There’s more to online sustainability and productivity than simply having a website.
While it is commonly understood that having an online presence is an essential element for business success nowadays, without proper planning and follow-through, you could lose money instead of earning.
What it means to have an online footprint
Let’s face it, people today are more inclined to let their fingers do the walking- literally. Rather than waste time going out of their comfort zones to look for everything- from shopping for their regular needs to looking for new homes- it’s no wonder the internet is a vital resource in today’s world.
In real estate alone, related searches have surged up by 253% in the last four years, with 90% of buyers looking for their next dream home online with no less than 69% of them use search terms based on key locations such as Sydney, Melbourne, etc.
Surprisingly, there are still a lot of real estate businesses using outdated web technology such as software and automation tools that hinder them from competing with big real estate companies.
How can this be addressed?
Working with a multiple listing service (MLS) is essential to the success of your real estate website because this serves as the primary tool that site visitors are bound to look for. An outdated MLS can spell the difference between your website getting the right traffic and one the people simply ignore because they don’t find any value in it.
The key to solving this dilemma is to ensure that your website is integrated with an updated MLS that serves the purpose for people benefitting from what you have to offer them and fulfilling their real estate needs.
Here are the key features that a good and performing website needs to have with its MLS.
A scalable and stunning web design
Not only does your MLS need to be on top of updates and features, but it must also be user-friendly, simple, and eye-catching. It needs to stand out and make use of design elements even with ad space that is a match for your brand and target audience.
Your MLS should not limit itself to what is currently available and trending, but how it can be adapted to meet the demands of the changing times and shifting market behaviours.
Customisable filters
One of the foremost features of the MLS is its property search which needs to be linked to valuable and relevant property data to make buyers and site members search for property easily and quickly. This is where you’re the property filter comes in, where search capabilities need to be robust to help readers target their search queries right away.
The more capable your search filter options are in targeting search queries, the greater the chances people will take advantage of your website and help them find their ideal property without hassles.
Optimised for search
Of course, you don’t want to miss search engine optimization (SEO) for your website. Your sites must be optimized for SEO because without them, your website would be useless.
While SEO may be a complicated process, knowing the basics can help you get amazing results provided you have the right planning tools and strategy to help you get ahead.
Lead generation capabilities
This is a more straightforward feature that a real estate website needs because this is where you aim to get your return on investment especially if you want to measure your site’s performance. Try to check out high-ranking and powerful websites because you will surely find that this is a feature that is common among them.
With an effective funnel to guide your visitors in their real estate journey, you’re sure to find how those visitors become good leads and end up as clients and customers.
Maximise your website capabilities
Whether it’s your content, design, functionalities, features, etc. getting expert help to help you maximise the benefits of a good and performing real estate website is common sense. It makes no sense to just have a website just because you want to have one, but to ensure that you have one that will help you get ahead in your real estate business.
Do not be afraid to invest in professional guidance when you don’t have the time to do it on your own.
Remember that nothing is constant in the virtual environment and markets, so make sure that your real estate business adapts well, stay relevant, and continue to be competitive.