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 FAQspdf (National Association of REALTORS®, Jan. 14, 2020)
Section 9 discusses Technology.
Association Websites
The Best Real Estate Association Websites of 2024 (Accrisoft, Apr. 29, 2024)
Osceola County Association of REALTORS® is the largest trade association in Osceola county and has served members since 1924. This association currently represents over 5,300 REALTOR® and affiliate members. Here are some of the top features of this real estate association website.
- Interactive videos on the homepage show off the region in Osceola County.
- There are blocks of branded colors with bold typography.
- The market statistics on the homepage display insightful data from the association, including closed sales, median sale price, active inventory, and median time.
- A pop-out sidebar widget gives members quick access to their MLS login and other resources.
- All subpages and resources are organized with mega menu navigation.
The 18 Best Association Website Designs in 2024 (Glue Up, Apr. 18, 2024)
The top association websites have several key features in common, including clear navigation, engaging content, membership information, event details, online community features, resources, advocacy information, professional development offerings, accessible contact info, and mobile-friendly designs.
The latest cutting-edge website design trends that are redefining the association landscape include immersive 3D elements, AI-powered chatbots, dark mode designs, and micro-interactions.
The Top 12 Trade Association Websites in 2024 (Member Clicks, Jan. 5, 2024)
From the clever logo to modern design, Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati has adopted a modern and sleek design. While their content is also great, the design is what really helps draw the eye. They use orange as an accent color throughout, which ties to their logo. Plus, their bright buttons are clearly marked “Member Services” and “Consumer Resources.”
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.
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 Often Should You Redesign Your Website? (Emily Journey & Associates, Jul. 31, 2024)
There’s no set rule for how often you should redesign your website. Some companies only change their websites every few years, while others may update their websites more frequently.
If you’ve been running your business for some time, then you might think that you don’t need to redesign your website. You don’t have to make that decision alone.
Website Redesign Guide (Design Rush, Jun. 18, 2024)
Visitors are five times more likely to leave if your site isn't mobile-friendly.
Given these findings, websites should equally consider their mobile and desktop users. Your website and all its elements should be as seamless and user-friendly as it is on a desktop.
When we say mobile-friendly, it's not enough to simply shrink your desktop design for a smaller screen and say that you cater to users using different mediums.
Website Redesign: Process, Tips and Important Considerations (CNN, May 27, 2024)
A website redesign is the best time to add features like ARIA landmarks for screen readers, which tell assistive devices where content is on a website. These landmarks are attributes that can be added to the code for certain sections of a page so that screen readers can identify the page’s content more readily (i.e., “form” to help a user of an assistive device skip to the form section, “navigation” to jump to the main navigation links, and so forth).
Web Design Best Practices to Attract More Website Visitors (20234) (Hostinger, May 16, 2024)
The primary function of a call-to-action (CTA) is to lead visitors to take action and spend more time on your website. Whether it’s a text, image, or button, you should place it where it is easily noticeable to visitors.
Website Redesign In 2024: The Ultimate Guide (Forbes, Feb. 15, 2024)
Poor user experience: User experience is a fundamental aspect of any website. If users struggle to navigate your site, find information or complete simple tasks, it’s a clear sign your website needs a revamp.
Low conversion rates: Your website should effectively convert visitors into customers. If you notice a steady decline in conversions, it could mean that your website no longer meets your audience’s expectations or needs.
Not mobile-friendly: In an era where mobile browsing often surpasses desktop, your website needs to be mobile-friendly. If it’s not, you risk losing a substantial number of potential customers.
How Often Should You Redesign Your Website? (Business2Community, Jun. 28, 2023)
Typically, a good rule of thumb is that an average website has an approximate “shelf life” during which it is seen as new, functional and convenient for users. For the typical brand, that timespan is between 18 and 30 months – or 1.5 to 2.5 years or so.
How to Create a Budget for a Website Redesign [with Template] (Clutch, Jan. 12, 2023)
However, a website redesign is suitable for those looking to upgrade their website's design and appearance. A redesign will save time and money while achieving a cleaner, contemporary feel.
Writing for the Web
5 Steps for Content Writing During a Website Redesign (Workshop Digital, Sep. 11, 2024)
A website relaunch is the perfect time to assess and analyze existing content. Look at all your content, including every web page, blog post, and landing page you’ve ever created. Performing a content cleanup may seem daunting, but it can help you in the long run.
A proper content inventory gauges the quality of current content and proves it’s accurate and topical. It helps ensure that what you port over to your new site embodies your current brand voice—and that it supports current goals. You may uncover content that is outdated or doesn’t resonate with your brand today.
How to Improve Your Content With Conversational Writing (Cypress North, Jul. 8, 2024)
Conversational writing is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a less formal style of writing that reflects how you – and, more importantly, how your audience – speak.
The conversational writing style at its core is supposed to help get your message across more effectively. Your writing should be:
- Simple
- Relatable
- Clear
- Concise
Writing for the Web: 7 Expert Tips for Web Content Writing (Paper True, May 21, 2024)
An active voice is more direct and lively, which makes the content more engaging. Use strong, action-oriented words to make your sentences pop and keep your readers interested.
- Use active sentences: Structure sentences in the active voice to make your writing more direct and lively. For example, “The team achieved great results” instead of “Great results were achieved by the team.”
- Vivid verbs: Choose stronger, more vivid verbs. Instead of saying “The manager gave assistance to the employee,” say “The manager assisted the employee.”
15 Rules for Writing Website Copy in 2024 (Twillo, Apr. 18, 2024)
1. Assume that visitors won’t read everything
Visitors won’t read everything on your website. It’s a hard pill to swallow when you pour over every word and finesse each sentence to perfection, but it’s the truth. Once you start writing for an audience of skimmers, you can be so much more effective.
To make sure your audience is exposed to the most important information on your page, use the inverted pyramid method of writing.
This is a system for organizing ideas in order of importance, from top to bottom. The most critical details should be the first things people read, followed by important information and context or supplementary points.
If you write in this manner, a visitor would gain enough information to understand what you do even if they don’t make it through all the details, without reading every word of your web content.
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. “
Writing for the Web
The 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)
Funny You Should Ask How to Make a Website: The 100% Not Boring Guide to Setting Up Your Website With Wordpress (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)
The Roadmap to Building a Successful Website—What You Should Know Before Doing-it-Yourself Or Before Hiring a Web Designer (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
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The inclusion of links on this page does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked in this page complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.
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