One of the most important aspects of web design is compelling the visitor to interact with your website. Unfortunately, websites often fall short of successfully engaging the site visitor. Today, faster connections and new technologies are rewriting the way visitors use websites. We no longer have to settle for cumbersome forms and static text based interaction and can now incorporate graphical interfaces allowing users more interaction with the website. Below are a few examples of these up and coming technologies.

Click and Drag

Let’s face it, most MLS search pages look more like IRS tax forms than a way to search for homes. Now imagine allowing the site visitor to simply drag sliders for their desired price range, number of bedrooms and bathrooms. With the sliders engaged, the search results produce an interactive map populated with properties.

Suddenly, the site visitor is compelled to interact. In real time they see their results being updated as they interact with the website. This technology is already in place. In fact, you can see a working example by clicking here.

Drag and Drop

Another technology that has previously been missing from Web Design is the ability for a site visitor to “drag and drop”. Because users are already accustomed to this technique in everyday computing, it’s a great idea to incorporate Drag and Drop into your website. Microsoft’s Live Image search is a great example of this technology allowing users to drag images to their scratch pad. So how does this relate to the world of real estate? One application would be to enable visitors to search for homes and then save their favorites by dragging them into their own property organizer.

Real Time Forms

Forms have always required users to submit their information before it is stored and sent to the site owner. But what about the countless people who begin to fill out a form only to stop in the middle of the process because the form asked for too much personal data or they became frustrated with required fields. In the past, this information would have been lost. Now, the technology is available to store form information in real time. In other words, the user’s information is saved immediately as they type the first letter. In reality, it’s possible for you to receive the lead information and call the person before they have even hit submit! How’s that for quick response!

Make sure it’s useful

There is one thing to remember when incorporating new technology in your website - Don’t use technology just because you can! Always ask yourself “Does this feature enhance or distract from what the user came to my website for in the first place?” It was only a few years ago that everyone wanted to use flash technology. The problem was most of the time, the flash did nothing but get in the way of the visitors experience. Remember, the site visitor came to your website looking for information, not to see the latest in design and technology.

Now that you have it - Promote it

Once you have these innovative tools in place, it’s now time to tell everyone about it! The local newspaper in my area just published an article on the front page of the real estate section discussing the role of the internet in Real Estate. They mentioned that some websites even incorporate mortgage calculators (as if this was a new concept!) If simple things like Mortgage Calculators can make the paper, think about how much publicity your website will get!

• Send Press Releases - Newspapers are always searching for the innovative and news worthy. If you’re the first real estate agent in your area to incorporate new technology, tell others about it. (Click here for a sample press release)

• Brand it - Give your new tool a unique “branded” name. This allows you to promote your website’s new features and makes it harder for your competition to copy. When people refer to the tool by its unique name, they are actually reinforcing the brand and promoting you. Just remember to make sure the branded name clearly communicates what the tool is or what it does.

• Make it part of your marketing - Feature your new website in your print materials, listing presentation, newsletter, etc. The whole idea is to create as much marketing buzz as possible.

As time goes on, Web-base user interaction will become increasingly indistinguishable from even the most sophisticated stand alone software applications.  This means a far richer experience for your Web site visitor, and more business for you!

As owner of Dakno Marketing, a real estate web design and marketing firm, Brad Carroll is a noted “young entrepreneur” who partners with many of the most successful Realtors in the US and Canada. Dakno also serves as the Webmaster for RUSSER Communications and numerous other businesses and organizations. As a high honors graduate from Barton College, Brad now coaches other entrepreneurs across a broad spectrum of business sectors. An avid reader and blogger, Brad offers his tips to real estate technology and marketing via his website at www.dakno.com.