References
NAR Library & Archives has already done the research for you. References (formerly Field Guides) offer links to articles, eBooks, websites, statistics, and more to provide a comprehensive overview of perspectives. EBSCO articles (E) are available only to NAR members and require a password.
Core Standards
Local, state, and territorial associations of REALTORS®, as a condition of membership in the National Association of REALTORS®, must meet NAR’s Organizational Alignment Core Standards, a section of which relates to technology.
REALTOR® Association Core Standards Technology Compliance Guide (National Association of REALTORS®, Jun. 2014)
Every association must have an interactive website that has active links to: professional standards information, professional standards enforcement resources and websites of other levels of the association.
NAR Organizational Alignment -Core Standards FAQs (National Association of REALTORS®, Jan. 14, 2020)
Section 9 discusses Technology.
Association Websites
10 Best Association Websites + Tips For Building Your Own (Morweb.org, May 3, 2022)
“Create members-only resources. When someone joins your association, they're expecting to get something in return. One of the best ways to provide value to your members is to provide members-only resources. You might offer a member directory, job board, or online forum. You could also offer members-only event pages or a library of industry-specific resources.”
The Best Real Estate Association Websites of 2022 (Accrisoft, Feb. 9, 2022)
“The St. Louis REALTORS® designed its websites with the user in mind. This site not only features content for residential real estate agents but also for commercial REALTORS®. If you check out the Commercial page, you will notice different branding colors are used (black, grey, and red). This choice of design is a clear differentiator for users and helps organize the content on the St. Louis REALTORS®’ website.”
Set Your Sites to Compliant (REALTOR® Magazine, Oct. 23, 2020)
Don’t wait to address this issue! Website accessibility lawsuits continue to arise, and real estate professionals need to take steps to create and maintain accessible websites. Conduct an audit to assess your website’s accessibility and create a plan to update your site, if necessary, based on the results. Keep in mind that you can implement the plan gradually, but try to implement the changes that will have the greatest impact first.
How to Ensure Your Website is Inclusive and Welcoming (ASAE, May 6, 2020)
When people come to your website, what do they see? Is it a welcoming, inviting space? How do you greet your audience? What are you signaling with your visuals? Visual imagery can reinforce perceptions of who is and isn't welcome to a group. Images of people without care taken in racial and gender representation, or with standards of dress and/or monetary status that signal exclusivity to an audience, can create an impression of a walled community, versus an open one.
Attract and Engage Members with a Modern Website Design (Your Membership, Apr. 3, 2020)
Your members now expect the same type of experience from your association – with a mobile-responsive site that give them access anytime, anywhere. If you aren’t thinking about your members’ mobile experience, you could lose their attention almost as quickly as you get it.
Does Your Association Need a New Website? (Associations Online)
Make sure you reevaluate your site every couple of years or so and match it to the goals you have for your organization. If you’re trying to grow a more diverse membership, for instance, your website may not be helping you achieve that. Conversely, you should also reevaluate your website to make sure it’s staying true to your original mission since over time it can be easy to get away from the very reason you first formed.
Website Redesign
How to Redesign Your Website Like a Pro: 5 Tips for a Successful Re-Launch (Laing Media, Jul. 15, 2022)
“Make a mood board to understand your users. A mood board is a visual representation of your users’ needs, motivations, and problems. It’s an excellent way to talk about how your site should look, feel, and function. With the help of visual references, you can understand what type of design your users are familiar with, which colors they like, and which languages they prefer.”
The Complete 2022 Guide for Your Website Redesign – All You Need (User Guiding, Apr. 26, 2022)
“The best way of making the right first impression is through landing pages. Designing an outstanding landing page with a clear value proposition and a great call-to-action can be the key to a significant increase in conversion.”
Guidance on Web Accessibility and the ADA (U.S. Department of Justice, Mar. 18, 2022)
The ways that websites are designed and set up can create unnecessary barriers that make it difficult or impossible for people with disabilities to use websites, just as physical barriers like steps can prevent some people with disabilities from entering a building. These barriers on the web keep people with disabilities from accessing information and programs that businesses and state and local governments make available to the public online. But these barriers can be prevented or removed so that websites are accessible to people with disabilities.
See Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) for more about website compliance.
Tips for a Low-Cost, Award-Winning Website Redesign (ASAE, Aug. 23, 2021)
Unlike its predecessor, we developed the new site with an eye toward mobile compatibility to make sure the user experience would be strong on both computers and mobile devices. With fresh evaluation of keywords and values, ABC defined core keywords for SEO to help improve placement in Google searches. The website was also converted from “http” to “https” to further optimize SEO and security.
Three Questions to Ask When Planning a Website Redesign (Associations Now, Sep. 22, 2020)
Narrowing down your goals and objectives will help inform your design decisions. Are you redesigning for easier navigation? Is the site too slow and in need of a performance boost? Does the redesign reflect a larger change of direction within the organization?
Writing for the Web
20 Web Content Writing Tips for Beginners and Pros (Content Snare, Aug. 31, 2022)
“For any content you write, use paragraphs, bullet points, headers, numbers – anything to boost your content on the readability scale. We are naturally programmed to digest smaller pieces of information and if it’s visually appealing, organized, and evenly spaced out, all the better.”
Tips for Creating More Personalized Connections With Your Members (ASAE, Feb. 28, 2022)
“In a world of algorithms, social media, and account creation for nearly every website, members and general visitors expect to see content they are most interested in. Associations can capitalize on this trend by implementing personalized web content, so that when a user signs in, they see articles or events that are most relevant to their needs. “
How to Write Web Content That Engages Members (Brightfind, Jun. 25, 2021)
Break up your content into digestible "chunks“ of information and clearly defined areas that achieve the objective of the page but also allow the reader to quickly decide where to focus and what to ignore.
Stop Writing Web Copy That Over Explains Everything (Mightybytes, May 19, 2021)
Stick to writing copy that satisfies the reason they’re visiting your page by talking about what you’re there to talk about: your product or service.
Content Writing Tips for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide (Content Powered, Feb. 4, 2021)
I often start with some keyword research to develop a topic idea, write a killer title for that topic, and then create my outline for the article based on those search phrases and that topic. It’s worked well enough for me so far – writing articles that match real searches and catering to those searches is a great roadmap to getting your articles found.
Writing for the WebThe Nielsen Norman Group’s collection of studies on how people read webpages and how you can write most effectively. Includes outside sources and suggestions for further reading.
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following eBooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
Creating Web Pages For Dummies® (eBook)
The Creative Person's Website Builder (eBook)
101 Ways to Promote Your Web Site (eBook)
Building a Web Site for Dummies® (eBook)
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creating a Website (eBook)
Hello Web Design (eBook)
How to Say It® Marketing with New Media (eBook)
Maintaining and Evolving Successful Commercial Web Sites (eBook)
Making Your Website Work (eBook)
Nonprofit Internet Strategies (eBook)
Put Your Business Online (eBook)
Web Copy that Sells (eBook)
Web Design: A Beginner's Guide (eBook)
WordPress for Dummies® (eBook)
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
As a member benefit, the following resources and more are available for loan through the NAR Library. Items will be mailed directly to you or made available for pickup at the REALTOR® Building in Chicago.
The Web Designer's Idea Book, Volume 2 (Cincinnati, OH: HOW Books, 2010) TK5105.888 .M42 2010
Principles of Web Design (Australia: Course Technology, Cengage Learning, 2009) HF 5548.5 S55
The Non-Designer's Web Book: An Easy Guide to Creating, Designing, and Posting Your Own Web Site (Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press, 2006) HF 5548.5 W55
Web Design in a Nutshell: [A Desktop Quick Reference] (Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly, 2006) HF 5548.5 R63w
Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability (Berkeley, CA: New Riders, 2006) HF 5548.5 K78
Web Site Fundamentals: an ASAE Background Kit (Washington, D.C.: American Society of Association Executives, 2003) HF 5548 Am3ws
Executive's Guide to Internet Law (Washington, D.C.: American Society of Association Executives, 2001) HF 294 M61
Have an idea for a real estate topic? Send us your suggestions.
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