A friend of mine directed me to recent article that claims SEO is dead that Social Networking was taking over!  Well not so fast, I believe you never abandon a marketing strategy you just keep adding more.  In my class "Today's Top Technology Trends" I cover tons of web presence but also tell folks to not quit traditional marketing.  You must find a balance and have layers of marketing because not everybody finds what they need the same way.

Example, one of my coaching clients just switched companies and we developed a marketing strategy using every tool available.  The company ran an article announcing her with the new company, her and I worded the announcement and she got a very good lead from just the article.  Next she mailed out 800 letters to past clients which so far as delivered her one good solid lead.  She went out and hung door knockers which has generated another lead.  Her website is looking good, she is blogging her brains out and spending time on all the social networks.  Were not done, she took out a quarter page ad in the local newspaper, and sending out 600 post cards a month.

So what does all this have to do with SEO vs Social Networking?  Again I believe in attacking from as many different angles as possible. 

I pulled up my own website and checked my Analytics on visits and where they are coming from.  Here's the facts;

74% of my visits were direct (bookmarking and actually typing my web address)

13% of my visit came from organic searches such as Google, Yahoo, MSN etc

10% of my visits came from referral sites such as NAR, other websites that have either my link or information.

3% of my visits came from Social Networking such as Facebook and blog sites

I am willing to monitor for changes and direct my efforts accordingly but for now SEO is not dead!

Dick Betts

National Real Estate Speaker

www.DickBetts.com

Dick@DickBetts.com