As the existence of STOREYS as an online-only publication proves, the world of real estate has received no free pass from the digital age's grasp.
But as the world of realty shifts evermore in the virtual direction, those in the business of selling said real estate -- agents and brokers, that's you -- are faced with a challenge: Keeping up with the evolution.
And (we hate to be the bearers of bad news, but) building a website from scratch can be a challenge. From HTML to CSS to optimizing UX, there are countless details to check off the website-creation to-do list, and there's a dictionary's worth of terms to learn if you're fresh to cyberspace. If you're not fresh to cyberspace, but you sense your website could be fresher, lean in: It's not just being online that's important, but being online well.
This is where GoDaddy comes in. (And where we make up for being previous bearers of bad news.)
Considering that owning your own corner of the web is no longer just beneficial, but essential, real estate insiders will be wise to source an accessible, intuitive, and cost-effective way to do just that. Responding to this call, and serving as an all-in-one solution that combines web-building and marketing tools,GoDaddy Websites + Marketing answers the questions of, "What am I doing?" and, more importantly, "How am I doing it?"
“Creating my website was way easier than I had anticipated,” says Ontario real estate agent and broker, Anna Depalma. “GoDaddy offers professionally designed templates so I was able to create a modern and professional website with no technical skills required!”
Serving more than 1 million customers across Canada alone, GoDaddy is the world's largest domain name registrar and the company that empowers everyday entrepreneurs. There's no surprise then, that Depalma, a real estate broker serving Dufferin County and the surrounding area, found both solace and success via the provider's offerings.
Anna Depalma, Real Estate Broker
For those without any website-building background, GoDaddy provides designer-made templates, which make creating a dream site a quick-and-easy breeze. On the other hand, someone with tech experience can get playful with the platform, tweaking templates to align with their exact vision.
“You don’t need to be a tech expert to create a website,” says Anne De Aragon, Vice President and Country Manager, GoDaddy Canada. “With GoDaddy Websites + Marketing, you can easily create a website by choosing professional-looking templates across a variety of business verticals to uniquely customize the website for your business.”
All the while, marketing tools that are built into the provider's system aid businesses in pushing their brands even further, ensuring an agent's names and listings are found in all the right places.
“Having a GoDaddy website has been a game-changer,” says Depalma, whose business has grown substantially with the integration of her social channels and her new website.
annadepalma.ca
In the last several years -- and especially throughout 2020-21 in particular -- realtors and brokers have seen a particularly unique opportunity to pivot their practices to the virtual scene.
No longer does a potential homebuyer need to visit a property to decide if they're going to take the plunge on a new abode. Instead, thanks to increasingly intuitive and high-quality online tools, a virtual tour is arguably as effective as the "real" thing (...And these days, all parties benefit from the physical distancing bonus that comes with internet-based house hunting).
With consideration of realtor and broker needs, GoDaddy's repertoire goes beyond those of a premium web hosting service; the provider also boasts a strong search engine optimization (SEO) strategy. When a potential homebuyer is seeking out agents in their preferred area, for example, you want to ensure you're at the top of their search results list. GoDaddy makes sure you are.
Another must-have for agents is, of course, a quick and easy way to embed listings on their website. While this process can involve messy HTML codes and plenty of room for error, GoDaddy makes it easy. The full run-down on how to bring MLS listings onto your GoDaddy site can be found here, but to summarize, the steps are simple:
- Log into your Premium or Ecommerce GoDaddy account, select your product, and click "edit site"
- Scroll to your site's main view and click "add section;" from the options that pop up, choose "MLS/IDX Real Estate Listings"
- Choose your preferred layout and click "add"
- Paste your API Key into the box that reads "Enter API Key," and the listing should populate shortly!
“We encourage realtors to build a website to support their business growth,” says De Aragon. “GoDaddy has everything you need as a one-stop shop to help get your business off the ground, easily build your website and get found online.”
And back to the idea of not just being online, but being online well, GoDaddy also recognizes the importance of a well-rounded digital presence. What an individuals' online presence looks like, as well as what it's supported by, are other pivotal factors that determine how effectively a brand serves its audience.
Lucky for those floundering to figure out how their key messaging, URLs, and social media handles should be aligned, GoDaddy's additional services can help. Extra tools that can support your brand's growth include: email and Office 365 integration; a digital marketing suite; and appointment scheduler, all of which make easy work of connecting with clients in a way that feels honest, earnest, and personal.
annadepalma.ca
“There’s never a better time to start than now,” says Depalma. “Many people think social media only is the way to go but I promise you will see so much more success by integrating several tools, like a website, into your digital marketing plan.”
There's an old adage that says if you give someone a fish, they'll eat for a day, but if you teach them to fish, they'll eat for a lifetime.
In the case of GoDaddy's offerings -- and how the platform equips users with all the tools needed to create and maintain a successful online platform -- it could be said the company's in the industry of teaching real estate agents how to fish.
And a lifelong stream of opportunity sounds like a pretty sweet deal to us.
This article was produced in partnership with STOREYS Custom Studio.
