Why You Need A Real Estate Website
According to a recent study, 47% of home buyers begin their search online and around 96% used online tools at some point in their home buying journey. Now more than ever it is vital for real estate agents to have some kind of online presence.
A strong online presence has become an expectation. Even if agents don't get their leads there, a professional-looking page or website is a marker of trust and a sign of a credible operation for many people online.
Many franchises and brokerages are helping their agents meet this expectation by providing basic websites or pages based on their own platforms. However, after a while these can become stale, inflexible, and stifling, and there comes a time for every real estate agent when they need to step away from these generic offerings, venture out into the digital world, and create a website of their very own.
In this post, we're going to talk about the few telltale signs that it's time for you, as a real estate agent, to have your own real estate website.
1. You Want Flexibility & Control
Brokerage and franchise sites are meant to meet the needs of as many of their agents as possible, but that doesn't always mean your unique needs are being met. Having a personal website provides you with flexibility and control over your online presence, compared to relying solely on brokerage websites or social media.
If you want to make changes to your content—share your story, show off listings, or otherwise elevate your online presence, and your existing platform is restricting your ability to do that, it's time to get your own site.
With your own website, you can make changes easily and quickly, implementing your own marketing strategies to stay ahead of the competition. For example, with your own website you have control over:
- Branding - Establish you own brand identity, including logo, color schemes, and overall design.
- Messaging - Carefully craft your language, tone, and style to align with your target clients.
- Features - Implement custom features and design elements to set yourself apart.
- SEO - Not happy with where your current online profile ranks in search results? Want to invest more in search engine optimization? With your own site you can.
- Content - Create and update blog posts, property listings, market reports, and other resources to stay relevant and engaging.
- Analytics - Gain insights into how your target audience responds to and make data-driven marketing decisions.
2. You Want More Leads
If you aren't getting all the leads you want from your team, it's time to take your destiny into your own hands!
Every agent's workflow ebbs and flows, but if you're hitting dry spells, it's time to amp up your own lead generation. A personal website enables you to capture leads directly through online contact forms, which can result in high-quality leads. By generating leads on your own website, you have more control over the quality of leads you receive. Leads captured through a personal website are often more targeted and relevant to the agent's niche or target market.
Having an independent site allows you to take full control of your digital marketing, drive leads straight to your inbox, and ensure any money you invest comes right back to you.
3. You Have Local Credibility & Authority
Real estate agents who are champions of their specialty need the opportunity to show it off!
People are looking for real estate agents who are highly knowledgeable and can provide expertise above and beyond what they can find themselves. Through your website, you can create valuable and informative content that highlights your expertise, such as:
- Blog posts
- Articles
- Videos
- Infographics
- White papers
This content can address common questions, concerns, and challenges that clients may have, and offer solutions that showcase your industry knowledge and experience. This helps you establish yourself as an authoritative source of information and positions you as an expert in your field.
Nest, having your own website allows you to show off your expertise in an efficient way, reaching potential clients are already looking. Nowadays, the majority of home buyers and sellers start their search for a real estate agent online. Having a well-designed and user-friendly website with engaging content can help you capture the attention of potential clients and keep them engaged. Include useful information like:
- Testimonials
- Your credentials and portfolio
- Contact information
All of this builds trust and credibility with potential clients.
As you fill up your website with this niche or local knowledge, you're also building online authority. By consistently creating and publishing high-quality content related to your specialty or local market, you can continue establish yourself as an authority in the real estate industry. Building online authority not only helps attract more visitors to your website but also increases your chances of ranking higher in search engine results, making it easier for potential clients to find you online.
With a little SEO effort sprinkled in, you can use your existing expertise to attract new visitors and leads to your own site.
4. To Develop Your Own Brand
Franchise and broker sites are great for reinforcing their brand, but what about your own?
Agents with growing business have their own brand that they need to create and develop, without being overshadowed by the franchise brand. Remember, it's your personal brand that makes a client choose you over the agent in the office next door. If you're growing that real estate brand, you need a site that will reflect who you are and show potential clients what sets you apart.
As mentioned, a personal website can enhance your credibility and authority by showcasing your expertise, successes, and core values. It helps build trust with potential clients and stand out from the competition. A few things we've already mentioned are also key to curating your online presence, including:
- Messaging and tone
- Color scheme and graphics
- High-quality images
- How your name is used
With a personal website you can strategically deploy these elements to maximize your appeal to potential clients.
5. For Future Success
Last but not least, you need your own website when you're planning to be highly successful in the future.
Having your own site means that it belongs to you—not your broker—and that ownership is a powerful thing. A personal website is essential for scaling a real estate business as it provides a centralized platform for clients to find you, nurture relationships, and develop and authoritative online presence.
As the business grows, the website can be updated and customized to align with changing goals and strategies. A personal website acts as a hub for online marketing efforts, lead and agent management, ultimately facilitating the scalable growth of your business.
When it's time, it's time...
At the end of the day, we find agents are ready for their own sites once they've become established in their local market. This is the time when agents transition into growth planning and begin to invest in savvy strategies to build up their business.
A website becomes the foundation for this growth and helps agents fuel their success. A personal website is a powerful tool for real estate agents to build their brand, generate leads, establish credibility, and meet customer expectations in today's digital world. It provides agents with flexibility, control, and the ability to differentiate themselves from competitors, ultimately leading to increased success in their real estate business.
If you're in a position where you're ready to become more profitable and take your real estate business to the next level, it's time for your own website.
Want to learn more about setting up your new real estate website? Read more in our comprehensive real estate SEO guide.
Want to learn more about how Real Estate Webmasters can set you up with the best out-of-the-box real estate website in existence? Schedule a Renaissance demo today.
Want to learn more about online marketing for real estate agents? Then head on over to the REW forums and join the conversation.
Real Estate Website FAQ
What is a real estate website?
A real estate website is an online platform that provides information about properties for sale, rent, or lease. It allows real estate agents, brokers, and property owners to advertise their properties to potential buyers or tenants, and allows users to search for properties based on their preferences and location.
Real estate websites typically contain property listings, property descriptions, photos and videos of the properties, and other relevant information such as property location, price, and contact information for the seller or agent. Some real estate websites also offer additional features such as mortgage calculators, property valuation tools, and neighborhood information to help buyers and renters make informed decisions.
Should I make a website as a real estate agent?
As a real estate agent, having your own website is highly recommended to establish a professional online presence, showcase your expertise, attract potential clients, and differentiate yourself from competitors.
Who makes the best real estate websites?
Real Estate Webmasters is known for creating the best real estate websites for agents and brokerages. They are the only full-service real estate technology company, specializing in visually appealing, functional, and user-friendly websites, as well as CRM, branding, SEO and PPC services.
Can you make your own website as a real estate agent?
Yes, you can create your own website as a real estate agent, but it may not be the best idea unless you have web design and development expertise. DIY websites may lack the professional look, functionality, and features necessary to effectively represent your business online.
What is the best real estate agent websites with IDX?
Renaissance from REW is the best real estate agent website with IDX. It comes with seamless MLS and CRM integration right out of the box, along with industry-leading speed, functionality, and accessibility.
Can't personal websites be replaced by social media?
While social media can play an important role in a real estate agent's marketing strategy, personal websites cannot be easily replaced by social media alone. Personal websites and social media should be considered as complementary tools that form part of an integrated strategy.