Internet Data Exchange is something that every real estate professional should know and use. In fact, if you’re serious about being able to tap into the MLS and tap into data that can be posted on your own website, it’s a must. The trick is to understand how to structure your
IDX real estate website in a way that’s helpful to you and to anyone who happens to visit the site. Here are some ideas on the elements you need to include.
Widgets Are Your Friends
One of the simplest ways to integrate IDX into a site is to use widgets. You’re already using them on your smartphone and on other devices. What you may not realize is there are widgets that you can place on your pages that help visitors look around and see if there are any properties they would like to look at more closely.
The widgets can allow for searches in multiple ways. For example, it’s possible to narrow the results based on location. The same can be done using a price range. Tapping into the Multiple Listing Service is simple using this approach. Best of all, you can also use this approach to tap into single listings that might be of interest to the website visitor.
Placement Matters
Where data is placed on the pages will always make a difference. When anyone navigates to a specific page, you want them to immediately find what led them to visit the page in the first place. That means making sure each page is not littered with unnecessary elements. In terms of the main focus of the page, make sure it’s front and center. The last thing you need is for a visitor to visit a page and have to hunt around for whatever motivated the individual to click on the page icon. Delays like that can kill interest immediately.
In other words, keep it crisp and clean. Ensure that the page’s purpose is clear and limited. You can always create other pages that serve more purposes rather than trying to include too much on a single page.
The Contact Page Must Be Easy to Reach at All Times
One issue that is sometimes overlooked has to do with contact information. No site visitor should have to navigate back to the home page in order to get to your contact information. For this reason, make sure there’s an easy-to-find contact link on each page. It may be on a side bar along the left side of the screen. It can also be part of the options included in a top or bottom bar. The point is to ensure that if the visitor decides to make contact, it’s possible to get to your contact page with a single click.
Fast Loading is a Must
You already know that fast-loading is essential in a world where patience is at a premium. This is as true for your IDX real estate website as it is for other types of websites. Remember that people may be visiting your site using smartphones, tablets, or laptops. In any case, the pages must load quickly. If they don’t, there’s a good chance that interested parties will tire of the wait and move on to a competitor site.
Do consider the elements you include and how the features work. In the best-case scenario, you’ll come up with a combination that assures a steady stream of traffic, holds the interest of your visitors, and ultimately sets the stage for making plenty of deals.
