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Web focus: Big fish in a little pond or little fish in a big pond...which way is best?

Just a question out there for those of you in a larger city surrounded by smaller communities. Does anyone have words on wisdom on what decision they made and why? Did you decide to be a smaller presence in the bigger market (with higher price point), or set your key words on your website to focus on the smaller market with significantly lower price point, but less agent competiion.

In my market it's hard (and very expensive) to get to the front page in say Google on the larger city page. Yet most out of town buyers search on the bigger city term and then end of buying in one of the smaller communities that they didn't know existed and would not have searched before getting in the car with a realtor.

Looking at comments in SEO blogs etc sounds like maybe focusing on the smaller communities where i can get to the front two pages makes more sense. But hate to jump off and do that without getting some info from some 'experts'. The same thing applies to localism. I hate to 'give up' the bigger city but I'm afraid if I don't focus

I was wondering how many of you out there are in or have been in similar situations and how you handled it. I am gearing up for the Spring market and trying to figure out my best strategy.

Thanks.

Posted by Austin Real Estate, Kyle Real Estate Celeste Messer on 11/10/2008 03:41 PM

Comments (14)

14 Comments on Web focus: Big fish in a little pond or little fish in a big pond...which way is best?

NOV

2008

Hi Celeste, what I have learned over the years is it is best to be a big fish in a small pond... unless you have unlimited capital.

Best luck, Bill

The bigger fish can make a larger splash in a small pond! Go where you can make the biggest splash.

Unfortunately, unless they know about the surrounding areas, Austin is the search term. We inform them about the surrounding areas they didn't know existed. I have thought about this too...But by advertising about the smaller areas, we loose alot of relocations. Don't you think so too?

NOV

2008

The #2 guy in Austin has 52,000 back links to his site. (yes that is true-- not a typo) The number one guy has age on his side. Site has been up since 1999.

That last comment was from me. ( I forgot to sign in )

Ok. 3rd time is a charm. Now I am signed in. Good Blog Celeste.

Hey Bill,

Definitely don't have unlimited capital...thanks

Susan,

Always did like making a big splash! Thanks

Sherry, exactly...

That's the hardest part of 'letting go' of the austin. On the one hand the vast majority of my clients found me (now I get referrals too but new clients still find me ) using the austin term and they want info about austin....and the price point in austin is so much higher than south...

Now that the internet has gotten so competitive and I know I am not found o page one/two using austin term (though I do have some presence using a few paid features that bring some people in), but I'm concerned that by keeping all of the austin info on my website I'm diluting the other cities south and hurting my web placement on these cities.

re my website ...i'm trying to figure out if I am trying to be too much to too many and therefore not good to anyone kind of thing...same goes with blogging...do i focus on the small towns and just forget austin?

have you made a strategy decision relating to this?

To: Davis Company Real Estate

Not sure the name that goes with it...

I saw that 52k back links awhile ago (I think I used website grader) and it really makes you sit back on your heals and scratch your head trying to figure out what to do. Totally appreciate that it didn't happen over night for them but man trying to figure out what to do with the info is kind of overwhelming.

I lost ten months working with a group of people guarenteeing placement etc...finally wrote it off as a lesson learned (several thousand dollar lesson but worse was the many months I lost). So I'm doing better on my own but trying to figure out the SEO strategy...hence the question for this blog.

Hey ...Look at the bright side...you knew enough to check and see the backlinks therefore you're ahead of the great number of agents out there.

By the way...After seeing the number of links on their site especially when comparing to your own, what did you do? (Go back under the blanket? Have a glass of wine?...just wondering as these were my two favorite choices)

I am no authority but i have spent a heck of a lot learning an expensive lesson. Look -- go where they aren't.

Go for the low lying fruit. With time -- your site will build up PR rank. And who knows--- you could get on the first page of google.

Lets not forget that some of the most sucessful agents in this town --- cant be found on google in the first 2 pages.

So I think you have to keep all this in perspective. Layout a game plan and go for it little by little.

Hey Dena...heck of a good point.

How are things? Thanks for stopping by. Was wondering how you're doing, haven't seen you on AR (though I haven't spent the time I should going through all of the articles). I appreciate the input. see ya next week.

Right now, in the last year anyway...Between AR, Blogging, new websites, SEO...all these things to learn..I am brain fried! I told someone yesterday I feel like I have a quilt shoved between my ears and there is no brain space left! I would try using Austin and one other town, and see what kind of results you get. If you get results off the small town, then go for it. At this point for us...it is whatever works!

NOV

2008

Sherry,

i know exactly what you mean about being brain fried. I was out of touch this past week with a trip to visit my mom who's not doing well. Turns out my sister's computer which is a dial up...was usually down...now i'm playing catch up and feel evem more overwhelmed than when i left. But thanks for the input and we'lls ee how it goes. ... and i'm with you ...whatever works! have a great one.

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