There’s one thing I often find missing on real estate websites: very visible privacy policies.  Your privacy policy on your website should be very easily accessible.

Start with A Visible Privacy Policy

Sometimes your real estate website vendor will help you out with a privacy policy.  For example, Point2 Agent websites come equipped with a standard Privacy Policy.  That policy can also be edited by the individual website owner.  A link to the policy statement is accessible at the bottom of every page.

If you don’t have a Privacy Policy built into your website, it’s pretty easy to put one together.  Just go to any search engine and search for the phrase privacy policy.  You’ll find page after page of privacy policies published by the top sites on the Internet to use as examples.

Having a Privacy Policy is a good start.  However, it’s very likely that very few of the visitors to your site will take the time to search out the policy.

Then, Encourage Quality Leads

Quality leads are more likely to come from someone who is comfortable with the fact that you care about the privacy of their contact information and other data they may provide to you.  The best way to make sure your site visitors know you care is to put a notice right above every form you have on your site.

Some people think that putting a privacy statement right before their contact forms looks messy.  I’ve had several long discussions with clients, trying to convince them that their website visitors care about privacy, and that the privacy statement will have a beneficial impact on the responses they get.

Think of it like shoes.  Shoes make your feet look a bit more “busy”, but they get you where you want to go.

You might be interested to know that Michael Russer, one of my favorite real estate Internet gurus also feels strongly about privacy.  In fact, he published an article about it this month on Realtor.org.  Russer notes his favorite form policy statement in the article.  He also puts a link to the Privacy Policy along with the disclaimer.  If you have a detailed privacy policy tailored to you and your visitors, that would be a good idea.

Here’s the one I often use:

• We value your privacy.  The information you entrust to us will be kept confidential.  Your contact information will never be sold to or shared with a third party.  There is no obligation.

I think the confidentiality issue is another key.  There are times when a site visitor may be providing you with information about the value of their home (for a free CMA) or the type of home they are looking for (for email listing updates).   To me, it’s important that the visitor know that any information they provide will not end up being the topic of your conversation over lunch.

Regardless of the exact wording of a Privacy Policy or a contact form disclaimer, having both on your real estate website will make your visitors much more comfortable.  So, don’t keep them a secret!