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Angie, How can I get found in a SEA of agent websites?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Cal Coast Web Design

Hi AR junkies!

Long time no talk - I have been blogging at blog.askangie.com and at calcoastsearchenginemarketing.blogspot.com if you want updates :)

I thought this would be a perfect post for Active Rain, though.  I recently spoke at the South Orange County Chamber meeting about SEO, and websites, and getting found by search.  One of the Realtors, Remy, passed me a note that asked:

"How in the world would my website ever get found when there are 20,000 Realtors in Orange County?"

I think my simple answer will benefit all of you, so here goes:

YOU SPECIALIZE

This is harder than you think, because as agents you fear you are pushing business away if you don't act like you do everything.  Sorry kids, gotta stop being greedy with the general keyword phrases, because there are too many of us out there now.  I FIRMLY believe there is room for each and every agent to be successful, and HAPPY, if we all just chase our ideal client.  Ok, so how? 

This can be fun and easy, its the "what kind of" game.  Let's play it.  So you are a Realtor, rock on.  What kind of Realtor?  A normal Realtor, you say...I list and sell homes.  Ok then, "what kind of homes" do you list and sell?  Golf homes, you say.  This is good, we're getting somewhere.  Now let's ask "what kind of" area to you list and sell these golf homes in?  Tustin, you say.  Great.  All of Tustin, I ask?  No, just Tustin Ranch, that's the best area of Tustin, is your response.  

What did we do here?  We took you from being a Realtor in the pot of 20000, to a Realtor in a pot of about 20.  This makes your odds for success much more likely, huh?  Now what do we do to seal the deal?  We get you found in google and other search engines for Tustin Ranch Golf Homes, so you can get in touch with that ideal target market.  Cal Coast did this for our long time client Bob O'Brien with bobrealestate.com, click above. 

Now my SEO hat on, I have to warn you all one thing.  Don't do this without keyword researching.  You CAN over do it and go after phrases nobody types in, which is going to bring you a bunch of nothing.  There's gotta be traffic there.  But little pockets of the perfect traffic are faaaar better than big spikes of worthless traffic. 

Do I practice what I preach?  You betcha!  You'll always find me on page one for Orange County first time buyer:  http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4GFRC_enUS220US220&q=orange+county+first+time+buyer

Have I closed first time buyers through AskAngie.com?  Yap.  Multiple.  Has Bob closed buyers and sellers in Tustin with his website?  Absolutely.   Can you do it too?  For SURE, JUST SPECIALIZE!!!

David Soto - Illinois Home Loans & Mortgages
Illinois Home Loans & Mortgage Refinance - Chicago, IL
thanks for the tip anything that can help get a high ranking or bring less competition is always grateful
Feb 22, 2008 05:10 PM
youHUGE TradeShow Displays
youHUGE.com - Lake Forest, CA

Thanks Angie,  I would love to read more about how to raise my visibility on Google.!

 

Sincerely

www.youHUGE.com

Jul 25, 2009 05:17 AM
Anonymous
Angie Weeks

You're welcome - Google actually has a webmaster tools section which will tell you exacts on how to raise your Google visibility.  We also attend the Search Engine Strategies seminar yearly, and blog all of our sessions - feel free to grab some great info or subscribe to our blog:

http://blog.calcoastwebdesign.com/search/label/Search%20Engine%20Strategies

 

Jul 27, 2009 09:53 AM
#3
Alix Pinzon
Open Mortgage, LLC NMLS # 2975 - Downey, CA
(562)743-6086

That's some fanastic advise - the webmaster tools.  What do you think would provide the best results for a Realtor:  to target the entire Los Angeles/Southern California community or a specific market like "Country Hills" which is the community where I live, and where I'd really prefer to work, or, a little of both?  Thanks for your time and especially for any comments that you could provided on my new website, www.socalrealestatebrokers.com  

Sep 01, 2009 01:28 PM
Anonymous
Angie Weeks

Hi Gregg!

Cities and neighborhoods are really the way to go in my opinion, because there is usually enough real estate to be sold in your own backyard!  It will probably take you hours and hours of work to get found for your county or Socal terms, but significantly less time to do SEO for your neighborhood. 

Of course, be careful, there may be other 'Country Hills' out there, so then you'll need to add the state or city to make sure you get the most qualified traffic.  A perfect example is Lake Forest, there is a bigger Lake Forest back in the midwest so you would want to optimize for Lake Forest, CA real estate.

We give you free SEO advice at blog.calcoastwebdesign.com if you need help.  I looked at your website, I can tell you're getting your keywords in there but I think you'll be more effective if you do landing pages for cities and neighborhoods. 

I know its much work, but I would also separate the real estate and appraisal side of things, because Google likes more targeted pages.  Hope this helps - thanks for stopping by!!

Sep 02, 2009 09:18 AM
#5