9.1 Managing Funnels & Websites: Your Digital Properties

Accessing:

Navigate to the Sites section using the icon (globe/browser window) in the left-hand menu. Within Sites, you'll typically find primary tabs at the top for managing Funnels and Websites.

Funnels vs. Websites Explained for Real Estate:

Understanding the difference helps you choose the right tool for the job:

  • Funnels:
    • Purpose: Best suited for specific, focused marketing campaigns with a single, clear conversion goal. A funnel guides visitors through a predefined sequence of steps (pages), minimizing distractions and driving them towards one desired action. Funnels typically do not have complex site-wide navigation menus.
    • Real Estate Examples:
      • Seller Lead Generation Funnel: Ad Click → Landing Page ("Find Out Your Home's Current Market Value!") → Form (collecting address & contact info) → Thank You Page (confirming submission, maybe offering a free seller's guide download or a link to book a listing consultation Calendar).
      • Listing Promotion Funnel: Social Media Post/Ad Click → Single Property Landing Page (showcasing photos, details, virtual tour, price) → Form (Request More Info or Schedule a Showing) → Confirmation/Thank You Page.
      • Buyer Lead Magnet Funnel: Ad Click → Landing Page ("Download Our Free First-Time Homebuyer's Guide") → Opt-in Form (Name/Email) → Thank You Page with the download link and potentially a button to book a buyer consultation.
      • Open House Pre-Registration Funnel: Link from marketing materials → Registration Page/Form → Confirmation Page with date/time/location details.
  • Websites:
    • Purpose: Best for building your main online brochure – your primary agency or agent website. Designed to provide broader information about your services, team, listings, and expertise. Websites typically feature multiple pages (e.g., Home, About Us, Our Agents, Search Listings (often via an embedded IDX link/widget), Seller Resources, Buyer Resources, Blog, Contact Us) connected by a consistent navigation menu (usually in the header/footer).
    • Features: Supports the integrated Blog functionality more naturally than funnels. Provides a comprehensive overview of your brand and offerings.

Creating a New Funnel or Website:

  1. Select the appropriate tab: Choose either the Funnels or Websites tab within the Sites section.
  2. Click the + New Funnel or + New Website button.
  3. Enter Name: Provide an internal name for your project (e.g., "123 Main St Listing Funnel - Fall 2024", "Main Agency Website - Revamp 2024"). This name is just for your organization within Close Master.
  4. Choose Starting Point:
    • Start From Scratch / Create from Blank: Opens the visual builder with a completely empty canvas, allowing you maximum flexibility.
    • From Templates: Browse a library of pre-designed Funnel or Website layouts. The Close Agency or Close Master may provide real estate specific templates here. CRITICAL: If you choose a template, remember it's just a starting point. You MUST customize ALL content, images, links, branding, and settings to match your agency before launching.

Managing Your Existing Funnels/Websites (List View):

After creating projects, you'll see them listed under the Funnels or Websites tab.

  • Folders: Use the + Create Folder button and drag-and-drop functionality to organize your projects logically (e.g., folders for "Listing Funnels," "Buyer Funnels," "Archived Projects").
  • Project Actions (... Menu): Hover over a project name or use the ... (three dots) menu next to it for options:
    • Edit: Opens the project editor where you can manage its pages/steps and access project-level settings.
    • Clone: Creates an exact duplicate of the entire Funnel or Website project. Useful for A/B testing different versions of a landing page or creating variations for different campaigns quickly.
    • Move to Folder: Allows you to move the project into a different folder for organization.
    • Share (If available): May allow you to generate a shareable link to give a copy of the project to another Close Master user (e.g., sharing a successful funnel template with another agent in your brokerage, if permitted).
    • Delete: Permanently removes the entire project and all its associated pages/steps. Use with extreme caution! There is usually no undo for deletion.

Funnel/Website Level Settings:

These settings apply globally across all pages/steps within a specific project.

  1. Access: Edit the desired Funnel or Website project from the list view. Navigate to the Settings tab within the project editor interface.
  2. Configure Key Settings:
    • Name: Edit the internal project name if needed.
    • Domain (CRUCIAL for Going Live): Select the connected custom Domain or Subdomain from the dropdown list where you want this project to be accessible online. (You must first connect your domains in the main Settings → Domains area - See 22.7). You typically link the first page/step of your funnel or the homepage of your website here.
    • Path: Defines the default sub-directory for pages within this project if no specific page path is set (e.g., if you set path /listings here, and have a page named details, the URL might become yourdomain.com/listings/details). Usually left blank or set carefully.
    • Favicon URL: Paste the URL of your small browser tab icon image (usually a .ico or .png file, often 16x16 or 32x32 pixels). Upload the favicon file to the Media library first (Sites > Media) and copy its URL.
    • Head Tracking Code / Body Tracking Code: Add site-wide tracking scripts here. Paste your Google Analytics tracking code (GA4), Meta Pixel (Facebook Pixel) base code, or other analytics/advertising pixel code snippets that need to run on every page of this Funnel or Website. Code in Head runs earlier; code in Body (usually just before ) runs later. Follow instructions from the analytics provider.
    • Payment Mode: (Relevant if using Order Forms - see 2.5) Set the default mode to Live (for processing real payments) or Test (for testing checkout flows using test card numbers provided by your payment gateway).
    • Chat Widget: Toggle ON or OFF the website Chat Widget (See 2.4 / 9.15) specifically for all pages within this project. If ON, select which configured widget to display.
    • Default 404 Page: If a visitor tries to access a non-existent page within this project's domain, you can select a specific page from *this* project to display as the "Not Found" error page.
  3. Save Settings: Click the Save button to apply these project-level configurations.