Choosing the right realtor website design can mean the difference between having a highly effective website and one that’s cookie-cutter.
If you are just getting started with your real estate business, you likely are operating on a shoestring budget. So, anything that helps propel your career without the need to break the bank is a welcomed thought. Creating your own website is one great example: it not only gives you the satisfaction of doing it yourself, but it also allows you to save money, and scale your business.
When done right, your real estate website will enhance your SEO and search visibility, give you location authority, and help you in your lead acquisition efforts. On top of that, it will serve as your social proof to show prospects and other players that you are real and genuine. That’s why you cannot afford not to have a real estate website.
In this article, we will give you some top tips to help you create your own real estate website. However, if you find the process to be too technical, or if you do not have enough time to put in the effort, then you might want to consider a professional to help out with your realtor website design. The good thing about working with an expert is that you get to free up your time to focus on your core activities. An expert also understands the work well and will help create a professional website that will put you at the same level as the industry best.
With that in mind, here is how to create your real estate website:
Plan ahead of time
The first step to creating your real estate website should be the gather as much information as you’d need to come up with an effective website. Remember, the real estate business is dynamic, and the prospects are exposed to better solutions. You need to have a unique and captivating proposition if you are to capture their attention. Ideally, this stage involves you deciding as to whether you’ll run as an agency or make a real estate marketplace. Additionally, it lets you be clear about the type of property you’ll be dealing with (duplexes, vacation homes, resale homes, new construction) and the target audience. And don’t forget to analyze the market, too – including your competitors.
Find a name for your website
The next step is to get a unique domain name for your realtor website. The good idea is to find a meaningful name that can tell prospects what your site is all about even before they click right through it. Your domain name needs to simple, easy to remember, and without special characters. It’s better to go for a .com website too.
Get hosting
Once you find and register your domain name, you now need to find a reliable hosting platform. This shouldn’t be hard since there are dozens of hosting companies to select from. Take time to do your due diligence first before settling for any option.
Initial setup
After registering your domain name and subscribing to a hosting plan, you can now start creating your realtor website. And good for you, there are also different website builders – including WordPress, Wix, and Weebly – to help you design and adjust your website to your liking, free of charge. WordPress, for instance, comes with tons of themes that you can utilize to create any space you want. Its ecosystem also has vast plugins that you can use to enhance your site’s functionality. During the initial setup, you should upload the logo and site title, change colors, add pages and menu, set up the page elements and sidebar, and add properties.
Integrate features
Features play a critical role in enhancing user experience, so you cannot miss them on your platform. Keep in mind that most of your target audience is in some dreamy mood – and all you need to do is fulfill the dream that they are building in their heads. Great images, good looks, responsiveness, and searchability are all incredible features to consider. If you are having a hard time doing this, it might be best to have an expert help out.
Create a blog
Your blog serves as a platform that you can use to educate your prospects. It’s where you provide the information they need to make the right buying decision. It also allows you to connect with prospects and earn their trust.
Market your site
Blogging is a great way to market your platform on search engine pages. On top of that, you can also go for social media marketing, SEO, email marketing, and so on. Marketing your sites help prospects to know that you are out there.
Conclusion
Building your own website can be fun and fulfilling. However, letting a professional do it for you will give you the professionalism and edge that you need to build your brand.
