Belvoir Lettings wins Website of the Year!

Nov. 11, 2013 - PRLog -- Gold industry award for the UK’s top lettings franchise

Belvoir Lettings is delighted to announce that the company has scooped the Gold Award for Website of the Year at the Negotiator Awards 2013, and is also the proud winner of the Silver Award for Franchisor of the Year.

On making the presentation the judges said: “It is difficult to make a website personal when you are a large firm, but Belvoir Lettings has certainly achieved this.”

The event, which attracted a record number entries was hosted by comedian Hugh Dennis, and was held at the glamorous Park Lane Hilton hotel in London on 5^th November 2013.

“The Negotiator Awards is an extremely high profile event that is attended by the nation’s top property agents and we are delighted to have won the Gold Award for Website of the Year and Silver for Franchisor of the Year,” says Belvoir CEO Dorian Gonsalves.

“The original Belvoir website was created in 2002 but we recognised that the way people use the Internet today is completely different. Our analysis showed that the majority of leads were generated from the website and when it came to finding a rental property people’s attitudes were changing.

“The new website (www.belvoirlettings.com) went live in August 2012 and matches the contemporary, modern feel of our shops. Belvoir’s franchise owners were involved at each stage and a network survey identified the improvements that were required. Every request was considered by a website working group, which comprised franchise owners, Central Office staff and professional web developers.

“We view Belvoir’s online strategy as an extension of its marketing strategy. Raising online awareness is all part of showcasing the brand and franchise owners are trained to treat online campaigns the same as traditional marketing. The new website has a fantastic user-friendly content management system.

“As well as national pages on the website, every Belvoir office has its own microsite and controls all the content for this.

“The results have been spectacular, and the Belvoir website now generates an average of 6,200 visitors every day with page views increasing by 84%.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone in the Belvoir network for their help in developing the new website and it is fantastic for all their hard work to be recognised in this way.

“This has been a very exciting year for the group, as Belvoir also won the Gold Award for Best Lettings Agency Franchise at the Sunday Times Award in May and Best Large Lettings Chain at the Estate & Letting Agent Awards (ESTAs) 2013. We are now really looking forward to 2014!”

• Belvoir Lettings now have more than 150 offices nationwide. To find your nearest Belvoir office, visit their website at www.belvoirlettings.com

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NOTES TO EDITORS

·       Belvoir was founded in February 1995 by Mike and Stephanie Goddard. Its Central Office is in Grantham, Lincolnshire.

·       Mike was chairman of the bfa for three consecutive years and is currently Director of International Affairs. He also sits on the board of the Property Ombudsman.

·       Belvoir is recognised as one of the largest specialist lettings agency franchises in the UK, with 150+ offices nationwide and aims to have 200 franchises in the next three years.

·       Belvoir was officially awarded the Best Lettings Agency Franchise – Gold Award at the 2013, 2012 and 2010 Lettings Agency of the Year Awards in association with The Sunday Times & The Times. Belvoir also won the Silver Award in 2011.

·       Belvoir was voted Best Large Lettings Chain at the Estate & Letting Agent Awards (ESTAs) 2013, which was hosted by Phil Spencer, along with six franchisees winning awards for their customer service. Belvoir has won Brand Builder of the Year at the bfa Franchisor of the Year Awards 2011 and Best Marketing Campaign of the Year at the Franchise Marketing Association (FMA) Awards 2011.

·       Belvoir is a founder member of the SAFEagent Kitemark scheme, which is fully supported by NALS. SAFEagent promotes client money protection (CMP) and provides consumers with a clear message on those agents they should do business with.

·       Belvoir successfully listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange on 21^st February, 2012.

For further information or to arrange an interview with Dorian Gonsalves please contact Andrea McHugh, Headlines Journalism, tel: 01476 567438/07940 930 331

email: andrea@headlinesjournalism.co.uk