How does Google measure your reputation?

Websites are judged by the search engines on their reputation and real estate websites are no different. Some people think reputation is measured by the amount of visitors. It is just the opposite. Your amount of visitors is based on your placement in the search engines. Placement in Google specifically, is based on how they measure your website's reputation.

The simplest definition: A website's reputation is measured by how many anchor text links point to the website from other web pages. This includes internal and external links. Your site must out perform the competition in getting links.

As with any rule there are loop holes. Spammers were interlinking all of their websites with links at the bottom of the page to rank in the search engines. This tactic drove legitimate marketers to use the same methods to compete. Google figured it out and started penalizing all sites using this method. Google started discounting links to and from sites. Then the spammers and SEO's (Search Engine Optimizers) started embedding these links in content, but it would be content not worth reading. The content would be stuffed with links. Once again Google had to penalize these kinds of sites. This has all happened in the last three years.

You have likely heard of the Social Media Phenomenon, also known as Web 2.0. This in its simplest form is content writing, articles, press releases, blog posts, how to guides and general news. All of these are part of the new online media. Google is looking for quality content with one or two links embedded in each media post.

An online marketer may have the responsibility of building/maintaining the website. In addition if the marketer wants to create traffic he/she must consistently create social media content. This requires creating a network of other online marketers with whom you can share these tasks. The more social media sites you post on and link with the more reputation you build with the search engines.

These social media posts must be done consistently for every keyword phrase for which ranking is desired.

Such as:

Huntsville Alabama Real Estate
Huntsville Al Real Estate
Huntsville MLS
Huntsville Real Estate
Huntsville Homes
Huntsville Homes for sale

In short, the way to rank with Google is still in linking. However, those links must be embedded in quality content. Google is making web masters work like the rest of the country. We must earn it without short cuts and through good quality work.