In the current highly competitive and charged real estate market, people in the housing business need to do more than get an agent’s license. They need to take advantage of all the marketing tools and skills at their disposal. More than ever before, online strategies and websites are becoming the rule to effective marketing, rather than the exception.

People who want to learn how to use their websites for their housing business will find tons of theses about business and other great real estate business tips by doing some online research. Today, running a successful housing business means having more than a website, real estate blog, or Facebook business page. You need effective strategies for finding great sales opportunities and fresh leads.

Here are 5 ways for using your website for the housing business.

Make your Website Mobile-Friendly/Responsive

As more people use mobile devices to view websites and online content, you need to ensure that your website is mobile-friendly and responsive enough to stand out. Actually, more than half of the people visiting your website might be doing so from a mobile device such as a tablet or Smartphone.

When it comes to marketing real estate online, you need to ensure that viewers are seeing prospective houses in their best light to attract leads. Your website’s design, therefore, must be fluid enough. Essentially, your text and images must transfer seamlessly from desktop devices to smaller devices such as tablets.

Responsive website design will translate into more leads, views, and sales since viewers will appreciate its accessibility from different types of devices. You should also optimize your email for mobile marketing and follow the best practices for mobile email marketing.

Keep Tabs on the Local Market

The power of the internet can help you target specific real estate markets. Both first-time and tech-savvy buyers, as well as sellers, like to perform online research for prospective homes at their convenience. Therefore, it is important to meet them when and where they are. In the local market, in particular, buyers want real estate agents to provide details about neighborhood characteristics and demographics including:

Type of property

Neighborhood facilities

Public amenities

Schools

Price ranges

Evaluations and tax rates

The more relevant and updated information you can provide, the more likely you are to make a sale.

Build your Buyers List and Email Prospect

It is not always possible to convert every site visitor into a buyer overnight; however, if you capture his/her contact information, you will be able to make an impression on him/her over time. Email marketing is an effective tool for real estate agents, especially when it comes to providing monthly market updates, open house invitations, and tips for prospective buyers in transition.

Encourage Customer Reviews

Customer reviews are a good way to build up your reputation as a real estate agent, especially following a successful sale. Such reviews should be on high-traffic real estate sites, such as Homes.com and Zillow.com, which attract millions of visitors each month. You should also turn some of the best reviews you get into testimonials for your real estate site.

Use Attractive Cover Photos

It is important to display houses both outside and inside using large and attractive photos in order to show them in their best light. It also helps to add a link for prospective buyers to access specific details about your listed properties or an upcoming event. Cover photos are especially effective on sites such as LinkedIn, Google+, and Twitter.

The digital real estate market is something you can tap into without massive risks. In fact, it is the perfect time for real estate agents to market themselves online and reap the benefits of internet marketing.