by When you take time to look through a few different local real estate websites, keep track of what you find on each site. Do you find access to the MLS, a page on buyers, a page on sellers, and maybe even the awards the agent has earned? Beyond those basics what else is on the website that would actually enable you to learn more about the real estate in that area?
In order to differentiate your real estate website from the 1000’s of others just in your city, it takes being different. This doesn’t require a movie, or a video of you as a “talking agent” on your website. Being different online means offering a unique value to the visitor that they can’t find on other websites. You can certainly already be different with information that you already know.
Essential Elements to Help Your Real Estate Website Stand Out
It can be challenging to focus on building your website when you just want to get out and do real estate. Unfortunately, you won’t likely have too many people to help with their real estate goals if your online presence isn’t decidedly different. It can get easy to be distracted with your social media presence (i.e. Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, etc.); however, a website is still one of the most powerful hubs to act as a point of conversion.
Consider the following tips for creating website content that visitors will crave and search engines will love.
- Neighborhood Information – Write up information about the neighborhoods in which you operate every day. Share your unique perspective about what it’s like to walk the streets and how it feels to live in that neighborhood. It doesn’t have to be flowery, just share about the neighborhood as if you were speaking to someone new to the neighborhood. This will probably require more than 1 page and that is ok, just keep writing and putting it up online! You might even expand your neighborhood information to a real estate market niche report to demonstrate your extremely detailed knowledge. The more information you can put up, the more you will be perceived as an expert.
- Detailed Home Information – Many neighborhoods across the USA have specific floor plans and models of homes. Take time to share about the different models that are available and what is appealing (or not) about each one. Documenting the names of the models, sq ft, and even how many of a particular model might exist in a neighborhood will have you standing apart from the competition.
- Condo and HOA information – When you have condos in the areas that you service it’s a great opportunity to create unique content. Writing up information like the property management company, floor plans, and about the amenities will allow a website visitor to discover if the complex is right for them, just by reading your information.
Don’t Forget the Details of Your Real Estate Website
Creating your real estate website might seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Along with writing quality content there are a couple of key details that you will want to complete to give your website the best opportunity for success.
- Real Estate Website Meta Tags – Once meta tags used to be the prime way a search engine knew about a page and while they don’t serve that purpose any longer they still can help the search engines to have a better idea about each page.
- XML Sitemap – While it sounds technical (and it is a little) an XML sitemap can help Google and other search engines to have a greater visibility to the pages of your site.
- Optimized Images – While download speeds are blazing you still want to be cognizant of mobile users. Use free tools such as compression.io to put up great looking images that are optimized for web delivery.
When you take the time to focus on content that isn’t readily available online you will find that you have plenty to share. Don’t assume that people really “know” about their own neighborhood. Put yourself in the shoes of someone who is new to the area and share the most common of details.
Your real estate website, armed with fresh and compelling content, will become a true resource for people searching online for information about the neighborhoods in which you operate. It may take time to develop each page but it will live on for as long as you have your website and it can work for you 24 hours a day.
