearance, SEO, content targeted at your target market, differentiation, and the solution for your clients. To ensure your website meets client needs to the best of abilities you could choose to include not only your listings, but the option to view various MLS listings in their area from your website. Other options include such things are community links and articles so that clients may view all of the information they may be looking for right on your own website. If you leave them no reason to leave your website, this increases the likelihood that they will become a client of yours.

The good news for you is that most of your competitors will go for the bargain and suffer the same fate as everyone else who does not realize the value of an effective web site design. Very few of them will invest the resources necessary for success in online marketing. If you do, you can win. This does not mean that it your personal website has to be expensive, it just means you need to be willing to do better than average by finding a web designer who has the right marketing strategies for you, at the right price. The rewards can be so much greater when you stretch beyond the norm.

Feel free to contact us with any questions you have about our website or anything else you'd like to discuss or comment on. If you enjoyed these articles and would like to learn more, register with us today to receive our current events, latest news and information regarding our development process.


	Quicklist Project Goals Benefits Free Website Contact Us Be informed on the key components of web design! As was identified in the "The benefits of online marketing?", recent trends in the Real Estate business have resulted in agents incorporating a personal website into their existing marketing strategies. As a result, competition now exists in both the physical and the virtual world. Realtors who do not have websites are starting to become more aware of the benefits or importance of an online presence, while those who already have their own website are becoming more aware of the importance of a quality website. It is always a disappointment for anyone in the business of design websites to hear of anyone feeling shafted by a web designer. It is not unlikely that someone feeling shafted might assume the position that websites are not worth the expense. I think we all can agree that it is important to understand how or why something like this may happen, and identify some basic principles intended to help you when you need web design services. Software programs have made it seem so easy to create a web site. This is one of the problems with web design, because if you have software, it won't take you long to build a web site. There are also thousands of templates available to make it even simpler to put together a web site. The problem is not with getting a professional website, this is actually quite simple. But having a quality website includes so much more than just a professional lay out, this is really only just the beginning. Just think, there are some ugly websites out there that are making a lot of money! For example, Craig's List is not the most aesthetically pleasing website, yet it is VERY popular. What is the secret? How is that fair when you are trying your hardest to maintain a professional image while the ugly web sites are collecting all the money? It is not that maintaining an attractive professional image on your website isn't important, it just isn't enough. The reason why a professional looking website isn't enough is because there are limited numbers of web designers who are actually marketing people, and since small business people do not always have a big advertising budget, so they naturally are attracted to the low rates available by the average web designers. As Realtors, however, you have probably already come to realize that good marketing means setting priorities and effectively using the resources you have available to accomplish your marketing goals. One of the most serious elements we have found missing in web design is the thing of fundamental importance in online marketing: differentiation. In any of your basic marketing class you will ways hear about differentiation. The same thing goes for online web sites. There are millions of people on the internet, thousands in the same field of business as yourself, so what is going to make you different? The same principles applied in conventional marketing can and should be applied to the online market as well. Your web site should answer the question that consumers are asking: Why should I buy from you, and what makes you different from everyone else? If your website can answer this question for your potential customers, you will see great success. If it does not, things may not go the way you had hoped they would. Potential clients will leave your site, they probably won't come back, and they probably will not be telling you why they left either. Your web site needs to address the needs of your clients, and solve their problem, be it through buying or selling. Your website needs to compel them in a way that will draw them in and sell them your solution to their needs. The fact that so many web sites do not address the basic needs of potential clients online, gives you the opportunity to rise above your competitors. This is good news for you, just imagine the benefit you will get from hiring a website designer who actually understands marketing? If the majority of business websites are violating even these most basic principles, you can reap the benefits! As many of you have likely already realized, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is 'all the rage', and it should be because it is VERY important if you want to have your website showing up the search engines when people are looking for Realtors in your area. It has been estimated that for most websites, search engines account for roughly 80-95% of all of their visitors. This is huge! At the same time, you need to make sure that this SEO is targeting clients signing up with you, if it is getting people to look at your website and then leave right away, this is not nearly as effective as it could be if the right marketing principles were applied to your website. It may come as a bit of a surprise, but people will actually read your website! Now you're probably thinking that this may be true, but they have short attention spans. And you're right! This short attention span is referred to as the 3 second rule. According to websites, if you can't capture the attention of your visitor in approximately 3 second, that is just about how fast they will be leaving your website. This is probably because of the fact that there are so many websites out there, and a lot of them are just a waste of time, so this 3 second rule is a result in other people's websites wasting their time. One of the solutions to this problem is to have a fast loading page, the second solution is to have something on the loading page that quickly clues them in on what you have that may solve their problem or satisfy their needs. If you have content they can skim over quickly to capture their attention, if it does, then they are likely to stay for a while. There have been several studies done in an attempt to document the way people us web pages. These studies found that even though a fair amount of attention is paid to graphics, well over 75% of the time, web page users will actually read the text before they will notice the graphics. This is not to say that the graphics are not important, but visual elements are just one of many advantages a website can provide. Considering people primarily use the internet to find information, it makes sense that although visual elements may make a site appear more appealing, the content on the website is usually what they are looking for. Having the right information on your site can make the difference between a customer choosing to you, or your competition. Overall, to achieve maximal success with your website it should include components such as a professional appearance, SEO, content targeted at your target market, differentiation, and the solution for your clients. To ensure your website meets client needs to the best of abilities you could choose to include not only your listings, but the option to view various MLS listings in their area from your website. Other options include such things are community links and articles so that clients may view all of the information they may be looking for right on your own website. If you leave them no reason to leave your website, this increases the likelihood that they will become a client of yours. The good news for you is that most of your competitors will go for the bargain and suffer the same fate as everyone else who does not realize the value of an effective web site design. Very few of them will invest the resources necessary for success in online marketing. If you do, you can win. This does not mean that it your personal website has to be expensive, it just means you need to be willing to do better than average by finding a web designer who has the right marketing strategies for you, at the right price. The rewards can be so much greater when you stretch beyond the norm. -- Feel free to contact us with any questions you have about our website or anything else you'd like to discuss or comment on. If you enjoyed these articles and would like to learn more, register with us today to receive our current events, latest news and information regarding our development process.