Do realtors need a website?

The internet has taken over the world by storm and has revolutionized the way people conduct their businesses or consumers find the products or services they need. With a click of a button, customers are now able to get all available options for the product or service they are looking for, analyze and compare various providers of these products or services, and select those that they find most appropriate. With the internet becoming a powerful tool in the hands of the consumers, it is essential that no matter what industry or market your business deals with, you need to have a strong online presence. This applies to realtors too.

Many real estate agents still do not have a website or have something very substandard in place. This makes them less competitive in an industry that is ruled by customer preferences. With people from all walks of life turning to the internet to hunt down properties in their local region or the territory or province they want to relocate to, the need for realtors to have their online presence with a very effective website is extremely important to get noticed by potential clients.

Here are the top reasons why having a good, professionally designed website works in the favour of a realtor.

·         Without a good website, you lose your clients to your competitors

Whether it is to shop grocery online or finding a lawyer, people today use the internet for just about anything that they need. If in this scenario, you as a realtor, do not have your website, you are going to lose out on a lot of potential clients. If you go by the statistics of how many users look up information online, you would be amazed at the kind of reach you can get with your website.

Another aspect to make note of here is that people don’t just search online for products or services they need but also verify if they made the right choice in selecting a certain product or service. This holds for realtors too. If you don’t have a strong online presence, you may lose out on clients, who will proceed to another competitive realtor in the region as potential clients may feel that your competition is more reputed and reliable for their property dealings due to a user-friendly and attractive website. Regardless of whether your clients have found you through a reference, they would still want to be sure of their decision to deal with you by looking up your details online. Realtors, who do not have a strong online presence and an effective website, may not seem authentic.

·         Your website is your virtual representation

In the real world, you may use several marketing strategies to project your real estate business in the right light. In this reference, your website is the first step you have to take to project your business online. Lead generation, driving the online traffic to your website, and ensuring that you create visibility for yourself in the virtual world are part of the various digital marketing strategies that you will have to employ to make yourself heard in today’s digitally connected world.  

A website is a necessity not just for new realtors who are looking at establishing themselves in the local real estate market. This applies to experienced realtors too. For instance, if you have been referred by your previous clients or maybe a family passing by an area find your ‘For Sale’ signboard and wants to know further about you as a realtor, the only viable source for such potential clients today is your website. If your website fails to make an impression, you will most likely not be their preferred realtor.

Having just the website will not serve the purpose. You need a website that is effective in engaging the visitors for long enough. If the visitors do not stay on your website, it is safe to say that they will not be interested in your services and will move to your competition. It is important to make the website aesthetically attractive and user-friendly for the visitors, who can then become your leads.

·         A website will make you a trustworthy realtor among your existing and potential clients

With the change in times, the perception of people has also changed. Clients are no longer looking for referrals to decide how trustworthy a realtor is. The internet has empowered people to make their own choices based on their research. The ease with which they can research has further made it essential for realtors to have an effective website that gives them the right kind of visibility in the virtual world.

As mentioned above, it is not just about creating the website. You need to ensure that your website is effectively optimized, which ensures people can find it through organic search. Your website is like your digital business card that allows your potential clients to decide whether you are a reliable realtor. If you don’t have an online presence, you will come across as unprofessional and this will hinder your success in the market.

·         A website allows you to connect with your target clientele

Real estate business involves establishing relationships and connections with your prospective clients even before you strike a deal. Buying or selling a property is often one of the most important decisions a person will take in his or her life. To ensure that they are guided in the right way with such an important aspect of their life, people would want to deal with a realtor whom they find approachable, trustworthy, and relatable. If your clients don’t feel a connection with you, they may not trust you with their property dealings.

With your website, you can establish an opinion in the minds of your prospective clients about your style of working, your personality and give them a glimpse of your personal life, thereby making yourself relatable. Moreover, your website is a powerful tool in ensuring that you create the right impression for yourself in the minds of your prospective clients even before you meet them. If used correctly, this can be a huge way to empower your business.

In conclusion, a website can work wonders for a realtor. It can redefine the way their business functions. Of course, it needs to have a professional touch to it.