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Why So Many Look-Alike Community Pages?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Marte Cliff Copywriting

In yesterday's post I asked if you're selling your community or your homes/land within the community. Another question, of course, is whether you're selling the community or your own services. But that's for another day.

Among the things I write for my clients are community pages. I might be writing about an entire city, a "named" neighborhood within that city, or one of the recognized suburbs of a large city.

In order to come up with something interesting, I do research. I visitHot air balloon festival the Chamber of Commerce sites, HMO/neighborhood organization sites, Wikipedia, and a variety of agent sites.

I might also end up on specialized sites that mention the city as one of many that offer a specific recreational opportunity. For instance, this site on hot air ballooning mentions celebrations in a variety of cities around the world.

Most of the time, there's a wealth of information with which to create an interesting overview of a community. If I lived there, I know I'd have even more, based on personal knowledge of the activities in the community.

So - why in the heck do so many agent sites offer nothing more than a cut and paste of the information found on Wikipedia?

I can't tell you how many times, when visiting agent sites, I find the exact same information. That's not helpful for SEO, and since the writing style is dry, it's not interesting for site visitors. It offers some facts, but since all of yesterday's commenters indicated that they are selling the communities along with the homes and land, why not try to put some spark and excitement into it?

If your community pages need a shot of "life" and you don't have time to do the research and writing yourself, get in touch.

UPDATE: When I wrote this post I had been writing community pages for several different real estate agents - all in southern states. Not long after, I contracted to do the same for an agent in a northern state - and I found a difference. There was hardly any information out there - not even on Wikipedia.

I don't know if it was the particular communities or if it's a north/south trend, but I do know that the lack of information spells opportunity for agents who live in some "information lacking" communities.

I wrote about it in this follow-up post.

Comments (6)

Marge Draper
Keller Williams Realty Palo Alto - Menlo Park, CA
REALTOR, Keller Williams Realty, Menlo Park CA

Marte, Interesting research.  Ever since I saw the headline of your post yesterday, I've been mulling over the question of whether I'm selling a community or a house.  Also, about whether the reader wants 'just the facts, ma'm' or also the filler.  Thank you for some thought provoking!

Jul 16, 2012 04:45 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Marge - Thanks. I love giving people more to think about! Yesterday's answers have given me a lot more to think about, too.

I expect the reader wants the facts, but if you can add a bit of "charm" to those facts, you'll generate more interest. Kind of like dry cake, or cake with a little frosting.

Jul 16, 2012 04:53 AM
Adrian Willanger
206 909-7536 AdrianWillanger-broker.com - Seattle, WA
Profit from my two decades of experience

Marte, Yep I agree the good content is contagious, particular with search engines. Thanks for the insight post. 

Jul 16, 2012 04:53 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Adrian - and it helps if it's interesting enough to hold the reader after the search engine delivers them to your site.

Jul 16, 2012 05:22 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Marte, Really good tips for those that don't know where to get valuable information on an area. I am going to reblog it. Thanks.

Jul 16, 2012 10:14 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Thanks Debbie - There really is a ton of information out there if you dig a little. Even in our little town where very few businesses have websites, you can learn about the schools, the library, the chamber of commerce, and the animal rescue. In addition, most newspapers give at least limited access, so you can learn more.

You sometimes DO have to wade through all those bothersome link farm sites. I laugh when I see "Find a gymnasium in Priest River" and similar blurbs on Google - there is NO gymasium in Priest River!

Jul 16, 2012 02:49 PM