Which real estate websites bring the most value to South Florida real estate agents? And will they be able to keep up with the current market trends?

The February 2013 Issue of Inman News reported in January, Zillow.com had more than 44.19 million visits, Trulia.com saw 33.70 million in the same month and Realtor.com had 29.32 million.

But which of these three sites brings the most value to South Florida real estate agents? And will the sites be able to keep up with the current market trends?  Local Miami agents weigh in on the pros and cons of the “big three” real estate websites.

Realtor.com

According to Realtor.org in December of 2012, visitors spent more than 265 million minutes searching homes on the site. In addition, the average visitor spends 27.5 minutes on the site and viewed 30 pages. Realtor.com also captured 975,000 unique visits from international consumers that same month.

Jodi Macken, of Macken Realty in North Miami Beach, says her company uses many real estate websites, however it has advertised with Realtor.com since its inception at all levels of exposure. This website brings in high-end leads that result in sales on luxury properties.

“Realtor.com is so well-optimized,” Macken said. “It’s well-known not just in the industry, but also by consumers.”

Realtor.com offers different options for agents to use enhanced listings to promote themselves even further:

• Showcase Agent, which includes the ability  for agents to add 36 jumbo photos, full motion videos and virtual tours, in addition to open house alerts and links to the agent’s personal website. It also includes a yellow banner on the Search Results Page and custom headlines and property descriptions.
• Standard Office, which includes the office name, logo and contact information with link to office website; a printable brochure, ability to include Internet Remarks if RETS MLS and exposure for up to three additional office listings.
• Animated Sign Rider for Offices, which allows agents to include the graphic and/ or linkable text of their choice on the Search Results Page
• Showcase Company, which is similar to Showcase Agent with the addition of Animated Sign Rider on Search Results Pages

Prices for these listings are based on the circulation of a Realtor.com Marketing System member receives. This is determined by the market location and the number of listings.

“The data delivered by Realtor.com is definitely the most trusted data delivered, as it is linked to the MLS (Multiple Listing Service),” Kateria Brosda, principal broker and CEO of Brosda and Bentley Realty in Miami, said. “However, banner ads did not work for us whatsoever, and we did not see any conversions even after changing the slogan and imagery several times to make it more eye catching.”

Realtor.com is supposed to directly email prospects with the phone and information to your company’s email address, but Brosda said that sometimes phone numbers were incorrect. “Rarely showings truly transpired,” she said.