10 Great Content Ideas for Your Real Estate Website

 

In the age of technology when consumers are able to access information a the drop of a dime and your opportunity to grab their attention is short, it’s really important to develop and enhance your web content.

What do we mean? The average view time of a website is under 60 seconds… So, when a prospect visits your site, you must grab their attention and prove that your site has something unique and valuable to offer them in less than 60 seconds.

In addition, your content needs to be fresh and consistently updated. Otherwise, you can forget about a return visitor!

NOW, this doesn’t mean that navigational ease and attractive design combined with keyword-rich content doesn’t still weigh heavily on your site’s success. BUT, once consumers find you on the web - you want them to stay, have a cup of cocoa, and come back for more when they are ready to make a decision to buy or sell their property. Right?

Below, we have compiled a short list of some great content ideas to add to your site to enhance usability and increase the probability of returns to your site. These items can also increase the likelihood that your visitors will complete lead capture forms, join mailing lists, and (more importantly) recognize you as an expert in your industry and farming neighborhood.

So, without further adieu…

1. Calendar of EventsAdding a calendar to your website is a great way to keep your visitors informed about what you are up to in their communities. Let them know about upcoming festivals, neighborhood watch meetings, new subdivision openings. You can even add upcoming open house dates.

Many of the popular web-based calendars (like Google, Yahoo and AOL) offer widgets that you can embed into your website. These will be in real-time and always up-to-date. If your website if hosted by a real estate web suite (like Advanced Access, for example) you can add a calendar to your site as part of the package.

The best and free web-based calendars that we recommend are below and we have given you some basic direction on how to add/embed your personal calendars to your site:

Google Calendar

See instructions here

30Boxes.com This is a great service that allows you to embed public calendars into your blog or site, add links within events to Google Maps (this is wonderful for Open House event items) AND it’s got a mobile version for viewing on internet-ready cell phones/PDAs



2. MLS Listings/IDX Feed

Well, if you haven’t seen your competition’s site with the ability to search and save the regional listings…what planet have you been on?

However, many real estate agents have asked me: How do we compete with the Trulia’s and Homes.com’s? The answer: YOU DON’T COMPETE, but you must offer a well-rounded and complete user experience. Prospects want to search properties - if you don’t offer it, someone else will.

Several options exist to incorporate IDX Feeds (for more information about IDX feeds, check out the MLS Listing Feeds/IDX category under Web Design on the right-side Categories section on this blog). You can add this a la carte to your site or purchase a web design suite (Advanced Access, Agent Image, and iHomefinder offer solutions)

3. Before/After Staging Photos

Is staging an integral part of your service offering to sellers? If it isn’t, it should be…but that’s another post! For those of you on the staging bandwagon, showcasing your talent and unique selling ability by posting before/after photos is a great opportunity to add fresh content. (Tip: Add before/after photos to your Seller Guides too!)

4. Blog Link

Absolute necessity folks! All of your online marketing campaigns and components should mesh and be intertwined with one another. A link to your blog in addition to RSS feed subscription links should be prominent on your home page AND throughout your site.

5. YouTube Videos of Your Listings

This is not a difficult thing to do! Many tech-unsavvy agents think creating and syndicating YouTube video footage is a time-intensive and expensive proposition. It isn’t! A camcorder, mic, and free downloaded video editing software is the minimum you will need. Ask RealEstateGeeks for more information or send us an e-mail!

6. Expert Q&A for Common RE Questions that You Field

Do sellers/buyers ask you the same questions over and over again? If so, it may be prudent to create a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section to your site.

Now this is a somewhat technically advanced feature to add and we don’t recommend taking this project on alone. Although, several Web Hosting providers offer this feature as an addition to their services (like bravenet.com and Advanced Access sites). If your hosting provider doesn’t offer this feature, subcontract this out to a virtual assistant (RealEstateGeeks can do this for you).

7. Live Chat/Meebo Widget

In accordance with the idea of Web 2.0 design, allowing visitors to speak with you immediately is a win-win situation for all. You show them that you are always available and technologically up-to-date.

Meebo is a instant messaging website that incorporates all of the top IM clients into one site that is accessible anywhere without downloading client software. Add your Yahoo! Messenger and MSN Messenger accountsto one central location and chat with anyone anywhere in real-time!

8. Neighborhood Information

Discuss local restaurant openings, little league games, school openings/back-to-school nights, zoning meeting minutes, photos of local events, market stats/recent solds and reinforce to prospects and clients that you are an expert of their neighborhood. (Tip: A page should be devoted to no more than one neighborhood. A listing of all of the neighborhoods that you work in is just not enough…)

9. YouTube Video Tutorials of RE Topics (how to stage, how to …)

Drodio’s site, drodio.com, has taken advantage of video social networking with tutorials such as “How to make lowball offers…” and “How to buy foreclosure homes” ensuring that visitors will bookmark the site for future visits. The site has taken FAQ to another level.

10. Investor Content, Research Articles

Include the latest and most relevant bankrate.com content (bankrate.com allows webmasters to feature their content for free) or feature a great investment property each week.

What Can a Virtual Assistant Do for Your Business?

How much time do you spend selling?

Now consider how much time you spend doing "busy work" that doesn't add to your bottom line.  We are assuming that you have become a real estate agent because you recognize that you possess that ability to "sell" real estate and build relationships...

If the majority of your workday is spent responding to e-mails, answering phones, creating marketing materials, maintaining your website, creating and submitting ads, ordering & delivering signs INSTEAD of going on listing presentations and presenting offers, THEN YOU NEED VIRTUAL ASSISTANT!

If the concept of a virtual assistant is new and untouched territory for you, then pay close attention...

A virtual assistant is independent contractor or consultant that possesses the knowledge and experience to provide administrative, marketing and technical support to real estate professionals.  Virtual assistants perform the short or long-term tasks that you assign to them at their own office and then invoice you only for the time spent on your tasks - virtually removing any overhead that you have associated with in-house support.

In a nutshell, a virtual assistant can efficiently and economically perform the tasks that you need to have completed to make your business run smoothly and generate leads while you pursue and close new business.

WHAT ARE SOME TASKS THAT I COULD ASSIGN TO A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT?

Well, different real estate virtual assistants (VAs) have different core competencies.  However,  VAs are generally experienced in the real estate field (either licensed or unlicensed) and possess general technical expertise ranging from graphic design to web design to photography.  Most can provide or identify the resources to needed to accomplish the full range of marketing and administrative tasks needed to grow your business, including (to name only a few):

1. E-mail Marketing: from audience identification to copywriting to layout design to distribution - VAs can create a new targeted campaign or transform your current one.


2. Blog Development: Whether you currently have a blog in place or don't even know what a blog is, a VA can manage new posts, handle copywriting, improve layout, embed widgets and video, syndicate your blog, market your blog on the web, or integrate your blog into your web marketing strategy.


3. Contact Management: If you have ever lost a possible sale because you forgot to add a new prospect to your MLS updates or to you contact management database - a VA can definitely help!  Virtual assistants can get your contact online for easy access anywhere and create ongoing automated campaigns to stay in touch.


4. Market & Competitive Analysis: VAs can prepare CMAs and  provide you with the stats of your competition prior to a listing presentation!


5. Web Marketing Consultation: VAs can develop and implement a targeted campaign using leading web technology and social networking sites - site optimization, MySpace/Facebook marketing, and website maintenance are just a few competencies of a VA.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? 

Working with a VA:

• You stay on track and on schedule.


• Works only when you need support. You are not obligated to pay for a certain number of hours a week.


• No time wasted on breaks or personal issues.


• No extra space is required. No loss of privacy.


• Provides ongoing, collaborative support to help you achieve your goals.


• No need to buy an extra computer, software, desk, chair, phone or supplies for her use.


• Learns and understands your business.


• Is a sounding board, if you need one.


• You and your Virtual Assistant choose to work with each other as equals. It is not a boss/employee relationship.


• A VA knows what it's like to own a business. She understands the importance of marketing and finances.

Hiring an employee:

• You must pay employer social security taxes.


• You must collect and pay FICA taxes.


• You must pay workers' compensation insurance.


• You must pay federal and state unemployment taxes.


• You must comply with OSHA.


• You must comply with the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) including minimum wage and overtime payment.


• You must comply with Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)


• You may possibly have to pay medical benefits, dental benefits, vision care benefits.


• You may possibly have to pay vacation time, sick time, and holiday time.


• You may possibly have to pay for other employee benefits such as 401K, retirement plans, etc.


• You pay someone to administrate the above.


• You have legal responsibilities that include employee policies on working hours, sexual harassment, vacation time, sick time, leave of absence, holidays, benefits, performance reviews, grievances, terminations, substance abuse and training.


• If you hire someone and lay them off, your employment rate may increase for years to come.


• If you have the unpleasant experience of needing to fire an employee, make sure you have legal grounds or you may face a lawsuit.

Want to learn more, contact RealEstateGeeks NOW (301) 288-7872 or send us a text message to (202) 489-2867