Are You Covering Your Neighborhoods Well on Your Website?

How can you add value to your real estate website for your buyer visitors? The population, especially the younger generations, is getting more mobile. They're relocating more often for career advancement, which means that they often move into areas with which they're unfamiliar.

In most MLS areas, there are many neighborhoods as well as designated areas in a field that displays in MLS searches by site visitors. There should be at least one dedicated page on your real estate website for every neighborhood and MLS area.

Tip #1: MLS Area Names

Before you address subdivisions and other neighborhood names, pull up a list of all of the choices in the MLS listing field for area or location. There could be a dozen or many more, and each has a unique name that is selected rather than typed in by the listing agent.

Action #1: A Page for Every Designated Area

Step into the shoes of a site visitor who may not be familiar with your market. They are likely doing IDX searches on a real estate website, even if it isn't yours. When they see a listing, the area name field is likely displayed. What is it going to mean to someone unfamiliar with it?

You may want a sidebar on the search page with these main areas linked to a page about each of them; maybe title the sidebar with "See What's There."

Tip #2: Move on to Subdivisions/Neighborhoods

MLS areas may correspond with some larger neighborhoods or subdivisions, but often there are many more smaller neighborhoods and subdivisions with recognizable names. These neighborhoods are mentioned throughout the listing descriptions, so this is a strategy for SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, as well.

Action #2: Create the Pages

You'll want a page for each of these neighborhoods and subdivisions as well. Your future buyer clients are exploring the site and searching for a home for their families. Knowing as much about neighborhoods as possible helps them to do a lot of your work for you in advance. They're not asking basic subdivision questions when you meet because you've addressed them on the site already.

Tip #3: Make the Pages Useful

Don't just create a page and throw a few informational items and/or photos on it. You want to provide real information that helps them to understand the neighborhood better, including available activities, parks, cultural places, shopping, and more. Lots of images and video are of great value.

Action #3: Use Your MLS Reporting

This is a huge opportunity to generate a lead by getting the contact information from your real estate website visitor. Have some basic recent sold property information for that area or neighborhood on the page. Then offer them a more detailed report with historical sold data via email. Build the reports in PDF format and save them for easy turnaround.

Use these tips and take these actions, and you'll find that you're getting more leads from buyers who appreciate the information you've provided. You are the knowledgeable professional they want to handle their transaction, and they'll give you great reviews.

To view the original article, visit the WebsiteBox blog.