If 2007 was the year I really became engaged by the blogosphere, then 2008 ranks as the year I began to understand the power of connectivity.  And..No, they're not the same thing.  Although, I must admit, I used to think they were.

 

playing hide and seekWhen I first started blogging about two years ago, it was all about communicating my message and getting a handle on commenting. 

Active Rain provided the perfect platform and I embraced everything the community had to offer, rarely venturing out to the wider world. 

Initially, it was hard to understand how videos, podcasts, pictures and a short 140 bit sentence bite on Twitter could be an integral aspect of relationship building. Afterall, wasn't that what blogging was all about?

Well, it is...but, it's not the whole picture. My experiences within the past 12 months have opened up a whole new comprehension of what Social Media and blogging can be about.  Effective Relationship Building requires Exposure as well as Connectivity.  If you have a great message, but no one understands it or sees it, the Value of the message is greatly diminished.  Far too many bloggers in the real estate community are making this mistake.  They're not investing the time and effort to ensure that their well crafted messages are seen.

For instance, when I started blogging, I totally underestimated the importance of labeling my pictures. In fact, it wasn't until I became an active member of Flickr that I truly began to appreciate the importance of a little identifier known as a tag.  I've been amazed to see how properly tagged pictures can land on the first page of an indexed search on Google.  I've learned that tagging can be as effective as a blog post in gaining better Search Engine positioning.

The next step for me is geotagging my pictures by location.  I'll admit that this still presents a little bit of a mental challenge for me as geography was not one of my favorite subjects.  But at least I'm getting it.  Search Engines don't want to play Hide & Seek to find our data.  They want it clearly identified and labeled so that they can do their job which is to provide FOLKS WITH THE INFORMATION they are searching for.

Many of us are playing the game of Hide & Seek and don't even know it

We fail to tag our pictures, don't tag our blog posts and give our articles very hard to understand titles.  In addition, we have different avatars and sometimes even names for different sites and often forget to complete our profiles when we are instructed to. To compound our evasion tactics, our blogs fail to link to other blogs with a similar focus and our articles don't provide additional related links within our own websites or blogs. Did you know that this type of activity makes it difficult for the Search Engines to give you credit for all the hard work that you're doing? 

Here are a few simple steps you can take TODAY to stop Playing Hide & Seek With the Search Engines and make it easier for them to find you:

1.  Create Relevant Titles!

The operative word is Relevant.  Cute and funny may be entertaining, but they won't give you much traction.  Cute and funny may give you tons of comments on Active Rain but if they're so irrelevant to your topic that the Search Engine Spider has to try to decipher your meaning...expect to be dumped into the heap of forgettable entries sooner rather than later.

2.  Create Links to Your Stuff!

This is so easy to do.  Every expert on SEO here on Active Rain has told us to do this, but most of us never do.  It's simply a matter of heading over to your sidebar, clicking on a relevant tag and copying 1,2 or more links to the bottom of your post.  It's better to revive your older posts if possible.  This gives additional relevance to your material.  You should also do this on your website which normally gets even less love than your blog.  Internal Linking can be extremely effective in helping Search Engine Spiders to weave your material into the world wide web.

3.  Tag, Tag, TAG!

Take a second to tag your pictures, your blog posts, your Utterz etc.  Anything that allows you to tag should be tagged.  No exceptions.  Failing to do this is like doing a ton of work and walking away without your payoff!  Tagging identifies what you are saying.  And no, the Search Engines don't just automatically get it.  If you're comfortable with it, I'd highly recommend you begin to Geotag or at least place your ZIP Code in the tag line if you're blogging about something which is real estate related.

4.  Build on Consistency!

You loose a lot of cache online when you appear as a variety of different persons online.  Now, if you're trying to hide the fact that you work in real estate, that's not necessarily a bad thing.  But, if on the other hand, you would like to take full advantage of this medium to do more business...the more easily recognizable you are, the better for you.  This year, I have been even more impressed by the number of people who are connecting with us online.  It's not the wave of the future...this is business today and into the future.

5.  Study the Pro Game!

I am not an SEO expert, but there are many who are here on Active Rain.  I've learned so much from reading their blogs; it has literally transformed my understanding of my profession.  Here are some of my Favorite bloggers: Mary McNight, Justin Smith, Jim Cronin, Jeff Turner, Brad AndersonBarry Hurd, Laurie Manny & Karen Jason, whose extraordinary contribution to this network remains as a well spring of knowledge and insight. 

Not all these individuals are technical folks; some of them have simply done a remarkable job of translating their success for the rest of us.  In every case, I've found their contributions helpful.  Check them out!

Search Engines really want to know what you're talking about in your articles and online content.  Remember, you're the expert.  Let's do our own little part to make it easier for them to do their job.  This is a case in which a little due diligence can truly go a long way.

 

Other Related Posts about Blogging & Marketing Real Estate...

blogging: Sometimes...A little Grazin' is Great forYour Appetite and Your blog.

blogging: On Squid, Squeegees & Squidoos...3 Ways to Squeeze More Money From Your Online Content!

blogging: Blog Prospecting....Optimizing the Reach of your Local Real Estate Blog!

blogging: What to Do When Google Shows Up for The Interview Before You do!

 

Copyright 2008  Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved

Picture courtesy of: chris runoff's photostream

 

Lola Audu, CRS, GRI e-Pro ~ Audu Real Estate

Lola Audu, is the Designated Broker & Owner of Audu Real Estate.  Our company specializes in helping people buy and sell homes in the greater Grand Rapids, West Michigan area. You can contact us via e-mail @ info@auduhomes.com or by phone at 616-791-0511. Thanks for visiting our blog.  Here are links to some of our most popular posts for you to enjoy!

The ABC's of Selling Short Sales in West Michigan

Bed Rock Business: How To Thrive While Travelling the Tide of Shifting Sand

The One Week Shortsale Miracle!

The Convenience Factor...Would you Buy Your Next Home at the Grocery Store?

Six Hidden Issues Which Can STOP You From Moving from Here...to There

Twitter feed for Lola Audu     Auduhomes on Facebook     Lola Audu's photostream on Flickr 

 
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71 Comments on Are You Playing Hide & Seek With Your Real Estate Site?

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

SEP
25
2008
231,708 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog

I actually have been here since 2007 myself and just learned yesterday about tagging pictures.  I am in the process of going back through ALL of my blog posts and doing this.  Boy it is going to take a while, but I can't wait to see the results!  You are 100% right about really taking time to learn what and how you need to post your posts to get the most effective GOOGLE JUICE THAT YOU CAN!

9:49am • #52
367,616 Points 145 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Sandy, thanks for your comment.  Active Rain is a great resource.

Absolutely Gabe!

Charles, that's the great thing about blogging, you can learn from the post and the comment. :)

Courtney, You're welcome.  Best Wishes & continued success in your blogging efforts.

David...Thanks.

2:37pm • #53
367,616 Points 145 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Lane, It is a lot of work if you have a backlog.  That's why it's great for new bloggers to get into the habit of doing this from the start.  When I started blogging, I had no clue about the importance of things like this.

2:39pm • #54
367,616 Points 145 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Frank & Jodi, Thanks for stopping by to read and comment. 

Yvette, Geotagging...when you start talking longitude and latitude, I'm on shaky ground.  But, we can all put in ZIP codes and addresses when relevant.  These are all a type of geographical locator.  And they do index!

2:44pm • #55
367,616 Points 145 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Hi Therese, Thanks for stopping by to read and comment.

Carolin...it's the 'little' things which often have the most impact in life too.

 

2:49pm • #56
367,616 Points 145 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Jeff, Thanks for stopping by.  You make an important point about tags...it's not just about blogging.  Just about every site now allows you to tag content.  And we tend to ignore it, because it does take a little time.  I've been shocked to see an Utterz indexed because it was tagged.  When you understand this, it opens up a whole new dimension of options for marketing and branding.

2:51pm • #57
1 Featured Post

Lola, Thanks for taking time to enlighten those of us who are somewhat new on this journey and still "groping" our way along!  I have bookmarked this post for ongoing reference.

4:47pm • #58
SEP
26
2008
600,655 Points 45 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Lola - what a great educational piece! Relevancy - consistency - tags - links.  I still think it's all about the content!

6:54pm • #59
SEP
27
2008
284,851 Points 37 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Lola, I am glad Marti featured this...what a great post...easy to read, well organized and makes very clear and important points.  Go reminder for those of us that do tag photos etc. to think about how we tag them and what words we use. Well done!

10:24am • #60
SEP
29
2008
1,929,896 Points 155 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I've been going back and re-tagging all my pictures on Photobucket and I've been seeing more and more pictures show up in the searches. I never would have thought that it would of helped and the only reason I started tagging them, was so I could find them faster.

Todd Clark, Helping Families Home - www.IFoundYourNewHome.com

12:58am • #61
714,200 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Lola, a great insightful message.  Were you ever a teacher?  You outllined your subject and then hit it head on.  Well done.  I am going to go back and reread and take action.  Thanks alot.

7:51am • #62
714,200 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Ok Lola, here is my question about Flicker.  They say you cannot promote yourself or service, no commercial use.  How do you get around that?

10:25am • #63
367,616 Points 145 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Hi Elkhart, Excellent question!  Flickr is not a commercial site, yet you will find the work of many professional photographers on the site.  Fickr is about COMMUNITY, getting to know people who share similar interests and contributing to the welfare of the community as a whole. 

Tagging makes the content you contribute more relevant and helps people know where you are...Flickr does have a geotagging capability.  I've had people visit my website who found me through Flickr.  This is all about connecting with people and making it easier for the Search Engines to assist you in doing so.  Thank you for your comments. 

I do teach real estate agents in my company on a regular basis. I don't advertise on Flickr, but there are a number of other social networking sites which allow you to do so if you choose.

1:22pm • #64
2 Featured Posts

Hi Lola, Excellent post. I have read and applied some of the things you mention but I need to step up my efforts. Thanks for the reminder. God bless,

5:03pm • #65
OCT
03
2008
199,483 Points 5 Featured Posts

I never heard of geotagging before...thanks for explaining it in your post.  Very helpful, tagging is so important!

1:09pm • #66
367,616 Points 145 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Cheryl, Thanks for your comment. Every little bit  counts. :)

Patricia, Geotagging is a fairly new concept for most real estate bloggers.  But since we deal with Location, Location, Location...it certainly makes sense.

5:02pm • #67
OCT
05
2008
2 Featured Posts

Lola I just came across this post and am bookmarking it for future reference... there is so much great information here that I'm making it my homework assignment.  Thank you for sharing .

1:35pm • #68
AUG
26
2010
329,956 Points 12 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Lola, With Laurie Mannys passing I feel the need to go back and reread and resurrect some old posts. Thanks for all the relevant content!

10:10pm • #69
367,616 Points 145 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Thanks for stopping by Dena.  Laurie was an incredible source of knowledge and inspiration.  We had the privelege of learning so much from her. She was very instrumental in helping me to understand how to write about technology and it's impact on real estate.

10:15pm • #70
AUG
28
2010
975,855 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Great post, Lola. I wanted to come back and see the original one. Relevant many year later!

4:22am • #71

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Lola Audu~Real Estate Broker/Owner Grand Rapids, Michigan Real Estate

Grand Rapids, MI

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Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate

Address: 3659 Alpine NW, Suite 102, Grand Rapids, MI, 49321

Office Phone: (616) 791-0511

Email Me

Grand Rapids, Michigan real estate information including houses for sale, rent and home buyer/seller tips. Also includes wisdom and insights from Lola Audu, CRS Associate Broker.

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