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How Do Site Visitors Experience IntelliSearch?

Deliver a modern, intuitive search experience that feels as natural as Zillow or Redfin, helping your site visitors quickly find homes using everyday language.

Table of Contents 

  1. Why This Matters

    1. For Consumers

    2. For Your Business

  2. Your Site Visitor's Experience

  3. How IntelliSearch Helps Your Business

  4. Best Practices

  5. Troubleshooting Common Issues

  6. FAQs

Quick Summary

When a lead visits your Sierra Interactive website, they’ll see a clean, central search bar on the homepage. At first, this search bar is location-based. Once a visitor enters a location and the results page loads, the full IntelliSearch experience becomes available. From there, they can use keyword search within the filters to narrow results even further—typing in specifics like “in-ground pool,” “fenced backyard,” or “condos under $400K near downtown.”

Visitors can also access advanced search options anytime by clicking the Search tab at the top of the homepage.

This layered approach keeps the homepage simple while still giving users powerful tools to find exactly what they want, driving more engagement and registrations.

Why This Matters

For Consumers

  • Today’s buyers are used to Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com—they expect instant, intuitive search.

  • IntelliSearch mirrors this experience so visitors feel at home on your site.

  • Example:

    • Relocation buyer → “fixer uppers in Franklin with a large backyard”

    • Downsizing couple → “condos under $400K near downtown Lexington”

    • Investor → “multi-family homes with rental potential in Dallas”

For Your Business

  • Visitors stay engaged longer and are more likely to register.

  • Saved searches and property alerts keep them coming back to your site, not portals.

  • Natural-language searches support long-tail SEO keywords, helping your site rank for terms like “energy-efficient homes in Scottsdale under 700K.”

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Your Site Visitor’s Experience

  1. A Visitor Lands on Your Website
    The homepage highlights a large, central search bar—clean, simple, and inviting. At this stage, the bar works as a location-based search.
  2. They Enter a Location
    Once a visitor types in a city, neighborhood, or zip code and the results page loads, the full IntelliSearch experience is unlocked. intellisearch1
  3. They Refine with Keywords
    From the results page, visitors can add keywords in the filters:
    1. “Mother-in-law suite”
    2. “Energy efficient”
    3. “Walkable neighborhood near coffee shops”
  4. IntelliSearch Processes the Query
    The system interprets these phrases and surfaces listings that match the intent.
  5. They Browse and Engage
    Visitors can view listings, save searches, register, or reach out. They also have the option to open Advanced Search under the Search tab at the top of the homepage for even more customization.

Best Practices

✅ Do

  • Test IntelliSearch yourself. Spend 5 minutes trying searches your clients might use.

  • Keep it simple when explaining. Say: “It works like Zillow, just type what you’re looking for, like ‘hardwood floors,’ and results appear.”

  • Encourage saved searches. Remind visitors they can register for alerts, keeping them tied to your site.

❌ Don’t

  • Don’t overwhelm visitors with instructions as it’s designed to be intuitive.

  • Don’t clutter your homepage, the search bar should be the hero.

How IntelliSearch Helps Your Business

  • Competes directly with major real estate portals by offering the familiar search experience buyers expect.

  • Generates longer site visits, more registrations, and better lead quality.

  • Boosts SEO with natural-language keyword indexing, helping you attract organic traffic without increasing ad spend.

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Troubleshooting Common Issues

  • Problem: My website doesn’t show advanced filters right away.
    Solution: This is intentional. IntelliSearch emphasizes simplicity first; filters appear once results load.

  • Problem: A visitor didn’t get the results they expected.
    Solution: Suggest clearer terms, e.g., “homes with a pool in Scottsdale under 700K.” Filters can always refine further.

  • Problem: Older or less tech-savvy clients might struggle.
    Solution: Most won’t. If they’ve used Zillow or Redfin, it’s familiar. Just say: “Type what you want, like ‘3-bedroom homes in Tampa near the beach.’”

  • Problem: Leads aren’t registering after using the search.
    Solution: Add clear call to actions (Save This Search, Get Email Alerts) to encourage users to register once they find something interesting.

  • Problem: Visitors are bouncing quickly from the homepage.
    Solution: Simplify your homepage. The search bar should stand out as the main action.

FAQs

Q: Do I need to train leads on how to use the site?
A: No, IntelliSearch is designed to be intuitive. Leads can simply start typing what they want.

Q: Can visitors still use advanced filters?
A: Yes. Price, beds, baths, and more appear after the first results.

Q: Is IntelliSearch mobile-friendly?
A: Absolutely. Both the search bar and results are optimized for mobile and desktop.

Q: What if someone searches for something unusual, like “treehouse”?
A: IntelliSearch returns the closest available matches based on MLS data.

Q: Does IntelliSearch support SEO?
A: Yes. Every search query contributes to long-tail keyword relevance, helping your site rank in organic search.