10 Things Every Realtor Should Know
when Buying (or Renting) a Web Site.
By David Desjardins, Managing Partner dcreative.ca
Let's be honest - researching what you're going to need for a good web site can be a daunting task. The technical stuff can be confusing (Google, Dynamic, SEO, Apache, etc.) and worst of all, everyone seems to have a different opinion.
Before you even start looking for a web site solution, you need to answer these five questions:
- Who are you marketing to? Knowing your target market is the first step.
- What do you want your site to do? Sell? Inform? Educate?
- What are your goals for the web site? Short term, Long term goals.
- Do you want to manage it yourself? Need some help?
- How do you plan to tell your market about your web site?
Without understanding these 5 questions, you're not ready for a web site. 'I have a web site' is not the same as using a web site that builds your business. It's like buying a house without considering where it is, or having it appraised and finalizing the 'subject to:'s.
If you can answer the questions, you're ready to start planning for a website. To that end, we recommend that you talk to professionals, or in the abscence of that wisdom consider the list we call:
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Not all web sites are created equal.
What's visible is as important as what's behind it. Does it treat search engines as importantly as your customers? Does it use all the current SEO features, or is that 'extra'? |
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The web site has to do what you want.
Can you manage it easily? What limitiations do you have, and can you easily add features without additional cost or hassle? Features that can help you, and avoid the ones that don't. |
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The web site has to market your goals.
Most Realtor web sites market your service provider, and not you. Not sure? Right-click and view source on your web site. If you see your providers name more than your domain, you're already losing business. |
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You need a Unique Design & Ownership.
You've spent the money on developing your brand. It should look different from your competitors image, and not limited to background colors or BOLD text. |
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Google Maps, Videos, Documents and Photos.
In real estate today, these are the basics. They are not 'extras', and they should match what you want. Page layouts should be what you would want to see. |
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SEO is not an afterthought, or an 'extra'.
It's more than just META or page titles, but the combined effects of seven different aspects working behind the visible page, and the contributions of a professional marketer. |
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Technology that can move.
Can you move your site 'anywhere'? If you become dissatisfied with the service, can you take your site elsewhere? |
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Support & Marketing Experience.
Support should not be from a sales rep, but from your designer - the one person who can do something for you. Marketing support should be live people who understand your business, with a decade of experience, not a library of 'DIY Manuals'. |
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Customer Metrics - Real Numbers you can use.
Not just 'stats', but real numbers in an understandable format. Who's looking at what and when - what they want, and how they are searching. Customer Metrics integrated with your web site and your email promotions at the same time. |
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TCO - Total Cost of Ownership.
What will be the real cost of your web site over 2 years? Hidden fees for extra services? Treat your web site as real part of your business and plan ahead. Custom designed sites (where you own it) are often cheaper than those you rent (and never own). |
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