If you compare your web site to the fashion industry, does it look modern and up-to-date or a few years out of date? The simple fact is that trends change as does technology. If you let your web site remain stagnant, it’s a little like going out to show a house in a poodle skirt and saddle shoes, (out of date and little interest). “But I like my website; I think it looks great!” Whether it still looks good in your mind, here are five signs to look for that might indicate it’s time to “remodel” your website.
If you look at the tracking information and the ways in leads are coming into your office and can’t seem to find the last time your current website generated a new lead for you, it might be a good time to “remodel.” Is your web site bright, attractive and easy to use? Does each listing include crystal clear photos of the property that highlight its features? Do you have a walkthrough video of the property? What about a full Virtual Reality Tour? These are what today’s buyers are looking for.
Does your current platform require you to pay for every little update or change you make? If so, it’s time to start looking for another provider. There are plenty of hosting services that have all-inclusive packages that cover updates, maintenance, and many other services.
The way Google’s search engine is set up, providing your web site has the basic SEO content; it will show up during a search. If your office is no longer showing up during searches, it’s time to revisit the content and perhaps consult with an SEO expert to have the content updated to match the latest Google analytics and start showing up during searches again.
Has the content of your web site been updated to work on mobile devices? According to the latest research, approximately 40 to 50% of the traffic to your web site will be coming from searches done on a mobile device. If your site has not been optimized for mobile devices, you are missing out on a massive chunk of the market. You should also know that Google tends to rank sites that are mobile-friendly higher than those which are not.
If you try to access your web site and it loads slowly, you need to find out why. Several factors affect the speed at which a website loads. It could be the hosting company with a low budget server, it could be that your site has an excessive number of larger images, or if your site is using a lot of plug-ins, they can all affect the speed at which it loads. No one wants to hang around waiting for this; they will simply move on.
From keeping your web site loading faster, looking better, and offering more to prospective buyers, you need to keep it up to date. It might cost you a relatively small investment up front, but once those leads start pouring in again, it will be money well spent!
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