The member web site of the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS® (GRAR) was recently chosen as one of three “Best of the Web” in the 2010 Outstanding REALTOR® Association Web site Contest. A judging panel comprised of the editorial board and staff of REALTOR® AE Magazine determined that www.grar.org stood out for its focus on delivering outstanding on-line member services. The decision of the judges was based on the conclusion that the site represented the “innovation, commitment, and excellence for which all associations strive.” The other two associations recognized were the Chicago Association of REALTORS® and the Florida Association of REALTORS®. The contest drew nearly 50 entries from real estate associations across the country.
GRAR launched its newly-renovated member site in January 2010, which was designed by Site Brand Builder.com, a Rochester-based company. The interactive site features pages that provide education course descriptions, events and news, government relations information, and a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) section as a source for real estate forms and tech support. In addition, there is a member resources and support section that offers marketing tools, business practice updates, and industry-related links. Also available is a calendar of events, news gallery, and information on how to begin a career in real estate.
“When we set out to rebuild our online presence in 2009, our goal was to focus on the needs of our members,” stated Ryan Tucholski, CEO for the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS®. “Information provided on the site is only presented when it’s relevant, accurate, and requested by our membership.”
Among the judges’ highly rated features of the site are the prominent Google search, the updated news section, and the depth of information in the members-only section. Also noted was the members’ use of the site as a portal to their dashboard on the public-facing MLS Web site, where they can track their listing performance.
Tucholski stated that like all web sites, grar.org is a work in progress. “We believe that the site must be a living and growing object that can flex and move for the benefit of our members.”
The Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS® represents more than 3,000 real estate professionals in the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region.