WolfNet's Upgraded IDX Platform Helps Agents Compete with Portals

Agents looking to compete with search portals need look no further that WolfNet's upgraded IDX solution. Dubbed WolfNet Responsive IDX, the update marries high-end design to an IDX property search (with optional VOW data!) that would easily be at home on expensive enterprise-level websites.

As any modern web solution should, the updated platform displays beautifully on screens and devices of all sizes (see the image below). But beyond the aesthetic improvements, WolfNet has designed Responsive IDX to boost your website's engagement levels and lead capture rates. Let's take a closer look to learn how.

Zeroing in on the Front-End

Responsive IDX plugs into your existing website and is easy to integrate into your site's design, thanks to easy wrapper creation tools available in the solution's admin panel. The solution also adapts to your website's CSS stylesheet, letting you control font and photos sizes to further refine how it displays.

Let's take a look at the results page, for an example. Consumers have the option to view results either on a map, in gallery view, or in list view. In the gallery view pictured on the next page, users can hover over a property's thumbnail to scroll through more listing photos without having to click into the property details page.

They can also inquire about a property or request a showing right from the results page. In the previous version of WolfNet's IDX, this action would take the consumer to a separate page. In Responsive IDX, a lightbox instead pops up so that consumers can complete their request without leaving the current page. According to WolfNet, this has significantly increased their clients' lead capture rates. One client recently told the company that their lead capture rate increased by a whopping 220 percent!

Responsive IDX additionally offers a "smart search," as seen in the image above, that automatically suggests search terms in a way that will be familiar to any Google user. These suggestions are designed to simplify the search process for consumers based on the locations in your database and the terms that others search for. This is particularly helpful for relocating consumers who are unfamiliar with your area.

One standout feature of Responsive IDX is its ability to offer VOW data. WolfNet has long excelled in providing VOW data and, at present, no other IDX vendor is offering anything similar. This feature is significant because it has the potential to dramatically increase lead capture—up to 30 percent according to a WAV Group whitepaper on VOW data.

To understand how VOW data is implemented on Responsive IDX, look again at the image above to see "Unlock Days on Market" below the property price. Consumers who click that link can immediately register to the website for instant access to VOW data. Once unlocked, this data will be available in multiple places, including on the search results page.

The image below shows the map view for a consumer who has unlocked VOW data. Notice the "Days on Market" and "Original List Price" information shown right on the property preview box. In addition, users' search options expand to include sold listings in addition to active listings.

On the property details page, consumers are again prompted to register to activate VOW data (see the circled area in red below). If VOW data is unlocked, consumers will see a list of "Similar Sold Listings" on the property details page to help them get a firmer understanding of the typical pricing in a neighborhood.

Beyond the extra VOW data, the property detail page also offers:

• Property details (price, address, beds, baths, square footage) and a utility bar (inquiry, request showing, share, save, print) that anchors to the top of the browser window as users scroll down
• Prominent high-resolution property photos
• Neighborhood map with points of interest and built-in driving directions
• The ability to toggle the map to street view to see how the surrounding neighborhood looks
• "You May Also Like" property suggestions that encourage further browsing and enhance site SEO

A Look at the Back End

Responsive IDX's back-end administration panel offers website owners control over search and registration options, banner configuration, and more. It also gives them insight into the consumers that visit their site. Administrators can see a list of registered users, an individual user's favorite listings, how many times they've logged-in, and beyond.

Of course, to be able to see that level of detail for a visitor, that visitor must be a registered user of the website. Responsive IDX's login options let brokers and agents choose when to ask visitors to register for their site--before viewing search results, for example, or after viewing a certain number of property details pages.

WolfNet's back end offers site owners plenty of other options for controlling the look and feel of their IDX site, including:

• Lead capture tools
• Default search settings that control the areas visitors can search (see image below) and how results display
• URL Search Builder to display customized search results
• Site usage statistics
• Easy inclusion of Google Analytics on IDX pages
• Custom wrapper creation for web developers

Next Steps

Interested in learning more? You can:

• Visit WolfNet's website for more information
• Explore more options for IDX and VOW solutions