Real Estate Website Mistakes That Can Kill Your Lead Generation
The property industry is a unique market, with its own set of challenges and opportunities. The buyer-seller relationship is often long-term and requires a high level of trust. Competition for leads can be fierce, so when it comes to lead generation for estate agents you want to make sure that your website is highly optimised. So when you are ready to build a website that is a lead generation powerhouse, be sure to avoid these mistakes!
1. Not having an impressive layout
Your website is the most important tool in your real estate lead generation arsenal. It's how you present your brand to the world, and it has to be a reflection of who you are as a company. A good looking website with stunning images and engaging video will attract more visitors, who can then be converted into leads or clients through well-crafted content that speaks directly about their needs and interests. But if your site looks outdated or difficult to navigate, it won't matter how well-written your content is, it won't get seen.
2. Not being responsive
In the digital world, it's all about the user experience. A website that doesn't respond to its users is like a business that doesn't respond to its customers—it's just not going to work out.
Responsiveness is a quality that every business needs to have in their website. It's not enough for a site simply to be available on mobile devices; it has to actually work well on them too. This means that it should be easy for users to find what they're looking for and interact with the site in an intuitive way.
If customers can't use your site easily on their phones or tablets, then they might think twice before using it again—or worse yet, they may just choose another company instead of yours. Responsiveness ensures that people will continue coming back time after time because they know they can get the information they need from you and to interact with you accordingly.
One of the top things you need to check: ensure your website isn't hurting your lead generation efforts by concentrating on your page speed. The average user has patience for only 7 seconds before they give up on waiting for a page load; this means that any unnecessary images or video clips could cost you valuable time when someone clicks through from Google search results (or even Facebook ads).
This is something we do all day here at Starberry, come talk with us to get amazing results on your ads!
3. Not focusing on one message
If you want to build a site that will help you attract and retain customers, then you need to focus on your core message. That message should be straightforward, concise and easy to understand by anyone who visits your site, so it’s a breeze for customers to find exactly what they are looking for.
4. Not giving importance to your content
It's been said that content is king, and it's true: you can have a great website with amazing features and functionality, but if your visitors don't find what they're looking for on it, they won't stay long enough to do business with you. You also need to focus on your audience. What are their needs? How can your company help them achieve their goals? By understanding who your ideal customer is, it will be easier for you to create content that speaks directly to their needs and interests.
The best way to engage visitors and convert them into leads is through compelling content--and we're not just talking about words here! In fact, one of the biggest mistakes companies make with their websites is focusing too much on writing content (or paying someone else) without considering how visual elements like images or videos can add value as well. The most effective websites use both text-based copy as well as visual elements like well optimised photos or video clips in order to keep visitors engaged longer so they can learn more about the products and services available before converting into customers.
5. Not having a strong strategy
Strategy is the foundation of your website and will dictate how it performs. A good strategy starts with defining your business goals, followed by developing a plan that aligns with those goals. For example, if you have a goal of increasing leads from 50 per month to 100 per month within three months, then it makes sense for your real estate website to include an interactive lead capture form on every page so users can easily submit their information without leaving the site. This will help ensure that no one misses out on what could be an opportunity for them--and for you!
Best practices for better lead gen
- Include a call to action
Make it clear what you want your audience to do after reading your post—sign up for an email list, like your page on Facebook, or visit your website for more information.
- Include a video
Videos are engaging and can help you connect with an audience in ways that text alone cannot accomplish.
- Include a testimonial.
If you have any testimonials from customers or clients, use them! Testimonials are powerful because they show people who have already experienced the benefits of what you offer that they can expect the same results if they choose to purchase from you or work with you.
- Give away something for free
Offer freebies like an ebook or area guides download (or even better, both). Incentivising readers by giving away something valuable is a great way to keep them coming back for more content over time—and it also helps strengthen your brand!
- Follow up
Be personal and relevant. You can use email or phone calls (or both), depending on what works best for you and your clients. Keep track of who is interested in what properties so that when they contact you again later down the road, they won't have forgotten all about those listings they were interested in previously. You can also use these strategies in combination with one another to create an engaging website that's sure to convert leads into customers.
If you are struggling to generate leads, it might be time to take a look at your website. If it's not helping or hurting your business, you could consider making some changes. You may not have thought about these things before, but they can make all the difference when trying to attract customers who are ready and willing to buy!
Starberry is here to help you design and develop your new website into a lead generation powerhouse. Get in touch with us today to make your website awesome!