New Wordpress REI Theme website - Feedback request

Hi all,

I have been working over the past two weeks learning wordpress and putting together a website for my business. I would like to get some feedback from the experts as to the feel of the site, the flow of the site, its efficacy at holding viewers, functions, image use, form use and coverage, professionalism (not cheap looking)etc… As you know Wordpress was designed as a blog interface, but is now used for websites as well. I plan on linking other REI blogs to mine as well as create my own. I’m curious what you have done to improve you ranking with the top engines - backlinks, SEO plugins, key/ tag word usage, etc… A website with nothing driving viewers to see it is worthless. So let me have it! In advance I appreciate all type of responses and thank you in advance.

Best Regards,

Chris Schaefer
http://www.nw-webuyhomes.com
(looking for additional mentor - if anyone has suggestions)

Looks pretty good. Just a few things, which I am sure you may already be aware as you mentioned it is a work in progress.

The following suggestions depend on whether or not you are targeting investors or home owners. Judging by the “Dear Home Seller”, I am guessing you are trying to market to home owners.
-I’d remove the poll for “is 2010 going to be a good year for real estate investors”, might be a little demeaning to potential sellers. -Same with the success quote, as it probably doesn’t make them feel that great since they have endured some sort of failure, whether it is their own doing or not.
-Adding a video for some personal contact would be good, may even get you stopped in public by sellers who saw you on the video but did not submit their info for some reason…maybe they are not that desperate yet.
-Closing cost estimator? Maybe for the investors, but for the home owner it could send the message - you’ll be responsible for closing costs.

Thanks here2learn,

I agree with your comments. I questioned myself when I was placing those. I planned the site as a dual purpose site. One - to allow potential customers to come and take a look around and contact me about their home. Two - for potential investors/ buyers. So I can add them to my buyers list. I am going to update the site with an alternate quote (or remve it entirely) and change the poll. I also agree that it would be a good idea for a video. I have everything I need, but to make a video and launch it. Today I added a language plugin to allow for various translation. I currently have it set for Spanish and English because where I live there is a significant hispanic population that may need help as well. What do you think about that? I appreciate your time.

Chris

you need separate sites for each type of visitor

one site for selling your houses

one site for foreclosure investing

one site for probate investing

etc, etc…

Why, because you need to gather their info right off.

Your message needs to be directed to exactly the person that is visiting.
One size fits all is no longer the way to go.

Squeeze pages are what works.

I advice is to make it look professional and neat, easy to navigate and not filled with advertisements. things like this keeps on making people come back to your site and browse for stuffs.

Post an ad on craigslist that points to a squeeze page. Give the user an input for their email, phone, and name. Also give them a link that will allow them to go directly to your site without filling out the info. You don’t want to trap them into your squeeze page. At least give them the opportunity to read more about you. A video on your squeeze page is good too. Keep it simple.

Imagine that people are half asleep visiting your site. You have to put your offer on a platter that is easy to digest.