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Backwards SEO! Sometimes you don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Richard Weisser Realty

Backwards SEO! Sometime you don’t need to reinvent the wheel!I don’t know I have ever seen or heard any other information on this topic, but it is actually one of the fastest ways to get more bang for your buck from your website.

Most of us spend all of our SEO time and effort trying to rank for the terms that we want to own, but few of us spend the time optimizing our CONTENT for terms that we ALREADY own!

For example, a particular term that does well may lead to a landing page that has not been updated in months or years. This page already has the ranking, now it’s time to use that prowess to our best advantage.

We often look to see where terms rank for our sites, but do we EVER look at the page that is returned? Can we add our latest listings? Can we add an IDX search box? Are we matching our content to the SEO that we already have?

Long tailed, short tailed, any kind of tailed … even if the term only produces a visitor or two a week that is an opportunity to “catch” the prospect.

Part of my weekly strategy is to look at terms that searchers have actually used to find my sites, and to make certain that if it is ever used again my resulting opportunity will be enhanced.

You may not get big numbers, but you will probably get more business.

And isn’t that what all of this is about?

Drick Ward Property Management / Broker Assoc
NEPTUNE REALTY - Virginia Beach, VA
"RealtorDrick" - Experienced Representation

Great post and excellent advice, Richard.  So much time is spent driving traffic, not as much realizing what that traffic sees when it arrives.  More people should read this, congrats on the feature.

Jul 18, 2012 10:59 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Great thinking.  I did this a while back for my top 5 landing pages on original site.  Now, I need to do this for my wordpress site and link to other key related posts.  I have 1 page in particular that is getting a LOT of hits - nearly double of the next closest page.  (and I think I have at least 6 or 7 pages gettting more hits than my home page).  thx for the tip and the reminder.  It's now on the project list for this weekend!

Jul 18, 2012 11:23 PM
Bryan Robertson
Los Altos, CA

I always focus on the content because so many bloggers don't bother with more than a few lines of text.  When the reader gets to my landing page and sees quality, that's all the SEO I need.  One trick I use is to simply type in searches that people might try.  The "instant recommendations" that come up in Google give me ideas of what sort of search terms people use and that becomes the basis for a blog.

Jul 18, 2012 11:40 PM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Richard- Always great advice from you!!

Jul 18, 2012 11:57 PM
Pamela Smith
Award Realty - Sun City West, AZ
Sun City West, Corte Bella, Sun City Grand

Richard,

You once again, give sound advise.  Thank you for all your sharing.

Jul 19, 2012 12:05 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

I agree with Bryan (summer cubicle #8 above)...when we finally capture the attention, it should deliver like a good movie worthy of an Oscar

Jul 19, 2012 12:19 AM
Rosalind Nicholas
RE/MAX Condos Plus Corporation, Brokerage - Toronto, ON
Toronto Condo Real Estate Agent, Toronto ON

Once again, a good recommendation from an Activerainer …… I have to work on this.

Jul 19, 2012 12:32 AM
Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA
Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD
301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

It helps to have a site that lets you know exactly where the lead is coming from and what terms they use Googling you. .

Jul 19, 2012 12:44 AM
Mary Stewart
HomeTrust Real Estate, LLC, Homes for Everyone - Wilsonville, OR
Wilsonville and Surrounding Portland Metro Areas

So much to think about and just how to do it well.  I am working on a new website and have so much to learn. Thank you for the insight.

Jul 19, 2012 01:02 AM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Hi Richard,  Great insight.  Interesting to see how our SEO efforts are slowly turning from science to the artful side.  Well done !

Jul 19, 2012 01:14 AM
Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate
M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Richard, Great thought.  Thanks for passing it along.

Jul 19, 2012 02:25 AM
Yolanda Hoversten
Self Employed - O'Fallon, IL
Referrals for O’Fallon, IL & the Metro East

Hi, Richard - optimizing what is already working is just being smart. Thanks for reminding us.

Jul 19, 2012 03:09 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I will take any advice you have to give on SEO.  Like this train of thought about adding some relevant things to the landing pages that are getting the most traffic.

Jul 19, 2012 03:29 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Richard, It's crazy sometimes looking through Google Analytics and seeing all the terms used to land on our blog.

Jul 19, 2012 04:00 AM
Kevin Mackessy
Blue Olive Properties, LLC - Highlands Ranch, CO
Dedicated. Qualified. Local.
Good advice on pursuing the keywords people use to land on you, even if they're not the terms you're trying to own.
Jul 19, 2012 04:37 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I still find taht my face to face conrtacts gives the mosst bang for my time spent.

Jul 19, 2012 06:52 AM
Wayne Jackson
Lakeshore Realty 208-714-4109 - Hayden, ID
North Idaho Realtor, Serving Coeur dnullAlene and Hayden Lake

Richard, Thanks for the advice, it sounds good. I am new at this and I would like to know how you know how many hits you're getting and on what page?

Jul 19, 2012 07:22 AM
Laura Murray
Weichert - Silver Spring, MD
Search Montgomery Co., MD for homes www.MDRealEstateOnline.com

Check, on my to do list - ramp of the Google analytics work/analysis on my website.  So much to do, so little time.  i know this should be outsourced.

Jul 19, 2012 09:23 AM
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

@Wayne...

Google Analytics is free and does a pretty good job of indentifying keywords!

Jul 19, 2012 12:08 PM
Amy Steele Realtor SRS CNE NHS MRP LUXE epro
JPAR Real Estate - North Richland Hills, TX
Principal, Amy Steele Estates Group LLC

Does google analytics track the keywords people use to find you? Maybe I just haven't looked at mine in a while. Great idea, thanks for the great info!

Jul 19, 2012 01:54 PM