Building a satellite site for your latest property development can significantly boost your online presence, attract potential buyers, and showcase your projects more effectively. But how do you create a satellite site that not only looks great but also drives results? In this blog, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to build the perfect property development satellite site, ensuring it is both visually appealing and highly functional.
1. Choose the Right Platform
Selecting the right platform for your satellite site is a key decision that will impact its performance and ease of management. Consider platforms that offer flexibility, ease of use, and scalability. WordPress is a popular choice due to its extensive customization options and user-friendly interface, but there are other options like Wix or Squarespace that may suit smaller projects.
Tip: If you plan to expand the site or add more features in the future, choose a platform that can grow with your needs.
2. Focus on User Experience (UX)
User experience is critical to the success of your satellite site. Visitors should find the site easy to navigate, with intuitive menus, clear calls-to-action, and fast load times. A well-designed UX not only improves user satisfaction but also boosts your site’s SEO performance, as search engines prioritise sites that offer a great user experience.
Tip: Conduct usability testing with a small group of users before launching to identify and fix any potential UX issues.
3. Design with Visual Appeal in Mind
Your satellite site should be visually appealing and reflect the quality of your property developments. High-quality images, a clean layout, and a consistent colour scheme that aligns with your brand identity are essential. The design should be modern and professional, giving visitors a positive first impression of your company and its projects.
Tip: Invest in professional photography and consider using drone footage to showcase your developments from unique angles.
4. Optimise for Mobile Devices
With a significant portion of web traffic coming from mobile devices, it’s imperative that your satellite site is mobile-friendly. A responsive design ensures that your site looks and functions well on all devices, from desktops to smartphones. Mobile optimization not only enhances user experience but also improves your site’s ranking in mobile search results.
Tip: Test your site on various devices and screen sizes to ensure a seamless mobile experience.
5. Highlight Key Development USPs
Your satellite site should prominently feature your most important property development unique selling points. Use dedicated pages to showcase each benefit, including detailed descriptions, high-quality images, floor plans, and virtual tours. This not only attracts potential buyers but also enhances your credibility as a property developer.
Tip: Include testimonials and case studies on these pages to provide social proof and build trust with visitors.
6. Incorporate SEO Best Practices
Even if you only intend to use the satellite site until all the units in your development have been sold, that doesn’t mean you should ignore search engine optimization (SEO). This practice is essential for driving organic traffic to your satellite site, so conduct keyword research to identify the terms your target audience is searching for, and incorporate these keywords into your site’s content, meta descriptions, and headers. On-page SEO should also include optimising image alt text, using clean URLs, and ensuring fast page load times.
Tip: Prominently feature the address and wider location of your development in your content to capture traffic searching for investments in that specific area.
7. Implement Strong Calls-to-Action (CTAs)
Every page on your satellite site should include clear and compelling calls-to-action (CTAs) that guide visitors towards taking the next step, whether it’s contacting your sales team, signing up for a newsletter, or downloading a brochure. Effective CTAs are crucial for converting site visitors into leads.
Tip: Test different CTA placements, colours, and wording to determine what works best for your audience.
8. Leverage Social Proof
Social proof, such as customer testimonials, reviews, and case studies, is a powerful tool for building trust with your audience. Feature testimonials from satisfied clients on your homepage and project pages, and consider integrating a review platform like Trustpilot directly into your site.
Tip: Use real names and photos with testimonials to add authenticity and credibility.
9. Integrate Lead Capture Forms
To convert visitors into leads, integrate lead capture forms on key pages of your satellite site. These forms should be simple and easy to complete, asking for just enough information to follow up with potential clients. Offer something of value in exchange for contact details, such as a downloadable guide or an invitation to an exclusive event.
Tip: Place lead capture forms above the fold on your homepage and project pages for maximum visibility.
10. Store Data in a CRM
Ensuring any lead data your satellite site captures is securely held allows your team to reach out to them directly or via an email marketing campaign. Using a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software like HubSpot makes sure you don’t lose any data, while also allowing you to use it as part of sales campaigns for future property developments.
Tip: Review and segment your CRM data to more effectively market to leads and prospects in the future.
11. Ensure Fast Load Times
Site speed is a crucial factor in both user experience and SEO. A slow-loading site can frustrate visitors and lead to high bounce rates. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to analyse your site’s performance and identify areas for improvement.
Tip: Optimise images, leverage browser caching, and minimise HTTP requests to improve your site’s load times.
12. Use Analytics to Track Performance
Once your satellite site is live, use analytics tools like Google Analytics to monitor its performance. Track key metrics such as page views, bounce rate, and conversion rate to gain insights into how visitors are interacting with your site. This data will help you make informed decisions about future updates and improvements.
Tip: Set up goal tracking in Google Analytics to measure the effectiveness of your lead capture forms and CTAs.
13. Incorporate Video Content
Video is an engaging and effective way to showcase your property development. Consider incorporating video content such as virtual tours, project overviews, and client testimonials into your satellite site. Video not only enhances the user experience but also boosts your site’s SEO, as search engines favour sites with multimedia content.
Tip: Host videos on platforms like YouTube or Vimeo to improve load times and increase visibility across different channels.
Conclusion
Building the perfect property development satellite site takes careful planning and attention to detail. By focusing on user experience, strong content, and ongoing engagement, you can create a site that not only looks great but also drives meaningful results for your business. Remember, the key to success lies in understanding your audience and providing them with the tools and information they need to make informed decisions.
