Resource Techniques

The four basic elements of web design

Estate agents, there are four basic elements of web design. Each of these fundamentals contributes, in their own way, to the overall user experience. Therefore estate agents must make sure that a single element doesn't let down the entire estate agent website. The four elements are:

• Content - There's no denying that 'Content is King'. Content helps your website in two ways. Firstly it plays a part in Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and will force users to repeatedly return. Google have always stated that relevant information that is consistently updated will give higher positions than ones with limited content. Secondly content makes your estate agent website 'sticky' and property searchers will repeatedly return. First class content, including video, featured properties, relevant news, enhanced mapping, Google Street view, high resolution pictures, email alerts, printable PDF property particulars and more, will make your estate agent website 'sticky'.
• Usability - Great usability will never be noticed by the end user, but bad usability is instantly noticeable. Estate agent websites should have a clear 'property search' button on the home page with a user-friendly search function. In general the navigation and interface as a whole should be simple and reliable. Remember that bad usability will simply make the user close the web page and move on to a competitor's website.
• Appearance - The biggest criteria for estate agents is for their website to be visually impressive. This isn't a bad condition, but generally estate agents usually concentrate on this element more than any other. As stated above, each of the four basic elements contribute towards the website as a whole but if one element fails, the whole website will turn away potential leads. On a last note, the appearance of your estate agent website should reflect the branding of your estate agency. An inner-city estate agent should not have homepage imagery which reflects an agricultural community.
• Visibility - There is no point in having a stunning website if no one can see it. 'Online presence' or visibility through SEO and social networking is vital for the success of your website. Once the design aspects of the website are in place, estate agents and web design companies should then work together to guarantee that estate agents have maximum online presence.

Troy Stanley, CTO of Resource Techniques comments, 'Resource Techniques is a web design company specialising in estate agent websites. The four basic elements are integrated into every single project we undertake. Once the design process is finished and estate agents give the go ahead, the website will go live and we will work together to maximising the website's online presence.'

Estate agents can contact us on 0208 457 4777 or through our Twitter and Facebook page. Our team will take you step-by-step on how our industry leading service will benefit your estate agency.

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