As a real estate agent or independent business, assuming I have a website and social media presence – and if not you need on – a customers first impression of my business is going to be through my website. Now, from a business perspective I may think having a clean and professional looking website, one that really stands out, isn\’t that big of a deal. As long as my content is out there customers know I exist and will buy, right? Well, the harsh reality is no, not anymore.
Say I am a customer and I am looking for a new real estate agent, or any product for that matter, the first thing I am going to do is directly search for it through a web browser, or I am going to stumble upon it through a Facebook/social media add. Either way, once I find your website, it is going to be my first exposure to you and your business. Now, since everyone else also has a website, if you don\’t stand out, your website looks mediocre, or even worse is not easy to navigate, I am going to immediately leave. Your lack of commitment to your website shows me your lack of commitment to your business, your website is mediocre, therefore, so is your business, and I will look elsewhere. This may not be true, you may have an amazing business, but as a consumer I don\’t know that. Your website is the first thing I see, it is the only impression I have of you, and it hasn\’t sold me.
This used to not be the case. There once was a time where a nice looking site, one that is easy to navigate and strategically directs customers where to go, was the exception. But now, since everyone is online and a nice website is both affordable and easy to get, it is becoming more and more the norm, which means your average website now gives off the impression that you\’re business is less than average.
The good news is that this is easy to fix. There a tons of build your own site templates out there for less than a hundred bucks, and developers can make a pretty exceptional site for around five-hundred dollars depending on how many pages you want. The point being through a small investment (the current #1 ROI) you give your customers an accurate impression of who you are as a business. You show that you understand that it\’s a digital world now and care about the way you look and the way customers choose to shop. Simply put, you give a good first impression, which as any businessman worth their salt will tell you, can never be underestimated.
