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10 Things You Need To Know About Search Engines And Findability (Thank you, Dave Taylor)

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with RealSatisfied

I'm sitting in the airport in Las Vegas, reflecting on reBlogWorld and BlogWorld Expo and thought I'd share one of the thoughts that occurred to me during a session yesterday.

Dave Taylor gave a presentation entitled "10 Things You Need To Know About Search Engines And Findability." I didn't learn anything during the presentation that I didn't already know, but I still enjoyed it immensely. And it reminded me how lazy I can sometimes be with the basics. Dave presented the 10 tips in a way that is easy to understand and implement. I used Qik.com to stream the entire 52 minute presentation and you can watch it below. I'll be sending it to anyone who asks me about the basics from this moment forward.

During the presentation, he gave some advice on key word density and it reminded me of "What Rufus Xavier Sarsparilla Can Teach You About SEO and YEO", a post I wrote during last year's Project Blogger competition.

Here was the main thought behind that post.

I can  find "Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla", but I can't find "he, him, or his."

It hit me as I was actively singing along to my kid's Schoolhouse Rock CD, that I unconsciously use pronouns for exactly the reasons that my favorite Schoolhouse Rock song describes. My favorite is called "Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla." I loved it when I was a kid and I love it now. My kids get a kick out of me belting it out at the top of my lungs.

Here's the best part of the song:

Now I could tell you Rafaella Gabriela and Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla
and Albert Andreas Armadillo found an aardvark, a kangaroo, and a rhinoceros. 
And now that aardvark and that kangaroo and that rhinoceros belong respectively to
Rafaella Gabriela Sarsaparilla and Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla and Albert Andreas Armadillo!

Whew! Because of pronouns I can say, in this way:
"WE found THEM and THEY found US and now THEY are OURS
and WE're so happy."

Thank you, pronouns!

You see a pronoun was made to take the place of a noun,
'Cause saying all those nouns over and over
Can really wear you down.

Yes, it can really wear you down. That's why we use pronouns. But if I say that's why "WE" use pronouns, then I miss out on an opportunity.

Here's the problem. Type he, him, or his into a google search and see what you find. Search results for he, him, his. The results are all over the board. Here's what you get when you search on Rufus Xavier Sarsparilla: Search results. There are 816 results and even if you go the last page of the results, they all point to Schoolhouse Rock references. 

Make Jeff Turner's point, Jeff Turner! (Jeff Turner is now going to show ActiveRain members Jeff Turner's point by over exaggerating Jeff Turner's point. Because Jeff Turner really does have a point.)

If ActiveRain bloggers want to get the biggest bang from the Active Rain bloggers' ActiveRain blog posts, ActiveRain bloggers need to look the ActiveRain Bloggers' posts over carefully. When ActiveRain bloggers can replace a pronoun with a noun and not sound as ridiculous as this paragraph sounds, ActiveRain bloggers have increased the chances that the posts ActiveRain bloggers write will show up in search results.  

That's obviously ridiculous. Here's how we would all normally write that paragraph:

If you want to get the biggest bang from your blog posts, you need to look your posts over carefully. When you can replace a pronoun with a noun and not sound as ridiculous as that paragraph sounds, you have increased the chances that the posts you write will show up in search results. This is subtle, but effective, and won't take much time.

Write to engage. Read to improve.

Don't even think about nouns or pronouns when you're writing. Just write. Write to engage the reader. Then save it as a draft and go get a cup of coffee, or take a nap, or kiss your loved ones, or mail me a dollar. When you're done, come back and read it to improve it's search engine attractiveness.

Comments (67)

Julie Ferenzi
john greene Realtor - Plainfield, IL
Julie Ferenzi

A great reminder... because it's just so easy to forget!

 

Sep 22, 2008 11:46 AM
The Somers Team
The Somers Team at KW Philadelphia - Philadelphia, PA
Delivering Real Estate Happiness

Jeff - thanks for the tips !  Is a lot to learn - I try to soak some new information into my mind daily : )

Sep 22, 2008 12:23 PM
Joan Lorberbaum Moore
Lang Realty - Delray Beach, FL

I wish the audio was better.  Lots better!  I couldn't hear a word.  Can you send along the tips?

Sep 22, 2008 12:39 PM
Jeff Turner
RealSatisfied - Santa Clarita, CA

Joan, a couple people have complained about the audio, but I don't have trouble hearing it. Unfortunately, I didn't take any notes... because I was taking the video. :)

Sep 22, 2008 01:40 PM
Rich Jacobson
Fathom Realty West Sound - Poulsbo, WA
Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker

Joan:  I took copious notes and will be posting my own version shortly. It's a tag-team effort!

Sep 22, 2008 02:19 PM
Joan Lorberbaum Moore
Lang Realty - Delray Beach, FL

Thanks Jeff and thanks Rich!!!

Sep 22, 2008 03:02 PM
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848
Jeff Turner- Thanks for posting this great information for Carla Freund and all the AR bloggers. Carla Freund plans to put this advice into practice. Thanks Jeff Turner & have a great week! Carla Freund
Sep 22, 2008 11:57 PM
Gary and Shannon Kiernan
Dominion Real Estate Partners - Cave Creek, AZ
Cave Creek Arizona Real Estate Blog
Thank you so much for the link to Schoolhouse Rock, as I have been singing the "I'm just a bill" song for my husband (who is English, now an American and didn't get our great Schoolhouse commercials in his youth) and my memory was sadly lacking. Made me laugh outloud to hear it again!
Sep 23, 2008 03:19 AM
Scott Hutchinson
Keller Williams Realty-The Romere Team - Round Rock, TX
Round Rock Real Estate
This seems like a great idea! I am about to go back to the drawing board and research all my posts! Thanks
Sep 23, 2008 03:26 AM
Harrison K. Long
HomeSmart, Evergreen Realty - Irvine, CA
REALTOR , GRI, Broker associate, Attorney

Jeff ... great post.  Thanks for encouragement to Just write to engage the reader. I will use this advice.  Best wishes.  Harrison

Sep 23, 2008 05:00 AM
Mike Hughes
Hughes Residential - Newton, MA
Services Newton, Brookline, Lexington, Waltham & W

Jeff,

Great post ... thank you!  This was very helpful to me.  Also, thanks for pointing out Qik.com.

Best regards,
Mike Hughes

BYW: I love your company - realestateshows.com - great service!

Sep 23, 2008 10:45 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Georgie Hunter thinks Jeff Turner is pretty smart with Jeff Turner's Active Rain blog and Georgie Hunter will be sure to keep this tip in mind for Georgie Hunter's Active Rain blog, and will take the time to watch the video - thanks!

Sep 23, 2008 10:52 AM
Sonja Adams
Keller Williams Realty - Purcellville, VA
Great tips and something I need to apply...thanks for giving me food for thought when I write my next post...
Sep 23, 2008 01:05 PM
Jeff Turner
RealSatisfied - Santa Clarita, CA

Rich Jacobson has posted his notes from the session here: The SEO Of Blogging.

Sep 24, 2008 11:34 AM
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor
Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ
AzLadyInRed

Jeff, always a good reminder to just write with our own "voice." That is what typically engages the reader - Teri Ellis personality, Teri's charm, gift of gab - oh, and Teri's knowledge about real estate! ;-)

Your dollar's in the mail! ;-)

Pepper

Sep 24, 2008 02:54 PM
Michael Sahlman
www.HomesForVIPs.com - Keller Williams Realty - Miami Beach, FL
e-PRO - Miami Beach Florida Luxury Homes
Jeff this is good info, however, I might need another cup of coffee to absorb the subtleties of what you are saying....boookmarked for post-caffiene reading...
Sep 25, 2008 09:51 PM
"The Lovely Wife" The One And Only TLW.
President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Kissimmee, FL

Okay Hubba...

You can have my dollar but only because a little rain bird told me you're worth it :)

TLW...ROAR!

Sep 29, 2008 12:19 PM
Scott Cowan
RE/MAX Professionals - Olympia, WA

Jeff Turner once again provides fantastic advice for anyone willing to listen and do some work. Thank you Jeff Turner.

Oct 08, 2008 07:03 AM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M
I enjoyed re-reading this post and getting to sing along with Schoolhouse Rock again. It's still just as good a point as the first time I read it.
Jan 28, 2009 03:07 PM
Sonja Adams
Keller Williams Realty - Purcellville, VA

Great post on what not to do...thanks for sharing!

Mar 03, 2009 04:40 AM