Congratulations to Grand Prize Winner, www.CharlestonYourHome.com by Diane Szoke & Carolyn Dubrofsky of Charleston Your Home, in Charleston, SC.
Here’s what Allen Hainge had to say about our winner:
There are many outstanding features of this site, too many to mention here, but these are some of the significant ones:
- This site focuses on providing information for the consumer, rather than on the agents. One simple link marked “Agent Info” at the top of each page is a nice, low key way to provide the viewer with agent information.
- Every page exhibits professionalism, both in page design, text and graphics. Ample evidence suggests that these agents and their designer really understand the principle of “keep it simple” as well.
- Information on this site is very complete and comes through without clutter, as exemplified in the buyer and seller information sections. The majority of agent sites require the viewer to scroll numerous times to view such information. This site presents each step in one easy-to-view page. Moving to the next step is easily accomplished via a page-by-page menu at the top of the page. It is a nice concept, one which should be followed on more agents. Once again, great text and great graphics are characteristic of this section.
- An emphasis on area information is evident. Cultural events, dining, shopping, schools, interesting facts, accommodations and more are presented in an informative and pleasing manner under “Charleston Essentials.” Each page in this section focuses on one category at a time, without clutter, and provides a menu of other categories subtly and effectively.
- Unlike many agent sites, this site demonstrates an understanding where they are going to live is as important as the home itself in the minds of buyers. While not as extensive as on some sites, community and area information is still very complete and very well done, starting with an interactive map which allows viewers to click on a number of communities. Each community page allows visitors to see general area information and provides links to community Web sites which show them more.
- Blogs and podcasts, elements of “Web 2.0,” are effective, immediate ways of getting information to today’s consumer. Used effectively, they build an on-going link to such consumers. Recognizing this, these agents provide a link to an extremely well-done blog.
- This site goes beyond selling and listing homes in that it promotes community outreach. It features an appeal for support of CARMA (Charleston Area Realtors for Meaningful Assistance) and the “The Giving Tree.”
Does Your Website Need Help?
The agent Website is an agent’s most effective (and cost effective!) marketing tool. If you would like Allen Hainge to do an individual online evaluation of your site, please email him at Allen@AFHSeminars.com or visit www.CyberStars.net for details and pricing.
About Allen Hainge:
Allen F. Hainge, CRS, is the president of the Allen F. Hainge CyberStars® (www.CyberStars.net), a group of 200 agents from the US, Canada, the Bahamas and Australia who dominate their markets through the use of today’s technology. Allen has conducted real estate marketing seminars in 43 states, has been a featured technology speaker at 12 NAR annual conventions and at numerous franchise national conventions. He is an instructor for the CRS 2-day technology course nationwide.
His real estate marketing blog can be found at http://blog.cyberstars.net, and he is a frequent contributor to ActiveRain.
