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Is Google Playing Tricks on you-Personalized Search

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Hub Media Company

 


If you have a website or a Blog you know how important it is to be on the 1st page of Google. Statistics tell us that 75% of the clicks in Google will go to the 1st, 2nd or 3rd result, after that, the numbers drop substantially. Think about it, how often do you click on a link that is not in one of these positions?

After waiting so long and working so hard on your internet strategy, as a Realtor or Loan Officer nothing is really more rewarding than being on the first page of Google in one of those 1st, 2nd or 3rd positions. It feels great, the whole world can see you now and your website or blog should be getting the attention it so richly deserves.  But is it?

The guys and gals at Google are very smart, sometimes it feels like they are reading our minds, they often know what we are searching for before we do.  It’s this Google intuition that can play tricks on your true ranking in Google.

Below, I google’d the “Housing Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Act” which is in regards to short sales.  If you are a short sale agent and you don’t know what HAFA is, you will soon. A search for those key words from an earlier blog post gives me the #1 rank in Google.  After turning off my personalized search option, I can see that it really is #1 in Google.  (This explains all the calls I am getting from potential short sale candidates.) READ MORE

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Tom Davis
Harrington ERA,DE Homes For Sale, $$ Save $$ Buy Today ! - Dover, DE
FREE Delaware Homes Search!, $$ Save $$ - Find Homes! Delaware Realtor

Congratulations!

Best wishes for more success!

Thanks,

Tom Davis

Mar 01, 2010 03:40 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Stephen,

It could have been interesting, but when I see the link inviting me to read the rest of the article, I do not go. I think many others don't to. I guess this is our psyghology

Mar 01, 2010 03:46 PM
Jared Hokanson
Hokanson Realty & Jared Realty Group - Medford, OR
Your Home Sold, GUARANTEED!*

Congrats Stephen on the great google placement!

Mar 01, 2010 04:13 PM
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Stephen - Congratulation for your success with google placement. Thank you for sharing an informative and helpful blog.

John

Mar 01, 2010 04:17 PM
Cheryl Ritchie
RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD
Southern Maryland 301-980-7566

I think it hardly goes past the first page when I do a search. Thanks for the  information!

Mar 01, 2010 10:03 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Stephon I notice a big change here this past week or so in where you're sending folks.  I'm kind of with Jon on this - will most people click further? 

Mar 01, 2010 11:58 PM
Stephen Garner
Hub Media Company - Tempe, AZ
Hub Media Company
@Anna, I guess it depends. I can clearly see from Statpress on my wordpress blog that people are finding me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and activerain and are clicking through to my blog. I guess the success would depend on how compelling the information is we are putting out there for our audience. "how changes in short sale legislation will benefit you" is probably more compelling than "great home for sale in Chandler". It's a marathon, not a sprint right? Thanks for your comment, looking forward to seeing you at Smurcle.com!
Mar 02, 2010 04:21 AM
Kyle Jan
Scottsdale, AZ
Phoenix AZ Homes for Sale

I think that is very creative.  I like the idea, I click if I am truely interested in the information.  Your blog has to be strong in the beginning and bait the reader into wanting more.

Mar 02, 2010 04:23 AM
Stephen Garner
Hub Media Company - Tempe, AZ
Hub Media Company
@Kyle, absolutely! So many people give away the information without providing a call to action. Thanks for your comment. What part of Phoenix do you work in?
Mar 02, 2010 04:31 AM
Leslie Prest
Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ - Payson, AZ
Owner, Assoc. Broker, Prest Realty, Payson,

I was told awhile ago that to see the search results the way a consumer would you should clear your cookies and temp files and then search. Is this the same as what you are talking about? That Google will read our prefs?

Mar 02, 2010 06:13 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I've heard of this before as far as turning off the personalized search feature.  I'm not sure that I agree with you on the statement 1 - 2 - 3 placement.  It is getting more & more apparant that there is so much information provided that 1-2 or 3 is NOT really the best information or what you are searching for.  Maybe it's just me but just because your #1 doesn't mean you answer the question I want or give me the service I am looking for.  You're just #1 in Google period.  Congrats on that but I guess I am saying most of the time the search is not RELEVANT which is a shame.

Mar 05, 2010 02:55 AM