Google Killer launched ???!!!

 I am sure many people must have heard or tried about Cuil.com . It's a new search engine developed by Google's ex-employees . The founders claim that with an index of 120 billion web pages, it's larger than even Google. Cuil is said to be more efficient and shows longer entries and images for results.  

Cuil, ofcourse has generated lot of interest and is highly anticipated. But is it really the next big thing!

Initial impression... NO!
The changes for me are cosmetic. Just a cool interface is not enough for me. Search results are WRONG (as far as i am concerned) !  
I searched for "mexico real estate" and it showed results for New mexico real estate . Our good ol' Google showed better and more relevant results. 

It may be teething troubles but any search engine which claims and wants to be better than google has to be simply, lot better . There have been many start-ups who wanted to beat Google. But till now Google has reigned supreme.

Will Google continue to be the Best, the Biggest of them all? What if Cuil.com becomes popular. What does it mean for real Estate websites? How will SEO's jobs?
 

Recently, one of the AR members was complaining on her blog about the curse of spam mails flooding her mailboxes. I read that blog and suggested her few things on how to minimize spam. As expected, she was unaware that her site was one place where unscrupulous email harvesters are always lurking around and stealing her email address.

Through this post, I will try explain how anybody can take simple steps to minimize the chances of you email id leakage from your site.

1) Using email at domain dot com format : You can try using your emails in format like enovabiz at gmail dot com format. It's not a very effective technique. I won't even recommend you to to waste your time implementing it.

2) Use of Javascript : Javascript can be used to dynamically write Email Id. While it will insulate you to a little extent, this is not the best solution . It has few drawbacks. Browsers need to be Javascript enabled (though, most of them are now enabled). Secondly and more importantly, clever email harvesters can and will still read your email address .

3) Use of Image : Much better option. you can always show your email id in an image.
Main drawback though is it is not very user friendly since your site visitor cannot copy & paste email id and use it in their email clients. But still worth a try.


4) CSS : This is clever and serves the purpose.You can use it like this

enovabiz<span class='hideMe'>dontmess</span>@gmail.com

hideMe can be defined like this

.hideMe{display:none;}

This will ensure that while your site visitors will be able to copy, paste and use it easily, email harvesting bots will not be able to (atleast not all of them)

5) Contact Form : This is the best way to keep your email address from falling in to wrong hands. Do not display the email address! You can always use a simple contact form . Contact forms can be made in in asp, asp.net or .php as per your server requirements. They are very easy, more informative, very safe and manageable. I strongly urge all my clients to get a contact form for their site.

I hope this post will prove helpful to some of you struggling with spams and unsolicited emails. If anybody wants to make their website spam proof, you can always contact me! 

I have been asked multiple times by clients, if they can learn and do SEO themselves for their sites .

My belief is that if proper time and hardwork is applied, anybody can learn any skill. Same is the case with SEO. Yes, there will always be people who are much better than the rest due to their extra hardwork, innovative techniques, flair and other variables. But, as far as learning any skill (SEO included), it should not be difficult for anybody.

The reason why clients ask me this question is because of human nature. Human mind is curious. My clients also are. They are intrigued and curious on how we can get their sites in top 10. And some client are also intrigued(and frustrated) when they are impatient and their sites do not climb to top 10 in 15 days :(

So essentially more than from saving few dollars, what the client really wants to know is how and what are we doing for their sites. So I make it a point to tell them (in most cases Guide will be more appropriate) on what all steps we undertake for SEO and what are the benefits. I am specifically transparent about this. This also helps when some SEO competitor tries to brainwash a client by impressing with technical jargons, and various facets of SEO like whitehat/blackhat etc.. Due to my guidance, my clients are most of the time so well informed that they don't demand explainations from me everytime. Moreover, since my clients are up to date, it also forces me to update my knowledge constantly. Many times my clients give me new ides, that can help their sites.

Another thing, I tell my clients is that their time is better spent on other activities more directly related to his/her business. That is their time is worth more than just USD 6-10 per hour. I believe that my clients can do probably much more $$ worth of work in an hour. It has to be understood that SEO is hardwork and takes lot of hours. Is the client willing to devote that many hours consistently without sacrificing his other dutees. I think not.

And now the another fact. Real Estate SEO companies usually have dedicated group of SEO, Link builders and content writers each proficient in their field. And it's their job to keep themselves abreast of latest updates and news in SEO world. It's only natural that they can do the JOb best then anybody else.

Have other SEOs also faced this question from their clients? if yes, then what's your answer. 

--
Aniruddha
Real Estate SEO Specialists
Enovabiz Solutions  

I recently found a tool by Google. This tool gives an idea on how google views our site's content

https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

Based on your site's content, this tool can show you keywords that fits your content. User has to just type in the URL that needs to be researched and click on "Get Keyword idea" button. The tool will then scan the webpage and return with relevant keywords based on your content.

This will give you a fair bit idea on if the content is appropriate for the keyword you are targetting. if the google toll doesn't throw keywords similar to your targetted keywords then you may have to do some rewriting. 

Hope, you guys also find it useful as I did! 

Hello,

Today I have a question for all SEOs and website developers. I will be grateful if somebody sheds some light on this issue.

My question is : Suppose, i have a central database for few 1000s of real estate property listings. And, I have to display them for 100-200 websites of many real estate agents. Though the domains are all different they have will have substaantial number of pages which have lot of similar content (property listings and details) .

Now, the question is will Google penalise those websites for duplicate content?
Google says thsi regarding Dupliacte content :

"Duplicate content generally refers to substantive blocks of content within or across domains that either completely match other content or are appreciably similar. Mostly, this is not deceptive in origin. Examples of non-malicious duplicate content could include:

• Discussion forums that can generate both regular and stripped-down pages targeted at mobile devices
• Store items shown or linked via multiple distinct URLs
• Printer-only versions of web pages

"

Are those sites displaying  very informative content but showing duplicate content for a very valid and non malicious reason be penalised? Is google's algorithm clever enough to judge this issue correctly? Will appreciate solid answers with real proofs :)

Many people dont have a clue on what sitelinks actually are. Frankly, i was also not aware about the term. And i was foxed to see links below some sites. Then I started investigating  it.

First thing, I found was that these links below a site listings on google search pages are called "Sitelinks".

Google explains it like this "The links shown below some sites in our search results, called sitelinks, are meant to help users navigate your site. Our systems analyze the link structure of your site to find shortcuts that will save users time and allow them to quickly find the information they're looking for."

Google also explains that sitelinks are completely automated. It means that it may very well be possible that Google's algorithm may churn out inaccurate or wrong sitelinks. Though a webmaster cannot do anything to correct the sitelinks, what webmaster can do best  is to Block it.

Since, Google has not revealed the algorithm for sitelinks just like their other algorithms, webmaster and SEO cannot do nothing much to directly influence the sitelinks. This I personally feel to be a good thing as it gives rogue SEOs less options to manipulate and ruin another potentially good thing for site visitors.

Over the next week, i will research on the subject on how to get these sitelinks. I will surely keep you all updated.

Every real estate agent or realtor needs to tap every possible avenue for more sales. Advertisements on T.V. , newspapers are out of the reach of most real estate agents.In this scenarios, the only level playing field that remains is the INTERNET. A real estate website can not only advertise a real estate agent's services but also showcase the properties and even give a real estate agent exposure to million of customers all over the world at a fraction of cost. To sweeten the deal, the marketing efforts on internet are much more lasting then other traditional mediums.

Ideally, a website developed by a professional Real Estate website design company will have these following features. These are not only desired but absolutely required to distinguish itself from the clutter of other thosuands of Real Estate websites.  

1) Nice, clean Design : A Real Estate website should a clean design and easy to use navigation so as to ensure that a site visitor finds the required information with minimum of clicks. The information should be presented quickly. Many sites have great animation and flash which do nothing to enlighten a visitor but  only succeed in driving away a potential customer because they take forever to dowload. So the golden rule is to keep it SIMPLE.

2) Search Engine friendly : Search Engines like google, yahoo etc. are becoming the biggest sources of traffic. To ignore them will be downright suicidal for any real estate agent. A site needs to be search Engine friendly. All the titles, keywords, content has to be properly chosen so as to make the site as informative to a search engine as possible.

3) Real estate Listings : A Real Estate website without property listings is a like a glorified business card. It does very little to educate, inform and serve a visitor. A  easy to search listings will not only attract a visitor but also increase the stickiness of the site. A visitor will stay longer and explore the site. An easy control panel for the site adminsitrator to add, edit and delete listings should also be provided.

4) Image/Video Gallery : In this age of Utubes, one cannot take videos lightly. A virtual video tour can showcase a property to a potential client located across the globe. A virtual tour indicates how professional a real estate agent is and how much homework he has done for the property.

5) Content Management system :  A content management system (CMS) is essential for a real Estate website. A real estate agent may need to change the content of website. Pages may have to be edited or added immediatly. IN thsi scenario, it's imperative that a simple and powerful CMS be provided.

6) Contact management : Contacts are the cornerstone of any sales. People visting a real Estate website should be able to contact the real estate agent through contact form. A propr feedback form should also be provided so that site visitors can submit their feedback. A proper response strategy and contact management should be put in place so that no query goes unanswered. It also helps if newsletters are also provided. It's a very important tool to keep in touch with a site visitor. A monthly newsletter with new listings and helpful material goes a long way in establishing ever lasting business relations.

7) Internet Marketing : Now, that the your real estate website is ready and uploaded, it needs to be get seen. There are 1000s of real Estate websites. The only way to to rise above the heap will be a carefully thought of  and planned internet marketing. Internet Marketing can be in form of pay per clicks, banners or organic. While pay per click and banners have shown their effectiveness, the most long running, cost effective and natural marketing strategy is search Engine Optimization and link building. Another way to build brand and get traffic is to use socials, blogs etc. to reach a still wider medium apart from just search engines.