Sometimes agents who are just starting to develop their websites read online articles posted by companies who want you to think you HAVE TO HAVE them work on your website to get optimum website ranking on search engines.  You take what they say and decide to implement it yourself in order to save money.  The articles though, have you all worried about load times and search engine optimization, and other things you don't really understand.  So you dump most of your images, and proceed to put enough text on your site that would take a month to study.  But are potential buyers and sellers actually reading all that stuff?

People like to see pictures.  A slideshow of your current listings is a great way to get the interest of buyers, and a great selling point for potential sellers.  If you don't have any current listings, ask an agent in your office if you could put a few of theirs on your site.  Rarely would anyone say no, because its additional advertisement for their listings.  A win-win for everybody.

The right picture in the right context is a great way to draw attention and get people to visit a particular page.  Use small pictures to get people to visit areas such as Search the MLS, Featured Listings, Free CMA, Free Reports, Contact Me, areas that will enable you to capture their contact information. 

A small picture of yourself can be used to create a great sense of familiarity, but its best not to post tons of pictures of yourself on your real estate website.  Potential clients want to know about real estate, not see picture of you in the Bahamas.  Should you win a real estate related award or honor it is appropriate to have a photo taken with the award and display that on your site.  It distinguishes you as an industry expert.

Pictures are your website should be sized accordingly, and if you aren't quite sure how to do that, its worth paying someone to help you with it.  A slow loading website does discourage some people who may not have a lot of time, or who may not have high speed internet. 

A few really great pictures showcasing listings or neighborhoods in your service area speak a thousand words--although words are still very important, but that's a whole other blog.