What Kind of "Extras" Could Make Your Website Stand Out?

This post comes to us from BrokerageU:

Most of you who are reading this post might already have a fully functional real estate website. But what can you add to it? In addition to the basics, we know you want to make sure that your site continues to keep the visitor's attention.

As an agent, there are so many different options out there for you to choose from. In this article we hope to clear up some of the confusion and give you a few of our top picks.

Please note that while we always try to give our agents great no cost ideas to make a bigger impression on potential leads, this particular article will take a focus on website "add-ons" or extra services that you can incorporate into your site. Some of these suggestions could come with a one time or monthly cost, although we try to suggest extremely affordable options.

How do you decide what add-ons are worth your while? Let's talk about what your visitors really care about:

Upgraded IDX: With your existing agent website, we feel pretty certain that you already have a home search option. A basic agent site would include a prominently placed home search for your visitors to access. Adding some kind of upgraded IDX search would allow your visitors to save their searches, receive email alerts of new properties and show you what they're searching for. Not sure what upgraded IDX is right for you based on your MLS? Send us a comment and we'll be happy to suggest some!

Sharing: Another item with a basic and upgraded version. The majority of sites out there allow the visitor to be in control of what they choose to share from your content. Adding a more advanced version of sharing can also push your new blog activity to your social channels automatically! If you are a Tribus customer, there is a sharing function already built right into your website. It's called Publicize and it's ready for you to choose what to share. Not already a Tribus customer? Another one of our favorites is a service called If This Then That or IFTTT.

Chat: If you find yourself (or an assistant) in the office a good amount, this is a wonderful way for you to connect with potential clients! Instant communication is such an important aspect of high level lead conversion. We especially like SnapEngage for their customizable options and the ease of integration with your website.

A Posting service: Not blogging enough? That could be a website killer, so we want to make sure you have the tools to choose a great service with NO copied content. Make sure to choose a reputable writer who will tailor SEO optimized content to your area, your business strategy and your clientele. We have loved working with Posted@ for our agent websites. Check them out to see how they can save you loads of time and make sure the search engines stay happy.

Phone System: We know, REALTORS® are just about the busiest people on the planet. We also know that although you always want to be on top of incoming phone calls, it isn't always that easy. A great phone system can make all the difference in the world! Are you a broker? Easily route calls through your set list of agents. Are you an agent? Set up a phone line for each listing, specify when the phone rings and when it goes to voice mail, send pre-recorded voice blasts to clients and MORE! We are so excited about all the options that we have come up with an in-house option, it's called Tribus Voice.

Market Statistics: Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could display a page on your website that always showed updated market stats for your coverage areas? And wouldn't it be really nice if the visitor could request email updates of how the market is doing? You can! Our top pick for stats is Altos Market Research. You can view a live example of what we're talking about here. Look for an upcoming article where we had the pleasure to sit down with Altos to discuss ALL the great benefits very soon!

Do you use some other services that you have had success with which aren't included in this list? We would love to hear your feedback and get suggestions of your faves!

To view the original article, visit BrokerageU.