Still hiding in your Sunday newspaper listings? More prospects now using the Internet

While some homebuyers may stumble across their real estate agents by answering ads for property sales, more and more are starting to shop for their agents before even beginning the house hunt.

A recent study by the California Association of REALTORS® revealed that more than half of all consumers are now using the Internet when buying a home. It also revealed that those Internet buyers spent more than twice as much time gathering information prior to contacting a real estate agent when compared to traditional buyers.

As this survey suggests, providing consumers with an informative, personalized website is imperative for agents who want to set themselves apart from the crowd-and, of course, get more leads.

Drive traffic to your website by including its address on your flyers, business cards, signs and print advertisements. And you'll want to look at your website with the eye of a buyer. Does your site's content answer the basic questions prospects have?

Why should I work with you? Including a bio on your website is an easy way for you to write a personal answer to this basic question most buyers ask. Detail your experience, how you do business, how you can help them and be sure to include your photo.

But why stop there? Let your potential customers get a taste for who you are as well. Include your background, how you got started in the field, your children's or pets' names and what you like to do in your spare time. Homebuyers want to find an agent whom they can have a relationship with and who they can trust to handle one of the largest purchases they'll ever make. Just be sure you don't include anything that might entice Cyber-criminals-your website is viewable to anyone cruising the Internet.

What can I expect when buying a house? Considering the magnitude of what they're about to purchase, most homebuyers like to know what to expect as they move through the purchasing process. Arm them with everything they'll need to know on your website. If you have an Agent XSite, you can choose from more than 60 different content pages and features like adjustable or fixed rate mortgage calculators, loan application and homebuyer checklists and tips on saving money for the down payment, maintaining good credit, reducing a mortgage and refinancing.

Anticipate their questions. Include a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on your website and provide clear, concise answers to questions homebuyers often ask such as "What is a FICO score?" "What is title insurance?" "Why do I need an inspection?" and "How does escrow work?" Be sure to include plenty of lead generation forms throughout your site to encourage questions from your visitors.

Be their neighborhood guru. Homebuyers want an agent who knows the area they are looking in-that's you. Include content relevant to your area such as articles about black mold, fire ants or flood plain information. Buyers also like to find on your website information about local school districts, utility companies and area attractions.

Let others rave about you. Many homebuyers select their real estate agents through referrals from friends and family. What better place to showcase your happy customers than your website. Include testimonials in your bio section or create a page on your site dedicated to stories from satisfied customers.