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SEO Isn't About Light Bulbs

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Education & Training 15067

How many SEO experts does it take to change a light bulb, light-bulb, light_bulb, light.bulb, lightbulb?  That's a little joke going around the Web related to the many strategies SEO gurus use to promote websites to the search engines.

SEO Complexity

 

Strategy, HTML, Keywords, ... more.  It's all a part of SEO, Search Engine Optimization.  So, I'll be writing a 147 part series over 11 months on how to get your website optimized.  :)  NOT!  It's not rocket science, but if you take it on without help, it's going to be time consuming and frustrating.  Let's just say that your website provider can give you a Warp Drive jump on Search Engine Optimization for your site.  RealtySoft does all of these things, and it makes a huge difference in how soon you'll get traffic and how much you'll enjoy.

Automatic Basic Optimization & Submission

RealtySoft's backend system takes a huge load off you.  That "strategy" component is already handled, and the HTML to make it effective is a built-in function.  Once you enter your company, agent, area, and neighborhoods information, pages are automatically optimized with all of that "Meta" stuff.  You know, title tags, description, keywords, and those things that search engine robots look for when they comb through your site to index the information there.  You can leave it at that, and your site would be better optimized than most of them out there.  However, there's a whole lot more you can do and RealtySoft is doing.

User Page-by-Page Custom Optimization

While the system does a great job of determining keywords related to real estate and the neighborhoods in your area, you know it better than anyone else.

Meta Information

 

You can see in the image that every page is available, and you can add keywords and make changes that you know site visitors will use in searches for real estate in your area.  We're not talking about a huge expenditure of time, as you can make SEO adjustments to a couple of dozen pages in a couple of hours.

SEO Friendly Links

Have you seen some of those great URLs at the top of websites like:  https://secure.xxxxxx.us/showclip/bb1424e120b151c74c7c35432cde42e6#clip.  WOW, I know that I get a lot of value from that link!  It doesn't tell the search engines anything about what's on the destination page.  How about a link like this one?  http://realestatexxxxx.com/Search_Listings_In_Your_Area

Now, what is this page all about?  The link tells you, and it tells the search engine robots as well.  This is a very important part of Search Engine Optimization.

Sitemap.xml Creation

RealtySoft Sitemap


Now, I KNOW that you'd rather do all of that HTML yourself!  It's all taken care of by the RealtySoft system and you don't even have to think about it.  What does all of this HTML do?  It leads the search robots through the site quickly and in an orderly manner, and it will help your SEO.

Integrated IDX

Integrated IDX


I've written about the integrated IDX service from RealtySoft.  Most IDX solutions are "framed."  This means that the text of all of those listings is hosted elsewhere, not on your site.  Your real estate site gets no SEO benefit from it.  The integrated IDX RealtySoft provides places all of that text on your site, your server.  Your site gets all of the benefit of those many thousand highly relevant keywords.

You Could Hire One of Those Gurus

But, don't forget about those light bulbs, light-bulbs, light_bulbs, light.bulbs, and lightbulbs.  You're paying for their time to screw them in.

Aloha Mortgage Loans
Kihei, HI

Good blog Jim. Funny yet informative, I like it! I can't wait to see what you have to say in part 73 of the proposed 147 posts ;)

Jan 20, 2012 04:40 AM
Eric Erickson
Realty One Group/SW Temecula Murrieta, CA. - Murrieta, CA
Murrieta-Temecula CA. Real Estate and Homes

Nice post Jim, I have always wondered how this whole thing works. I would like a system that would set it up for you. I have heard and seen realty soft quite a bit, but was never sure that it was any different from all the others. There are so many that sound so good, then when you sign up your left to do all the work and if your are not a computer guru, you are left high and dry or have to spend more money for something else. I am still wondering how you get up in the ranks of google, yahoo etc... I need more info Thank You!

Jan 23, 2012 04:26 PM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Light speed buttons, time saving levers to head up the search engine index... not just one time but all over the first page is the goal. But groans happen when those wearing the R say it is more work, gonna cost money. You don't have to keep up. But to make a living, survive you do. Change is not to be feared, resisted unless you are that close (whisker shown space with two fingers held up) to retirement.

Jan 24, 2012 01:10 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Jim, Does RealtySoft offer an IDX solution for WordPress sites? I like the idea of having the MLS content on my site. I have not yet found an IDX provider that offers a solution for WordPress.  Thanks!

Jan 24, 2012 04:37 AM
Marcie Purcell Associate Broker
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Cassidon Realty - Quakertown, PA
Realtor, Bucks & Montgomery Co PA

I've had a realtysoft website for about 1.5 and love it! I don't always have the time to do what I'm suppose to with SEO but I'm determined this year I will work on my website more.

Jan 24, 2012 12:25 PM
Greg Gillespie
GumTree Realty / Genesis Realty Services,Inc - Tupelo, MS
CRS / Broker Owner

I have come to realize the important features of a non framed idx. Think i'm going to give market leader a try.

Jan 24, 2012 12:48 PM
Marcia Kramarz
Re/Max Executive Realty - Medway, MA
CDPE,LMC,CBR

My background for 20 years was technology - and I gotta tell ya - I'm amazed at how deep realtors are getting into technology - Nice to say Realty soft does the work - but there's a lot for a realtor to absorb here - Shucks - there's a lot for a TECHNOLOGIST (of bygone days) to absorb!!

Jan 27, 2012 12:03 AM
Ben Ganje + Partners
Lakes Sotheby's International Realty - Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis Market Leader

Integrated IDX is the ONLY way to go for agents our there that want to maximize their web exposure!

Jan 27, 2012 02:56 AM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Good morning Jim.  I love the way so many here on AR are willing to share some of the SEO good stuff.   The rest of us really do appreciate it !

Jan 27, 2012 03:37 AM
Kamal Salim
United Realty Group - Weston, FL
A Superior Level of Service !

Great Post, maybe we should a good site to go with this. Maybe have all these posts on a specific website

Jan 27, 2012 11:32 AM
Mark Delgado
houses for rent, Solano County & Glen Cove - Benicia, CA
Benicia and Vallejo, Property Management, rental h

So, how do I get you to sit down next to me at the computer and make what you describe as being so easy actually happen?

Jan 29, 2012 06:00 AM