September 3, 2024
In an era where 97% of homebuyers start their property search online, having just a website is no longer enough for real estate businesses.
With the August 2024 Google Core Update heavily focusing on user intent and experience, real estate websites face a critical challenge: adapt or risk being left behind in search rankings.
Today, the most successful real estate websites master both UX and SEO to build trust, engage visitors, and convert leads into clients.
SEO and UX were once different ends of the same stick. Nowadays, SEO is about keywords, backlinks, and technicalities, whereas UX is how users engage with their websites.
However, this has changed as search engines like Google shifted gears towards user-centered content and user experiences. Search engines wish to give the best user experience.
Search engines expect websites to deliver relevant and valuable results to their users.
Real estate websites are starting to focus on the relationship between UX and SEO. People prefer a better intuitive navigation pattern for a website that involves financial transactions.
Good UX is not just about delighting the user; good search signals are sent in that process. It says the site is credible and relevant, thus further benefitting search rankings. Moreover, it helps convert leads into sales. We shall see the key UX elements you should focus on in 2024 for better search rankings.
According to the National Association of Realtors report, over 76% of homebuyers use a mobile device to search for a home. So, they will also use the same mobile device or tablet when selling a house.
A mobile-friendly website can capture this millennial audience. A site that effortlessly flows through various screen sizes is a must. It ensures that users can quickly ask for a cash offer, regardless of their device.
Search engines also love mobile-friendly sites, and bad mobile UX leads to high bounce rates, which kills your SEO efforts.
Websites not optimized for mobile devices experience a 90% higher bounce rate, as reported by Think with Google.
A 1-second page load time can lead to a 3.05% conversion rate, according to a study by Portent in 2022.
For real estate websites, this means if you go below this page load time, you will lose leads. In highly profitable real estate, seconds make a huge difference.
Slow websites frustrate users and increase abandonment. This truth has also dawned on search engines, and site speed is becoming an increasingly important ranking factor.
As highlighted by Google’s Mobile Speed report, a page that takes beyond 3 seconds to load increases the likelihood of users bouncing by 53%.
In a nutshell, fast loading of your real estate website ensures user satisfaction and boosts search rankings.
For real estate, content that includes property details, neighborhood insights, and mortgage advice can significantly boost SEO performance.
Content, no doubt, is the king, but the bullseye to stick with is not so much the quantum of content you carry but the quality of that content.
Authentic real estate websites should share valuable and informative content regarding their needs: neighborhood guides or tenant problem advice.
The interactive content will get more shares and backlinks. It will also keep users on your site. The more time a user spends on your website, the more positive the signal is to Google.
75% of consumers admit to judging a company’s credibility based on its website design, as found in a 2023 study by Stanford University.
Real estate websites must have a visually appealing and professionally designed interface. High-quality images, virtual tours, and interactive maps enhance user experience.
A good real estate website design will reduce high bounce rates. It will signal the search engines that your site is of high value.
Hubspot says that websites with personalized CTAs can yield 202% more results. Real estate websites should use CTAs to guide users toward actions like asking for a free cash offer.
A real estate website exists for one reason at the end of the day: conversion. The UX should lead users to an easy-to-locate call to action.
Place CTAs correctly and create natural pathways relative to user intent. It increases conversion rates and boosts SEO performance.
Approximately 70% of small business websites do not have a clear CTA on their homepage. Missing clear CTAs can lead to missed opportunities for conversions.
The SEO landscape continues to change periodically. UX may not be the focus of most real estate websites, but it is essential for SEO success.
Allowing user experience to come first in the real estate business makes it possible for a website to rank higher on result pages. It can attract better traffic to the page and, at a later stage, turn that traffic into actual sales.
For the best UX and SEO for Real Estate Investors, call 770 872 7833. SEO To Real Estate Investors regularly posts blogs on real estate and SEO trends. To stay updated, keep following our digital footprints.
Visit our blog for more details: Understanding Core Web Vitals: Enhancing User Experience and SEO for Real Estate.
