Internet’s favorite tool
Websites have existed for more than 32 years now, the first website was introduced to the world in 1991, websites have been the main channel and tool to consume the internet since its creation, other new tools later became famous like mobile apps and online gaming but websites are still the leaders when it comes to internet usage.
Overall, 85% of Americans say they go online on a daily basis. This includes the 31% who are online almost constantly, 48% who go online several times a day, and 6% who go online about once a day.
This makes us ask a very important question: what role does a web platform play for a business in general and a real estate agent in particular?
Websites and business
With such an enormous amount of human attention spread online, and websites being the predominant destination of online usage, then websites must play a vital role in business, and yet many business owners are not even aware of the point of having one for their business.
Before we explain its role, let us review some statistics to highlight the importance of the question we’re trying to answer:
- 97% of people learn about a local business online.
- 84% of consumers believe a business’s website is more credible than its social media page.
- 97% of customers say websites influence their purchases.
- 57% of internet users will not recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile website.
- The average business receives 59 actions from their GMB listing, and 56% of these actions are website visits.
So this proves that websites have indeed gained a vital role in business, however, most businesses launch websites that end up useless and ineffective and most of the time not playing a role at all. They’re just out there.
So unless you understand the correct way to harness the power of this digital platform to your real estate business model you might risk not benefiting from it.
The role of a website for a Real Estate agent
If you thought the main role of a website for real estate agents is to list properties or provide your phone number, then you will be glad to learn that MLS listings and contact information are the least important part a real estate website plays.
Just like real estate is about people, a real estate website is all about people. With or without IDX/MLS listings, a real estate website cannot be effective until it has the following bare necessities:
- The website is relevant to the needs of your target potential clients. (Fact: 88% of consumers use the internet to research products and services before making a purchase.)
- It provides professional branding and a polished ‘face’ for you as an established real estate agent. (Fact: 75% of people base their first impression of a business on its website.)
- Acts as an easy-to-find ‘online brochure’ for people who are searching for you online to learn more about you, why they should work with you, or to find your contact information if and when needed. (Fact: 91% of customers visited a store after interacting with an online website.)
So the major role of a real estate website is to represent your professional identity, just like the way people often make purchase choices based on the feel of a product and whether it can represent who they are, the same goes for the agent they work with for their real estate needs.
Coming next
In our next article, we will go through the details of How to Transform Your Real Estate Website into a 24/7 Sales Representative.
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