Promote your Website Online

Congratulations on getting your ClientClick website! You have made a big step forward in regards to your marketing efforts. However having a website is not the end of the road, you still need to get some work done to make it a real asset for your business.

Work begins with promoting your website. This article will show you how to spread the word about it: in the real world as well as online. Promoting a website is heavily linked to the concept of SEO (Search Engine Optimization). SEO basically means ‘making your website more visible on Google searches’. There are things to do in order to achieve that goal, some of which are the same as for promoting your website.

First things first

1. On your website

1.1. Use an up to date, responsive template

Before promoting your website make sure it looks good. Keep in mind that nowadays websites are not only accessed from computers but even more from mobile devices like smartphones or tablets.
Your ClientClick website offers mobile responsive templates that will fit on both computer and mobile devices. Click here to learn how to update your website template.

1.2. Custom Domain Name

A custom domain name, like www.yourname.com, is a starting point when talking about promoting your website. This is the easiest way for someone to access it. Your website address doesn’t have to be your name, but it is common practice in the real estate business for an agent to build their brand around their name. If you’re uncertain of what you should choose, keep in mind that it should be: memorable, relevant, easy to spell, short and unique. Not only will it improve your search results but it will also make your business look more professional.

1.3. Metadata (Header, Meta tags, Site description, Page titles)

Don’t be afraid by the word. Metadata simply means data that describes other data. Basically this ‘data’ is the family of words used to describe what your website is about. This is capital for your website as it is used by search engines like Google to locate information and display relevant results (metadata that matches with the terms used in the search).

Metadata is splitted into different categories:

Header (to be set on Step 1 General Information)

On your ClientClick website the Header is a section that allows you to display a tagline at the top of each pages of your website.

Meta tags (to be set on Step 1 General Information)

These are the keywords linked to your website content. They used to be a key factor determining a website’s relevance but now search engines have significantly reduced their reliance on them, though they are still factored in when indexing pages

Site description (also known as Meta Description; to be set on Step 1 General Information)

This is critical. That’s the description displayed by the search engines when your website comes up in a web search. Make sure you make this description the more accurate, informative and attractive possible (without exceeding 320 characters) to increase chances to get visitors.

Page titles (to be set for each pages on Step 3 Edit Content):

One of the most important element on the page for telling the search engines what the page is about and which keywords to focus on. Keep them short descriptive and unique for every page.

It’s important to keep a good structure. It’s the foundation of your visible site. Make your website easy to browse and avoid overwhelming your visitors with too much information. Keep in mind to give more visibility to your most valuable information (ie Listings, Map Search...).

1.5. Original Content

This is what your website is made of. Its most valuable element. Over its design, it’s your content that will generate leads and drive sales through your website.

Even though your ClientClick website comes with relevant pre-loaded content, be prepared to write valuable and unique content about the topic/purpose of your website. Keep in mind that your own content will always have more power to make your website more visible online than our already existing articles. Remember, it’s not the quantity that matters but the quality.

What to keep in mind when creating content:

  • Offer value with information that meet the needs of your visitors
  • Create content that your visitors won’t find somewhere else. If you do real estate in Alberta, write content specific to your area, you don’t need to be generic.
  • Diversify the format and give your visitors a reason to spend more time on your website. Content doesn’t always mean plain text article. It can be videos, images, reports, tips, testimonials, blog posts..
  • Do your homework. You will have to do your research to know what to write about and which keywords to use. Pay attention to current events in your area or news related to your industry. What do people type to find houses in our area? Use those search keywords on your website so they match with what your visitors are looking for. To go further you can use SEO tools such as Keyword Planner, to start researching words or phrases related to your services.
  • Keep it fresh. Search engines consider the frequency with which your content is updated, so remember that creating/modifying content is an ongoing process that will help you improving your SEO in the long term.

2. Everyday life

2.1. Word of mouth

Sometimes the most obvious tip is the easiest to overlook. Many agents want to drive more traffic to their website but few actually tell people to go visit their website. Spreading the word is key. When speaking with prospects or clients, don't only invite them to call/email you, also consider inviting them to visit your site. Whether it’s for browsing your available listings or searching for information about buying or selling, make sure you let them know this can all be done on your website. This will help you maintain informative and relevant content available.

2.2. Business Cards

Similar to an email address or a phone number, your website address (also known as website URL) becomes a point of contact that you need to share with the world. Not solely online.
Add your website address to your business cards, flyers or any other types of physical material where your contact details appear. This highlight the importance of registering a custom domain name for your website. Please contact us to register a custom domain with Jumptools.

3. Online

3.1. Social Media

Social Media is a critical component of any modern business. Using it correctly can help you drive more traffic to your website and generate more leads. Whichever platform (Facebook, Twitter, etc) you are using make sure you are sharing content from your website to your Social Media. If you are not sharing content you can just tell your social network (your 'followers') the benefits they can get from visiting your website.

A simple and efficient thing to do is to share your listings on your Social Media through the Share in Social Media icons on the listings details page.

Share in Social Media icons - example here

3.2. Online Profiles

Many websites require you to create an account and have an online profile with your name address and contact details. These could be real estate related websites or not. Major websites like your brokerage, your real estate board, realtor.ca or any of your social media make you create a profile where you can input contact details such as your website address. The goal here is to give the opportunity to someone consulting your online profile to learn more about your/your business by visiting your website. Also those major websites being highly ranked on search engines, it will help your own ranking (SEO) to have your website address there.