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Climbing the Google Ladder with Blogs

By John Watson

Real Estate Agent with Century 21 LAD Realty BRE# 01898159

September 10, 2011 06:34 PM

google ladder

In the recent months I have been spending many hours in classes learning the best way to Blog. While completely un-natural and redundant the suggestions and lessons learned are working to climb the blog ladder. Key words are "key" when blogging and using the key words many times in a blog is "key." Forget everything you learned in English writing class because now we are in the wild world of Google. Even adding a description using your "key words" to your picture enhances the blog. The practice of putting your key phrase in the description provides one more less obvious opportunity to plug your key word/phrase.

You might ask why it is important to think about particular key words?

My answer... Do you want to be found?

Blogging using vital key words or phrases is what allows people to see what you are posting and is of utmost importance. When you are working with a seller and want to get the most exposure while marketing their home key words will be very important in your blog.

An example of Using Key Words - Blogging on Foreclosures in Santa Cruz

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Elite Home Sales Team

Elite Home Sales Team OC - Corona del Mar, CA

A Tenacious and Skilled Real Estate Team

I am glad that you are able to blog your way to success.

Sep 10, 2011 06:36 PM

Pamela Seley

West Coast Realty Division - Murrieta, CA

Residential Real Estate Agent serving SW RivCo CA

It is challenging trying to write posts with key words. I was told always put the address of a listing in the title of your blog post for better google juice. It seems to work. Much success to you,

Sep 10, 2011 06:37 PM

James Muhammad

RE/MAX Champions - Upland, CA

RE/MAX Vision

This is Great! Information and should have been a feature.. All agents should follow these instructions and see how it goes for them..

Sep 10, 2011 06:40 PM

John Watson

Century 21 LAD Realty - Aptos, CA

Santa Cruz Real Estate (831)428-3296

Thanks! It is certainly only one aspect in the many ways we market ourselves. As I am sure you know... there in no "one" magic trick that works.

Sep 10, 2011 06:40 PM

Josh Feygin

Hallandale Beach, FL

Thanks for sharing and greetings from sunny S. Florida!

Sep 10, 2011 06:41 PM

John Watson

Century 21 LAD Realty - Aptos, CA

Santa Cruz Real Estate (831)428-3296

Pamela... I believe with todays IDX everyone has the address. More important is catchy descriptive phrases in the title and a really nice looking listing post because your sellers are interviewing you before they call you

Thanks James!

Sep 10, 2011 06:43 PM

Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366

Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA

General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Sounds like you are working at learning to take the right steps in blogging.

Consistency is important.

Sep 10, 2011 06:48 PM

John Watson

Century 21 LAD Realty - Aptos, CA

Santa Cruz Real Estate (831)428-3296

Tom... I didn't mention consistency in the blog and I should have. Thank you for the reminder as I am also setting up systems for most of my daily activities. I said most because the 12 year old twin boys sometimes take me off real estate task... as it should be.

Sep 10, 2011 06:56 PM

Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528

Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY

Real Estate Salesperson

Tye, sounds like your're hard at work figuring it all out. WHen you've got it down pat, please share. Twin boys aged 12 can be areal diversion!!

Sep 10, 2011 07:01 PM

John Watson

Century 21 LAD Realty - Aptos, CA

Santa Cruz Real Estate (831)428-3296

Lora, don't know that anyone will ever have it down pat as once we think we have it all figured out technology changes. From what I hear the next Google change is more emphasis on images and videos... Lets all get ready for the big screeen... ;)

Thanks for the comment! Much appreciated.

Sep 10, 2011 07:11 PM

Patty Clark

Morningside Homes, LLC 720-231-5200 - Denver, CO

Helping Families Move with Care

Good for you going to classes to learn this stuff. I, too have been to many classes and it seems blogging is still a mystery. Tell about yourself, but don't tell too much, eat out a lot and take pictures of the restaurant, go to the community events, take pictures and blog about it. Put in key words but don't stuff it full, put in links, put the heading at the beginning and the end, bold some of the fonts and on and on it goes.

What about writing about Real Estate and helping people understand what goes on by showing our knowledge of the matter. Especially first time buyers who have tons of questions. This is our craft that we spend hours and dollars perfecting.

If I am searching for a lawyer, plumber etc I don't really care how they went to a soccer game or the newest restaurant. I want to know their skills, education and blogs about their craft.

It's confusing to me because I don't notice blogs from plumbers etc about how they cooked a steak yesterday.

So, I will just keep on blogging about various things but I will include blogs on my real estate knowledge and maybe someone will benefit from it.

Sep 10, 2011 07:17 PM

John Watson

Century 21 LAD Realty - Aptos, CA

Santa Cruz Real Estate (831)428-3296

Keep doing what you are doing Chris and Patty... Our business is so different than a plumber. We deal with our clients on such a personal level.... not just for one hour or a job but sometimes for months before the escrow closes... especially if it is a "short sale." We consult and educate and inform our buyer that while in escrow they should make no changes to their financial situation. Sellers are interviewing us online before we even know about them. Blogging, and more so the quality of the blog is more important than ever.

Sep 10, 2011 07:25 PM

SunnySellsOC Putting The Green Back Into Orange County One Fami

REeBroker - Anaheim Hills, CA

Thank you for a graet blog, very helpful

Sep 10, 2011 07:27 PM

David Shamansky

US Mortgages - David Shamansky - Highlands Ranch, CO

Creative, Aggressive & 560 FICO - OK, Colorado Mtg

Crazy that we have to do such foolish things in order to get ranking and in order to be "found" but I agree your words are true. I simply cannot just write garbage to make Google happy. I still have to write what I like, know or believe and I dont like doing the "keyword" tags all throughout. Someday I may have to cave but not yet

Sep 10, 2011 07:37 PM

John Watson

Century 21 LAD Realty - Aptos, CA

Santa Cruz Real Estate (831)428-3296

You can write relevant and important content just change the mind set a little to include the key words more often.

Sep 10, 2011 07:53 PM

Wallace S. Gibson, CPM

Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA

LandlordWhisperer

I have would-be clients call me who say they have been reading my blogs - they found me through my key words and thought enough of my information to get to know me! It works!

Sep 11, 2011 12:47 AM

Daniel H. Fisher

www.FisherHermanRealty.com (704) 617-3544 - Charlotte, NC

MCRP - Charlotte Real Estate, NC or SC

I agree with Chris and Patty. For a Real Estate Blog, include blogs on my real estate knowledge and maybe someone will benefit from it.

Sep 11, 2011 01:16 AM

John Watson

Century 21 LAD Realty - Aptos, CA

Santa Cruz Real Estate (831)428-3296

I do believe you are right as well as Chris and Patty. I would also say that it cannot hurt to opitmize the posts that contain all of your real estate knowledge as more people will benefit from it. Thank you so much for the comments everyone!

Sep 11, 2011 02:13 PM

Pete Xavier

Investments to Luxury - Pacific Palisades, CA

Outstanding Agent Referrals-Nationwide

Time to get busy working on SEO, key words and etc. Heck, I need to start blogging.

Jan 30, 2013 03:45 PM