There’s no doubt about it, the real estate industry has changed dramatically over just the past few years. What would have worked in 2010 doesn’t work today. Although websites have been around since before 2010, the fact is that the way that a website was utilized and the benefits that come from it have also greatly changed.

In the past, a realtor’s website includes the basics; their phone number, address, and maybe a few reviews here and there. This led many to begin to believe that websites were merely the peacock of the real estate industry, all show, and no substance.

However, the issue wasn’t the website but rather how the realtor used it. So, how important is a website to a realtor today? Read on to learn just a few of the many reasons why we think they are very important.

It Allows You to Have a Constant Presence Online

When potential clients are looking to find a realtor, they are going to do one of two things. Either ask their friends for a referral or simply look through a search engine for realtors within their location.

Simply being online isn’t going to guarantee clients, but it does put you into the game. As the saying goes, you can’t play if you’re sitting on the sidelines. Having your name on the internet provides you with a constant presence that may help you capture clients who otherwise would have never known about you.

Allows You to Showcase Your Expertise

The fact is that nobody cares how great of a person you are; they want to know if they can on you to use their funds properly and provide them with a good deal. If you’re just starting out, this can be quite difficult as you don’t have enough experience or authentic reviews to help you get the point across that you can be counted.

However, you do have the ability to share your expertise with the world. By forming your own blog within your website, you are then demonstrating to your audience that you know exactly what you’re talking about.

This places potential clients in a better spot to give you a chance at providing yourself. Without a website, persuading clients to give a new realtor a chance is an almost impossible task to complete.

Connects with other Marketing Strategies

We’ll be the first one to tell you that having a website isn’t going to be enough to bring in the number of clients you want. The fact is that you will also need to implement other forms of marketing, such as direct mail for real estate.

However, it’s been proven that a direct mail for real estate mailer with a lot of information is usually thrown out with the rest of the junk mail. So, how can you inform people of your service and provide them with additional information? By including the fact that they can learn more from your website, you are placing yourself in a better position of being hired.

Landing Pages can Make all the Difference

So, what exactly are landing pages? Landing pages are apart and not apart of your website if that makes sense. When you set up AdWords through Google, you are promoting your service to your specific demographic that is much more likely to hire you but may need additional persuasion.

When they click on your ad or link, they are then sent to a landing page where they are presented with additional information or a “sales funnel” that then ultimately leads them to your website. Landing pages are extremely effective and something that realtors should look more into.

You Have Total Control!

One of the most frustrating aspects of placing your name onto one of those big realtors sites is that not only can you not control what’s happening, but you also have to compete against other realtors on that same site. A website is your very own headquarters where clients don’t have to go looking for your information or where you need to worry about them being contacted by another realtor.

In addition, a website allows you to put your own flair and give your business a personality. One of the most common concerns that buyers have is that they are just another number to realtors. When you are able to show off your personality to them through a website, that confidence in you only increases.

It’s Very Cost-Effective

There’s a misconception that running your own website is expensive. Understandably technology can be a little daunting, especially when it comes to your business. However, there are more than enough services and professionals that can help you get your website off the ground with only a small investment.

In addition, the construction of a website would allow you to legally own your business’s name, thus preventing other similar companies from using it in the future. It should be noted that these domain names do expire and should be extended before their deadline.

Work Travels with You

As a realtor, you are going to need to be out and about looking for leads or meeting with potential clients. This can really hinder you when it comes to keeping up with potential clients. A website can go with you wherever you are around town.

In addition, bot assistance innovation has provided even further benefits as bots can now answer a majority of simple questions. Potential clients will know when your hours of operation are and who they can contact without you having to lift a finger.

Networking Opportunities

When people think of websites, they usually don’t think about it helping them network with other professionals in the industry. However, the fact is that your website could greatly aid you in finding people to work with in the future.

When you write content on your websites such as a blog, you can then have that content shared amongst popular websites such as Facebook and LinkedIn. This then exposes you to others in the industry with who you can collaborate to connect clients with their services and vise versa.