With the rapid and pervasive growth of the internet over the past two decades, businesses in all sectors rely more heavily on websites than they ever have before. The question is, do real estate agents need a personal website to find success in the industry?
Many agents have heard or seen personal real estate sites for agents in their area, but they aren’t sure if that business model is a good fit. The only way to determine whether or not you need a personal real estate website is to learn more about the potential benefits.
How does one make a real estate website, and why would you want to? Once you have the answers to these questions, it will be easy to decide if setting up a website is a logical next step to grow your business.
Do Real Estate Agents Need a Personal Website?
As a real estate agent, you may wonder if you really need to run a personal real estate website to find success. While many may argue that the only agents who should make websites are those who are ready to learn all the necessary technology, that’s not exactly true.
A website can be a great way to generate leads and keep in contact with your prospective clients, and they do not have to be a time or money sync. In fact, it is easier than ever to run a website thanks to the variety of website-building sites that have appeared in the last few years.
A real estate website does a great job of solidifying who you are as an agent, representing your hard work, and connecting you with clients. It is true that agents do not absolutely need a personal website. By not having one, though, you may be missing out on a huge amount of business.
Below are some of the best benefits of having personal agent websites to help you determine if creating your own would be beneficial to your business.
Top Benefits of Personal Real Estate Websites
What exactly are the benefits of having your own real estate website? Take a closer look, and see if the benefits of such a site would match up with your real estate goals at this time.
Become a Location Expert
It can be a huge benefit to be known for your work in a particular neighborhood or area. By centering your website around your specialized expertise in one region, you can create that type of branding for yourself.
This type of authority will bring more leads to that area as people see and associate you with the region. That association has power, and using a website to help build it up can be incredibly beneficial.
Easy Searches and SEO
Having a website creates the potential for traffic to come to your site and your name online. In general, SEO and searches will enhance the visibility that you have, and more people will learn about you that might never hear your name otherwise.
In the same way that billboards and for sale signs at your listings can generate leads, having a website can generate leads through bypassing searches. Bringing in traffic through blog posts, listings, and other measures that appeal to the search engine ensures that you can gain valuable visibility.
Bring in Leads
The biggest benefit of having a website is that it can become a path for passive lead generation. It is the process of collecting basic information, such as a name and phone number, that can connect you with prospective clients.
Agents often generate leads by calling previous clients, working with local businesses, giving out business cards, or signing up for lead generation sites. With a website, you can have your own lead generation site.
By simply having a place on the website where people can connect with you, you are set up for lead generation. Anyone who stumbles onto your site will be prompted to sign up with you, and that can lead to some great business down the line.
Conversions from your website are also often easier than other types of conversions, and that can be a real stress reliever for agents.
Gain Testimonials and Proof
Finally, it can be super beneficial as an agent to show off your successes. No one likes someone who brags too much, but many prospective clients will want to see what you’ve accomplished before they decide to work with you.
By including a sold listings area on your website or testimonials from former clients, you can illuminate what clients should expect from you. Being personable is very important as an agent. These types of things can help potential clients imagine what you might be like, and that should work in your favor.
Details make the difference when working as an agent. Show prospective clients that they can expect you to deal with every little detail that they need help with along the way.
How To Set Up Your Own Personal Real Estate Website
If you are interested in setting up your real estate agent personal website, you have three primary options:
- Learn how to set it up entirely on your own
- Hire someone to do all the work for you
- Use a real estate specific website builder
Most agents will find the most benefits if they work with a company that offers comprehensive real estate marketing. This marketing includes everything that you need to do to set up your own real estate website in minutes.
Simply cultivating your website should not be a struggle that takes weeks or months. Many website builders can help you; choose one to make this process easier than you can imagine.
Do You Really Need a Real Estate Agent Personal Website?
So, do real estate agents need a personal website? Well, having a website isn’t a requirement, but agents who do not have one will miss many potential benefits. Maintaining a website isn’t hard when you have the right tools, and you will be amazed at the leads and business that it can create, so what are you waiting for?