To make a point, we did something a little different on this post…we started it with a call to action.
Calls to action are commonly ignored, rarely tested and one of the most under-appreciated elements of a real estate website.
For these reasons, the goals of this article will be to (1) teach you how important strong calls to action are and (2) give you the steps and tips needed to start creating, testing and optimizing your real estate calls to action.
What is a Call to Action?
Without well defined calls to action, a website will have an extremely difficult time of converting visitors to leads or sales.
One of the benefits of having a website is that you can control what you want your visitors to do on your site – if it’s setup correctly. If you want them to primarily look at specific featured properties and provide you with their information for additional property details, then you can and should make this your most prominent call to action on your website.
If you fail to do this, which many real estate websites do, then there’s a very good chance that you’re wasting time and money driving traffic to your website.
Let’s take a look at some examples of good and bad calls to action, how to create your own and what to know for the best results.
Live Examples of Real Estate Calls to Action
One of the best ways to learn what to do, and not to do, is by seeing actual examples.
For this reason we have put together some live examples of real estate calls to action that do a good job and do a bad job of enticing their visitors to click or act.
Good Examples of Real Estate CTAs
Here are a few websites that have done a great job with their calls to action…
(click the thumbnails below to see larger versions)
What makes these examples “good”?
- The most noticeable elements are the calls to action
- It’s immediately clear what the website wants visitors to do
- The calls to action are simple and enticing
Bad Examples of Real Estate CTAs
Here are a few websites that need some work on their calls to action, or lack thereof…
(click the thumbnails below to see larger versions)
What makes these examples “bad”?
- Nice designs, but lack of prominent calls to action
- Existing calls to action are not unique or enticing
- These websites are about the company, not the visitor
Most Commonly Used CTAs
Do not make the common mistake of over complicating things. The majority of visitors of real estate websites are primarily looking to do the following things (usually in this order):
- View properties
- Search the MLS
- Get a home valuation
- Learn about neighborhoods, schools, amenities
- Get mortgage information
- Contact a Realtor
It is important to keep these primary actions in mind when planning your calls to action. Many times people get a little carried away by offering things too far outside the scope of what people actually want the most. Keep things simple, clear and enticing and your website will convert your visitors into leads at higher rates than it ever has.
That said, if you just rely on the most commonly used calls to action that every other real estate website uses, then the chances of your visitors converting will be far less.
Here are some of the most common real estate calls to action that you might want to either avoid or rework to make your website more effective:
- Quick Search
- Search the MLS
- Get a Free Home Evaluation
- Help Me Relocate
- Sign Up for Property Updates
- Contact Us
You need to be more creative if you want your website to entice and capture your visitors. Our list below of CTA ideas should help.
Real Estate Calls to Action Starter List
If you are having trouble getting creative with your website’s calls to action or just need some ideas on where to start, then feel free to use the following list of real estate calls to action to kick things off.
- See examples of how we matched our clients with their dream homes.
- Read this newsletter and start saving tomorrow.
- Contact us today for a free report on real estate investments in City, State.
- Call now for a free home matching consultation.
- Learn how to buy a home for less than you are paying rent.
- Buy your next home for less than the cost of paying rent.
- Subscribe now for free tips on foreclosures and short sales.
- Enroll in our real estate investment class and increase your earning potential.
- Call us today at 855-446-3679 and ask about current promotions.
- Read how to save thousands on your next home.
- Relax. Finding Your Next Home is Just a Click Away.
- Watch this free video on making the most of your next home purchase.
- See how we’re helping our clients find their dream homes.
- Take our home buyers quiz / poll.
- Download The 10 Biggest Mistakes Home Sellers Make.
What Do You Want Your Visitors to Do?
Before you find the most effective calls to action for your website you must know what you want your visitors to do. For example, you’re primarily looking to attract sellers, then make sure your website communicates that and you’ll get more sellers leads (assuming you’ve followed our CTA tips above).
Once you have that information then get to work on creating, testing and optimizing your calls to action. Work with your real estate website designer / developer to implement these calls to action and make sure to carry these calls to action throughout all of your marketing whenever possible to enforce them and keep things consistent.
Good luck and let us know if you need some more real estate call to action inspiration.
And if you’re looking for other ways to increase your website’s conversion rate, then be sure to check out these handy resources…
- Convert Visitors Into Leads
- Creating a Genuine, Valuable Web Experience for Visitors
- Rethinking Your Outdated Website
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