Hey,

I need everyone's expert advice on websites for real estate agents.

I was wondering how important a website is to an agent?

Do agents want to build their own website with a site builder like Point2Agent that offers templates and charges $30-40 per month or would they prefer to pay a web design firm hundreds to do it and maintain it?

How important is MLS on your website?

Thanks a lot to anyone who responds.

Hey Keif,
If you do a search, you will find some good discussions in these forums.

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If you are honest, you don't have to remember anything ... Mark Twain

Homes.com is good, not just because I work for them. They will honestly market you listings and web site as well as give you multiple tools for success.

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Matt
888-329-7576 x2125

I can tell you that MLS is very important to my customers. I have very few that don't subscribe to our Realtor Deluxe plan. If you want just an online presence then a non-mls site is fine. But having MLS on your site will help you not only gain leads through things like MLS Email Updates, Home Valuation, and Contact Me pages, but also keep your clients coming back to your site instead of someone elses.

I look at it this way...

Lets assume:
* You are a potential home-buyer.
* You were referred to a few different agents
* You go to the first agent web site with no MLS, look around and then go to the next one (just to check it out or course).
* You get to the second agents site and find a "Search MLS" button.
* You click on it an realize you can search the entire MLS from here.
* Wow! This is cool.

Now, who are you going to call about selling/buying a home? The first agent with no MLS or the second one with MLS?



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Realtor Website Management
http://www.myagenthost.com

1)How important is a website to an agent?

Nearly three out of four homebuyers use the internet as a tool when searching for a home. On average, buyers who used an agent searched for 2 weeks before contacting an agent, Most home buyers use the first agent they interview. (NAR Profile of Buyers and Sellers 2003)Homebuyers that found agents online were more satisfied with their agents in all aspects of the home buying process. (CAR Internet Versus Traditional Buyers Study 2003)

Websites are becoming an essential tool for sucessful real estate agents.

2) Build your own or pay hundreds for webdesign?

Either way the potential earnings far out weigh the cost of a lead generating website.

Having a website that you can build and update yourself is normally the proper choice. It gives you the flexibility to add information quickly and easily or change the appearance of your site with out the hassle and delay of dealing with customer service and sales reps.
Also, you want to ask the question of how well your site will rank in the search engines. Some providers take steps to make a visually appealing site but if it is an all flash site or framed site it can hurt your search engine ranking. And what good is a Visually appealing site if no one can find it in the search engines.

3) How important is MLS?

If you are going to have a website, IDX/MLS feeds are a must(if it available in your area). The people that are finding your site are in the market for buying a new home, the whole reason they are searching on the internet in the first place is to see the widest range of homes to select from. If your site offers that they will spend more time on your site and be more likely to return to your site in the future. It is important that your site has the tools to turn your site traffic into viable leads and contacts. And don't skimp on the website content it not only provides potential clients the information they are seeking but it establishes you as an expert in your field.

Just my biased opinion,
Jeremy Futch
Free Websites
www.rapidlistings.com
jeremy@rapidlistings.com

I agree with every response .

It's very important to have a website these days. I have had my website up for 2 months now and I have already closed one deal which came from the website and have 3 more leads.

I noticed some of the agents posted information about some website providers, I went with AgentServer.net, they were able to provide me great service at an amazing price.

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Port Dover Real Estate - My Real Estate Website provider.

It is very simple. Most consumers dont care about buying tips ..selling tips..moving tips or any of that other self promting gobble gook. All consumers want to see are homes and pictures of the area.

Most of the other content that is on a website is for nothing but the search engines. There are a few people that will look at that information but for the most part when viewing your site logs you will see the page most visited is your mls search page.

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The Best Real Estate Agents in Las Vegas and Atlanta in the Las Vegas Real Estate Market Atlanta Real Estate Market offering Las Vegas Homes for sale and Atlanta Homes

Hey Wayne....

Long time no hear :-)
Hope things are going great!

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Rich
VTWS Real Estate websites are among the top lead
generating Real Estate Websites in markets across the United States for Realtors and Companies alike.
Real Estate Search Engine Optimization

Hello,

The other members who have posted are dead on target.

Here's a link to a recent article about the importance of online marketing:
http://www.columbusrealtors.com/index.cfm?nid=42978

You can either learn/build your website on your own or use a vendor. The choices are many, but perhaps with a bit of research the decision will be easier. Some tips:

* for search engine optimization, avoid sites with frames, too much flash, too much javascript, anything that will prevent them from 'reading' your text. Don't have a site that is all graphics

* If you choose a website vendor, be sure that they allow you to customize the content. Many will offer the same canned content on all of the pages, which will make it difficult for you to diferentiate your site from your competition.

* Include lots of photos, descriptions and visual tours of the properties. Site visitors will come back again and again for that.

* Consider using toll-free line for descriptions or fax on demand property info.

* Once you build your site, start a drip email campaign that will allow you to keep in contact with clients every 7-10 days so when they decide they're ready to move forward, they know to call you.

* A big key to search engine optimization is getting good inbound links to your site. Consider starting a reciprocal link program or hire a VA to manage this for you.

These are some key components that have helped many of my clients experience great success.

Good luck!

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Regards,

Cheryl Allin
VirtuAllin Administrative Services
callin@virtuallin.com - (253) 565-3015
IVAA Certified Real Estate Support Specialist
Visit http://www.virtuallin.com Today!

We're spotlighted in ePOWER News - http://www.epowernews.com And in Tribnet:
http://www.tribnet.com/business/story/4552267p-4526628c.html

I agree, SEO and e-mail campaign will do, but don't forget about professional directories submission... It will bring you targeted visitors interested in you and your services, as well as in your properties. And please find some time to content updates and communicating with your visitors - for this purpose you should have some interactive features. Fast feedback and professional advice and help - that is what your clients will appreciate!

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www.RealEstateGates.com - Gate to Worldwide Estate!