If you’re a loan officer in today’s market and still think you don’t need a website, you’re already losing deals.
Anthony Balsamo, founder of Vonk Digital, has spent over a decade helping mortgage professionals establish and optimize their online presence. Having run his own mortgage company for 15 years before moving into tech, Anthony has seen firsthand the costly mistakes originators make when it comes to their websites and digital strategies.
If you’re still relying on a weak web presence or, worse, no website at all, here’s what you need to know to stay relevant and competitive.
The Loan Officer’s New Reality: Why a Website is Non-Negotiable
Loan officers love to say, “I get all my business from referrals—I don’t need a website.”
But here’s the truth: your potential clients are Googling you, whether you like it or not.
People don’t just pick up the phone and call you because their real estate agent gave them your name. Before they ever reach out, they research you. They want to know:
- Do you seem legit?
- Do you have reviews?
- Do you have educational content that makes you look like an expert?
- Does your online presence make them feel comfortable working with you?
And if they don’t find you—or worse, if they find an outdated, unprofessional website that looks thrown together? You’re done. They’ll go with someone else.
Anthony put it perfectly:
“In the past, loan officers could build rapport and handle objections over the phone. Today, that discovery process happens online—before you even know they exist. If your digital presence isn’t strong, you’re losing business without ever knowing it.”
The Biggest Website Mistakes Loan Officers Make
Anthony has built hundreds of mortgage websites. And before people come to him, here are the most common mistakes he sees:
- Trying to DIY their website – Loan officers spend thousands on cheap website builders or freelancers from Fiverr, only to get a non-compliant, poorly designed site that doesn’t convert leads.
- Thinking their company’s website is enough – Many LOs believe their broker’s or lender’s corporate page is sufficient. It’s not. You need your own brand presence.
- Not having clear lead capture forms – If someone lands on your site and there’s no clear way to contact you, you just lost a potential deal.
- Ignoring compliance – Many self-built sites lack required disclosures and licensing info, making them a compliance nightmare.
And the worst mistake of all? Not having a website at all.
The One Question Every Loan Officer Should Ask Themselves
Every time you question whether it’s worth investing in your online presence, ask yourself this:
How many deals am I losing every year because someone Googled me and didn’t like what they saw—or worse, couldn’t find me at all?
If you even lose two deals a year because of a poor online presence, that’s likely $5,000–$10,000 in lost income. A professionally built, optimized website costs a fraction of that.
