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Improving existing content vs writing new content

By
Home Builder with The Flooring Girl

As many of you know, I'm trying to do a bit of a site audit on my site...optimizing my articles for content, SEO, page speed, CTA's, etc.  It's been eye opening as I'm also catching mistakes and broken links as I go along.

 

It's taking a while and I just do a bit each week.  (I have a hunch it will take me all year before I finish everything I intend to do).

 

Anyway, as I go through some of my articles and look at them on google I sometimes find that there are some articles that are on the cusp of Page 1.  They may be at the top of Page 2 or bottom of Page 1, and of course I want to try to give them a bit of boost.  Because, really, who goes to Page 2?

 

So after I fix up the articles, I also try to build an extra backlink (or 2) to give them an extra boost.

 

Today, I finally got a chance to write an article on Reddit.  Here it is.  Bill Gassett wrote about this idea in this article:  Content Marketing for Real Estate Agents.  Thankfully, Bill Gassett considers me an honorary real estate person so he's allowed me to join Luke's and his "tribe."

 

If you haven't read his article yet and/or taken action, I'd encourage you to do so, as well as follow him.  He really knows what he's doing - both in real estate and in online marketing/blogging.  He doesn't post here that often, but when he does, his info is gold.

 

I have to go back and review the other suggestions he has.

 

My goal in writing the article is to give this article a bit of a boost:  Why it's important to seal tile grout.  You see, my article is doing well already, but it can do even better.

 

In this article, I'm linking to it again, and I'm linking to it in my reddit article.  Hopefully, this will help index the article faster and give it a bit more link juice.

 

You see this whole thing is like a spider web.  The more linking we can do, the better (assuming that it's quality content).

 

I try to do this gradually, but consistently.  And, you should, too.  Well assuming that you care about SEO and getting your articles ranked.

 

I have a lot of work ahead of me because I see so many opportunities to do better.  I've found in this process that I have a lot of articles that are doing pretty well (but not terrific...at least not yet) and they have much more potential.

 

You know sometimes, it's better to work on the content you already have and figure out how to improve it and leverage it more.  Sometimes, it's better to do this than to spend more time on writing new content.  (although often doing a combo is ideal).

 

It's kind of like trying to find new customers vs tapping into your past customers. 

 

I think you get what I'm saying.  If all you're doing is working on content creation, and you're not spending enough time on content promotion and improving existing content, you may want to think about reallocating your time.

 

I'm currently allocating 2 days a week to work on all of this, and I believe it will pay dividends.

Comments (47)

Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

There is some great information here, Debbie. It is so difficult to think of new things to write on real estate so boosting old posts is a great idea. So much work so little time. Question: Do you change the date or leave as original date?

Jan 21, 2019 03:00 PM
Debbie Gartner

Jane Peters - I usually change the date as it may lead to slightly higher click through on google and pinterest. (I assuming you don't have the date in the URL).

Jan 22, 2019 07:31 AM
Mike McCann Nebraska Land Broker
Mike McCann - Broker, Mach1 Realty Farm & Commercial Land Broker-Auctioneer Serving Nebraska - Kearney, NE
Farm & Commercial Property For Sale 308-627-3700

I will admit I need the gps version of “finding Mike”. I used to see my blogs and now they are mostly hidden. Thanks for the tips.

Jan 21, 2019 06:03 PM
Melissa Spittel
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Westminster, MD
"Achieving Results Together "

Content marketing is so important, and of course, Google constantly changes the rules! Now we also need to optimize for voice, so we can rank when a consumer "Asks Alexa", or any number of the other voice devices. Check out Neil Patel's blogs, he offers some amazing advice on improving your ranking.

Jan 21, 2019 06:08 PM
Debbie Gartner

Yes, I love Neil and have been reading his work for the last 7 or 8 years.

Jan 22, 2019 07:32 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Great information, Debbie! Quick question - when you revise the content that you have, to you re-publish it on the current date or leave the original date?

Thanks!

Jan 21, 2019 07:33 PM
Debbie Gartner

I just answered above in Jane's section.  Good question, Debe Maxwell, CRS 

Jan 22, 2019 07:33 AM
Jerry Lucas
ABC Legal Docs LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Notary Training, Consulting. Colorado Springs, CO

I use WordPress with the Yoast SEO plugin to improve SEO effectiveness. I keep reading and learning about blogging tips, quality content and SEO. 

I use Google Analytics to study behavior of my blog readers and give them more of what they are searching for. It is probably most beneficial to focus on improving rank for blog posts that already rank on SERP 1 or 2 rather than posts on page 3 or lower.

A free tool that I use to check and optimize keyword frequency count is https://countwordsfree.com/ 

I also use a WP blog comment policy to moderate blog comments and only accept value-added comments.  AR has too much dysfunctional thank you spam and reciprocal thank you spam that dilute blog post SEO value.

Jan 21, 2019 07:49 PM
Debbie Gartner

Yoast is simply a guideline, and I don't use it to optimize posts.  In fact, often it gives bad advice as it's so formulaic.  But, it's great for the metadescription.  Instead I go straight to the source and use google search console.  I agree on the comments, and that's an excellent point.  (I do get a LOT of comments on mine and that helps).

Jan 22, 2019 07:35 AM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Great post ... I need to rethink this. Re-prioritize.

Jan 21, 2019 08:18 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Debbie. There is so much to do just to keep up with revising content and fixing those broken links.

I have the same questions as others about changing the date, or not.

Jeff

Jan 21, 2019 09:18 PM
Debbie Gartner

see above - Jane Peters section.

Jan 22, 2019 07:36 AM
Anonymous
Jean Ward

Debbie, I tried to purchase your ebook about wood floors but it disappears after I provide my name and email address?

Jan 21, 2019 10:26 PM
#32
Elyse Berman, PA
LoKation Real Estate - Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton FL (561) 716-7824

Debbie Gartner Great advice, as always.  I read Bill Gassett 's article on Reddit.  I set up a profile but haven't posted to it yet.   It all makes perfect sense.

Jan 22, 2019 02:27 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Not baiting, Debbie.  I did exactly what I thought you meant.  See my most recent blog.  Two links to my website. 

And your "non keyword" answer fogged me completely.

Again, no bait.

Jan 22, 2019 03:34 AM
Debbie Gartner

Okay, we'll talk at some point in the future.  your links are fine.

Jan 22, 2019 07:30 AM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Jerry Lucas is right. Don't ever miss out asking your blog post users about their experience  getting information, what they liked about other sources than yours and think customer. Not just SEO wiring in the laboratory. In calls and emails, lobby visits learn from your customers what they like, what are their frustrations getting information. If 80% are saying the same thing, adjust your marketing "sales". Catch that breeze. Also, don't poo poo page two. You want to show up all over for the win place show in a query. I don't stay on page one only, especially if half of it is paid ad placements. Folks drill and drill to mine the good stuff. A good new post on its way up is like a music hit crawling up the chart... sniff out page two... populate it too. It all adds to the number of impressions which makes your phone ring, the email server to fill up.

Jan 22, 2019 04:06 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Very good idea.  Since our past posts lost ranking it's great to search for good posts and edit.  Great thoughts here!

Jan 22, 2019 10:44 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Congratulations on your feature recognition. I found this post on Twitter.

Jan 22, 2019 12:04 PM
Michael Eisenberg
eXp Realty - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham Real Estate Guy

Good advise as usual. REworking those old posts is something I'll have to look into.

Jan 22, 2019 05:19 PM
Steven Nickens
Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers - Wailea, HI
R(S)GRI ABR, Maui Real Estate Hawaii

Deb, I started working through my site after being inspired by your article. I been moving up on ranking slowly. adding content, checking broken links. Slow process thanks.

Jan 23, 2019 09:51 AM
Kevin Mackessy
Blue Olive Properties, LLC - Highlands Ranch, CO
Dedicated. Qualified. Local.

I would say that everyone's top 10 blog post's should be updated to current day ideals and stats depending.  

Jan 25, 2019 02:16 PM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

When I wrote for About.com, which has gone through so many changes, the focus at the end was improve content and not so much on creating more. That mean watching the number of characters so not to exceed maximum in the metatitle and title, using keywords in both of those and repeating keywords at least 3 times in the article and linking every 200 words.

Feb 02, 2019 03:44 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Elizabeth - Yes, the really know what they're doing.  (and probably also learned the hard way.

Feb 02, 2019 07:11 PM
Joel Harney
Acorp - Barton, MD

Writing new content, of course, is always much more difficult. But sometimes this is simply a necessary decision. It should be noted that it is not necessary to write everything from scratch, you can order a text, for example, look at this website - this can be done with high-quality proofreading services. This way you can save a lot of resources. Plus, it's pretty cheap.

Sep 12, 2019 05:36 AM
Michael Moore

Nice review website tho, its not that much cheap as you said.

Apr 07, 2020 09:04 AM
Eileen Begley
Coldwell Banker, DelMonte - Carmel, CA
Monterey Real Estate

Hi Debbie; Good post. Yes, checking and rewriting prior blog posts can be a good way to go. I had already started doing this and kind of cringe at the broken links and photos!! Have cleaned up and am now trying to expand existing content!!

Sep 21, 2019 09:00 AM