How To Make The Most Of IDX Leads + Increase Conversions

Real Estate Leads Made Easy

At RealtyTech, Inc., we know as well as you do that online property listings are the key to success for reaching clients in the Digital Age. For over 15 years, we’ve specialized in delivering digital marketing services and assets that help jumpstart and maintain any real estate professional’s career, including: custom websites with IDX, exclusive leads, SEO, and advertising.

Are you a real estate agent or Realtor in need of digital solutions at a fair price? Here is why your online presence matters now more than ever:

• According to a report from The National Association of Realtors (NAR), 49% of all buyers first discovered the home they purchased online.
• Also, 70% of buyers and 74% of sellers tend to work with the very first agent they contact.

Rest assured, though, it’s now easier than ever for agents to properly display and spotlight listings on their sites using IDX–complete with customizable search and filter functions.

Because we care about your ongoing success, RealtyTech, Inc. has some extra hacks for real estate professionals when it comes to making the most of their IDX leads and increasing their conversions. Read on to learn more!

IDX + MLS Leads

Whether you’re an emerging or established real estate agent, it’s important to revisit the key differences between IDX and MLS for generating leads via your website and additional digital platforms.

As you might already know, IDX stands for the International Data Exchange, a system that enables real estate professionals to display MLS property listings on their personal or brokerage websites. MLS refers to a Multiple Listing Service, which Realtors and real estate agents use to share information about properties and cooperate on real estate transactions for fair compensation.

IDX and MLS platforms work together to capture leads in your regional market. Simply put, IDX systems are what allow MLS properties to be displayed on real estate agent websites. With added features and filters, IDX is a helpful tool for both real estate professionals and potential customers for categorizing, comparing, and locating properties on maps–offering deeper insight into the demands of your local market and target audience.

In order to capture leads via IDX and MLS that convert into lifetime customers, your website, digital content, and online reputation must not only prioritize information that your ideal clients want to see but also make it easily accessible through user-friendly platforms and devices.

Digital Strategies For Success

When optimizing your real estate website complete with IDX and MLS listings, it’s important to implement tactics that will not only increase web traffic but also enhance lead capture and conversions in measurable ways (i.e. analytics and returns). Here are some key strategies for making the most of your digital IDX leads–straight from the experts!

A Bio To Remember

When crafting a bio for your personal website, focus on the details that you set apart from other real estate professionals in your immediate area. Things like mission statements, certifications, career history, and industry achievements are valid and only bolster your reputation, but don’t forget to highlight the unique benefits you offer clients who work with you.

Helpful Resources For Buyers + Sellers

These days, it’s important to establish yourself as an expert by providing informational and educational content in the form of articles or blogs that focus on topics like negotiating tips, securing deals, mortgage types, advice for first-time buyers, tax information, informative links, legal issues, etc. If you’re not sure what content to offer, don’t be afraid to ask your audience of buyers and sellers what they’d like to learn more about. More often than not, a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) is a good place to start.

Allow Users To Save Favorite Properties

As part of your IDX and MLS website, it’s crucial that potential clients and users are able to create an account, login, and save the properties they’re interested in. Not only is this convenient for buyers, it helps you as their local real estate professional to know and document what their buying needs are, so you can provide relevant content in the form of emails and updates that prioritize their criteria. This type of targeting and segmenting is a proven tactic for helping leads through the sales funnel and increasing conversions.

Set Up Price Alert Notifications

Another helpful tool that potential leads and buyers will appreciate is notifications when it comes to price changes for the properties they’ve saved as favorites in your IDX system. This also gives you the reason as a real estate professional to reach out and check-in with a new or returning lead.

Syncing + Linking Social Media Profiles

Having a dynamic digital presence means remaining available and transparent via multiple platforms besides your website. Do not underestimate the power of your IDX leads. If a potential buyer is browsing your website, there’s an even greater chance that they will check out your social media profiles as well. Make it easier than ever for users and browsers to share or promote your listings with a single click by linking your real estate Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and/or LinkedIn accounts.

Invest In Video Content

According to the experts, businesses that use video marketing convert 66% more qualified leads per year–and it’s no different in the real estate market. Video content is not just engaging; it also gives you and your real estate team to create aspirational content that sets you apart from the competition.

Impactful Storytelling

Even in the Digital Age, well-crafted storytelling is still a tried and true branding technique. Although real estate involves administrative tasks and processes that are not always the most exciting, you can create content that leaves an impression by sharing human-interest stories and topics such as lifestyle blogs, buyer testimonials, advice from happy clients, and more.

Offer Virtual Tours

A newer type of content that increases user engagement and lead conversion is interactive virtual tours that give potential clients a full experience of your listings from the comfort of their homes on their devices. As augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) become more prevalent, it will be crucial for real estate professionals to incorporate these mediums into their digital assets to remain relevant.

Clear Call-To-Action(s)

For any digital content on your website or social media platforms, it’s important to include a clear call-to-action that makes it easy for potential clients and leads to contact you whether it’s by means of a contact form, email, or your phone number.

User-Friendly Navigation + Search

When setting up your IDX website, be sure to set-up search filters that will help users find local listings that meet their criteria. If your website and/or IDX feature isn’t user-friendly enough, users and visitors will leave your page and look for the information they need elsewhere, increasing your bounce-rate.

Integrated CRM

Along with integrating your web platform with a savvy IDX and MLS solution, syncing up an existing or new CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system will only bolster your strategy by allowing you to keep track of your leads, contacts, and communications. This type of tool helps real estate professionals better target and segment relevant information for past or potential clients, priming them for a transaction.

Agent Contact

Keep in mind that it’s all in the details–even your IDX website. By including your contact information next to every listing on your site, you can position yourself as the first point of contact. While agent contact is standard across the majority of IDX systems, it can get complicated if real estate professionals are sharing an IDX solution across an office–i.e. A brokerage. Whose contact should appear next to the listings? More often than not, offices will use a general office contact and a round robin to assign leads. However, some IDX platforms will allow for agent mapping, which will automatically display your contact information next to all properties you list as well as a generic office contact for the others. Ask your IDX provider for the solution that works best for your real estate team and/or office.

Request A Viewing + Scheduling Widgets

Another effective lead capture tool for your IDX website is a “Request A Viewing” or scheduling widget that encourages users to quickly set up an appointment to view a property from their laptops, desktops, or mobile devices. In addition to saving your leads’ contact information, this feature furthers the sales process by facilitating a face-to-face meeting, which is valuable for securing clients and deals since very few buyers purchase a home without seeing it first.

Send To A Friend Option(s)

Encouraging word-of-mouth and referrals is one of the most powerful marketing strategies even through your digital efforts. A “Send To A Friend” feature can increase your exposure and add to your mailing list by capturing the information about both the sender and the receiver. Plus, it will boost your listings’ overall impressions and your website’s traffic.

Mobile App Download

Including a mobile app downloadable via Google Play and iTunes will increase your domain authority while furthering your brand’s reputation. This modern digital asset will allow potential clients to customize their notifications and filters according to their needs while accessing your listings and resources on-the-go.

SMS

Growing in demand and practice, SMS notifications via text message are a more personalized approach to your marketing and lead conversion strategy. By providing this option, potential clients can opt to receive updates when a new property matches their profile or if their membership is about to expire. This not only increases your brand’s credibility but its immediacy.

Smart Sign-Up Forms

When setting up your website and optimizing your IDX, keep in mind that you can capture the most leads through short online forms. When building out these forms, keep the requests short and simple in order to sustain the interest of potential clients. Messaging is important, so don’t be afraid to get a little creative and even offer a reward for filling in a form.

Focus On SEO

It’s no secret that Google prioritizes quality content. From keywords to blog content and meta data it will be important to have a solid SEO strategy in place to ensure that your website is given priority on major search platforms.

Do you have any additional questions about how to make the most of your IDX leads? Feel free to contact our friendly, knowledgeable staff with any inquiries or to learn more about our IDX solutions for real estate professionals like you! Call us at 805.413.7888.