The short answer is “yes.” The long answer? A website you fire-and-forget isn’t good enough anymore.
It’s not enough to have a website. It has to be unique.
Why You Need a Website
According to the National Association of Realtors, 51% of home buyers in 2024 found their new homes on the internet, as opposed to only 29% through realtors. That means that the internet is where people are already looking.
However, you may be thinking: aren’t I already on my brokerage’s website? Yes, you are, but that’s simply not enough.
Why Your Brokerage Website Falls Short
Your brokerage has put your name online, sure. But all that does is put you on even ground with your competition. Every other agent in that brokerage is using the same website, the same SEO, and the same branding. As long as the brokerage is doing all your marketing, you’re competing with the rest of the firm.
If you want to succeed on the internet, you need to build your personal brand. The brokerage sticks your information behind their branding, so you’re entirely dependent on them, and if you switch brokerages your online reputation has to start from scratch.
It gets worse: an overwhelming majority of brokerages are using the exact same content. Not just between agents, but between each other. This means that, no only are you competing on an even field with every other agent in your brokerage; you’re competing with every other brokerage in your region.
If you want to make your web presence worth the money, your site has to be unique. Otherwise, Google won’t give you a second look and you’ll just be wasting your money.
What Are the Advantages of a Website?
While the basic need for a website is pretty simple to explain—it’s where your clients are going, after all—there are a lot of advantages that you may not have considered.
It helps to think of your website as your digital office. This is where you can take all of your online marketing efforts—such as Facebook, Instagram, email marketing, and more—and funnel them into one place, like how all of your physical ads use the same phone number.
Of course, there are a few benefits beyond that:
1. Lead Generation and Client Interaction
We already know that the internet is where new clients are most likely to find you. However, it’s also a great place for you to find them. From contact forms to newsletter sign-ups, you can collect information that lets you turn questioning people into leads. It even works 24/7, so you never stop gathering clients.
2. Listings and Services
Your website is a perfect place to show off your listings. Ordinarily, you might need to have a potential lead come into the office in person; with a sufficiently well-crafted website, you can show off every property you’re selling and allow your clients to sort by price.
The website can also be used to highlight your services, from buying and renting to selling. You can even add reviews!
3. Client Education and Trust
Real estate is a difficult and emotionally-fraught process. If you can make it easier and less stressful for your potential clients, that’s a sure-fire way to turn them from “potential” into “actual” ones.
The best antidote for that stress is knowledge, and your website is an opportunity to offer education that can reduce that stress. With informative blog posts, you can establish trust with leads that leads them to come to you.
Start Building Your Website Today
Ready to start your own website? Opmasis can help. Contact us today to get started.
