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Search Engine Optimization: What price glory?

By Bob Hashbarger

Services for Real Estate Pros with Self Employed

September 22, 2010 03:25 AM

I read a white paper on Search Engine Optimization a few years ago and it presented the prevailing theory quite well. I bought the white paper for $25 because I couldn't believe all the vendors who wanted hundreds or thousands of dollars to improve my website visibility. When I quizzed them on their system they couldn't provide and details. When I quoted from the white paper they made it clear they didn't know the product they were selling.

Now a new wave of vendors are coming at us with a "new" SEO system for hundreds or thousands of dollars. They are all selling the same thing. I recently went to a tech conference and heard a presentation given by the Google SEO Mgr who explaned what the crawlers are looking for now. It's all things we can do ourselves if we want.

I keep coming back to the same question. If we all fall in lockstep behind the current SEO Theory no one is distinguished from the crowd. What's more, with the Real Estate market being so brisk and with all the activity on my phone and website i have to think my efforts at SEO are working. I'm saving hundreds or thousands of dollars just by reading, listening and applying what I learned.

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Robert Amato

Bob Amato of Empire Home Mortgage Inc - East Meadow, NY

Bob,

I agree with your theory. I am a hands on guy, mechanically inclined and somewhat technologically savy. I had a conversation with a marketing company last week. They contacted me through my website telling me that for $150 a day they can improve my google numbers by doing this that and the other thing. I told her that I could do that myself for a lot less then what they charge. You can do it yourself. Do it a little bit at a time, everyday. I took the first step yesterday by becoming a rainmaker at AR yesterday.

Sep 22, 2010 03:31 AM

Joetta Fort

The DiGiorgio Group - Arvada, CO

Independent Broker, Homes Denver to Boulder

Oh man - now I feel left out again. How about a summary of your methods, or some links so we can do our own research?

Sep 22, 2010 03:36 AM

Bonnie Barbieri

Remax Marketing Specialists - Spring Hill, FL

GRI, CIPS, SFR, TRC,CNE,CDPE,SRES

This is great information. I have spent a lot of money on SEO. Then I went to an AR camp last month and listened and took notes. It just takes time on our part. Wrriting something every day or having someone do it for you.

I have a special situation because my domain name was hijacked (long story) and my name is attached to it forever. This is very distressful to me but at this point nothing I can do but work on getting my new domain name out there.

I work in Spring Hill, Florida. Our homes in Spring Hill average somewhere between $100,000 to $150,000. Values have dropped at least 50% and we are still seeing some movement down. I have a beautiful property in East Linden Estates and we have had showings but no offer yet. People want to look and look before they make an offer. Then you have to overcome any deficits with price drops. If it is something that cannot be changed, pricing is the only leverage you have.

I'm working on blogging and trying to figure out how to make all this work - one blog at a time. Thanks for all the good info.

Sep 22, 2010 03:39 AM

Brian Portwood

FW Realty Solutions - Fort Worth, TX

GRI, SFR, TAHS

SEO is all over the web. Read, read, read some more. Take a look at my new website www.homesfortworth.co

Sep 22, 2010 04:44 AM

Malcolm Johnston

Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate LTD., Trenton, Ontario - Trenton, ON

Trenton Real Estate

SEO is just another part of our jobs now. We do have to stay on top of it and learn new things as the engines adjust what they are looking for. Having a very visible website is just another form of prospecting. It's amazing how many people feel that it's a waste of time.

Sep 22, 2010 06:18 AM

Anonymous

Bob Hashbarger

Joetta: Write severeal blogs a day. Change the content on your webpages frequently. Look at what keywords the big dogs in your market are using. Use key words that clients would put in search terms. Have many links to a from you site. Put videos on you sites.

It sounds like a lot but once you get going you can do a little every day.

Sep 22, 2010 06:30 AM

Malcolm: It is amazing how many people thing SEO is a waste of time. Of course since their phone isn't ringing they probably have lots of time to waste.

Sep 22, 2010 06:36 AM

Empire: Becoming a Rainmaker helps in many ways. Do you have a line to your Active Rain profile on you site?

Sep 22, 2010 06:38 AM

Leslie Prest

Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ - Payson, AZ

Owner, Assoc. Broker, Prest Realty, Payson,

I've always done our web site and SEO, and we're getting lots of business, so I figure it's working. I won't pay anyone for any of that- way too "hand's on", even if it would work.

Sep 22, 2010 09:06 AM

I'm glad other people like to work with their head instead of their credit card.

Sep 22, 2010 09:49 AM

#10

Kay Van Kampen

RE/MAX Broker, RE/MAX - Springfield, MO

Realtor®, Springfield Mo Real Estate

Reading and learning every day, because google and SEO changes daily. Staying ahead is always a challenge.

Sep 22, 2010 03:37 PM

Search Engine Optimization: What price glory?

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