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See Your Site Through The Eyes of Google

By
Real Estate Agent with Dakno Marketing

When a web visitor views your site, they are immediately greeted with graphics, text, and possibly even videos or flash. Obviously, humans can quickly scan and read these elements and then determine what is important. Search Engines however see your site in a whole different light. While search engines are getting smarter and smarter, they ultimately rely on HTML code and content to determine what you page is all about.

Flash Killed the Search Engine Star

Many Real Estate agents like to use flash because it offers so much eye candy. The only problem is that while your music filled flash intro may be causing your site visitors to immediately supply you with all their contact information (please note the sarcasm) Search Engines just see a blank screen. Based off of some of the flash intros that I seen, I think Search Engines get the better end of the deal.

But this goes beyond just Flash intros. Many websites use Flash for important aspects such as menus, headers, and more. So how does Google see these elements? Let’s find out. Scott Patterson, a South Florida Real Estate Agent, was nice enough to let use his website as an example.

First, Through a Site Visitor’s Eyes

While his site doesn’t have much copy on the home page, it still contains important information such as the left hand navigation menu, his contact information and a couple of featured listings. Overall, it’s nice and clean. This is what the site looks like through the eyes of a visitor.

What Does Google See?

Using a handy little tool called the Poodle Predictor, it is easy to see what Google sees. No graphics, no flash, just good old content.
This is what the site looks like thought the eyes of Google.

You may be thinking “I don’t get it. There is nothing on that page.” That’s exactly the point. Google can’t see any menu or links! To put it in perspective, let’s look at another example.

Linda Craft is a Raleigh Real Estate Agent who has a site that’s a little more search engine friendly. Poodle Predictor shows that Google is able to soak up lots of content.

Is It Just The Amount Of Text?

If you visit Scott’s site and Linda’s site, you can easily see that Linda’s site contains more text. But keep in mind, just putting more text on a site doesn’t always mean it’s easy for Google to see.

Bad Code Killed the Search Engine Star

Let’s look at two pages with almost equal amounts of text. First, take a quick look at this page and this page. As you can see, they both have lots of content so you would think that Google would easily see both pages. But just look at the results.

The Pinehurst page using Poodle Predictor shows lots of great content. Great! Google should have no problem soaking up this content. View The Pinehurst Page Using Poodle Predictor.

The SV Home Team website shows… It shows nothing! Why? After all both pages have lots of content! Here is the answer. This page uses frames! This page has missed an opportunity for lots of exposure because the page is coded using a bad practice! But don’t worry. My company is already busy at work developing a new website for him – without frames. View The SV Home Team Using Poodle Predictor.

Every day search engines are getting smarter and smarter. But ultimately they rely on your HTML code and content to determine what you page is all about.

Check Your Own Site

Ready to see how your own website measures up in the eyes of Google? Simply go to the Poodle Predictor, type in your domain, and in the results click on the Diagnostics View link. If lots of good content appears, then good for you. If not, you may want to make some changes.

If you found this information helpful, please consider subscribing to my blog

To Your Success,
Brad Carroll

Disclaimer: It’s important to note that this tool is not affiliated with Google nor do they have any inside information. The tool doesn’t actually use Google’s algorithms to view the page. It simply views the content without stylesheets, JavaScript or plugins.

Comments (119)

Barbara Mulcahy
Re/Max Integrity Advantage - Berkeley Heights, NJ
ABR, CRS - Your Berkeley Heights Real Estate Source
Thanks Brad - great info!
Oct 16, 2007 12:18 AM
Deb Dahlberg - Rowland
Stanberry Realtors - Bastrop, TX
Deb Sells Texas!
Thanks for sharing this. Poodled my website. Learned a few things, changed a few things.  Awesome. 
Oct 16, 2007 12:25 AM
Kotambu "KS" Shabazz
Quality Real Estate Services - Renton, WA
Renton, Real Estate Consultant
Brad you are the king of this SEo stuff. Thanks for sharing this great tool.
Oct 17, 2007 03:01 PM
Caroline Carrara
EWM/Christie's-Las Olas, Real Estate - Fort Lauderdale, FL

I am having a catch up with the tech/Brad afternoon...

the 1st this page link didn't work for me? fyi... Still overwhelming, but I am absorbing, clicking all the links reading every bit, waiting for the big light to go off...

Nov 01, 2007 05:40 AM
Richard Feit
Remax Signature - Perry Hall, MD
Excellent info! Thanks!!
Nov 02, 2007 12:56 AM
Anonymous
Cynthia Grimes
Great information on all of your blogs.  I am reviewing and improving my website and I will use the information you provide to assist.  Thanks!
Nov 21, 2007 07:08 AM
#107
GA-agent.com Georgia Real Estate Directory
GA-agent.com - Canton, GA
Great post, Thanks Brad!
Nov 21, 2007 08:00 AM
Tucson Real Estate Experts Anne McKechnie
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Tucson, AZ
Previews Property Specialist

Great post Thanks..I have been looking for someone to give us help. Happy Thanksgiving!


Anne

Nov 21, 2007 09:22 AM
Bonner Thomason
Keller Williams Realty - Kernersville, NC
CRS, ABR, GRI, e-Pro

Interesting thought and system. This is a big part of the puzzle and way the coordinate the balance of SEO and consumer apeal

Bonner 

Nov 21, 2007 11:54 AM
Brian Lee Burke
Kenna Real Estate - Lone Tree, CO
Broker & Advising Expert-Kenna Luxury Real Estate
Thanks for the great post. We have recently hired somebody to build us a new website. Wish we had known about you before we started!!!! Now we are worried that the current designers do not know what they are doing! We have already subscribed to your posts and can't wait for more great info.
Nov 21, 2007 02:15 PM
Matt Clark
RE/MAX Results - Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati Real Estate
Great info!
Nov 21, 2007 02:48 PM
Meg Zoller
Keller Williams - Houston, TX
Houston Fine Homes
Brad - My head spins with all this information.  Again, thank you for taking care of mine.  Have you Poodle Predicted our new site?  I know it's far from complete . . .but it would be interesting to see what it has to say.  Again . . . you're fabulous!  Thank you for all that you do.
Nov 21, 2007 05:39 PM
Heather Fitzgerald
REALTY WORLD-Harbert Company, Inc. - Greenwood, IN
REALTOR Greenwood Indiana Real Estate
Thanks for more valuable and knowledgeable information.  Keep it coming!
Dec 27, 2007 05:28 AM
Brad Carroll
Dakno Marketing - Knightdale, NC
Real Estate Web Designer

Meg - Please get with Leslie to discuss the Poodle Predictor with her.

Heather - Always happy to help. That's part of our DNA here at Dakno.

Dec 27, 2007 07:21 AM
Tina Merritt
Nest Realty - Blacksburg, VA
Virginia Real Estate
I can't get the link to the poodle predictor to work.  Is it still up?
Jan 03, 2008 03:57 PM
Holli Boyd
Keller Williams Realty Capital District - Averill Park, NY
yep - looks like the poodle is down for good :(
Apr 03, 2008 11:57 AM
Tina Howell
RE/MAX DFW Associates VI - Little Elm, TX
Little Elm & Frisco Area Real Estate
great info.  I look forward to checking out that tool - if working.  I never knew frames were viewed that way!
Apr 03, 2008 01:40 PM
Doris Freeman
Zach Taylor Real Estate - Gallatin, TN
Broker/Agent, 615-961-7799
No flash, just good information, Thanks
Apr 03, 2008 01:58 PM
Roland Woodworth
Blue Cord Realty - Clarksville, TN
Blue Cord Realty
Brad.... thanks for sharing.. I have book marked this for future study.
Apr 03, 2008 06:07 PM
Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239
Real Estate One - Commerce, MI
Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
Some of your links don't go anywhere.  But thanks for all the info
Apr 04, 2008 12:44 AM