Maintaining a solid online presence is the key to real estate success in our digital age.
According to a 2021 report from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), 51% of all homebuyers first discovered the house they purchased using the Internet. Any real estate agent that does not have their own website risks losing potential needs and business growth.
A real estate agent needs more than just a profile featured on their brokerage’s website to be competitive. A real estate agent with their own website will bring in more leads and boost their brand recognition better than agents who rely exclusively on their real estate firm to maintain an online presence.
The single-page profiles that agents usually get from their brokerage firms put them at a significant disadvantage because they have no control over incoming leads, ultimately putting them in direct competition with the firm’s other real estate agents.
A real estate agent’s personal website can be a powerful marketing tool that separates the agent’s brand from the identity of their firm, allowing them to attract quality leads from buyers looking to specifically do business with them.
Perhaps one of the most significant benefits of having a personal website is that if the agent decides to leave the brokerage firm, they won’t have to build a new online presence from scratch. An agent’s website can remain with them regardless of where they hang their real estate license.
Read on for some helpful tips on how to get started as a real estate agent looking to build your own website and boost your online presence.
Your Personal Website is a Priority
As a real estate agent, your website should act as your central online presence and a hub for you to funnel all of your online traffic from your social media channels and other sources into one central location.
Having your own website also sets you apart from others and lets you completely control your online branding. That is crucial in today’s market because most sellers and buyers say they want an agent they believe they can trust. NAR reports that 68% of home sellers say they used an agent they found through referrals from family or friends.
Sellers and buyers are more likely to research real estate agents online after they’ve been referred to them by friends or family members. Therefore, a real estate agent with a robust online presence and their own personal website will have more credibility with those potential clients.
Share Useful Resources and Educate the Public
A real estate agent’s website is the perfect resource to provide potential clients with valuable resources and educate them about the issues that matter most. A real estate agent’s website should not only provide basic personal information, current listings, and services offered, but it should also guide visitors through the buying and selling process.
Adding valuable tools such as a mortgage calculator, buyer/seller checklists a comprehensive guide to popular loan programs, and MLS listing access will take your website to the next level. Other great resources that an agent can provide include community resources, FAQs, and virtual tours.
Use Analytics Reports and Plugins to Build and Grow
Real estate agents with their own personal websites also have personal access to analytics reports which allow them to glean valuable information, including what words visitors used to arrive at their website, what pages users visited, and which content is bringing in the most website traffic.
With this information, you can better understand visitor behavior and adjust your website content in response.
For example, suppose content about how a renovation can increase your home value drives traffic to your website. In that case, you may want to provide additional on-topic information like videos, articles, or other content pieces to boost traffic even further.
Another tip to help you get started with your website is by adding useful built-in MLS plugins to easily create a site that’s more attractive to your users. While WordPress offers several plugins, Vista WP is an IDX WordPress plugin that turns MLS data into a powerful framework (that’s compatible with any page builder!).
Customize your personal real estate website with the Vista WP plugin that has various features designed to save you time, energy, and offer convenience.
Why Real Estate Agents Need Their Own Website: The Bottom Line
When a real estate agent has their own personal website to augment their active online and social media presence, they will be better able to brand and market themselves successfully.
With your own website, you can track your leads and lean on useful analytics to serve your target market, build trust with potential clients, ultimately growing your business. You can also save time, money, and energy in the long run by investing in a built-in MLS plugin such as Vista WP.
