In today's digital era, having a website is essential for any business, including real estate. A well-designed real estate website not only enhances your credibility but also helps you gather motivated seller leads, making it a crucial component of your digital marketing arsenal.
However, many real estate investors, especially those without a strong technical background, find themselves overwhelmed when it comes to building a website. They often have questions like: Where do I start? What are the key elements my website needs? And most importantly, what should I avoid? Should I outsource certain parts of the website? Which parts should I handle myself?
Whether you're a website novice or an HTML pro, this quick guide will help you get your real estate website up and running in no more than three hours.
4 Steps to Create a Real Estate Website
How to find motivated sellers
Step 1: Choose Your Domain Name
Before diving into themes and code, selecting and registering a domain name is critical. Your domain name should strike a balance between practicality and personality. Here are a couple of tips to help you choose the right one:
- Prioritize branding over keywords. Instead of stuffing keywords into your domain, focus on establishing credibility with a name that aligns with your company. For example, choose "EvergladesRealty.com" instead of a long-tail keyword.
- Keyword-rich domains, such as "SellDenverForeclosure.com," work well as dedicated lead-capture pages, but they are not suitable as your primary real estate networking website.
- Opt for a domain name that is easy to spell, avoiding hyphens or unconventional spellings. Ensure it is user-friendly for potential leads.
- Register your domain with reputable companies like Namecheap or GoDaddy as soon as possible.
Step 2: Install Your Site & Choose a Hosting Company
When it comes to setting up your website, you have various options like Drupal, Joomla, or Weebly. However, the most popular and versatile platform is WordPress. It's not only user-friendly but also offers numerous plugins to enhance functionality. Best of all, it's free (although you may need to invest in a visually appealing theme).
Remember that web hosting and website installation are separate tasks. You'll need a web host like HostGator or BlueHost to provide server space for your website, while WordPress or Blogger acts as the engine. Consider the following points:
- If possible, outsource the website setup and hosting configuration to freelancers on platforms like Fiverr. There are more productive ways to spend your time than installing a website.
- Choose a hosting company with positive customer service reviews. You can switch hosting options if needed, regardless of what they might tell you.
- Install website analytics and tracking scripts like Google Analytics and Facebook retargeting as early as possible. These tools are crucial for real estate investors to collect valuable data from day one.
Step 3: Choose a Captivating Website Design
Setting up your website is just the first step. You also need an appealing design that captures visitors' attention and converts them into leads. Here are a few considerations for selecting a design:
- Compile a list of websites you admire and share them with a designer or someone on your team. Use the "view page source" feature to identify the themes or templates they use.
- Instead of building a website from scratch, explore template galleries like Theme Forest or Wix. They offer a wide range of options to suit your needs.
- Ensure the chosen template is responsive and compatible with mobile devices. It's essential for users to be able to access your content seamlessly on any device.
Step 4: Fill Your Site With Compelling Content
When launching your website, you don't need hundreds of pages of content right away. However, certain key elements are crucial to have in place from the start. These include:
- An engaging "About Us" page that includes relevant photos and personal details.
- A user-friendly "Contact Us" page that makes it easy for people to reach out to you.
- A privacy policy, which is important for Google's guidelines.
- A homepage video or introductory post that highlights your company's values and offerings.
- Social sharing icons to encourage visitors to share your content.
- Optional how-to content posts that educate and guide potential clients through the home buying or selling process.
Remember, you don't need to be a coding expert or web design guru to generate leads with your real estate website. With a clear vision of what you want, simple yet informative content, and the help of freelancers for more complex tasks, you can transform your website into a 24-hour marketing machine.
One byte at a time, your real estate website will help you establish a strong online presence and drive your business forward, even when you're taking a break.
