What To Include on Your Website?
By Jennifer Kinzle
Most people today have surfed into the age of the Internet on a dial-up modem. A few of the luckier ones may have a cable modem that makes a dial up look like it is standing still. When designing your own website for business use, make sure you can interest the dial-up majority with a simple but fast-loading site while not putting the cable modem users to sleep with a boring site.
By Jennifer Kinzle
Most people today have surfed into the age of the Internet on a dial-up modem. A few of the luckier ones may have a cable modem that makes a dial up look like it is standing still. When designing your own website for business use, make sure you can interest the dial-up majority with a simple but fast-loading site while not putting the cable modem users to sleep with a boring site.
Here are some useful tips for creating a website that not only is informative but attractive:
Make it easy to find
Use your name or something that is easy to remember for your domain name. Be sure to register it on the search engines when you publish your site, so that it can be found.
Make it easy to download
Don't tie up someone's download time with huge files or high-resolution jpegs that take forever to load. Chances are they'll get frustrated and leave. Also, keep in mind that some computers may not be compatible for certain types of animation and/or sound, so you may be wasting your time and energy on potential clients who will "click here to enter" and miss your whole introduction.
Make it easy to use and navigate
Don't clutter up the space with a lot of flashing, glaring signs. Use simple, clean text and obvious words to describe sections such as "Contact Us" or "Home Listings."
Make it useful
Keep 'em coming back for more. You want people to reach for your site as their first choice. The best way to do this is to offer helpful things like mortgage calculators, buying tips, links to sites to get more information and an e-mail address to contact you quickly. Don't have an e-mail address? Get one for free at Yahoo! Just use something simple, like your first and last name. Be sure to put it not only on your website but also on letterhead, ads, business cards, flyers and brochures.
Use your name or something that is easy to remember for your domain name. Be sure to register it on the search engines when you publish your site, so that it can be found.
Make it easy to download
Don't tie up someone's download time with huge files or high-resolution jpegs that take forever to load. Chances are they'll get frustrated and leave. Also, keep in mind that some computers may not be compatible for certain types of animation and/or sound, so you may be wasting your time and energy on potential clients who will "click here to enter" and miss your whole introduction.
Make it easy to use and navigate
Don't clutter up the space with a lot of flashing, glaring signs. Use simple, clean text and obvious words to describe sections such as "Contact Us" or "Home Listings."
Make it useful
Keep 'em coming back for more. You want people to reach for your site as their first choice. The best way to do this is to offer helpful things like mortgage calculators, buying tips, links to sites to get more information and an e-mail address to contact you quickly. Don't have an e-mail address? Get one for free at Yahoo! Just use something simple, like your first and last name. Be sure to put it not only on your website but also on letterhead, ads, business cards, flyers and brochures.
Ready, set, build! Want to know exactly what to include? Here's my preferred list of choices:
1. Home
This is your opportunity to create a great first impression. This is a perfect place to include your specialty (if you have one) and a picture of yourself and your office; or to highlight a special house that is hot on the market.
2. Contact Us
This page includes your business phone number, fax number, cell phone number and e-mail address. It also should include a fill-in form for potential clients to contact you with their specifics.
3. Search Our Listings
Get a dynamic database-driven system that is updated on at least a daily basis. If you're not able to afford it yet, set some time aside to regularly update it with your listings.
4. Home Finder
This can be another fill-in form to flush out home-buying specifics. They can e-mail you a completed form, and you can contact them directly with a customized list of available properties.
5. Mortgage Calculators
These are always a useful tool to help potential buyers figure out payments and interest rates.
6. Mortgage Pre-Qualifiers
This is a great way to get in on the ground floor of buyers who are new to homeownership. Offering tips, links, and ways to get credit fixed or ways of getting down-payment assistance are all ideal ways to get interested buyers to click in this section.
7. Find Out How Much Your Home Is Worth
This is a good section for general information.
8. Links (to Fannie Mae, etc.)
Never be afraid to have experts back up your information. As long as you remain credible in your sources, links like these are never out of style. Be sure to contact the businesses directly to get their permission to link your site first.
9. School Report/Neighborhood Info
This is a very valuable tool for potential buyers to have a way of pulling reports by ZIP code in the communities they are looking to buy in. The software is getting cheaper, so look into it if you can. If not, see about putting some links to organizations or companies that will offer community profiles.
10. Moving Info/Movers/Packing/Utilities
Working out a discount or a coupon along with a link to your home page can benefit not only your site, but also the moving companies and new home buyers!
This is your opportunity to create a great first impression. This is a perfect place to include your specialty (if you have one) and a picture of yourself and your office; or to highlight a special house that is hot on the market.
2. Contact Us
This page includes your business phone number, fax number, cell phone number and e-mail address. It also should include a fill-in form for potential clients to contact you with their specifics.
3. Search Our Listings
Get a dynamic database-driven system that is updated on at least a daily basis. If you're not able to afford it yet, set some time aside to regularly update it with your listings.
4. Home Finder
This can be another fill-in form to flush out home-buying specifics. They can e-mail you a completed form, and you can contact them directly with a customized list of available properties.
5. Mortgage Calculators
These are always a useful tool to help potential buyers figure out payments and interest rates.
6. Mortgage Pre-Qualifiers
This is a great way to get in on the ground floor of buyers who are new to homeownership. Offering tips, links, and ways to get credit fixed or ways of getting down-payment assistance are all ideal ways to get interested buyers to click in this section.
7. Find Out How Much Your Home Is Worth
This is a good section for general information.
8. Links (to Fannie Mae, etc.)
Never be afraid to have experts back up your information. As long as you remain credible in your sources, links like these are never out of style. Be sure to contact the businesses directly to get their permission to link your site first.
9. School Report/Neighborhood Info
This is a very valuable tool for potential buyers to have a way of pulling reports by ZIP code in the communities they are looking to buy in. The software is getting cheaper, so look into it if you can. If not, see about putting some links to organizations or companies that will offer community profiles.
10. Moving Info/Movers/Packing/Utilities
Working out a discount or a coupon along with a link to your home page can benefit not only your site, but also the moving companies and new home buyers!
Frequently Asked Questions - Read frequently asked questions and answers about MILLIONSAVER
real estate franchise.
Franchise Comparation Chart - Compare our fees with other real estare franchises. MILLIONSAVER has one of the lowest initial and royalty fees!
Overview of MIllionSaver Franchise - Online presentation explaining MILLIONSAVER franchise business model.
Marketing Tools - How do we use marketing to generatsubstantialal amount of business.
Contact Management Software - Great management tool and excellent software to help agents manage more business.
Knowledge Database Software - Another great tool available at no cost to franchisees.
Profit and Earnings Disclosure - Read this interesting article about franchise earnings and profit disclosures.
Press release - It is about Leads, leads, leads ...
Real Estate know-how:
What To Include on your Website Top Ten
Why Every Agent Must Have A Website
How To Work With a Home Staging
Online Application - Non-Disclosure Agreement - If you want to get more please fill out both online application and NDA Agreement. We will send you our UFOC disclosure.
Franchise Comparation Chart - Compare our fees with other real estare franchises. MILLIONSAVER has one of the lowest initial and royalty fees!
Overview of MIllionSaver Franchise - Online presentation explaining MILLIONSAVER franchise business model.
Marketing Tools - How do we use marketing to generatsubstantialal amount of business.
Contact Management Software - Great management tool and excellent software to help agents manage more business.
Knowledge Database Software - Another great tool available at no cost to franchisees.
Profit and Earnings Disclosure - Read this interesting article about franchise earnings and profit disclosures.
Press release - It is about Leads, leads, leads ...
Real Estate know-how:
What To Include on your Website Top Ten
Why Every Agent Must Have A Website
How To Work With a Home Staging
Online Application - Non-Disclosure Agreement - If you want to get more please fill out both online application and NDA Agreement. We will send you our UFOC disclosure.
John Vanhara
President
EastBiz.com, Inc.
Office: 702-212-3513
info@millionsaver.com
Regional managers wanted. Pleas contact us if interested in this opportunity.