The first paragraph of this article provides a brief overview of the content. It discusses the common misconception among real estate professionals that simply having a website guarantees increased sales. The article further explores the reality of website traffic, the difference between hits and unique hits, and the disappointing fact that many realtors have not seen any actual sales from their websites in over a year. It concludes with five tips to enhance website traffic and client generation potential.
Many real estate professionals have come to realize that merely having a website does not automatically translate into increased sales. A small informal survey I conducted among fifty realtors in San Diego revealed that the average realtor's website generates less than 50 unique hits per month. Unique hits refer to single page views from one URL within a 24-hour period. This is a crucial distinction as many people often confuse hits with unique hits. Simplistic tracking tools may only track hits, which include individual visitors and the total number of graphics that load when a page is visited. Therefore, one visit could show as six hits if the page visited has five graphics.
Unfortunately, most agents have not generated any actual sales from their websites in over a year. However, merely having a web presence will, in most cases, not cover your site hosting fees.
Here are five tips that could enhance your website's traffic and client generation potential:
Choose a Search-Friendly Name for Your Site: Select a URL that incorporates some of your keywords. Consumers search by keywords, such as the city or neighborhood they want to live in. For example, a URL like www.rancho-santa-fe-real-estate.com is likely to generate more search engine hits than www.bobschwartz.com. Incorporating keywords into your URL increases your chances of being found in a keyword search.
Avoid 'Free' Content Links: Many site enhancements such as links to weather, maps, newsletters, etc., take your visitors off your site, and they may never return. Worse yet, when viewing off-site information, your potential clients may be exposed to your competition's ad or banner.
Hire a Professional: Unless you have the time and talent to create a good site, consider hiring a professional web designer.
Steer Clear of Mass Real Estate 'Cookie-Cutter' Web Design Packages: These low-cost packages often do not give you update control. Plus, except for a page or two of individualized pages, the content of these sites is the same for hundreds of your competitors.
Use the Tricks ISPs Use: Top Internet Service Providers (ISPs) program their servers to access sites without the www. prefix. If you cannot access your site without the www. prefix, a simple call to your ISP should resolve this immediately.
In conclusion, it's essential to understand the nuances of website traffic and to implement strategies that can enhance your site's performance. By doing so, you can increase your chances of converting website visitors into actual clients.
For more information on this topic, visit Website Traffic Builders.
