Content Tips for Realtors

Once your website is live, it is important to update it with fresh information.  Having a website maintenance plan or goal, whether monthly or weekly, is a great way to keep your website up to date so that your visitors always have a reason to return.

Content Tips for Realtors
by Michelle Collie
Online Marketing Specialist
GetOn.com Technologies
April 2009

You have your website and have added all your listings, now what? It is important that once your website is live, that it still remains a priority for your marketing efforts. While your website may not be your number one business priority, and while you may be busy showing and getting listings, there is still work to be done online even after you have gone live.

1) Content - It is important to regularly update your website content. Search engines reward websites that are regularly updated with new information, as well as sites that provide thorough information on the subject at hand. But search engines aside, your potential clients will be more apt to return to your website regularly if they know you might provide them with new information, or if they know they are likely to find what they are looking for on your site.

• Location information - build out your location information pages. There are a variety of things that your potential clients will be looking for regarding your area. These include information on hospitals, doctors, and dentists, schools, moving companies, reasons to move to the area, tourism information etc. Your goal could be create one new area information page every week or month.

• Buyers & Sellers Resources - some of your website visitors will be people thinking of buying or selling but not actually ready to make the decision. They may be looking for information on how to get a home ready for selling, or for reasons why now is a good time to buy in your particular market.

• Listings - updating your listings regularly is very important. You will want to ensure that new listings go online as soon as possible and that sold listings are either marked as sold or deleted.

2) News/Blogs - Whether you have an online news section, a blog, or both, it is important to update these at a regular pace. Your news section is a great place to put company news, market analysis, and area news. You can use your blog for the same, or to showcase particular listings. Some Realtors have a blog where they solely give selling and buying tips. Whatever you choose, updating regularly is key to success.

3) Website Linking - Regularly finding new linking partners is a successful strategy to employ. Some companies use a reputable SEO firm to take care of this for them while others choose to do it themselves.

4) Classifieds - Many free classified ad websites allow Realtors to showcase their listings. Not only is this another great online avenue for marketing your homes, but it can also drive valuable traffic to your website. Make sure you utilize one of your keywords when possible!

Spending time on your website regularly, whether it is by keeping it up to date or placing listings on classified ad websites, is an excellent way to help ensure success. Just because it has gone live, does not mean that it is finished. Allow yourself time to regularly update your site and you will benefit in the long run.