Social Media Made Easy!

There are different types of websites real estate professionals may create for themselves. It’s relatively simple and cheap. We will discuss how-to build a website simple and cheap during our Twitter chat #RealEstateChat; what I would like to concentrate on today is: 5 Do’s of your already existing website. (it’s not a lot, you can write about hundreds of do’s and the hundreds of don’ts, but I’m just concentrating on 5 main do’s today and main don’ts tomorrow).

You know the web has changed a lot since 90-s, it changed a lot even since 2000-s, so did the websites. It’s not enough to have a website that contains information about your company, services, the landing page and your phone number, It’s not even enough to have a blog on your website, in order for you to have a successful site that produces leads, it has to go viral. Some companies change the structure of their websites dramatically, turning them into a the social media platforms; the other build their websites around the blog, the third ones – just do the minor changes in the way they present the material; either way the perception of a company’s website has changed. But did you change your website with it? Below you can find 5 do’s, that can change the way your website brings you the clients:

Do #1: Your website has to be updated often, (has to have date and month of it being updated).It’s recommended to build your website around
a blog if you are a small business (real estate agent, appraiser, title company, real estate lawyer etc.), this will constantly bring new prospects to your website and it will breathe. The website shouldn’t just be a business card, it should be a place to read news, discuss them, check the new listings,- everything in one. Look at the website of CBRE (a year ago it was just a business card, now it’s live, it has changing news, slides, case studies and social sharing icons etc.) If you think it will take you a lot of money and time to build a website like this, it won’t. If you need an advice on how to do it fast and easy ask me during one of the chats or email me, it’s not that hard.

Do #2: Pictures and listings (portfolios and packages). Depending on what services you sell, let’s assume you are a real estate agent:, your website should have pictures of the properties you sell and prices. It’s not that hard to even integrate an auction option to your website (especially if you work with cheap foreclosure options and even if not). Your pictures shouldn’t be “heavy” and too big, but they should be there (preferably 2-4 on one property). You cannot even imagine how much time it will save you and how more clients it may bring in. (If you can put all these pictures on Trulia, Zip Realty, MLS you should have them on your website. This way the client he will concentrate on the properties YOU have, not what Trulia or other website chooses  to show the client in the section “You may also like”.) Drive the clients TO your website not away from it.

Do #3: Social media sharing: add social media sharing buttons to your pages and posts. Help your website visitors spread the word about you. It’s that simple. Choose 5-10 main social media channels that you use and that your prospects may use. Choose the channels that have a wider audience. (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter are the main ones)

Do #4: Content v Clutter. The homepage and any page of your website has to give the visitor a lot of opportunities to “travel” around your website, not to leave it in 30 seconds. Although too much clutter on your website may annoy and drive away the potential customer, so spread the content on your homepage above the folder appropriately. The reader has to see the menu, and 2-3 most recent news (blog posts), have the basic info about you (or your company), the social media bookmarks to your profile, maybe an excerpt from the page (or post)/ 2-3 listings.

Do #5: Have your website in mobile version. We use internet on our cell phones and tablets now, and a lot, don’t ignore the visitor who is checking out your website/listings on their way to work, in between the meetings or while waiting for their flight at the airport: they are all good for you.

We have discussed 5 Do’s of your website. Tomorrow we’ll talk about 5 Don’ts. While I’m writing the next post check out your website: does it drive the traffic IN or OUT? Do your visitors have an opportunity to spread the word about you? What would you add to these Do’s? Let me know!

Helen Koval is a marketing professional with 10 years experience in publishing, financial and real estate industry.Helen has been working with publishing houses, advertising agencies and musicians in EMEA region and in the US. She is a regular contributor to Plug Into Social Media blog, iMedia Time Blog, as well as Helen's Cooking Blog.

Author Helen Koval

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