In our last Friday Feature Focus, we discussed town pages & creating custom search boundaries for searches and town pages. This week, we'll be covering our interactive POI mapping tool, powered by Yelp.

In a standard Sequoia search, properties are shown both in search results and on each property's details page on a Google map, thanks to our proprietary LogicMaps tools. Now, you can go one step further and showcase the advantages and amenities of a location and all it has to offer - by using the rich, dynamic data provided by Yelp!

So what does this mean for you?

We can display local business and POI (Point of Interest) information, constantly updated by real users, right alongside the properties you are searching for.  So, as new neighborhood establishments open up and close down, or their products and services (and the opinions of their patrons) change, so will the information on your website.

You can watch a demonstration of our Yelp tool for the Sequoia platform in the video below-

If your Sequoia site doesn't already include this great feature, or you want to learn more about Sequoia, contact our sales team today!

WHAT IS A TOWN PAGE?

Town Pages is an optional component of the Sequoia System, integrated with our user-friendly Content Management System. A Town Page allows you to easily publish custom content about any towns, neighborhoods, or even custom areas you draw on a map yourself! Then you can decide what listings to show on these pages by setting up simple IDX search criteria, as easily as if you were searching for a listing. (The tool is shown below.)

Sequoia System Town Pages

The ability to create your own custom search boundaries for Town Pages gives you unlimited flexibility to display your listings. For example, you might have exclusive listings near a popular shopping district or a convenient public transit station. Sequoia gives you the ability to draw this area on a map and return only the listings within the area you create.

Create Custom Search Boundaries

The dynamic content shown on these pages (the IDX listings sourced daily based on your custom criteria) plus your own unique, custom written content will help your site rank better - it's a one-two punch that search engines absolutely LOVE. On a more personal level, Town Pages helps you market listings and target different segments in a unique manner - highlighting the benefits of a location while showcasing the great properties there, right on the same page.

Learn how to create Town Pages here.

If your Sequoia site doesn't already include this great feature, contact our sales team today!

Congratulations to Owner Alex Hodara and his team on their new Sequoia website- Boston Logic's first site launch of the New Year! At age 23, in January of 2009, Alex started what CNBC coined "the first student run real estate brokerage"- quickly growing from 4 rental agents showing apartments for just a few landlords, to 12 agents showing apartments for over 100 landlords in the greater Boston area. Hodara has recently been featured in Forbes' 30 Under 30 rising stars and 'disrupters' in the Real Estate category, and was honored by Businessweek last year as one of America's Best Young Entrepreneurs.

Hodara told Boston Logic that his website was simply not producing leads and lacked the user utilities to do so. He wanted a new site that would compliment his personal brand and reputation, act as a strong foundation for his rapid business growth, and continue to propel his success in a competitive online marketplace. Hodara chose our Modified Website Design Theme, backed by the Sequoia platform's specially integrated YouGotListings, Town Pages, and interactive search map.

Schedule a no-pressure demo today to learn more about how Boston Logic's cutting-edge website design, Sequoia software platform, and online marketing services can take your real estate business to the next level!

Custom Search Map

Windwalker Real Estate has been a Boston Logic client for several years. Their premier Nantucket real estate market research sets them apart from their competition as they dominate the local market. Seeking to differentiate their sales and rentals brands, as well as to increase their search engine rankings, Windwalker recently split their website into two distinct entities - Windwalkerrealestate.com, freshly built on the Sequoia platform, and Windwalkerrentals.com, their prior third party website devoted to seasonal rentals on the island of Nantucket.

Custom Research Page

Windwalker RE wanted to put increased focus on their sales brand, and as such engaged Boston Logic not only for a strong SEO and Social Media campaign for the new site (in addition to the campaign we manage for their rentals website), but also a full custom design for their new sales website.

This design also included a clickable graphic search map tool which interfaces with Windwalker's Town Pages component - these two tools in concert provide a fun and intuitive user interface which handsomely compliments the look and feel of this sophisticated design theme.

Contact us to learn more about how we can make the Sequoia Website Platform work for you!

1) Get savvy with online techniques- utilize and employ social media applications, tools, and SEO tactics
2) Think outside of the box- draw attention to your website with creative marketing and outbound communication

Last, but certainly not least, let's talk about some traditional and new methods of reaching your audience offline...

Business Cards & Stationary

If you were thinking that your company logo, business cards, or stationary could use a facelift (or you don’t have any yet) you’ll want to make sure that you have consistent branding throughout your collateral that compliments the theme and design of your new website.

Now’s your chance to decide on new branding, such as color schemes, fonts, and logos! Boston Logic’s design team can help.  You’ll want to try to coordinate the launch of the new site with the printing of your newly branded collateral so you’ll have it ready to go for a strong, unified launch.

QR Codes

Show off how hip you are by adding a QR code to the back of your business cards, in printed advertisements, on ‘Open House’ & ‘For Sale’ signs, event signage, etc. that lead users to your website when scanned on their smart phones.

The Sequoia System adds QR Codes to your Listing Sheets and Showing Sheets.

Conferences & Events

If you're attending trade shows or conferences, be sure to have a monitor up at your booth showing off the new site. If you are speaking or presenting at an event, you can announce it at the end of your talk directing the audience to contact you after the event. Make sure you’ve got signage and handouts with your new website URL and/ or QR codes leading to pages on your site.

Your Office Windows & Reception Area

If your company has an office, or multiple office locations, you can put signage in your windows announcing the new site. Leave extra trade show brochures in your reception area for visitors to take with them when they leave, and hopefully they will re-visit your site.

Host a Party!

If you’re an established company or have a large list of contacts, host a launch party to thank loyal customers- celebrate the new website during the party on a projector or during a speech, etc.

Make a Facebook Event to promote your actual launch party if you’re having one. If not, consider hosting a Virtual Launch Party and make an Event for that!  Just like a newsletter announcement, you’ll want to include an intriguing image and highlight the coolest elements about the new website. A little incentive to visit the site/attend the [virtual] party is a good idea, too! It has to be fun and creative or people will look at your communication as spam.

Press Releases

You could do a traditional press release along with self-promoting your blog about the website launch, but your new website alone may not be deemed news-worthy by bigger outlets, so make sure you submit your press release to industry-specific news publications or magazines, as well as or local newspapers and business journals.

If your press release is published, be sure to announce, share, Re-tweet, and link to the publications that feature your website on your various social media sites (i.e Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook) as a way of saying ‘thank you’ and getting that content more attention.

The After Math -- Your Content Strategy & Schedule

If you’ve ever attended a Boston Logic LogicClassroom, you know that we always preach ‘Content is King’ when it comes to developing your brand online, and increasing your website traffic, lead generation and search engine ranking. Once the initial fan-fair of your new website announcement dies down, you’ll want to ensure you are enticing people to continue to visit your website!

This means you’ll want to come up with a Content Creation Strategy (i.e. a plan to write Town Pages for all the areas you serve, or to create a section of your site with Buyer or Seller Resources, etc.), and blogging schedule for your internal team. I’d suggest blogging about twice per week (more if you have the time and resources!) when you first launch your site so that you are generating fresh, keyword-rich content regularly.

Informative, entertaining, and useful blogs are the most popular blogs. Consider writing downloadable ‘White Papers’ that your potential clients would want to read, and require an email address to download the content to capture more leads.

Research proves, blogging regularly to create fresh content for your site will encourage people to come back and increase your search engine ranking and lead capture.

If you just launched a new website and you have any additional questions or comments- don't hesitate to reach out to our team of marketing experts!

New ideas or success stories of what's working? We'll take those too!

And if you're stuck in a rut with your current website provider, and you're now realizing the benefits of having a great platform and design to help grow your business online- contact us today for a no-pressure consultation

Good luck!

Click the image below to watch the video on YouTube, or check out the embedded video on the BostonLogic.com home page!

The following is an excerpt of the video transcript:

Attention Realtors! Are you tired of spending money online without seeing results?

After years in the real estate business, and working with thousands of Realtors, we know that if you’re watching this video, you’ve either tried to leverage the web and haven’t seen the results you need, or you have yet to make an investment online and you know that now is the time.

At Boston Logic, every product and service we offer is designed to help your real estate business grow and succeed by bringing you more customers and more deals.

At the heart of this mission is the Sequoia platform - the most advanced online marketing and lead management software available for the real estate business! Powerful and easy to use, Sequoia saves you time and money, and helps you work less and earn more! Let’s explore just how we do this.

Our experience has taught us that almost every broker and agent wants and needs the same things to succeed online.

Realtors want:

• A great looking website
• That ranks in search engines
• And generates lots of user traffic and high quality leads.
• Better lead management and Customer Relationship Management software -
• That’s built for the real estate process from first contact to the closing table.

Realtors need:

• A highly interactive MLS search which keeps users coming back to your site
• Easy to use Social Media tools
• Friendly support and training personnel who are only a call away
• AND they want all of this to be easy to use and manage.

Watch the full video to find out more about the Boston Logic Sequoia platform, or contact us to schedule a demo of the Sequoia Software to see what the most cutting-edge real estate website  software can do for you!

"Dear David,

So as not to let the moment pass, I want to thank everyone involved in the launch and ease of implementation of our new real estate website.  We still have a steep learning curve ahead but are enjoying the process.

See the new Boston Logic site at www.mvbuyeragents.com

Statistics a bit hard to gauge in a few days particularly our 2 slowest days of the week.  However, our two prime concerns have had a dramatic turnaround in Google Analytics:  Bounce rate has dropped 46% to 35% and Average Time on Site increased 187% to 4:53.

Thank you again, and I look forward to years of successful association." Fred, Martha's Vineyard Buyer Agents

Visit the Martha's Vineyard real estate website at www.mvbuyeragents.com to see more of Boston Logic's work and real estate website design and functionality capabilities!

Ready to get started with your own real estate website? Contact Boston Logic today to get started!

"As a veteran Boston real estate broker, I have witnessed the real estate industry’s transformation from newspaper ads and 'walk-ins' to an internet-driven profession.  Boston Logic has been instrumental in adapting our business to the new world of selling and renting via the internet.  The staff is extremely tech savvy and personable, making the difficult transition from old marketing strategies to new ones easier than we could have imagined.  I think that the source of this amiable technological expertise starts at the top with David Friedman.  David fuses technological brilliance with integrity and a commitment to excellence.  Boston Logic has improved our business production as well as  our company internet image and I heartily recommend them." - Joseph Palermino, Managing Partner, Cabot & Company, 213 Newbury Street, Boston, MA

To learn more about the Sequoia platform, its capabilities, and to view various design options, contact the Boston Logic sales team today at 617-266-9166.

Read more about the new site launch on the full post at the Sequoia Blog.

Cabot & Company represents residential buyers and renters in Boston's premiere Back Bay and Beacon Hill neighborhoods and beyond.Read

Boston Logic always updates its real estate web site design software to keep real estate brokerages and agents ahead of the online curve. Last December, we launched our new CRM component to track and manage leads and workflow within the Sequoia platform.

We'll take a look at some quick tips for using the CRM component, as well as some time saving, day-to-day tools for interacting with your clients. We'll also take a look at how the information uploaded to the platform could be used to get real time data about how your brokerages is performing, where your leads are coming from, and what is happening to those leads after your agents receive them.

We also launched a new feature for our Content Management System (CMS) called Sidebar Widgets.  We'll show you how to use the Sidebar Widgets tool to customize your site even further, giving your users the most comfortable and enjoyable online experience possible.

Learn these handy tips for getting the most out of your Sequoia software from Boston Logic on March 8th at 5pm!

You are welcome to attend at the Boston Logic Office (view map) or participate through an online webinar at your convenience.

To attend, please contact Katrina at 617.266.9166 or by email at ksierant@bostonlogic.com. Please specify whether you will attend the class at our office or online.

We look forward to seeing you there!