11
Sep
4 quick web design tips for Commercial Agents
Every Commercial Agent and Chartered Surveyor knows that their
company needs a presence on the web, but just having a website
isn’t enough. A badly designed website, with poor
functionality could actually do more harm than good to your
company.
So, here are 4 quick tips for you to think about before
designing your new company website.
Less Is More
Don't over complicate your website with technology like Flash.
Remember, your audience is impatient. If your website takes too
long too load or doesn’t work probably in the users browser,
they’ll not hang around. Furthermore, it is extremely
unlikely that they’ll return.
And remember, “3 seconds to
impress”! Its how long the average web user takes to
decide whether they will stay on your website, or leave. Make your
message simple and clear. Don’t overcomplicate and try to
tell your life story in the home page and don’t plaster that
page with images. You’re trying to hook your quarry, getting
them to contact you remember.
If You Build It…They Won’t
Come!
Just having a website doesn’t mean that the whole
commercial property sector will find you and start landing on your
website. You will need to put some hard work in before, during and
after the build of your new website.
First you need to consider
Search Engine Optimisation. If your
web designer is doing their job correctly SEO will influence
the very building blocks of your website. Its more than just
keyword selection and its not a process that stops when the website
goes live. The commercial property market, your audience and
search engine algorithms are changing all the time.
So, Spread The Word
This is about driving traffic to your new website. Publishing
articles and sharing your expertise and knowledge will help to get
your company known and drive the traffic to your site. Use
Facebook,
LinkedIn and even
Twitter to spread the love and link people back to your new
website.
In addition send out regular newsletters and emails that inform
and deliver value to your audience, enticing them into your
website. Most of all use these tools to engage in a dialogue with
you audience.
Stand Out From The Crowd.
Too many commercial agents seem to have a generic
“commercial property” website. Clichéd design, the
same old library photography and a boring old tone-of-voice in
their copy. Ultimately, they all end up looking the same. So
where’s the differential? Why would a prospective client pick
you to act for them over one of the over ‘clones’?
You can’t appeal to everyone, so don’t try.
Establish a clear and unique position and then convey that in your
website design. Stand out from the crowd.
Philip Burrows, Marketing
Consultant
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