Digital strategy and online marketing is ever-changing, which is why it’s important for you to keep up with what’s going on—especially within the real estate industry.
Last year, we saw a lot of clean website designs with less elaborate layouts and simple fonts, colours, and formats. In 2016, we can expect to see more minimalist design with an emphasis on interactivity, video content, and user-friendliness.
Here are the top digital marketing trends you need to know about so you stay ahead of the curve:
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Mobile Optimisation
Mobile optimisation or mobile-friendliness is the number one trend for digital marketing as more and more users rely on their mobile devices to search for properties and property services.
Responsive design, something iProperty takes very seriously, is going to be crucial for ensuring website images, fonts, and layouts automatically resize across different devices. As more and more individuals, especially millennials, turn to mobile, it’s important that you ensure your website experience is a positive one for users (or they likely won’t come back).
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Microsites Grow in Popularity
More and more agents will turn to microsites or single property websites to promote high-end, luxury properties. Utilising video content, interactive floorplans, and 3D tours these property sites will be differentiators. Microsites should also link back to your main website or agency website in order to promote brand awareness and drive further leads your way. For agents wanting to expand on their own personal brand and market exposure, Agent microsites are also gaining in popularity.
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Interactive Call to Actions
The goal of driving traffic to your website is to convert that traffic to leads. Leading real estate websites will utilise call to actions, such as pop-up subscription boxes, contact forms, live chat windows, or eBook downloads or exclusive content in order to capture email addresses and build relationships.
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Customer Experience an Even Bigger Priority
Web designers will continue to focus on creating the ultimate customer experience. From large feature images to minimalist layouts to video content, simplicity will be a driving force in the user experience. Expect to see more infinite scrolling as opposed to multi-page formats and more hidden menus.
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Quality Content is King
The focus on your website needs to be on providing quality content. Search engine optimised blogs, that provide valuable content and professionally designed eBooks or informative videos, will help real estate agents become industry leaders and experts in the eyes of their target audience.
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Video Content is at the Centre
Video will continue to grow as one of the most popular forms of content. Animated sliders, video backgrounds, and explainer videos will take the place of large blocks of text. These videos will help you take your potential clients on video tours of your services and property listings, and should be front and centre.
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The Power of Storytelling
The most effective real estate websites or agent profile websites will integrate storytelling into their brand message. To connect with vendors, buyers, and sellers, profiles should have video tours of your office, feature interviews, client testimonials, and more. Weave ‘story’ throughout every aspect of your website and use it to create a vibrant brand that truly connects with viewers.
Hopefully, staying up-to-date on these trends will help you stay ahead of the curve. To learn more about how iProperty can help you create websites that are on-trend, visit our website design page or contact us.