How does local audience find your posts?
Are you writing your posts for a local audience? Are they finding your posts? You write and write, yet nobody seems to be listening. One glance at your blog statistics and you realize that hardly anybody reads your posts. Probably other members of the professional network. Why aren't my great posts being found by my local audience?
LOOK AT THE TITLE!
What does your title say? Maybe something like...
HURRY! $8000 tax credit alert!
OPEN HOUSE TODAY 1-3pm
Price Reduced - Super 3 bed 2 bath house
It's a good time to buy a home today!
Thinking about selling your home?
For Sale 12345 Apple Street - won't last!
There are literally thousands of titles you could come up with similar to these. The likelihood of your target audience - your LOCAL AUDIENCE finding your post is almost impossible. Why? Where does is say on the title what area (geographically) you are addressing? NOWHERE!
Even though it may not sound natural to us in speech to use the geographical term when we refer to our open house or the house for sale (that you really would like have sold already) it is CRUCIAL in blog posts so your audience can find you!
Take a look at posts that you see on the blog roll or that you see elsewhere. The title may not be interesting to you because it's not catchy, or funny, or provoking etc. but it has LOCAL search keywords in it!
Using the above titles as examples.
HURRY! $8000 tax credit for Denver home buyers
OPEN HOUSE in Shadowcreek in Loveland CO! (I'll address the today part in a later post)
It's a good time to buy a home in Cherry Creek!
Thinking about selling your home in Polo Club Littleton CO? (specific targeting a neighborhood)
Home for sale in The Timbers Parker CO - 12345 Apple Street
(keywords in bold)
The titles are nothing fancy. That's not the point of these types of posts targeting local audience. The point is TO BE FOUND! This is a very easy fix for many - go ahead try it!
This post is not part of the series Using Keywords but it is very much related. If you've missed the series check them out. Using Keywords is a 5 part series.
The series Using Keywords:
Part 1 - Keywords in Photos
Part 2 - Keyword Stuffing
Part 3 - Keywords Placement
Just one more thing. I love using great, smart, funny, crazy titles - I do that for a different audience, or maybe one day when enough people ready my posts and I don't have to worry about no-stinking-keywords I'll use more of creative titles! Meanwhile, I'll keep using local keywords in the titles so LOCAL AUDIENCE can find the posts!
Hope you enjoyed the post and found it helpful. If you have any questions feel free to ask, any time. Thanks for reading :)
Rita
Copyright 2009.© Kenna Real Estate. Rita Burke. All Rights Reserved. Sept 13th 2009. "How does local audience find your posts?".
Great tips, Rita...thanks for sharing them! One thing that I've found to work in a non real estate related website I have is to use both the state abbreviation and the full name of the state (e.g. California CA) because I think people use both versions when they search.
Rita, you are so right about keywords being the key to better blogs and search engine recognition... Helping you live your American dream...
Rita- Excellent advise on the keywords. I am in the learning phase and have realized the error of my first set of blog posts. Keywords and make it local in the posts are my rules now. Thanks for these posts.
Hey Rita this is a great post. It will help me finally get that local recognition I was hoping for.
The title is one of the most important consideration for SEO yet most miss the boat no matter how many times you tell them.
Thanks for sharing this information with us Rita. I am new to real estate so this is very helpful information for me. Thanks!!!
Thanks for the tip, Rita. You're so right, it doesn't always sound natural, but we need to think it as we're posting. Your examples really made the difference and help this newbie.
Rita: Just pointed that out to someone the other day who didn't use the subject in the keywords. Want someone to find your "xyz" post, better use "xyz" as a keyword!
Rita, Thanks for the tips! I'm learning more and more about SEO thanks to you and so many others here on AR!
Thanks for the tips. I have subscribed to your blog. I have already implemented several things you discussed in your photo tag post since I read it. Thanks for the help.
EXCELLENT series! I am sending this to my rainmakers! Keep keeping on Rita!
Renee (and everybody) Thanks. I am trying to squeeze some time to get a few more series out after this one. ~Rita
I can't begin to tell you how many hits I received on my blog titled: Sacramento Short Sale Agent Makes a Porno. And I was just goofing around.
Rita,
I have pretty good success getting my stuff found by using good key words and text. I just have to figure out what they are googling for.
Hi Rita! I love this series and as usual, you've done a beautiful job of presenting your points. Keywords ARE key!
Have a wonderful Wednesday...
You are so EL FUEGO with your tutorials Rita! Love it as a resource for rainmakers!
Remember that sex and controversy sell, so a blog post titled "Couple with nineteen children foreclosed on" would probably get lots of readers.
Rita - I am starting to get the idea. I haven't always done this in the past, but am trying to use local keywords on my posts that are attempting to attract clients.
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