Ranking is Dead .... Where are You Getting Your Traffic?

Just when we thought we understood the rules some one goes and starts changing them . . .Agh!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tammy, great post and comments here.  Thanks to all!

 Great post and comment moderation, Tammy. And super comments!

A few shout-outs to my favorite comments (above):

#10 – Nestor & Katerina: “Keywords that convert” - This phrase sums it up. Keyword research – using tools that will identify what people search for, and combining with your niche – is essential. You can be way up on the ladder, but what if it's leaning against the wrong wall? Nice focus, N&K.

#25 – Martin: SEO should = money, pick the keyword phrase that your clients would use. Target the “location + homes” keyword phrase rather than “location + real estate agent” or even “location + houses”. Great take-away. Thanks, Martin.

#34 Tom: craigslist as a lead generator? Sounds like a great avenue to pursue. I'll be looking into this with my clients. I've bookmarked your website.

#36 Craig: RE agents driving up certain keyword phrases? Hmmm. As Martin (#25) stated, “location + home” (buyer/seller mindset) is better than “location + house” (RE agent-driven phrase?). Craig, you got me thinking.

#39 Jeff: Blogging for “only four years”?! Jeff, I'll be showing your comment to clients who expect to hit a home run with their first post. Results at 13 – 18 months? Standing on the shoulders of those that have come before us, I hope “newbies” see a stream of quality leads in a shorter time frame... if blogging diligently.  Thanks for setting an example or how persistence pays off.

Thanks to all!

Dear Tammy,

Thank you for cutting this into bite size for us. I will never fully understand this stuff and appreciate your explanation.

Hi Tammy

What a great post, I have been doing my own SEO and rank very well for my area and keywords that I have dominated. Yes this does take time and quality is better than quantity, but it is kind of a double edge sword because you still have to get the traffic to dominate the keywords. Even though my Google "page rank" is only at a 2, I still hit within the top 5 on page 1 both locally and nationally for those keywords. Content and one way backlinks on highly regarded sites, forums and content related blogs is only a few ways to get there. SEO is an ongoing job in itself but with the right tools a lot of the redundancy can be eliminated and can actually make it more interesting. I like to put it this way, SEO is like art, it's a continuum of education that never ends and the more you learn the more fascinating it becomes. Since I started to study it, I have been forced to learn. videography in which I now produce my own DVD's, ebook writing and producing, website/blog building, internet marketing, network marketing, affiliate marketing, etc.,  etc.  and now coach and build blogs for others

Darn - wish my Wild Blue connection was good enough to let me watch a video.

It frustrates me that I can't tell how my sites are doing by doing my own search. What I see on page 1 is different from what someone else would see. So, how do we know how we're doing?

I guess the only solution is just to keep on doing SEO andadding good quality content to our sites - and then doing all we can to drive the traffic ourselves rather than waiting for Google to do it for us.

Thanks but I wish all the SEO stuff was a little more straight forward ...

I use Craigslist alot with good results.

Your keywords definitely have to be targeted. If you put too many broad search terms, then folks click off your site which ups your bounce rate.

Hi Tammy,

I am new to AR and appreciate the candid information.  I agree, it isn't about the hits to your website, it is about the contact

information you receive from it.

Great information on Google Tammy.  Thanks for sharing!


Tim

Things are always chaning for sure.  I think this is most interesting and we all have to adjust as things change over time.