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 puts you higher in Google. 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.
Showing posts with label online content. Show all posts
Showing posts with label online content. Show all posts
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
The best estate agent websites
The best estate agent websites
Producing quality estate agent websites, combined with state-of-the-art Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and estate agent software is what Resource Techniques do best. Over the years we have provided some stunning websites that impress the public on a daily basis. Therefore Resource Techniques has decided to share with you some of the best estate agent websites.
Homepage
Penyards Estate AgentsResource Techniques's flagship website. Penyards is a stunning website dealing with country estates in Hampshire. First entering the website, users are greeted by a striking animation then the eye is drawn to the prominent property search button. Estate agents, remember that 95% of people accessing an estate agent website go straight to property search. Visit www.penyards.com to experience it yourself!
Colin Bibra Estate AgentsColin Bibra, an estate agent in Ealing, deals with renting and selling houses and flats while also providing a highly-rated service in lettings management and residential estate management. The website is just beautiful. The blend of large imagery and vibrant red makes this one of the best estate agent website designs.
Colin has also embraced social networking with both arms. Visit his Facebook profile or Twitter profile to see prime examples of estate agent social networking.
Hennings Moir Estate AgentsHennings Moir is a team estate agent selling and managing properties in South East Cornwall. This 'Blue Sky' website is team's branded website for members of team. A beautful sky mixed with vibrant colours and clear 'Call to actions. This is a favourite for team members! Go to www.henningsmoir.com to view their magnificent properties.
Julian Reid Estate AgentsJulian Reid is an independant estate agent in Stoke Newington specialising the sale and purchase of property.The website has a very modern feel to it, again with 'Call to Actions' that guide the user through the property search process. There are individual colours that catch the eye. One example is the blue from the logo, this is present throughout and is utilised in the property search button.
There are common elements throughout each of the estate agent website designs. Each one has large imagery, clear 'Call to Actions', and the organisation of the elements have a clear structure. Quality websites like these only come through an in-depth knowledge and experience from an industry specialist, estate estates should not accept second best for their websites.
Websites are more than just a homepage. Property search, the latest viewer technology with high resolution pictures, Google Street View, Google maps, printable property particulars should be a nessessity for every estate agent website. If property portals are able to offer these features, why shouldn't estate agents?
Property search using Google Maps
Google Maps
A Google map that is embedded directly into the estate agent website is a modern requirement. It gives users even more interactivity than ever before. Local amenities such as school, doctors or vets can be plotted by the user to give them an idea of the surrounding area. Not only that, but it looks very pretty!
Outstanding individual property details
Julian Reid Esate Agents
All property details should look like this. Large imagery, user-friendly interface, clear contact details, and all organised so that it is visually stunning.
High Resolution photos
Resource Techniques - High Resolution Photos
All photos are embedded into the website with the latest viewer technology. One simple click on 'Close' on the top right hand corner or off the photo brings the user directly back to where they were. No pop-ups, no extra tabs. Website designers call this 'sticky' which is the ability to keep users stuck to the website.
Embedded Google Street View
Resource Techniques - Google Street View
Google Street View was released in the UK in the 19th of March this year. Within two weeks, Resource Techniques was able to provide to any of its customers. Are you interested in Google Street View? Read ‘Do you have Google Street View on your website?'.
Embedded property particulars
Resource Techniques - Property Particulars
Many estate agent websites only have a 'printable version’ of their property particulars and customers are able to get hold property particulars from the post or directly from the estate agent showroom. Being able to download, save and print property particulars at any time is useful for the user and it also saves estate agents time and money!
Embedded EPC and Floorplans
Resource Techniques - EPC Resource Techniques - Floorplan
Like all every other feature, the EPCs and floorplans are embedded into the website and a simple click of 'Close' or on any other part of the website brings the user straight back to the property that they were looking at. This, as mentioned before, is the latest viewer technology. Companies such as Sony and the BBC use this technology on their websites.
Large, Clear icons.
Resource Techniques - Clear Icons
Not always a feature when reviewing websites, but is just as important. Large clear icons give the user a whole range of features from saving properties and email alerts to emailing a friend about that particular property whilst being clear and concise.
Resource Techniques is an industry specialist in estate agent websites, our experience and knowledge of the field puts the company at the forefront the industry. Each year Resource Techniques invests heavily in new technologies to guarantee that we continue to stay at the top. We are able to provide this whilst keeping our prices affordable for today's modern estate agents.
Request a Website Review or visit Contact us for more information.
Producing quality estate agent websites, combined with state-of-the-art Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and estate agent software is what Resource Techniques do best. Over the years we have provided some stunning websites that impress the public on a daily basis. Therefore Resource Techniques has decided to share with you some of the best estate agent websites.
Homepage
Penyards Estate AgentsResource Techniques's flagship website. Penyards is a stunning website dealing with country estates in Hampshire. First entering the website, users are greeted by a striking animation then the eye is drawn to the prominent property search button. Estate agents, remember that 95% of people accessing an estate agent website go straight to property search. Visit www.penyards.com to experience it yourself!
Colin Bibra Estate AgentsColin Bibra, an estate agent in Ealing, deals with renting and selling houses and flats while also providing a highly-rated service in lettings management and residential estate management. The website is just beautiful. The blend of large imagery and vibrant red makes this one of the best estate agent website designs.
Colin has also embraced social networking with both arms. Visit his Facebook profile or Twitter profile to see prime examples of estate agent social networking.
Hennings Moir Estate AgentsHennings Moir is a team estate agent selling and managing properties in South East Cornwall. This 'Blue Sky' website is team's branded website for members of team. A beautful sky mixed with vibrant colours and clear 'Call to actions. This is a favourite for team members! Go to www.henningsmoir.com to view their magnificent properties.
Julian Reid Estate AgentsJulian Reid is an independant estate agent in Stoke Newington specialising the sale and purchase of property.The website has a very modern feel to it, again with 'Call to Actions' that guide the user through the property search process. There are individual colours that catch the eye. One example is the blue from the logo, this is present throughout and is utilised in the property search button.
There are common elements throughout each of the estate agent website designs. Each one has large imagery, clear 'Call to Actions', and the organisation of the elements have a clear structure. Quality websites like these only come through an in-depth knowledge and experience from an industry specialist, estate estates should not accept second best for their websites.
Websites are more than just a homepage. Property search, the latest viewer technology with high resolution pictures, Google Street View, Google maps, printable property particulars should be a nessessity for every estate agent website. If property portals are able to offer these features, why shouldn't estate agents?
Property search using Google Maps
Google Maps
A Google map that is embedded directly into the estate agent website is a modern requirement. It gives users even more interactivity than ever before. Local amenities such as school, doctors or vets can be plotted by the user to give them an idea of the surrounding area. Not only that, but it looks very pretty!
Outstanding individual property details
Julian Reid Esate Agents
All property details should look like this. Large imagery, user-friendly interface, clear contact details, and all organised so that it is visually stunning.
High Resolution photos
Resource Techniques - High Resolution Photos
All photos are embedded into the website with the latest viewer technology. One simple click on 'Close' on the top right hand corner or off the photo brings the user directly back to where they were. No pop-ups, no extra tabs. Website designers call this 'sticky' which is the ability to keep users stuck to the website.
Embedded Google Street View
Resource Techniques - Google Street View
Google Street View was released in the UK in the 19th of March this year. Within two weeks, Resource Techniques was able to provide to any of its customers. Are you interested in Google Street View? Read ‘Do you have Google Street View on your website?'.
Embedded property particulars
Resource Techniques - Property Particulars
Many estate agent websites only have a 'printable version’ of their property particulars and customers are able to get hold property particulars from the post or directly from the estate agent showroom. Being able to download, save and print property particulars at any time is useful for the user and it also saves estate agents time and money!
Embedded EPC and Floorplans
Resource Techniques - EPC Resource Techniques - Floorplan
Like all every other feature, the EPCs and floorplans are embedded into the website and a simple click of 'Close' or on any other part of the website brings the user straight back to the property that they were looking at. This, as mentioned before, is the latest viewer technology. Companies such as Sony and the BBC use this technology on their websites.
Large, Clear icons.
Resource Techniques - Clear Icons
Not always a feature when reviewing websites, but is just as important. Large clear icons give the user a whole range of features from saving properties and email alerts to emailing a friend about that particular property whilst being clear and concise.
Resource Techniques is an industry specialist in estate agent websites, our experience and knowledge of the field puts the company at the forefront the industry. Each year Resource Techniques invests heavily in new technologies to guarantee that we continue to stay at the top. We are able to provide this whilst keeping our prices affordable for today's modern estate agents.
Request a Website Review or visit Contact us for more information.
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
On the 12th August, Resource Techniques talked about 'The end of newspaper advertising? Many estate agents ask this question.' With that shift in marketing, journalists also have another attack on the very fabric of their industry; free online news. Why should the public go out their way to spend money on something that they can get free? Do you read free online articles or pay for it?
Google News was launched in April 2002 as a beta release (testing by users before its official release) and then officially released on the 23rd of January 2006. In March of 2005, the French paper 'Agence France Presse' sued Google for $17.5million for infringement of copyright. In 2007, there was also a court case in Belgium that ruled that Google News is not allowed to publish links to Belgian Newspapers.
The relationship been journalists and Google has been described as 'frosty' to say the least. Journalists are wary of Google news whilst Google News is aware that its very existence depends on Newspapers publishing their articles online.
Time for a change.
In a possibly brave move, Google is proposing a micropayment system to change the way people access its online content. An 8 page PDF response by Google has been published by the Nieman Journalism Lab shows that Micropayments are only part of an overall plan to help newspapers make money from their online content. The 8 page PDF included 5 important features that will be part of this system. They are:
* Single sign-on capability for users to access content and manage subscriptions
* Ability for publishers to combine subscriptions from different titles together for one price
* Ability for publishers to create multiple payment options and easily include/exclude content behind a paywall
* Multiple tiers of access to search including 1) snippets only with "subscription" label, 2) access to preview pages and 3) "first click free" access
* Advertising systems that offer highly relevant ads for users, such as interest-based advertising
Estate agents, would you pay for online news? What if there were free news sites but you had to pay for articles from major newspapers, would you pay then? Let us know on Twitter or Facebook!
Google News was launched in April 2002 as a beta release (testing by users before its official release) and then officially released on the 23rd of January 2006. In March of 2005, the French paper 'Agence France Presse' sued Google for $17.5million for infringement of copyright. In 2007, there was also a court case in Belgium that ruled that Google News is not allowed to publish links to Belgian Newspapers.
The relationship been journalists and Google has been described as 'frosty' to say the least. Journalists are wary of Google news whilst Google News is aware that its very existence depends on Newspapers publishing their articles online.
Time for a change.
In a possibly brave move, Google is proposing a micropayment system to change the way people access its online content. An 8 page PDF response by Google has been published by the Nieman Journalism Lab shows that Micropayments are only part of an overall plan to help newspapers make money from their online content. The 8 page PDF included 5 important features that will be part of this system. They are:
* Single sign-on capability for users to access content and manage subscriptions
* Ability for publishers to combine subscriptions from different titles together for one price
* Ability for publishers to create multiple payment options and easily include/exclude content behind a paywall
* Multiple tiers of access to search including 1) snippets only with "subscription" label, 2) access to preview pages and 3) "first click free" access
* Advertising systems that offer highly relevant ads for users, such as interest-based advertising
Estate agents, would you pay for online news? What if there were free news sites but you had to pay for articles from major newspapers, would you pay then? Let us know on Twitter or Facebook!
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