Know-How Exchange : Website Critique

Dear JamesHelmsJr,

Read all the commetns I made on this post and ask yourself
"How can I apply these ideas to real estate?"

www.marketingprofs.com/ea/qst_question.asp?qstID=29335

Make it work for you: video walkthroughs of premium homes,
time lapse move in, move out videos, sign up offers in exchange
for names, e-mail addresses and referrals.

I hope this helps.

Gary Bloomer
Wilmington, DE, USA

"Why buy OLD, when YOU can have NEW" isn't a strong reason for me to contact your company.

Are new homes
...better investments?
...easier to finance?
...more energy efficient?
...cheaper to maintain?
...in better school districts?

New isn't always better - especially for some of your target market (the older population).

James,

Tear it apart, No. Honest feedback, Yes

I feel your current site does not answer some of the basic questions.

What is the purpose for the site?
Who is your target audience?
What do you want me the user to do when I get on the site. Call you, fill out your form, etc?

I'm going to start at the top of the page where everyone' s eyes are going first.

Your photo of the cut off door with the room and the swan does nothing for you. I kept wanting to scroll up so the door would not be cut off. Is your company name Keyes or The New Home Construction Team? This is confusing. Also being that both logos are on the right hand side of the page, they look like they were just stuck there as an afterthought. You want people to know who you are, it builds instant credibility with your visitors. People read left to right and scan a site. Make your logo and name stand out and put it on the left hand side of the page.

Again, I'm lost as to who your audience is? If you are promoting the Florida Lifestyle then I would come right out and talk about it. The home page text is confusing.

The interior pages of the site promote ocean front and luxury homes but your home page text promotes a totally different audience.

Your Find My Home Form needs to changed. I have been in the web business for 10 years and I have never seen My First Name is and My Last Name is, etc. Use a standard form with standard verbiage. Name, Address, Phone, Email, etc.

I would recommend changing the content on most pages. The selling page talks about selling your old home and has a large photo of a for sale sign. The market is tough right now, if I want the Florida Lifestyle I need professionals to help sell my home. If you want to be my real estate agent then let me know what you can do for me.

Remove the blog posting from your home page. Have a link to your blog and come up with some reason for people to read your blog. Check out the latest information on Florida Lifestyle by reading our blog. Click here.

You are in a competitive market, you need to stand above the rest and your current site does not do that for you.

I hope what I said helps.

Brian Bearden
Houston, TX