Your seo might be great, but are they staying beyond the first click?

When I first put up my website over 10 years ago, I thought of what I would like to see there if I were moving to a new area, and I designed and wrote my content with that in mind. That was in the good old days before most other realtors even had a website. Maybe I don't update it as often as I should, but people keep telling me that they like my site, it's easy to navigate, it has good information that they can use, etc. I also still get good traffic.

For many years I was #1 on Google for my main search terms. When Google started playing around with different algorithms off an on over the past several years, sometimes my site would disappear for awhile, but then it would be back. It's there again. I also have other websites, all tied together--blog, IDX, etc., not all on the same site. But it works.

Bottom line is to give people what they want and need--first is the ability to search the MLS. That will keep them on your site more than any other thing. Next is information about your area with links to schools and other local amenities. And of course market information. That's where blogging comes in.

I agree with Bill, #37. The key is to get them to sign in so you can follow up. Internet marketing for real estate isn't any different than the good old days before the internet. It's all about creating relationships and trust, whether in person or virtually. Service too. It's all about them, not you (the agent). Give them what they want.

Thank you Inna.  This post was extremely helpful... maybe one of the most helpful posts on websites that I've ever read on AR, especially your comments.

Absolutely right.

Driving them to the site is step one. Step 2 is having the right landing page(s) that will be conducive to converting a visitor to a prospect or a client.

Thank you for the tips on how to evalutate my website.  Did not know the graphs were available!  Not fairing too well.

Inna - I think I have most of this, but it looks like I need to go review my analytics to make sure I'm on top of all of these facets.

Inna,

I am bookmarking this post fo rreference - great post. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers.

Well you have earned a coveted Bookmark for future referal.  Thanks for the information.

I happened to have analytics open at the time I noticed this blog. :P . I agree that it is important to keep people on your site, unless perhaps the first page satisfies what they need. A listing agent might have a simple first page with their testimonials and credentials, and I think that might be enough for sellers. With buyrs, I think they need quite a bit. Here, everyone has access to our MLS system, so I try to make mine easier to use than the public system, and have actually spent months trying to improve how my site works.

I don't have fancy graphics, flash, or colours, and am now considering losing the header image, just to bring to page content up a little higher. So, nice and bright and simple; dark text on white background, so people don't get strained if they hang around... Sometimes people are on my site for hours looking at just listings... So, that is it; just listings, and information on taxes, firt time buyers exemptions, mortgage rates, etc., and with a very simple navigation system that is the same on every page.

It works... My bounce rate is about 40% year to date, average time on site is 16 minutes, and over 20% of visitors are return vistors ( i think that if people bu or start getting emails from a realtor, they stop returning... I would not expect return visits to be really high for my site). I get a lead from from 1 in approximately 500 vistors, which is a lead every couple days. Although my Google rank is only 1, I do show up in searches at much higher level than my coworkers sites that have Google ranks of 2 and 3, so clearly google rank is not everything when it comes to getting people to your site. Give them information, and make sure you write your own content. I have not yet customized all my pages, but the important pages that do show up in Google are all custom. Customize your page titles with the keyword you want to get picked up for, and write a page description so that it reads well (title should read well too)... (The template pages do not get picked up for my site, and HOME is probably not the best title for your homepage)

What I consider a lead, is when someone either signs up at my site, which enables them to get full listing details, or someone calls me wanting to see a home they found on my site. We have 'reciprocity', which enables all agents to show all listings on their site, and I take full advatage of this system. If someone wants to see something they see, I start be letting them know it is not my listing, and I invite themto come meet me, and offer to help them. Some wont, as they are tire kickers, or actively trying to reach the listing agent, and that is fine... The ones that will come to my office are real and motivated buyers, which are golden.

Edit: SEO certainly is critical. I have focused on building links, and I am certain it helps me, but good optimization is a combination of things. If your site is unique (good unique informative content), and you have only a couple of links to your site, then your site can do surprisingly well and show up in google searches. If you have a basic generic template but tons of links, you can also show up well in search. However, combine the two, and you will rise to the top... Good content and website structure, and tons of inbound links from reputable webpages.

Building links can take years, but I would look at it at a long term effort in the same way fitness is a lifestyle, not a quick fix. Dont just get a bunch of links out there, and then stop... Other people are continuing, so you will fall behind if you stop... Slowly, keep doing it. If you know how to, look for 'follow' link pages... no-follow links will be a wast of effort, but I will leave that to you to figure out.

Thanks for some baseline info on bounce and viewing time on pages.  It is information many don't understand or want to give out.  I have been watching mine and wish I had more time to blog.  To many Ideas and no time!

Wow, Inna, that is kinda rude. My comment was very long, and she pulled out something that she thought was very useful. As was pointed out, most people don't read lengthy content.... I was kinda flattered by her comment, and miss seeing it now. You can go ahead and delete my comments too... I don't think I will be back to your blog.

This was a timely post for me as well as I am currently evaluating my net presence.

I liked your blog post and I thank you for sharing it with us!

Inna I suggested this one for a feature. My website which is just a landing page is in need of a makeover very bad. This one was very helpful-Thanks. Great post.

Inna-good stuff, getting them there is just the starting point, thanks for the tips on what are good analytics. Best.