Just be unique. I know thats a cliche, and really there aren't too many things you can do to be totally unique... but just do the opposite in most cases. If most real estate sites have a similar layout, go in another direction. Don't duplicate similar content found elsewhere. Offer something other sites do, however that may not be so ground breaking on a wider internet term. And listen to what people say in the forums!

I recently wrote a blog post on just this topic - that is, creating sticky content for your site...

Read it here:
http://activerain.com/blogsview/283862/1-Great-Content-Ideas

Minimally,

you need an MLS search, drip marketing campaign/lead capture form, your featured listings with lots of photos, and a blog

The most important thing to have on your website is words. Search engines and people read words. You need to have all of the info that you can come up with about real estate and real estate in your area. So do your research and start writing.

A website with too many words will detract from true visitors, though a website with too few faces a tougher time in the search engines.

Write natural content. Personally, I would likely create pages with this content:
- about me
- current listings
- around 6 months worth of sold listings
- historical prices/trends (a link to the local board statistics page, for example)
- some unique articles concerning buying and selling homes for potential clients.

Hi Sell Factor,

Of course you need a website, I would say 90% + of agents now operate with a website and to many it is the main source of business - where have you been for the past 8 years?

The best thing for you to do is to study and put some research into your main competitors and their websites, see what you like and what works well on their websites. Take a look in the major SE's to see sites that you like and work well, they are there for a reason.

A website is not something that you just put up in a day (even though I have done that!), it is best to get everything prepared before you even go to design.

Get a rough idea of what pages that you want up together, and an idea of what market you want to target.

Then the most important thing is finding a good designer which is best to go on recommendation as there are so many rogue web designers out there that promise you this, that and the other.

Why do people come to you to buy a property? Because you are a professional and you know what you are talking about, it's obviously the same with webs designers.

My website is as wordy as a website can get and I had 7 new leads yesterday 3 of which signed up for new listing notification. For a small town that's not to shabby. People actually do read the stuff.

There is a great article on RISMedia called 10 Must-Haves for Your Real Estate Web Site that was published on November 30th.

Here is the link http://rismedia.com/wp/2007-11-29/10-must-haves-for-your-real-estate-web-site/

The most simple solution would be to employ a good SEO company which is also into Web designing. They can just be the answer to all your questions!!

wow its so captivating, that i've ask a simple question and not one person was able to answer it. I'll put it in simple terms.... Have any of your clients commented on something in your website that THEY felt was helpful or creative.

Kindest Regards,

Mary-Lynn

Actually, your question was answered by a bunch of people but for some reason you need it spelled out. Here you go.

C-O-N-T-E-N-T

Keep it civil please

seo is fairly simple i just started over as I moved to a new market and I am starting to shoot up the rankings, i should be on the front page within about a month. If you need some help pm me

custom is the only way to go if you have point 2 agent or something alike your website will be just like every other agents.

Unique content and a lot of site promotion, especially SEO, will get you where you want to go. I like the advice that someone gave earlier, just do the opposite of what everyone else is doing and stand out from the crowd online, then don't hold back on putting marketing money into the site and you should be off and running.