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Don't Play the Google Game

Services for Real Estate Pros with BizProMedia

February 26, 2011 02:27 AM

If you are trying to figure out what Google wants, you don't need to know the details of the latest changes to their algorithms. Yeah, yeah, SEO, PR, SERP's, Google slaps, yadda yadda yadda.....really it is easier than that. Sorta. :-)

The algorithms are the set of logic, formulas and weighting of various factors that Google uses to determine, for a given set of search terms, which sites will be shown high in the search results. And frankly, I don't know the specifics about this new change but I do know this:

Google is changing their algorithms all the time.
Google has always penalized duplicate content.

The bottom line has always been that there are two foundational keys to success:

publish unique and relevant content
acquire inbound links from quality sites

There are some things you can do to acquire those links, but the best is to focus on content.

And isn't this really what we all want the web to be, anyway? If I search Google for some topic, I want to see 10 quality sites with different content on them. If eight of the top 10 sites are re-publishing the same article, Google and the web have failed me.

So leave the hard-core SEO to the full-time SEO weathermen. (They get it right sometimes, until it changes.) Just focus on building the kinds of sites we all want the web to be, focus on the unchanging foundational principle of quality content and quality links, and make sure you are not neglecting your offline marketing strategies, which will always bring the best results for most of us, anyway.

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Christine Pappas - REALTOR®

eXp Realty - Willoughby, OH

When You’re Ready To Move, I’m Ready To Help

Good advice Fritz! I like this idea!

Feb 26, 2011 02:28 AM

Danielle Germick

ReMax Premier Properties - Fayetteville, NC

Google schmoogle. I wish we could go a day without hearing google, facebook and twitter! You know the paid for top spots they advertise...here's a secret -- they never pull up! I hope all the people paying for it instead of doing it the organic way have tried oping up their sponsored spot!

Feb 26, 2011 02:32 AM

Andrew McGrath

Donovan Group Realty - Santa Ana, CA

Hi Fritz,

You're right that content is and likely will always be the key to google success. We've been working on our project to create fresh content daily. It is challenging at times but we are seeing the success already which is encouraging.

--Andrew

Feb 26, 2011 02:33 AM

Jerry Newman

Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX

Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Hi Fritz. You are certainly right about having unique and revelant content. Great post!

Feb 26, 2011 02:43 AM

Janet McCarthy

San Diego Homes Guide - San Diego, CA

Broker Associate

It's hard enough to sell houses without having to learn all the new devices, tricks and techee stuff. I tried to learn SEO and quit. That's why I joined AR.

Feb 26, 2011 02:45 AM

Jeff Belonger

Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ

The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Fritz... I agree, just write good quality content. In regards to this statement of yours. "Google has always penalized duplicate content."... how I read that, part of that is misleading. If I copy my own content from one site and place it on another site, Google won't penalize me.. they won't index the 2nd one, but it won't really hurt me. thanks

jef belonger

Feb 26, 2011 03:18 AM

Fritz Barnes

BizProMedia - Aberdeen, NC

@Christine and Jerry, thank you. :-)

@Danielle and Janet: I hear ya!

@Andrew, that's the real work, I hope it pays dividends for you.

@Jeff, thanks for stopping by and commenting. I don't claim expertise but I do know that, for example, in the Wordpress world, there has long been an understanding that even within one website, if a blog post shows up in both a date archive and a category archive, that is a problem, so there are techniques taught to facilitate making some of those pages nofollow so that only one instance of each post will be indexed. Just curious, in your example, how do you think Google knows both of those sites are yours? I may be wrong, and I'm definitely open to hearing the real answer to this...but based on all I have read over the past few years, for now at least I stand by what I wrote.

Feb 26, 2011 03:31 AM

Fritz Barnes

BizProMedia - Aberdeen, NC

@Jeff again....the Google page where they talk about duplicate content issues is here. That article does talk about what webmasters have to do, within a site or across sites, to avoid the duplicate content penalty when content appears in more than one place.

Feb 26, 2011 03:40 AM

Brian L. Sirota, Esq.

Bristar Realty (Realtor/Attorney) - Orange, CA

For Solutions: (714) 501-7660

Fritz, you successfully condense the SEO landscape in wonderfully simple and succinct terms. It lead me to read about your note business.

If I understand correctly, you're buying notes for less than 50% of FMV which gives you a monthly annunity (mortgage payment) and the right to the principal proceeds on sale.

I believe I've encountered this situation from the home owner's perspective. More than one client has asked about banks that work with investment pools to acheive a principal reduction. In the example on your home page, the homeowner pays a $4,000 fee to cure the arrears and achieve a huge reduction in principal.

Is the $4,000 fee an appraisal fee? If so, I've reviewed the docs associated with these transactions and provided an at-risk assessment for the $4,000. I've heard anecdotes, but I haven't seen any pan out. However, because you're promoting this as an investor, and not as a loan consultant, I would especially value your input.

Thanks a bunch!

Brian L. Sirota, Esq., Broker/Attorney, BriStar Realty, Orange County, California

Feb 26, 2011 05:20 AM

Fritz Barnes

BizProMedia - Aberdeen, NC

Brian, every deal is a little different, but you do understand correctly based on the example deal you read.

The $4,000 was simply the amount negotiated with the homeowner. It was a essentially a partial payment of arrears, in consideration of which the loan was actually modified. In that particular case study, much of the arrears and some of the principle was reduced, and the interest rate was converted from variable to fixed.

Often we do forbearance agreements as opposed to loan mods, it just depends on the situation.

Feb 26, 2011 05:37 AM

Jeff Belonger

Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ

The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Fritz... I read what you linked to and from reading the basics, Google gets into some details about those trying to use a basic post and then taking that same post and using it on another page or site and switching a key term. For example in the real estate business. A realtor write a post called : Buying condos in Cape Coral, Florida. Then that same person would post that same exact post, but take out Cape Coral out of the title of the post and the key words of Cape Coral throughout the post. And they replace it with Daytona, FL. From what I am reading, that's not good. But the bottom line is that Google will only index one post that is the same that author wrote. The other posts won't be penalized.. but they won't be indexed. Now.. I am talking about the basics of this.. what you are talking about and what Google is talking about, are different specifics of those trying to game the system. I have actually talked to some experts about this and they have stated that it doesn't hurt your, but it doesn't help you. So maybe it could be how you look at it.. what doesn't help you can hurt you? Like the glass statement.. the glass half full is positive and those that are negative would look at the glass as being half empty.

On another note.. read what no follow is and how it works... no follow - And Google knows which site is yours. I will ask some experts exactly how.. but in my opinion.. is it in your name? How your domain name is registered? That the article wirtten will usually have your name attached to it. Just things to think about.

Overall.. I get what you are saying, but I think you are digging to deep on some of these topics and it's meant to discourage those from gaming the system. but in my basic example, if I took a post I wrote on one site and a few days later, took that same exact post and placed it on another site of mine.. I won't be penalized... but it won't get indexed either. And ps.. there are ways to take most of that post and get Google to index it with little effort and or work. thanks ps.. I don't consider myself a true expert on this or the terms... but I have spoken to many experts that do this and web sites for a living, and who understand all about google and what is allowed and what isn't.

jeff belonger

Feb 26, 2011 06:35 AM

Renée Donohue~Home Photography

Savvy Home Pix - Allegan, MI

Western Michigan Real Estate Photographer

VERY TRUE! I just write as natural as possible and go for the long tail searches! Google seems to like natural!

May 07, 2011 02:40 PM

Kristin Hamilton CA REALTOR

Berkshire Hathaway California Realty - Beaumont, CA

(909) 557-6966- Specialize 55+ Communties Banning

Hi Fritz,

I am always trying to figure the Google juice thing out but I hear new ideas and thoughts daily. I think your post is full of fact and correct. I never re-blog the same information but sometimes I do add new material to one. I blog mostly nature pictures anyway and Google seems to like them as they show up on page 1. Thanks for the tips.

Happy Earth Day 2012 weekend.

Apr 20, 2012 01:16 PM

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