How to Make Your Real Estate Website Stand Out In 2015

 February 2, 2015

Looking to attract more clients in 2015? You need to revamp your website. A user-friendly website can generate many leads while an outdated one can drive away visitors. It is important to update your website every now and then as that is the only way you can retain visitors. Use these tips to make your website stand out in 2015.

Simplify the Content

Have you ever taken the time to go through every page on your website? If you haven’t, set aside some time to read the content and simplify the difficult parts. No buyer or seller wants to spend a lot of time trying to figure out the message on a page. Remove unnecessary content and leave only what is important. In this day and age of 140-character tweets and abbreviated messages, people have short attention spans. As a result, they only scan websites and do not read every word. Get rid of unnecessary content and people will enjoy visiting your site.

Use Large and Clear Images

Big images command attention, they make people stop and stare. When people open a webpage, the first thing they see are the images. Therefore, using large images is imperative. Write a few words below every image to provide additional information about it. When choosing an image, consider four things: the size, quality, exposure, and composition. People prioritize quality and if your listing images are not good, they won’t stay on your site. When uploading images, ask yourself these questions:

  1. Does the image look good enough to make the buyer want the property?
  2. Does the image accentuate the best features of the property?
  3. Does the image match my brand?

If your answer is “Yes,” use the image.

Make Your Site Responsive

One in every four online searches is done via a mobile device. The fastest way to chase off these searchers is by making your site unresponsive. They won’t bother readjusting your big-screen website to fit their small-screen devices unless they have seen something they really want. Even if they do, they won’t come back because of the hassle. Make your site mobile-friendly and people will enjoy visiting it. It will stand out for all the right reasons.

Give your Website a Makeover

Your website gives the first impression of your business to your customers and prospects. If it is outdated, prospects won’t be motivated to become customers. They will enlist the services of a company with a professional website. Web design trends change frequently and if you don’t keep up you’ll be left behind. Change the theme of your website regularly and add new images and pages. Hire a professional to redesign it every 3-4 years. Never forget that first impressions are everything.

Clean Your Website Regularly

Homeowners usually clean their homes in spring but you don’t have to wait till the season rolls around so as to clean your website. Clean it regularly by removing broken links, outdated news, and anything else that might make your site look out-of-date. People who click on links only to land on irrelevant pages will not keep trying. Change your content regularly and delete whatever is unrelated. Current content is one of the things that keeps visitors coming back to a site. Write new blog posts, create press releases, update staff profiles and add industry information and you’ll have them hooked.

Analyze Your Website’s Data

Use Google Analytics to see what your target audience is searching for and what they are doing online. It is a valuable tool that can help you to know what you are doing wrong and what you are doing right. You’ll be able to see who is visiting your website, what they are interested in, how long they stay, and which device they use. Review the data at least once every month. When you know what your audience is interested in and which pages they ignore, you’ll know which changes to make.


Ronique Gibson

By Ronique Gibson

Ronique Gibson is an Associate Architect and a LEED Accredited Professional, who has been in the design industry for over 13 years. She started her design blog in 2009 and today it has become a premier destination for helping homeowners with everyday lifestyle challenges. Her readers check in daily for help with their homes, DIY project ideas, recipes, crafts, and inspiration to beautify and enjoy their homes.