You visit an online store, because you want convenience. You expect to find what you want, pay, and finish shopping in a matter of minutes.
Online marketing strategies for business and real estate websites should follow the same philosophy. Give your users what they want, help them find it easily, and give them a way to complete their transaction.
Online retailers know what online shoppers want: a no-hassle, simple and easy shopping experience. When it comes to real estate websites, not all real estate agents have discovered this. Many agents focus on having every bell and whistle without considering the marketing strategy behind their website. Often the real estate websites distract buyers and sellers, making it impossible for them to find the information they’re looking for.
Your marketing strategy needs to be stitched into the fabric of your website.
It’s not something you should think about after your website is live. However, if you already have a website up and going all is not lost. You can still implement these strategies and give buyers and sellers a more simplified experience that helps them complete their transaction (a.k.a. contact you)!
Keep your website simple, straight-forward, and mobile-friendly. These 6 strategies will help you do that and should be your priority. Put them at the top of your online marketing strategies to-do list and start working on them as soon as possible.
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Website Function
Your website’s function should be the first priority on your list. If your website isn’t up and running, buying a good domain is the first step you need to take.
If your URL address is not optimised on search engines, it’ll get buried with other websites. It’s a good idea to add your local service area into the URL of your website to improve your search engine rank. For example, “MelbrouneHomesforSale.com ranks better in search results than JaneDoeRealtor.com.”
The strategy behind website function is to bring in more potential buyers and sellers and to optimise lead generation. The way your website functions and is set up will either encourage people to stay and browse OR leave quickly and never return.
Make sure your website has these basic functions:
- Domain Name
- Mobile-Friendly Theme or Design
- Fast Image Loading and High Res Images
- Call to Action Buttons
- Keywords on Each Page
Over 90% of mobile users—especially millennials— access website content on mobile devices. It’s not only important to understand how millennials and home buyers use mobile when purchasing a home, but to ensure your website is highly function on mobile devices.
Fast loading images ensure that people don’t get frustrated waiting for pictures to load and leave your website. Targeting keywords on every one of your website pages will help improve your search ranking, and call to action buttons will prompt users to subscribe to your updates by giving out their email address.
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Website Content
Users will determine whether or not your website is useful by reading your website content. They won’t, however, see your content unless your page can be found. When it comes to website content, the first thing you should do is make sure it is search engine optimised for strategic keywords.
Make sure you research Google’s current search and social media algorithms to ensure your keyword usage is beneficial and will function properly. If you’re hunting for real estate website content ideas, these items should be top priorities:
- Up-to-Date SEO Content
- Valuable Blog Posts
- Neighbourhood Pages
- Interactive Maps
The goal of your website content strategy is to make sure your content is easy to find on search engines, interesting to read, and valuable to your readers.
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Link to Social Media Platforms
You likely know by now how important social media is for your overall real estate marketing strategy. While successful real estate agents implement a number of social media strategies, an important strategy is to ensure your social media platforms are linked to your website.
Make sure you add social media icons to your website. The leading social media platforms reach about 40% of online shoppers, which is why you need social media for an effective inbound marketing strategy. Link these platforms, and if you’re not on one of them yet, we suggest you consider creating a profile.
Your social media platforms should encourage visitors to your website, and then help them stay up-to-date on your posts and information. When you link your platforms to your website, they have more ways to follow you and your content.
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Adding Subscribers
Your email list is still king when it comes to business. You own your list. It’s one way you can count on getting in front of your clients and potential clients. Not everyone on every social media site is always going to see your posts and new listings, but email allows you to still get in front of them. It’s how you can turn visitors into regular visitors to your website.
A CTA (Call to Action) subscribe button works best when it’s at the beginning and end of your posts and on a sidebar. If your content is good, you’ll get more people willing to opt in.
If you use a subscription sign-up box, make sure it is optimised in such a way that if someone subscribes, they aren’t asked to subscribe every time they enter your site. It’s also a good idea to add a subscription landing page to your website that is search engine optimised. On the landing page, tell subscribers what they’ll get from subscribing to your site and include a downloadable file giveaway, such as a short eBook.
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Performance Tracking
Before you go live (or if your site is already live), make sure you have statistics tracking tools built into your website, so you can analyze what is effective and what isn’t. Take note of the most viewed content, subscription rate peaks, peaks and lulls in traffic, and high performing times of day.
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Reach out to Professionals
A lot of elements and pieces go into creating effective online marketing strategies. Now that you know what’s involved, you can save time and energy by enlisting the help of professionals. At iProperty, we create responsive real estate website design and mobile websites that look great on any device. Talk to us today, and we’ll help you knock out a few items on your online marketing strategy to-do list.