These are some of the biggest mistakes I have seen people make when trying to optimize their websites to rank well in the search engines…

1. Bad titles. Titles are literally the first thing that search engine spiders see when they look at your website, and often your customers too. They are a great way to tell a search engine what your page is all about, and they play a significant role in ranking if used properly. Place your keywords in the title, but don’t go overboard. Here is an example of a good title for a page optimizing for Phoenix real estate: “Phoenix Real Estate, Phoenix Homes For Sale - John Smith Realty”. Also, don’t forget to change your titles. Each page on your site should have a different title optimizing for that particular page.

2. Bad Content or No Content. Do you have one of those cookie cutter real estate websites that comes with pre-written “how to” articles on real estate? Dump ‘em. They look good on a new site, but they are worthless because there are 1,000 other agents that have the same content. Learn how to write. Start a blog. The key to good ranking, and a sticky website is content. Make it useful, make it readable, and make it fun.

 

Read 8 more SEO mistakes that people make...

 

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34 Comments on Top 10 Most Common SEO Mistakes

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

APR
05
2007
286,549 Points 48 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Hi Jessica,

I'm not sure what you are referring to.  Are you talking about Search Engine Optimization in general?

It can get quite expensive... my suggestion is, that if you are really serious about marketing your website, don't work with a small firm that can take advantage of your ignorance.  Work with a well respected larger company that has proven results.  Yes, this may cost you anywhere from $5k-20k... but like I said, if you are serious about someone else doing it for you, and doing it well, that is what you need to pay. 
4:41pm • #15
112,332 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog
Justin:

Could you drop a few names of some of these larger firms?
4:47pm • #16
145,977 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Thanks for helping me understand some of the mistakes I've been making.  It sure is challenging to get all this SEO stuff done.  I appreciate the heads up.
5:13pm • #17
455,771 Points 24 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Well, I TOTALLY disagree that you need to go with a big expensive firm.  If you invest the time and do some research you CAN do it yourself (Karen George on Active Rain has quite a bit to say about SEO).

I spent a fair amount of time optimizing our office website from the inside out - AFTER my broker paid big $$ to a so called "SEO EXPERT" to optimize it.  It did NOTHING.  

Currently, and for quite some time, our website has CONSISTENTLY ranked on PAGE ONE of Google, Yahoo, MSN, and AOL for nearly every relevant and specific search term for our area.  Sometimes more than one of our pages shows up on page one, ALONG with our sponsored results.  We show up both organically and sponsored.  Our website gets anywhere from 1,800 (when it's slow) to 3500 different visitors per week. 

I would suggest spending just a little bit of time getting familiar with HTML (it's not hard at all! It just LOOKS intimidating!) and CSS (a bit more of a challenge but not much).  Then spend some time on web design forums...it's time consuming..yes! But it is worth saving $5,000 or more!  And it's better than spending less on some dope who is just a sheister with impressive words...
7:08pm • #18
16 Featured Posts
Justin - thank you for the great advice!  I never thought about carrying my profession, area and then the page topic onto each of the additional web pages.  I'm definitely going to rethink this!  Thank you!
8:32pm • #19
178,659 Points 11 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Justin, excellent advice... thanks for posting!
9:09pm • #20
2 Featured Posts

I used to be an editor for the Open Directory Project.  We were supposed to be sure there even was a title and description and remove hyperbole. (those guys were no fun).   I thought how could someone not write these things.

Then, I put together some web pages, kind of bumbling along on my own.  Published and looked at the pages.  Good GRIEF; there was no title or description.   They are easy to add along with a few key words, but it takes remembering, one more reach with the mouse shoulder to open a box and just DO it.  Even getting your name into the htm title part is good to do. 

Something else to remember -- avoid punctuation, caps and spaces in the htm (url) page name. Some browsers will kick at that.  These elements are what result in those 20% notes in your url page name.

 
10:42pm • #21
286,549 Points 48 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Hi Karen,

I agree that in most cases you don't have to pay for SEO.  But, the lady's question was how much of an investment do you have to make if you want to have someone do it for you.

If you read my blog, you'll see that I hardly ever advocate paying for SEO... it's all do it yourself.

 

Jessica,

I suggest SEOMOZ 

 
11:03pm • #22
1,584,427 Points 429 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Fantastic stuff, Justin, and bookmarked for reading again and again.

Jeff
11:53pm • #23
APR
06
2007
155,783 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog
Justin-I am currently working on getting a blog tied in to my website but I dont know where to start.  I will search active rain and Im sure I will find the info right there.  Aloha!
3:55am • #24
APR
07
2007
247,757 Points 25 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Justin,

I read the entire post and it was great.  Now I'm going to stay up late making sure my pages are titled, etc.

Fran

 
12:31am • #25
2 Featured Posts

Wow - can't wait to implement all of the SEO info I've learned tonight.

Thanks Justin!!!
9:53pm • #26
APR
08
2007
 Yes, I have made a lot of mistakes but with the help of the AR community I will begin to soar.
1:15am • #27
Justin - Great advice - I too have added it my favorites to remember and check and recheck my site. My area as with many markets is very competitive. The best way to stay on top is to stay on top of what you can control. Thanks for the info.
9:01pm • #28
APR
09
2007
 Great information for a Newbie.  Thanks.  I will need to do some work for sure.
10:09am • #29
APR
10
2007
 Nice post. I have a custom site but some of my titles can use a tweaking. 
6:16pm • #30
DEC
31
2007
 Justin ~ Missed this the first time around. Great post! Thanks to Brad for making it one of his Fav's! Off to fix a few things...
3:08pm • #31
JAN
02
2008
 You need to add reciprocal links, re-writing your web site in XHTML and resubmitting your website to search engines to this list, I run into those all the time and they help you 0% in search rankings. I did a blog post about it. Another funny thing I read was someone said they read that META tags aren't used by search engines to determine page rank anymore so they removed them! I was like, "WHAT ARE YO DOING!?!?" they may not help the rank but search engines still need them to help determine what your web page is about.
8:38am • #32
FEB
18
2008
 Freat tips!  Newbees take notes
1:53pm • #33
OCT
11
2008
1 Featured Post

 

Thanks for the great tips. They are much appreciated!
8:05pm • #34

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