The Philosophy of a Successful Real Estate Agent

In today's job market, real estate is one of the most competitive fields you will find. In a large city, there are thousands of real estate agents competing for business. Of course, not all of these agents end up becoming a success. In fact, many of them fail and end up having to find new jobs. It has been said that less than 2% of real estate agents make enough money to be considered successful and an even smaller amount are considered rich. Those are some harsh numbers, but that does not mean it is not possible for a real estate agent to be successful, especially if they take the time to think outside the box by using strategies that will benefit their image and their pocketbook.

If you are reading this and looking for ways to both up your business and make more money, then you are halfway there. The Internet is an important tool that you can use in any successful business. Over 70% of people have a computer and many of those people use it regularly. Over 50% of people are going to browse online to do a little research before they buy something. If they like the website they are browsing, these people tend to go back to that website to make their purchase. If you are a real estate agent who is not using the Internet to your advantage then you are losing money.

You might be saying that you do not know anything about the Internet. Since you found this article, then you must know a little bit. The good news is that no matter how web savvy you are, you can learn the tools you need to get your website off the ground. A real estate agent on the Internet has clients that come to them. Imagine checking your email and having 5, 10, or even 20 people wanting to buy and sell a home with your assistance. It's incredibly possible and it depends on if you are utilizing the Internet to your advantage or not.

Real Estate websites remove the need for cold calling and age old marketing techniques that ensure you will remain in the bottom 98% of the game. With a website, you distinguish yourself from the rest of the agents in your area. You are also showing prospective clients that you are serious about your career, determined in your intentions to succeed, and intelligent in your marketing options. Now you just need to know how to make a website that is going to benefit you. The following tips can help.

The Design

Due to the fact that there are millions upon millions of websites on the Internet you have about 30 seconds to impress someone before they leave your site and move on to the next one. What does that mean for you? It means that you need a unique, classy site that is not cluttered and is easy to navigate. There are plenty of big name companies that cater to real estate agents by making real estate websites. The number one problem with these sites is that they all look and feel the same. If a person goes to your website and sees an identical look to a site they just visited, they will assume your site is the same and leave without looking.

You need a site that is distinctive to you and your company. This might mean having a flash banner with pictures of your city or a logo with you leaning on a for sale sign. Whatever you do to your website, it needs to be unique. You should have easy to navigate links that are straight forward. People do not want to hunt through pages looking for basic information. Links such as buy, sell, about us, contact, home search, and city information are necessary. It is okay to have additional links, but make sure people can find things easily. Additionally, do not add too many links unless they are necessary. Some things are better left for another website.

Some pictures are fine, but consider what you place on your front page wisely. You might think pictures of your cat are necessary, but if they do not go with the design or the feel of the page than you might not get as many emails. Some people equate overly personal items on a website to mean that it is a personal page and that you are less serious about your work. A good tip is to have a special area or page for those pictures. This allows interested people to see them and uninterested parties to avoid them.

While elements of Flash design are a good way to spruce up a website's banner or logo, you should not make your entire website out of Flash. The reason for this is that some computers are unable to accommodate the design. If they have to wait for your site to load, most people will leave. It's that 30 second rule again. You need to impress them with your professional services before you show them anything tangible.

The Writing

After the design is finished, you will need to worry about the content on your page. This may mean that you hire a writer to write the content for you. You want to be sure that you write something effective. You need to be informative and interesting without saying the wrong thing. The goal is to appear knowledgeable and personable without being too business-like. You want people to see that you are here for them. If you cannot show someone that you are truly interested in helping them, they are going to go somewhere else.

People understand that without them you would not get paid. Considering the high amount of real estate agents out there, people will go with the one that is willing to go the furthest for them. If you can capture them with your words and make them feel special by offering things on your website that other sites do not offer, you will get the clients without a problem.

Another important part of your writing includes SEO (search engine optimization). This is what allows people to find you on the search engines. One of the most effective parts of SEO is writing. The proper use of keywords and a constant stream of content will help you to be higher on the search engines and more people will find you. A good writer will be able to help you with both of these things, and more.

The Information

Once you have the meat and bones of your site you need to try to begin thinking outside of the box. You need to ask what you can offer your visitors that other agents in your area are not. One of the best things you can do is to ensure that people visiting your site have plenty of information to look at concerning the area you serve.

You can offer things like area information, area histories, and moving information. People that are relocating might want to find information about utilities and other necessities. Area attractions are also a good thing to have on your site because it may draw people in that are looking for that information, but the fact that you are a real estate agent may keep them there. Even if it doesn't it is likely that people will remember you offered that information and come back when they are ready to buy or sell their home.

The average agent has links to local community pages and government sites. However, by going beyond that and adding true area information that they can read on your site you are providing a service to the visitor. Your site becomes unique and you become memorable. Additionally, the added content will help your visibility on the Internet. It really is a win-win situation.

The Interactivity

An important part of any website is giving the public the chance to voice their opinion and feel like they are a part of your site. The best way to do this is through the use of message boards and blogs. A blog is excellent because it keeps the content on your site fresh if you are posting on it regularly and it also gives site visitors a chance to comment their thoughts on whatever you have to say on the blog.

A message board is even better when it comes to interactivity, though it also helps with SEO. You can add several different categories to talk about the area you serve, real estate related issues, and general topics if you wish to add them. People will sign up and if they like the conversations they will have plenty of reasons to return to your site. The more they return the more likely it is that they will become a client or they will refer you to someone who needs a real estate agent.

Both of these options put you on the same level as the people visiting your site. This is your chance to be more personal. If people have a chance to speak with you in a general manner they will disassociate the business side for the person you are. If they like you then you can bet they will call on your when their real estate needs come up.

Remember there is Power in Numbers

The last thing you can do to help your chances of succeeding is to team up with a group of individuals that offer real estate related services in your area. Some examples include construction companies, architects, mortgage consultants, lenders, and appraisers. These are just a few of the types of people that would be excellent to have a partnership with. By listing a group of professionals that you recommend or are affiliated with, you are offering your visitors a service. People that are buying or selling real estate may need other services, if you are able to help them find what they are looking for they will be more likely to call you for their specific real estate needs. Additionally, these professionals will list you on their website and that will get you more business thanks to the partnership you have with others.

These are just some of the things you can do to put yourself ahead of the game when it comes to buying and selling real estate. A winning website and a great attitude are two of the most important things a successful real estate agent can have. If you already have the attitude you just need the website and you will be on your way towards achieving the successful business you have always wanted.