Choosing a Real Estate website
or Web Designer
Finding
the right website or web designer can be the most
important decision you make in your web campaign.
This can be an extremely confusing and frustrating
process especially if you don't know what to look
for.
You have two main options in creating a website;
a custom designed site or template-based site. Which
you choose will be determined by your budget and
level of commitment to your online marketing campaign.
Template Sites
Template
sites cost considerably less than custom designed
sites, generally running from $300-$1200. You will
be able to choose from several different designs
and modify your varying amounts of your personal
content. This usually includes your photo, contact
information, and any listings you may add. Some
template sites also provide some useful tools and
content along with the basic site.
The advantages of using a template site include
a significantly lower price tag and the minimal
effort and time needed to get it up and running.
However, there are many template sites that don't
serve as much more than online brochures (and bad
ones at that) and are not worth investing in.
Custom Sites
Custom
websites designed specifically to your needs cost
significantly more than template sites. While some
designers may advertise low prices for a "Basic"
site, a custom site with all the features you want
will usually cost anywhere from $1000 to $2500.
Having a custom built site allows you free reign
over the features, design, and organization of your
site. However, running a custom site successfully
usually requires a much larger time commitment.
After experiencing the potential of a good online
marketing campaign, many agents invest in a custom
website to replace their template sites at their
primary web address.
Things
To Look For:
Regardless
of which option you choose, there are some common
features that every good website should have.
Administrative Console or Control Panel
It
is essential that you be able to make changes to
your website through an easy web form. You do not
want to rely on a Webmaster to add and update the
content on your site.
Level
of Customization and Scalability
Many
template sites include a standard set of links and
content built in, with little modification available.
How much of the content in your site will you be
able to control? Will you be able to add new pages
and features to your website affordably? The last
thing you want is to get stuck with a site that
falls short of your expectations and can't be modified.
Frameless pages
Many
companies offer template sites that use frames to
display content that is hosted on a central server.
Besides the poor aesthetic appeal of frames, this
creates a greater problem with search engines and
usability.
Aesthetics and Usability
Oftentimes
people will tell you that you do not need a pretty
site with fancy graphics. They will tell you that
visitors to your site are not concerned with its
image but rather it's content. While they are correct
in that visitors aren't primarily concerned with
your site's look and feel, the reality is that image
and usability do matter.
Even with the best content, a poorly designed site
can make it so frustrating and difficult for users
that it leaves a horrible impression. A professionally
designed and aesthetically pleasing site will make
it easy for visitors to navigate and accomplish
their tasks, and immediately promotes confidence
with your prospective clients.
Imagine you had just spoken with two different real
estate agents that both seemed equally knowledgeable
and experienced. One was dressed professionally
and presents you with a market report and a nice
business card. The other looked disheveled, smelled
funny, and hands you his phone number written on
a napkin. Which would you go with?
Support Staff with Online Marketing
Expertise
It
is vital to remember that even the best website,
alone, will not generate any new leads for you.
The majority of real estate website designers are
programmers or graphic artists, not marketing experts.
Make sure your web designers are familiar with search
engine optimization and can provide consultation
and guidance in marketing your website. This is
far more important that most agents realize.
Designers Familiar with Real Estate Industry
and websites
Ideally,
you should purchase your website from a company
that specializes in real estate sites. They should
be familiar what prospective clients are looking
for on your site and how to best generate new leads
for you.
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