The Proposal
Step Forward Homes was operating with an outdated ‘blocky’ website that had no advanced search features or integrated links to other services. Their previous marketing strategist had not considered Step Forward’s social media needs or sales direction. Therefore a new website, graphic design and improved online presence were needed to enhance Step Forward Homes’ online turnover.
The Process
Castle proposed to completely re-invent both the company’s site and the way in which it sold houses online. This was achieved through a website that included advanced search features such as pricing, location, size etc. but also by having Step Forward’s main business; selling houses, as the focal point to the Home page. Castle also integrated the website with a Property Software API called ‘Alto’ which is a CMS that allows staff to manage properties and also connects listing to all major estate agents such as Rightmove, Zoopla, Purple Bricks etc. making it much easier for potential buyers to find Step Forward Homes and the property they’re looking for.
The property search engine was simplified further by displaying properties in list, grid or map format and required no data entry.
We also took charge of the company’s social media accounts, revising their social strategy and content to effectively generate website visits and sales leads. This was also achieved through bespoke ads tailored to appeal to their target demographic for maximum conversion rates and user engagement.
The Results
Our revised social strategy not only increased site traffic by 23% but also increased social following and user engagement to build better brand awareness. The regular engagement with social followers also helped build relationships with potential buyers that increased sales leads by 37% in one month.
Our web development team produced a stunning, responsive website with an advanced property search engine that provided Step Forward with the ability to manage properties through their own CMS. The site was also designed to be fully mobile responsive and SEO optimised to be future-proofed against market variables. This has helped raise the profile of shared ownership and has resulted in higher site traffic with increased business and sales leads, an improved user experience on the site, better connections with industry and more importantly an ROI of £650,000 in the sale of homes in a single week.