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Is Blogging Really Helping Me?

By
Real Estate Agent with Hunt Real Estate

WAIT WAIT WAIT - I don't get this...

 

The more I blog, the more I should be increasing my internet presence, right????

 

So, can someone, anyone, explain to me how it is that in the past couple weeks I've suddenly dropped backward on the proverbial Google radar?  Or better yet, if I do a Google image search, I don't show up at all???  I actually just put my name in quotation marks and did a Google image search, and not one image is mine.  There are pictures of other 'Rainers that show up.  For some of these, I guess it sort of makes sense because I commented their blogs.  But most of them are just other agents in my area.  For the past 5 years, my image showed up first, and multiple times.  Even in doing a regular web search, there was no need for quotation marks, and I was pretty consistently first or second on the list to show up.  I understand the web is huge, and getting bigger, faster, than most of us can imagine.  But I'm talking about a big change over the course of the past couple weeks.

 

Okay, I'm opening myself up to a world of potential criticism here, so be kind (please).  What basic information am I not getting here?  I like to think of myself as an intelligent and fairly tech savvy individual, but right now I'm feeling like a twit.  Probably sounding like a whining idiot as well, and I can only apologize for that.  In my defense, the alternative was to swear and type everything in italicized capital letters, because I'm feeling a little frustrated here.  What the heck happened - what did I do wrong - what changed?

 

HELP ME 'RAINERS!!!! 

Lisa Friedman
Alliance Realtors - Bedminster, NJ
Central New Jersey Real Estate
Sharon, that is very interesting. I'd be very interested in knowing what happened and how to stay high in the search engines.
Mar 12, 2008 04:33 PM
Cooper Jacobs
Looking For A Seattle Realtor? COOPERJACOBS.COM - Seattle, WA
Real Estate Brokers - Seattle
Hi Sharon - I thought something had happened with Google a couple months ago - I don't remember the specifics, but suddenly I had a few issues as well...I should do more research.
Mar 12, 2008 04:37 PM
Rich Jacobson
Fathom Realty West Sound - Poulsbo, WA
Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker
Sharon - I know that it takes more than just a few weeks and 5 blog posts to get ranked well by Google. What is your primary market? Do you sell throughout the entire Syracuse area, or do you specialize in a particular suburb? Post articles that are specific to your market, using targeted search terms that consumers in your area will use. This last post was the only one where you used specific local tags. You need to post consistently. On the AR Home Page, there is a link "Online Resources"...click there and you will find a wealth of helpful articles on various aspects of effective blogging. Give yourself more time, and I guarantee your efforts will pay off. Let me know if you have any questions along the way...
Mar 12, 2008 04:41 PM
Rich Jacobson
Fathom Realty West Sound - Poulsbo, WA
Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker
...in addition, don't use your name to do your searches. Consumers won't use your name to search your area for houses. They don't know you. They will use search terms like "Syracuse NY real estates" or "Onondaga County real estate".....
Mar 12, 2008 04:43 PM
Rich Jacobson
Fathom Realty West Sound - Poulsbo, WA
Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker
...one more thing...I just did a Google search for "Onondaga County NY real estate"...the ActiveRain Profiles are at the bottom of Page 1...and your profile is there!
Mar 12, 2008 04:47 PM
Sharon Wager
Hunt Real Estate - Camillus, NY
"Your Blue Jean Agent"

Rich, what I don't get is that I was already pretty well ranked - before I started blogging on AR.  The loss of my picture though, that just stumps me.  After going through what felt like endless blogs, and not finding the answers I was looking for, I opted for another post.  I'll certainly try your suggestions - the worst that can happen is I keep sliding backward, right?

 

Lisa - If I find anything out, I'll let you know!  And C.J. - If you find anything out can you let Lisa and I know? LOL

Mar 12, 2008 04:50 PM
ActiveRain Real Estate Network
ActiveRain - Kirkland, WA
Sharon - the other thing is that Google changes their algorithms on a more regular basis these days. So many webmasters are attempting to game the search spiders, so they create more and more sophisticated algorithms. They did one around the 1st of the year that set everyone back. Trust me, just keep posting consistently, using relevant search terms in your tags and in the natural flow of your post content, and your ranking will improve accordingly. Check out that link I suggested. There are people much more qualified than I am who have shared some great tips!
Mar 12, 2008 05:31 PM