Case Study: Empowering KW Lifestyle Properties – Building a Digital Hub for Maine Real Estate
Client: KW Lifestyle Properties (Keller Williams Realtor) Industry: Real Estate Location: Portland, Maine
The Challenge: Beyond the Franchise Template – Gaining Control and Local Dominance
KW Lifestyle Properties, a dynamic Keller Williams real estate team in Portland, Maine, recognized a critical need to differentiate themselves and gain greater control over their online presence. While the corporate Keller Williams platform provided a baseline, it lacked the flexibility, robust SEO capabilities, and local market customization they needed to truly stand out. They envisioned a proprietary digital hub that would not only showcase their properties but also establish them as authoritative local real estate experts.
Their key challenges and requirements included:
- Content Control: A strong desire to publish unique, locally-focused content beyond the limitations of a templated franchise site.
- Integrated MLS Listings: The absolute necessity to seamlessly integrate their local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) data, including active sales, property details, and clear attribution to the specific realtor within their office responsible for each listing.
- Strong SEO Foundation: A strategic approach to drive organic traffic, attracting both buyers and sellers specifically interested in the Portland, ME, real estate market.
- Lead Capture & Marketing Automation: The implementation of integrated forms to capture leads for their marketing automation efforts.
- Empowered Content Creation: The need for comprehensive training on how to leverage blogging for SEO to build their online authority and trust.
- Reliable Website Management: Assurance that their new, custom site would be expertly hosted, maintained, and updated.
Our Solution: A Custom WordPress Platform for Real Estate Authority
Digital Strategy Works partnered with KW Lifestyle Properties to design, develop, and launch a powerful, custom WordPress website that served as their independent digital headquarters. Our solution focused on empowering the client with control, visibility, and robust functionality.
1. Full Website Design & Development (WordPress): We meticulously designed and developed a bespoke WordPress website that reflected the professional and approachable brand of KW Lifestyle Properties. The design focused on clarity, user-friendliness, and a visually appealing presentation of properties, ensuring a premium experience for potential buyers and sellers. WordPress was chosen for its flexibility, scalability, and ease of content management, putting control directly into the client’s hands.
2. Seamless MLS Integration: A cornerstone of this project was the advanced integration of their local MLS. We developed and implemented a robust system that dynamically pulled in their active property listings, ensuring real-time accuracy. This integration wasn’t just about displaying properties; it included:
- Comprehensive Property Details: Full listing information, high-quality images, and virtual tours.
- Sales Data: Displaying recently sold properties, providing valuable market insights.
- Realtor Attribution: Crucially, each listing clearly indicated which specific realtor within the KW Lifestyle Properties office was responsible for it, fostering transparency and direct connections.
3. Integrated Email Capture Forms for Marketing Automation: To support their marketing efforts, we implemented user-friendly email capture forms strategically placed throughout the website. These forms seamlessly feed into their marketing automation systems, allowing KW Lifestyle Properties to build a valuable database of leads and nurture relationships with potential clients through targeted email campaigns.
4. Comprehensive SEO Strategy & Training: Understanding the importance of organic search in real estate, our services included:
- Technical SEO: Optimizing the website’s structure, speed, mobile responsiveness, and schema markup (especially for property listings) to ensure maximum crawlability and indexing by search engines.
- On-Page SEO: Advising on strategic keyword integration for their service pages and blog content, targeting terms relevant to the Portland, ME real estate market.
- Blogging for SEO Training: A key component was providing comprehensive training to the KW Lifestyle Properties team on how to blog effectively for SEO. We guided them on best practices for keyword research, crafting high-quality, long-form content, leveraging internal and external links, and consistently publishing valuable information to drive traffic and engagement. This empowered them to build their online “Expertise, Authority, and Trust” (E-A-T) directly through their website.
5. Ongoing WordPress Website Management & Maintenance: To ensure their new digital asset remained secure, fast, and up-to-date, Digital Strategy Works took on the responsibility of managing and maintaining the WordPress website. This included regular security updates, plugin compatibility checks, performance monitoring, and routine backups, allowing the KW Lifestyle Properties team to focus on serving their clients and building their real estate business.
The Impact: A Digital Hub for Real Estate Leadership
The partnership with Digital Strategy Works transformed KW Lifestyle Properties’ online presence, providing them with a powerful and autonomous digital platform:
- Unprecedented Content Control: KW Lifestyle Properties now has full command over their website’s content, enabling them to publish timely market insights, community guides, and personal stories that resonate with their local audience.
- Enhanced Property Showcase: The seamless MLS integration provides a superior and comprehensive property Browse experience, with clear realtor attribution, directly on their own domain.
- Dominant Local SEO Presence: Through strategic SEO and empowered blogging, KW Lifestyle Properties is consistently attracting organic traffic, connecting with buyers and sellers specifically searching for real estate in Portland, ME.
- Streamlined Lead Generation: Integrated forms efficiently capture valuable leads, fueling their marketing automation and sales pipeline.
- Empowered Thought Leaders: The team is now equipped with the knowledge and tools to consistently produce SEO-friendly content, establishing themselves as trusted authorities in the Portland real estate market.
- Reliable Digital Foundation: Our ongoing management ensures their website is always performing at its best, providing a stable platform for their growing business.
Digital Strategy Works is proud to have empowered KW Lifestyle Properties with a robust, custom-tailored digital presence that not only showcases their listings but firmly establishes them as a leading and trusted voice in the competitive Portland, Maine real estate market.
