What the Best Real Estate Websites have in Common

As I’ve been researching real estate marketing strategies in preparation for my upcoming social media seminars, I’ve had the opportunity to check out a lot of great real estate websites.  I’ve noticed that a lot of the best websites have several things in common.

1. Blog centric design.  Let’s face it, blogging and real estate are a match made in heaven.  Agents are often helping people with the largest transactions they will ever make in their lifetime, and regular blogging that addresses changes in the market, current listings, and neighborhood information can be a big help.
2. Email marketing integration.  A well crafted monthly newsletter is a great way for real estate agents to keep their most important contacts updated with current information about what you’re selling and what people are buying.
3. Simple, sleek design with easy navigation.  The easier it is for visitors to find what they want, the better off you are.
4. Lots of pictures.  There are some great third-party image gallery modules out there and they make a great addition to real estate websites.  Show off your listings so visitors can do a lot of preliminary shopping online.
5. Funnel navigation.  The best websites that I’ve seen are divided into broad categories that help visitors zero in to what they really want.