Everything! You've heard it mentioned here at Active Rain before, CONTENT IS KING! If copywriting is so important to SEO why is it the very last thing real estate professionals think about, if they even think about it at all? I know the reason why. It takes time, effort, resources and action for organically sound SEO copy to be written. And that doesn't happen by accident. Yes, there is actually a thought process that should occur when organically sound SEO copy is written for a real estate website (or any website for that matter).

What the Experts Have to Say About Copywriting Skills

Because of the driving need among search engine optimization companies, one of the much sought after skillsets in the world of search engine marketing today is copywriters. Remember, this requires the copywriter understand how to write for search engines and at the same time attract, keep and compell online consumers to take action. Last year in a reader poll conducted by Top Rank Marketing the question was asked "What type of SEO skill is most important?" The #1 response on the reader poll was copywriting at 32% followed by keyword analyst at 14%. For a complete breakdown of the reader's poll, check it out.

So What is the Process to Writing Sound SEO Web Copy?

Remember, writing solid, SEO-rich copy is a tap-dance. It's a delicate balance between pleasing the search engines with proper keyword usage and offering appealing copy that "speaks" to the wants, needs and fears of your target audience all without sounding "spammy". Remember, the goal here is to show value and encourage interaction.

Copywriting with a Purpose!

Copywriting for maximized SEO also includes using relational keywords that "attract" the search engines as well. For our industry, it means including traditional industry-related words like listings, buyers, sellers, property, area, attorney, information, homes among many others. So is it a stab in the dark to just "stuff" your copy with these relational keywords or is there some "rhyme or reason" to it? Believe it or not, smart copywriters use a tool I've written about before called Quintura. Quintura tells me the related keywords often used as part of a search. Yes, these relational keywords very from area to area based on the particular search phrase. That way I know I'm giving my client's websites the very best opportunity to attract the search engines. That's copywriting with a purpose! Among the other tools smart SEO-centric copywriters use daily are Wordtracker, Keyword Density tool and last but most important - our two ears. Excellent copywriters must possess superior listening skills and know the right probing questions to ask about you and your market. That way your website gives a flavor of the value you provide to consumers!

Gotcha You Thinking Now!

So the next time you think about building a real estate website, or adding more content to your website, maybe you will give careful consideration to the value of your content. Yes - I'm a firm believer CONTENT IS KING! What about you?

Helping you attract, keep and encourage your site visitors to engage with you,

Bobby

P.S. BTW - If you found this post interesting, I encourage you to visit the Crystal Coast Blog and read my post on Real Estate SEO 101!