Frequently Asked Questions
General
- I've already got a page on my company's website. Why would I want my own site?
- Details of my listings are being shown at my company's site and at MLS. Why do I need to show these same details on a new site?
- What is a 'domain name'?
- What is a website 'host'?
- Will my site look like a lot of other sites, since a template is being used?
- If I move to a different brokerage, what happens with my site?
- What if I decide later that I would like change the interface style for my site?
- What level of customer support can I expect from Show Your Listings?
Search Engines and Visitor Traffic
- How will search engines like AltaVista and Google treat my site?
- Do I need a third-party company to handle search engine issues with my site?
- How will I know how many visitors I've had at my website?
- Will I be able to know who, specifically, has visited my site?
Features Included
- How many pages are there in these individual agent sites?
- What type of content will my visitors see when they first arrive at my site?
- Can I include iPix virtual tours on my details pages?
- Can I include my own 'homemade' virtual tours that I create with my digital video camera?
- How many photos can I display for each of my listings?
- How large can my details photos be?
- Can I add more features or pages to my site after it is up and running?
Content Management
- How do I change what's being shown on my site when, for example, a price is changed or a property is sold?
- How long does it take to update my site by adding a new listing, for example?
- What computer skills will I need to be able to maintain and update my site?
- Do I need to install any special software to update and maintain my site?
Costs and Pricing
- How much does the whole package cost?
- What are the ongoing expenses that I will have to pay to keep my site active?
- How much does it cost to make changes to my web pages?
1.) I've already got a page on my company's website. Why would I want my own site?
The main advantages to having your own website are:
- Ease for your customers.
Your own site with your own URL (www.mysite.com) will make it much easier for clients to find you on the web. A typical URL for an agent's page on a shared site might look something like, www.maincorporation.com/toronto/agents/pages.asp?id=joerealestate.
Not only is such a URL cumbersome for your lawn signs and business cards, it is virtually invisible to search engines such as Google or AltaVista.
As soon as a vistor arrives at your site, your listings (and only your listings) are immediately accessible. - Your own offerings are prominently featured.
Rather than sharing a list of all properties for sale at your company's office (or even worse, your affiliated national or international office), you are able to show you visitors your own listings without competing for attention with other realtors. - You have complete control.
You can emphasize the aspects of your business and your listings that you feel your customers want or that you feel you'd like your customers to know. - Client inquiries come directly to you - not your main office.
When a client contacts you using the online form or phone numbers on your site, you are assured that you are the first one to get the message.
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2.) Details of my listings are being shown at my company's site and at the MLS site. Why do I need to show these same details on a new site?
Typically, the details pages that are displayed on major company sites and at MLS.ca are limited to one small photo. Additional photos, if available, can incur extra fees.
The details pages that you publish on your own site can carry an unlimited number of large photos and can include an unlimited amount of text.
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Each website has its very own IP (Internet protocol) address, which is a long string of numbers and dots. However, since we humans have trouble remembering all those numbers, the domain name was created. The domain name in http://www.jelve.com is jelve.com, and it acts as a substitute for the IP numbers.
Domain names are registered in a central registry known as the InterNIC. The fee for registering a domain name is US$70 for the first two years and US$35 per year thereafter.
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In order for a website to be accessed on the Internet, its files must reside on a special computer called a web server.
Website hosts, or hosting companies, rent space on their servers from which websites are 'broadcast'.
Very large organizations may have their own servers but most small and medium-sized businesses rely on hosting companies to provide this service.
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5.) Will my site look like a lot of other sites, since a template is being used?
Yes and no.
The templates that Jelve offers have been custom-designed for these individual real estate sites. They are unique and exclusive to our clients. They are not 'store-bought' templates that many hundreds or thousands of other sites are using.
While several of our clients may choose the same template, no template will be used more than 25 times. No colour combination will be used more than 5 times. We will advise you if another agent in your geographic area is already using your first choice
so that you may consider an alternative.
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6.) If I move to a different brokerage, what happens with my site?
Your site is yours. It can move with you if you move to a different brokerage or even a different city.
If you were to switch from Century 21 to Re/Max, for example, there would likely be some minor changes needed regarding company logos, etc. These types of changes can be made at very modest costs.
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7.) What if I decide later that I would like change the interface style for my site?
You may switch to a different style or colour combination within 30 days of launch for no charge (one free exchange only).
You may switch or upgrade to a new template that becomes available in the future at minimal expense.
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8.) What level of customer support can I expect from Show Your Listings?
We are a small, family business. Every client is important to us and we strive to deliver 110% support to all of our clients. If you phone us during normal business hours, a human being will answer the phone and you will get prompt
personal attention
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9.) How will search engines like AltaVista and Google treat my site?
The publishing system that we have created generates complete HTML pages. These are the most 'search engine friendly' of all types of website files. Many systems will not create new HTML pages but will build dynamic pages with file
names that are completely invisible to search engines. A file name such as http://www.mls.ca/mls/property.asp?L=1&pageType=M&pw=montreal&Board_id=30&MLS_num=IT1389, for example, may do a good job of displaying property details but it will never be found by any search engines.
When we create your site, we optimize all of the code for best search engine indexing and ranking.
We also submit your site to the top search engines on a monthly basis at no ongoing charge to you. After all, it's in our best interest, too, for your site to be seen by as many people as possible.
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10.) Do I need a third-party company to handle search engine issues with my site?
No.
When you launch your site, you will probably be inundated by 'special offers' from third party companies trying to sign you to a contract to enhance your search engine ranking. We have already done all of this for you at no additional cost.
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11.) How will I know how many visitors I've had at my website?
We will install a visitor counter on your site. The counter need not be visible to the general public, if you'd rather not display your traffic statistics.
You will receive a weekly report emailed to you to let you know how many visitors you had each week as well as how many you've had in total.
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12.) Will I be able to know who, specifically, has visited my site?
No.
Privacy laws prevent us from attempting to actually identify website users by name or email address.
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13.) How many pages are there in these individual agent sites?
There are actually an unlimited number of pages.
The sites contain a core group of seven pages but every time a new listing is added to the site a new page is generated. If you have 20 properties for sale, the site will expand to 26 pages.
Since you are the one adding new properties and there is no limit to the number you may display, there is no limit to the size of your site.
There are no additional fees associated with the new pages that you generate by adding listings.
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14.) What type of content will my visitors see when they first arrive at my site?
The home page is where you will introduce yourself and show your visitors what you have to offer.
Your photo will be shown, along with basic contact information and a link to your brokerage or national affiliate.
An easy navigation system exists on the home page and all other pages so that your visitors are never "lost".
Up to 3 Featured Listings will be shown to get your visitors immediately looking at some of your properties. The featured listings link to details pages for each listing.
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15.) Can I include iPix virtual tours on my details pages?
Yes.
These individual sites are completely compatible with the iPix system as well as with any other virtual tour service.
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16.) Can I include my own 'homemade' virtual tours that I create with my digital video camera?
Yes.
Although most digital video tours are best suited to users who are able to access the Internet with high speed connections, the ability exists on these sites to publish these types of tours in mpeg or Windows Media Player format.
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17.) How many photos can I display for each of my listings?
As many as you want.
Your details pages will grow to accommodate as many photos and captions as you choose to display.
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18.) How large can my details photos be?
While there is really no limit to the size of photo that can be displayed, we recommend that you publish your large pictures at about 400 to 500 pixels wide.
At that size, your photos will be nearly twice the size of the photos that are shown on sites such as MLS.ca.
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19.) Can I add more features or pages to my site after it is up and running?
Customization after your initial site launch is always available. Just let us know what type of new features you want and we'll give you an estimate before making any changes.
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20.) How do I change what's being shown on my site when, for example, a price is changed or a property is sold?
Jelve Design has built a comprehensive Content Management System (CMS) which you will use to update your site.
Key features of the CMS are:
- Ease of use - The CMS consists of forms very similar to those used to make purchases or participate in discussion groups on the Internet. If you can buy an item from amazon.com, you have all the computer skills that you'll need to
maintain and update your site.
- Password protection - Only you or someone that you have authorized can make any changes to your site.
- Unlimited use - You may make changes as often as you wish, at no charge.
- Web-based operation - You can make changes such as adding listings from any web-enabled computer. You can even add a listing from your client's own home.
- See a demo of the Content Management Sysytem.
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21.) How long does it take to update my site by adding a new listing, for example?
Typically, adding a new listing will take about five to ten minutes, depending upon how many photos you are displaying on the details pages.
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22.) What computer skills will I need to be able to maintain and update my site?
Only rudimentary skills are required. If you can buy an item from an online shopping site or put an item up for sale on EBay, you have all the skills you'll need to maintain and update your site.
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23.) Do I need to install any special software to update and maintain my site?
No.
You can do all updating and maintenance operations from within your web browser. We recommend that you use Internet Explorer 5.0 or newer.
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24.) How much does the whole package cost?
The basic cost of the website is $995 CAD or $650 USD.
Hosting fees are $240 CAD or $160 USD per year.
Domain name registration (if needed) is $70 USD per two year term.
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25.) What are the ongoing expenses that I will have to pay to keep my site active?
The only ongoing expense that you will incur is $240 CAD per year for hosting.
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26.) How much does it cost to make changes to my web pages?
Nothing.
Because you are making these changes yourself, there are absolutely no charges involved - no matter how often you update or change your site.
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