What Buyers REALLY Want to See on Your Real Estate Website
What are prospective home buyers looking for when they come to your real estate website? NAR's 2024 Generational Trends Report sheds some light on the matter. The annual survey asked buyers who use the internet which website features they find most useful. Today, we're going to dive into what the research shows. You can use this information when researching new website vendors or evaluating how your current site measures up. Let's dive in! Below are website features that buyers rate as "very useful" during their home search process, ranked from most to least important. Most important More than half of home buyers rated these two features as very useful: Photos - Unsurprisingly, photos are the most desired website feature. Ensure all photos that you upload to the MLS or add to your website are high quality, high definition images. While we recommend hiring a professional for your listing photos, if you're a determined DIYer, check out these tips. (And, if nothing else, step away from the smartphone!) Detailed property information - Buying a home is a big deal, and buyers want to know as much information as they can before making a decision. Fill out every applicable MLS field when adding your latest listing, and don't be afraid to add more info about your listing to your website. Need inspiration for writing property descriptions? See 4 Real Estate Listing Description Examples that Increase Sales, or read ChatGPT Hacks for Real Estate Agents to learn how to leverage AI to craft property descriptions. Important More than 30% of home buyers said the following website features are very useful: Floor plans - The floor plan is having a moment, and many MLSs are offering apps that capture floor plans, like CubiCasa, for free to their members. Additionally, many virtual tour providers include a floor plan in their standard offerings. If you're looking for a floor plan vendor, check out our Product Directory. Agent contact information - We're amused that only 43% of survey respondents said this was very important. To you, the agent, it is 100% important! So make sure that, at minimum, your name, email and phone number are prominently displayed on your website so you never miss a lead. Virtual tours - Today's virtual tours, which are typically 3D walkthroughs of a home, can help buyers with decision making, whether that's the decision to tour a home at all or to decide if it's the right property for their needs. Many virtual tour solutions also offer extra marketing tools you many not know about, and most also include photos and floor plans from one scan, so you get more bang for buck. You can find a virtual tour provider in our Company Directory. Neighborhood info - We love when we come across agent websites with beautiful neighborhood pages. Create a page on your site for each neighborhood you serve and be sure to include information about nearby attractions and schools. Be sure to include a call-to-action to contact you for more information about homes for sale in the area. Less important More than 20% of home buyers rated the following website features are very useful: Recently sold properties - It's one thing to get a listing; it's another thing to close a transaction. Show off homes you've recently sold so buyers can understand your track record of success. If your listings sold faster than the average DOM for your area or for over asking, mention that! Additionally, most MLSs now provide sold data in their IDX feeds, so you can use that to offer recently sold information about your entire local market on your site. Interactive maps - Many IDX website vendors include map search functionality. If you're not sure if yours does, check with your site provider and ask how to turn it on. Videos - While only 21% of buyers said videos were very useful to them on a website, that doesn't mean you should stop producing them! They're still extremely valuable on social media to help drive traffic to your website, and you can highlight the best on your site. Need help creating compelling videos? RPR's Market Trends ScriptWriter can write video scripts for you. Upcoming open houses - Okay, so technically only 19% of buyers overall said information about upcoming open houses were very valuable. But that may be thanks to the oldest generation, which represents only 16% of buyers, bringing down the average. Younger generations care more about this info, with 31% of prime-age (34-43 years old) buyers expressing interest. So don't be shy about adding open house announcements to your website! Take it or leave it The final three real estate website features all ranked under 10% overall: Virtual open houses - A lifesaver during the height of the pandemic, this feature is less important to home buyers now. Virtual listing appointments - See above. Real estate news and articles - Dedicated agent bloggers may be disappointed to see this, but this ranking shouldn't dissuade you from posting. While buyers may not show up explicitly for your blog, consistent content creation still works wonders for SEO and attracting leads. So if you love it, keep going! Next steps Read more articles about real estate websites and Internet Data Exchange (IDX) Explore Website, IDX, and Virtual Office Website (VOW) solutions in our Product Directory.

Real Estate Backlinks: A 2024 Guide
Backlinks are one of the most important ranking factors for search engines. Essentially, backlinks are inbound links to your website from other external sites. The more relevant, high-quality backlinks you have, the higher your site might rank in search results. This article provides valuable information and strategies for real estate agents and brokers to build and optimize backlinks in 2024. Why Backlinks Are Crucial for Real Estate Websites Credibility and Authority Backlinks from authoritative industry sites and influencers establish credibility and authority for real estate websites. The more high-quality backlinks a site has, the higher rank it can get in search engines. Higher Rankings and More Traffic Studies show that the majority of home buyers start their search online, so higher rankings and more traffic mean more opportunities to connect with motivated buyers. Brand Awareness Backlinks also help increase brand awareness for real estate websites. When an authoritative industry publication or influencer links to a real estate agent's website, it exposes the brand to its audience. Referral Traffic High-quality backlinks drive referral traffic to real estate websites. When a site links to a real estate agent's website, visitors to that site may click the link to visit the agent's site. This free referral traffic provides new opportunities to capture leads and make sales. The Best Types of Backlinks for Real Estate Agents High-Quality Directory Links Submitting your website to real estate directories is an easy way to build authoritative backlinks. Look for highly relevant directories, regularly updated, and have a high domain authority. Guest Blogging on Industry Websites Writing guest posts for popular real estate blogs and websites is one of the most effective link-building strategies. Studies show that guest blogging can increase referral traffic and brand awareness in addition to earning high-quality backlinks. Sponsoring Local Events Sponsoring events in your local community, like charity fundraisers, networking mixers, or real estate seminars, provides an opportunity to build relationships and get your name and website in front of new potential clients. Creating Unique and Engaging Content Consistently publishing helpful content on your blog or website, like neighborhood guides, market reports, home tips, or real estate news, builds authority in the eyes of search engines and potential clients. Embed links within your content to pages on your website to improve internal linking. You should also promote your new content on social media to increase backlinks, referral traffic, and brand visibility. Creating a content calendar can help keep you on track. 6 Tips to Build Quality Real Estate Backlinks Focus on High-Value Sites Seek out links from authoritative sites in your industry like national real estate organizations, reputable media publications, and influential blogs. Links from these sites carry more weight with search engines and establish credibility. Build Relationships Develop relationships with other industry leaders by engaging with them on social media, commenting on their blog posts, and promoting their content. When the time comes to ask for a backlink, a pre-existing relationship increases the likelihood of success. Offer to write a guest post or provide an interview in exchange for a link. Reciprocity and mutual benefit are key. Create Linkable Assets Publish high-quality content on your site like blog posts, videos, research reports, and statistics that other sites will want to link to. Content that provides real value to readers and offers a unique perspective is more apt to be linked and shared. Diversify Anchor Text Use a mix of anchor text in backlinks pointing to your site. Over-optimization of anchor text looks unnatural to search engines and can negatively impact rankings. Use your main keyword, brand name, and generic text like "click here" or "read more" as anchor text. Use keyword tracking tools to find the best anchor for your link. Build Internal Links Link to pages on your site to pass authority between pages. This is an easy way to give pages a rankings boost and improve the user experience. When creating content, look for opportunities to link to related evergreen content on your site. Also, make sure your website's URL structure is fine. Monitor New Link Acquisition Track where your backlinks are coming from to ensure link quality. Look for unnatural patterns that could indicate a link scheme and take action to disavow those links. Keeping a close eye on new links helps avoid potential penalties and protects your site's reputation. Review links regularly using SEO tools like Ahrefs, Moz Link Explorer, or Majestic. Monitoring and Maintaining Your Real Estate Backlinks You need to monitor your backlink profile regularly to ensure maximum SEO benefits. It is recommended to check your backlink profile at least once a month. Some of the key things to check include: New backlinks acquired from high-authority domains. These can significantly boost your search rankings and traffic. Check for any broken backlinks and try to get them replaced or removed. Broken backlinks can negatively impact your search rankings. Look for any unnatural backlink patterns. Check the anchor text distribution of your backlinks. The anchor text should appear natural and not over-optimized. Check backlinks from low-quality spammy domains. These provide little to no SEO value. Backlinks from domains with a high page rank but irrelevant content. Although high PR, these links provide no contextual relevance and you might decide to remove them. While backlinks remain crucial for real estate SEO success, focus on serving your audience above all – not just search engines. Provide true value, and the links will follow. With a smart strategy and consistent effort, your backlink profile can become a powerful asset fueling your real estate business in the years ahead. To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.

Premier Agent Websites

Premier Agent Websites lets real estate agents create a custom WordPress powered website for their business. It includes the option of an internet data exchange and a feed of local MLS listings. Premier Agent Websites can be created quickly without the need for web expertise, and content can be updated easily at any time. These full featured websites include maps, searchable listings, and WordPress' full blogging functionality. You can preview your design before it goes live to ensure it looks the way you want. Premier Agent Websites are designed to be viewable on all mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets. Features include: Local, map-based IDX property search of multiple listing service-listed homes. A personalized domain name of the agent's choosing. A variety of templates, themes and colors. The ability to add custom, local content such as a personal blog, video, real estate data and mortgage widgets, photo slideshows, and school information. Integration with Zillow's free customer relationship management platform to manage leads and customer contacts coming from the website. Search engine optimization.

RealtySites PLUS

RealtySites PLUS offer agents and brokerages a hosted website that includes numerous marketing features and functions. With RealtySites PLUS, you can capture new leads, communicate through various mediums with buyers, sellers and colleagues, and incubate your leads all in one online location. The RealtySites PLUS website offers detailed property information with integrated maps, unlimited photos, panoramic HD photo tours, and customizable feature sheets. You can provide online visitors with property feature sheets and brochures, as well as maps and directions to the property. You are given an AdTrack system to compare and track ad responses. You can also show your personal video bios and showcase your blog and share feature information about local amenities. RSP's fully integrated tools are designed to allow you to stay in touch with your prospects and clients. These tools allow an agent to supply potential homebuyers with newsletters, automatic feedback, property statistics, agent blogs, and an Expert's section. RateIt allows agents to provide an Internet Data Exchange (IDX), customized mortgage feature sheets, and an online document storage area Other tools include customized lead-generation forms and newsletters, automatic cultivation letters, updated MLS listings, automated open house alerts and new price alerts.

One-to-One Marketing by Terabitz

Terabitz’ One-to-One system allows real estate professionals to market to sellers by giving them useful information. This system provides an agent with the ability to provide a unique websites to each homeowner they are working with. One-to-One marketing was designed to give branding and value through online technology. The One-to-One system creates a unique website for every homeowner in the real estate agent’s farm containing: A valuation of their home Recent solds in their neighborhood, displayed on a map Active and pending listings in their neighborhood An equity calculator An online Q&A forum for agent to consumer discussion Each prospect receives their home’s website via email or through a postcard campaign. The information on the site updates every time they visit. The real estate agent’s brand and contact information is prominently displayed.  

Properties Online Adds New Real Estate Trends Feature to Its Award-Winning Real Estate Website Builder
Properties Online, Inc. has launched a new module for their website builder, RealEstateSites.com, that will enable agents to build market trend reports for their local area. Santa Rosa, CA, June 07, 2022 -- Knowing what is happening in today's real estate market is critical to both home buyers and sellers. Market trends can let homeowners know if they are headed into a slowdown, and help an agent set reasonable expectations. To that end, Properties Online, Inc. has launched a new module for their website builder, RealEstateSites.com, that will enable agents to build market trend reports for their local area. Real estate professionals can create a trend report based off a zip code, a metro area, a county, a state or you can create a national trend report. Additionally, the agent can compare their primary market with other markets. For example, an a­gent can build a market trend for Sonoma, CA, and compare it to the County of Sonoma, as well as the State of California. What's great is the information will automatically update each month and show statistics from the previous month so the trend report is always current. "We are thrilled to be able to add this feature to our current list of added value items at no additional cost to our clients," says Amanda Cornelius, founder and CEO of Properties Online, Inc. "We have a several new features we hope to launch later this year to help agents capture more leads while serving their clients using our products and services." Market data is pulled from Realtor.com real estate data library and is based on the most comprehensive and accurate database of MLS-listed for-sale homes in the industry. We aggregate and analyze data from hundreds of sources and produce hundreds of metrics for multiple markets, and curate figures and trends where possible for reliability and comparability. Additional tools included with the website solution from RealEstateSites.com include: Single Property Websites Listing Videos Lead Capture Landing Pages Social Sharing Tools Video Content Buyers and Sellers Reports Unlimited Pages Optional UserWay's Accessibility Widget View the new market trends report pages here. About Properties Online, Inc. Founded in 2001, Properties Online is dedicated to helping real estate professionals grow their businesses by offering innovative and invaluable technology tools. The company's web-based software products include, ListingDomains.com, ListingsUnlimited.com, RealEstateSites.com, PropertiesOnline.com, and TextAnnounce.com. Their products are used by more than 100,000 real estate professionals nationwide.

Point2 Agent
Point2 Agent software enables you to create a website, build traffic and attract clients - quickly, easily and affordably. Point2 Agent gives you a complete real estate website with access to the industry's leading listing syndication network to deliver a steady stream of prospects. Built-in conversion tools help turn these prospects into clients. For MLSs and Associations, Point2 Agent delivers an enterprise solution for members, providing them with leading-edge listing syndication and an optional full-featured website.

Pipeline ROI
What makes Pipeline ROI better? It's not just software, it's a lead generation process that's easy to understand, implement, and stick to. -Publish Our automated Ghostwriter content engine ensures you have the best one-of-a-kind information for buyers and sellers. -Promote We'll spread your brand far and wide with top-tier social and e-mail promotion tools that drive traffic to your site. -Capture Capture buyer and seller leads with a variety of targeted information and eBooks that clients love. -Nurture Never let a lead go cold again. Our nurturing system covers you from click to close. -Close Every closing should lead to more clients. Get testimonials and generate referrals post-closing. -Analyze Pipeline ROI shows you which marketing is performing best, and what needs improvement.

Pro Agent Solutions
Since 2007, Pro Agent Solutions has helped agents and brokers sell more homes with our cloud-based software products. We offer a fully integrated solution for individual agents and teams. Our products are also sold individually so you can choose what you need. Digital Flyer is a lead generation, sign rider texting application for curbside leads. Prospective buyers receive a text reply with information they requested on a property. The listing agent simultaneously gets a text and email notifying them they have a lead. Showing Pro - Scheduler is for scheduling showings with automated text and email confirmations and reminders.  Showing Pro - Feedback sends out automated feedback requests after showings so busy agents don’t have to spend precious time tracking down buyers’ agents for seller feedback. CRM manages contacts, appointments, closings and tracks email clicks and opens. It comes with pre-programmed drip campaigns and 100+ pre-written marketing emails to send to buyers and sellers.

WebsiteBox
When we began to look at web technology for real estate professionals we were shocked at what agents and brokers were paying. In other industries, for the same tools, people were paying a fraction of what Realtors® were paying. Real estate websites, CRM, IDX and website hosting were all being sold at a LARGE premium, so we built a system to do all that for less. The result was The $99 Do-It-All Website.