Every year, more and more consumers use the Internet during their home search process. According to NAR's most recent Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, that number has grown to a whopping 92 percent. Agents can no longer afford to have a weak or, worse, non-existent presence online.

Fortunately, most real estate professionals are savvy enough to recognize this. To capture searchers online, many agents turn to IDX-enabled websites. An IDX feature allows consumers to search all available properties in a market right from an agent's website. Allowing visitors to search all homes in area, rather than just your individual listings, gives them more reason to stay on your website--in theory.

The truth is that the Internet is flooded with agent websites, both good and bad. In order to attract and keep web searchers, REALTORS® need to stand out from the competition. Wait, you're thinking, if everyone is getting the same IDX listing data from the MLS, how can I differentiate myself?

The trick is to select an IDX solution that augments the listing data with information and tools that potential buyers need. We've covered the basics of choosing an IDX provider before, but to learn more about what advanced features to look for, we turned to an expert. Peyman Aleagha is the CEO of WebsiteBox, a turnkey IDX website solution, and he shared a few tips with us.

Claim Ownership of Your IDX

Linking to your broker's IDX search is not the same as having a built-in solution on your website. In fact, linking out can be detrimental to your business, since agents have no control over leads that come in to their broker's site. "Would you take your walk-in prospects into your broker's office, introduce them, and leave them there to be served?" asks Aleagha. "Don't send your prospects off to be served by others by not having an IDX solution on your own website."