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Forget SEO: Convert Visitors into Real Estate Buyers

By
Mortgage and Lending with Arizona Wholesale Mortgage Inc.

your real estate SEO might be worthlessAll of the real estate SEO in the world will not help you if your website does not convert visitors into clients. So, instead of focusing on SEO for Realtors (my usual stuff), I am going to write about website "conversions" and turning those visitors to your website into genuine clients.

Actually, I'm not going to write about it, because I made a video.

But here's the summary: I helped an ActiveRainer, Terri Poehler, rise dramatically in her Google rankings over the past couple of months. However, Terri's telephone wasn't ringing.

Nobody was calling her for "Coral Springs Real Estate Agent" searchs- even though she is #2 in Google, right below Zillow. (At the time I write this article.)

Real Estate Agents Could Care Less About SEO

Right?

I mean, really-- what agents really want is more clients. I don't think it matters where they come from. If 99% of your business came from the church newsletter and 1% came from SEO or website-related stuff, the fact is, no real estate agent on Earth would care about SEO.

When Terri Poehler contacted me, I told her I didn't have time to take another client. But she really needed help, so I helped her...but only a little.

I brought her website to page one, but I never consulted with her about actually getting clients.

And I was able to tell Terrii-- "See? I did what I told you I'd do."

While she was somewhat impressed, the fact is, Terri could care less about my SEO skills. She just wants to have clients. She just wants her phone to ring. I could SEO her stuff, or I could drop clients from the sky in parachutes- I don't think she cares.

Getting your site to page one of Google is pretty useless if people don't actually hire you and Terri knows it.

So Saturday, I sat down at my computer and turned her site into something that will generate leads. The video below will show you what I did.

Remember, SEO is only 50% of the equation. The other 50% is all about good design. If you want to compete, especially if you want to compete with my clients, you'll have to be dialed-in pretty good on both counts.

By the way: Terri is currently writing the content for the calls-to-action. So if you visit her site, and the "Find Out How Much Your Home Is Worth" button is not working yet-- I am aware.

 

Posted by

seo guru

Comments (17)

Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Michael excellent advice to bring in more clients to our sites.  

 

Featured in BananaTude


Dec 10, 2012 09:57 AM
Rich Cederberg
eXp Realty - Albuquerque, NM
eXp Realty Agent Albuquerque

Thanks for the video Michael. Great to see the changes but even better to hear the reasoning behind them.

Dec 10, 2012 09:59 AM
AZ Mortgage Broker: Michael George
Arizona Wholesale Mortgage Inc. - Phoenix, AZ
AZ Mortgage Rates

Thanks Anna Banana and thank you Rich!

Dec 10, 2012 10:06 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks for sharing your advice.  Many of us need help.

Have an outstanding week and be sure to have your camera in hand for the special moments.

Dec 10, 2012 10:37 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

George, Thanks you for letting me know about my google+ posts. Much appreciated!

Margaret

Dec 10, 2012 11:26 AM
Ginny Gorman
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

Great improvement in her web page visually for sure Mike...i have to figure out how to put the call to action for sellers at the bottom of mine now!

Dec 10, 2012 11:50 AM
Lea Deo, REALTORĀ® - KW Realty Partners
Keller Williams Legacy Partners, Inc. - Shawnee, KS
Johnson County REALTORĀ®| Shawnee KS Homes for Sale

Very helpful, Michael.  Thanks for spreading your awesomeness around Active Rain. 

Dec 10, 2012 12:23 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

Thanks for breaking down the logic in what was done. All of the little details may have otherwise gotten lost. You have a comfortable way of explaining the layout of the page Michael; many will benefit from your knowledge.

Dec 10, 2012 12:26 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Michael,  thanks for the reminder about calls to action.  I know I need to do that.

Dec 10, 2012 09:10 PM
Terri Poehler
Realtor - Coral Springs, FL
Coral Springs Real Estate Agent

Thank goodness Michael squeezed me in. This journey has been so exciting. Amazing. He is even willing to teach us in spite of his busy schedule!!

Dec 10, 2012 10:05 PM
Rick Phillips
Appraisals Guaranteed - Alexandria, VA
Expert & Customized Valuations

"So far I think this is a big improvement..."

 

Umm, it really IS a big improvement :-)

Dec 11, 2012 03:08 AM
AZ Mortgage Broker: Michael George
Arizona Wholesale Mortgage Inc. - Phoenix, AZ
AZ Mortgage Rates

Thanks to all of you for all of your thanks!

And Rick Phillips- welcome to ActiveRain!

Dec 11, 2012 06:49 AM
Steve Laird
Anderson Real Estate Sales - Chico, CA
Steve Sells Chico Real Estate
Thanks for the info Michael! I appreciate the info as I am in the process of setting up my new website.
Dec 13, 2012 02:30 AM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Throwing money at a new shiny object does not guarantee it makes you money if you don't work it. Wiggle it just a little bit. Daily SEO with rise and shine passion is needed with anything you promote on the local area, on the property listings in it. 

Dec 15, 2012 09:16 PM
AZ Mortgage Broker: Michael George
Arizona Wholesale Mortgage Inc. - Phoenix, AZ
AZ Mortgage Rates

Not sure I understand your comment Andrew. What is your point exactly?

Daily SEO? I do that about 60 hours per week. Is that what you mean?

I'm not a Realtor and I don't just make new shiny objects; I make sites rank higher and I make them shiny too.

I guess you were just...agreeing with me?

Dec 17, 2012 12:47 AM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Not sure how I missed this one. I just reblogged (and even suggested).  Not sure if it's too late.  You're right, being found is only half the battle.  Then, you need good content/quality and calls to action.  This is something I improved on a bit for my site (added orange button on upper right but still need to finish and optimize the calls to action at bottom.

Oh, and you got me thinking about an ebook.  I wonder if that is something I could create and offer people to download.  Right now, they can download a free flooring guide.  But, not sure how useful it is, nor how prevalent, and it's not housed on my site.  I really need to learn how to do some of these forms + how to send stuff (not to mention how to create an ebook).  So much to learn (and so little time).

Jan 01, 2013 07:34 AM
David Grbich
Realty One Group - www.FindCARealEstate.com - San Juan Capistrano, CA
Orange County Real Estate - 949-500-0484

Hi Michael - great video - seo without a good site design is worthless - nice changes. You have me thinking about better calls to action now. Regards Dave

Mar 14, 2013 01:58 AM