Real Estate Internet Marketing

Have you noticed how many people claim to be experts these days when it comes to how to get your website to rank well on Google?  It makes it hard to know what to do with real estate internet marketing.

So, here’s the definitive answer on who the expert is on ranking well on Google.  His name is Matt Cutts.

Who is Matt Cutts? 
Matt Cutts is the head of the webspam department at Google.  I know that department name sounds odd, so let me make it easier.  He’s THE Google expert on search engine optimization. 

Cutts is Google’s direct line of communication to the public and he tells us exactly what Google want us to do – and how they want us to do it.  Sometimes his suggestions can be a bit vague, but usually he speaks in plain English that we average web users can understand.

Here’s a link to an article with Search Engine Optimization Tips for Bloggers from Matt Cutts.

Have questions about how to get your real estate blog or website to bring in more leads?  Ask them in the comments.  I promise I’ll answer you personally.

To boosting your real estate internet marketing leads,

Kathy Goughenour

Bookmark It

If you’re like me, you had a full plate during the holidays.  And now that you’re back to work, you’ve spent most of your time trying to plow through your email and inbox.  You’re finally ready to start thinking about your 2009 real estate internet marketing.

Well, I’m giving you the very first task to add your real estate internet marketing to-do list.  Change your dates.

Anything on your website or real estate blog with a 2008 date will make your site appear old and outdated.  That’s why you’ll want to make sure dates appearing on your sites are current.

For example, if you display copyright dates on your web pages (which you should), make sure they read 2009.

Same is true with content containing dates.  For example, the phrase ‘New for 2008′ already sounds outdated – while ‘New for 2009′ sounds fresh.

Change these date references in your postcards, flyers, email drip campaigns, brochures, listing presentations – in fact, everywhere.

These small changes can freshen the look of your entire website – and keep your site from becoming stale.

To success with your 2009 real estate internet marketing,

Kathy Goughenour

Bookmark It

Do you understand how tags help your real estate internet marketing?  Perhaps you’d like to know their purpose, how they relate to keywords, and whether or not they should be used the same way as keywords.

Betty Byrnes, a Kokomo real estate agent who is a member of my Lead Booster Club, recently asked me these questions about real estate internet marketing.

I researched Betty’s questions, and found that several experts had already answered them.  Here’s what I found.

The bottom line is that keywords and tags are different names for the exact same thing.  I’ll let the experts give you the details: (more…)

Bookmark It

Linking text, often called anchor text, is the clickable text that takes people to another web page.  The use of keywords in linking text is a simple but powerful way to improve your search engine ranking and thus improve your real estate internet marketing.

For example, if your keyword phrase for a web page is “Cincinnati real estate,” you should be using “Cincinnati real estate” as linking text on that page.

What can you link to?

• A page on your web site with specific information about Cincinnati real estate such as the types of homes that are available (i.e., condos, townhomes, ranch, 2-story, raised ranch, etc.)
• Your Cincinnati IDX
• Your Cincinnati Featured Listings
• Videos of Cincinnati homes for sale
• A page containing photos or virtual tours of Cincinnati real estate
• Your blog about Cincinnati real estate (more…)

Bookmark It

Your blog is an extension of your business and one of your most important real estate internet marketing tools.

Because so many potential clients begin the process of buying or selling a home through the internet, your blog may be the first impression you make on them. You will generate leads through your blog when its message and tone resonates with your readers.

Most people are now suspicious of big business’ pushy marketing.   Today’s potential clients want to know the individual behind the name of the company. They want to get to know your personality, what makes you tick and if you can be trusted to do what you say you will.

What does your blog say to your readers? Does your personality shine through your words and topics? Can your readers tell that you love what you do and the area in which you live and work?  Do you want them to believe you are the leading expert in your field? If your personal message isn’t shining through, change it so it matches your goals. (more…)

Bookmark It

A real estate blog is an essential business tool for agents who want to get more leads through real estate internet marketing.

A real estate blog gives you the ability to connect with countless potential clients. In your blog, you can share your expertise about your local area and the real estate market. You can also build your brand by helping your readers face and overcome problems as they try to buy or sell a home. For example, you can write a blog post about selling your home during the holidays.

Selling a home is a stressful situation, and this is only compounded with the added stress of the holidays. You readers can definitely use some advice about how to make it through the season with some semblance of sanity. This is a great post for a bulleted list, like “7 Ways to Survive Selling Your Home During the Holidays” or “5 Things to Remember During Holiday Showings” or even “10 Things to Do to Sell Your Home During the Holidays”.

No matter which topic you choose, you should remind your reader of the following: (more…)

Bookmark It

Although blog writing is not like writing a research paper, you do need to follow some basic English language rules in your posts. This will boost your credibility and make your blog more readable. More readable blogs get more readers. That means you will get more real estate internet marketing leads from your blog.

Here are some rules you need to follow in each post.

1. Abbreviations. You may think everyone understands an abbreviation that you use regularly.  Do not assume that.  Spell words out completely so the meaning is clear.  Abbreviations are appropriate when text messaging or instant messaging but not in a blog.
2. Avoid run-on sentences. Run-on sentences happen when you stick too many ideas into one sentence instead of breaking them down into smaller pieces and these are very hard for people to read and they don’t look right. See what I mean? Shorter is always better for online readers. (more…)

Bookmark It

You want a blog that generates leads and improves your real estate internet marketing, so you want to showcase your best writing. Writing a real estate blog post is very different from writing a research paper. Your readers are not deducting points for misspelled words. They are looking for valuable information. They are looking for something easy to read.

Throw these English writing rules out the window when writing your blog posts.

1. Starting a sentence with “because” or “and”. Don’t get into the habit of starting all your sentences with these words, but don’t write yourself into an awkward paragraph because you don’t know how else to phrase something. And sometimes starting with “and” just sounds better.
2. Ending a sentence with a preposition. Don’t waste another minute worried about how to end your sentences. It’s perfectly acceptable to end a sentence with “to” or “for” as long as it helps your blog posts sound authentic. (more…)

Bookmark It