Real Estate Web Marketing

Marketing your listings online

2007-03-28T14:13:00.000-07:00

Everyone wants to know the best ways to market listings online. Here is a terrific article about making the best use of a Virtual Assistant for marketing your listings. Listing Coordination

Secret for Getting Website to the TOP of Search Engines

2007-01-17T08:02:00.000-08:00

Want the secret for getting your web site to the top of search engines nationally or just in your local neck-of-the-woods? First thing you must realize is that it's not a get rich quick scheme. There is no easy way to the top. Getting to into the upper-echelons of Google, Yahoo, MSN and all the rest takes determination, patience, time, skill and a little cash won't hurt.

1. Website age
2. Website size
3. Google PageRank
5. Number if relevant incoming links
6. Keywords included in URL
7. Keywords included in domain name
8. Keywords included in title tag
9. Keyword included in body content
10. Keyword Density in body content
11. Keywords included in description Meta Tag
12. Keywords included in Keyword Metatag
13. Keywords included in H1, H2 and H3 Headlines
14. Keyword Font Size
15. Keyword proximity
16. Keyword synonymous presence in the body text
17. Keyword prominence to the top of the webpage
18. Keyword included in alt tag of linking images
19. Keyword included in anchor text
20. Valid (non-broken) links to internal webpages
21. Valid (non-broken) links to external webpages
22. Textual navigation/link structure and menu
23. Links to external leading reference pages for targeted keywords
24. Less than 100 links per webpage
25. Link stability over time
26. Domain Name type (eg .com versus .org)
27. Webpage Size
28. Hyphens versus Underscore in URLs
29. Content Freshness
30. Links Freshness
31. Website Update Frequency and Rate
32. Webpages Update Frequency and Rate
33. Non automatic generated webpages
34. Static versus Dynamic webpages
35. Webpage Theming

Realtor.org

2007-01-15T19:31:00.000-08:00

Real Estate Website Reviews

Real Estate Forums

2007-01-15T19:17:00.000-08:00

Real Estate Forum

Agents Online

Real Estate Webmasters

Realtor Associations

2007-01-15T19:06:00.000-08:00

Texas Realtor Associations

Greater Dallas Association of Realtors - GDAR

Greater Fort Worth Association of Realtors - FWAR

10 Real Estate Website Optimization FAQs

2007-01-13T05:23:00.000-08:00

So you're ready to optimize your real estate website for Google, Yahoo, MSN and the host of other search engines on the web? If you're a Realtor, you'd be wise to get started now. But how does search engine optimization work? Below I've included a list of the top 10 most frequently asked questions that I get from Realtors on a daily basis when it comes to real estate search engine optimization.

1. Can you optimize my current website?

The answer to this question is yes and no. Yes, we can use all the content on your current website for a search engine optimized website. Yes, we can use the graphics of your current website to make it look very much like it does now. We usually cannot, however, use your real estate website in the exact form it is in now because most real estate websites have been previously built using a template generator. Template generators put code into the website (under the hood) that is a hindrance to search engine crawlers. In other words, search engines cannot read through the code that's on template generated websites.

2. Can you optimize my website without including text?

No. Your website cannot be optimized without using text because search engines cannot read anything but text. Images are not visible to search engines, therefore, graphics and image heavy websites will have a more difficult time achieving and maintaining top rankings in search engine results.

3. Can I edit my own website?

If you want a truly optimized website that has content fully indexed by Google and Yahoo, then you will not be able to edit your own website to a large extent unless you are fluent in HTML. This is because a truly optmized website is calibrated with certain tags or code that speaks the language of search engines. If you do not know search engine optimization, editing your own website could harm the SEO of your site.

4. How do you target my geographical area?

We target a specific geographical area or neighborhood using keywords that people are using to find homes in your area.

5. What does Real Estate SEO entail?

The search engine optimization of your real estate website requires an understanding of your marketplace, your neighborhoods, the housing market in your area and your geographical targets. Your search engine optimization specialist should be more of a sales person than anything, understanding who to go after and knowing what to say to get people to respond by filling out forms or picking up the phone and calling. SEO requires keyword rich content as well as analyzing and testing to assure the site is up to par with current search engine algorythms.

6. How much does SEO cost?

True SEO costs between $3500 to $5000 for a terrific website loaded with content. After that, you will need to maintain the site with monthly SEO maintenance that ranges from $199 - $1000 per month, depending on the results you're after.

7. Isn't Monthly Maintenance required for SEO?

Monthly SEO Maintenance is the process of adding fresh, relevant content that people in your neighborhoods want to read. It also involves connecting your website with the rest of the web by building partnerships with other websites and making your real estate website advertising decisions. Read about The Marketing Shop.com's Monthly SEO Plans.

8. How long does search engine optimization take?

Search engine optimization of your website comes in two forms: on-site optimization and off-site optimization. On-site optimization is the tedious task of building your website with relevant content and good keywords. That takes between two weeks to one month depending upon your optimization company. Actually making it to the top of search results takes quite a bit longer through the process of off-site optimization. Depending on the competitiveness of your market, achieving Realtor SEO results in the residential real estate sector can take from one month to one year.

9. Can I see statistics to show who's viewing my website?

Most hosting programs offer statistics for seeing who visits your websites and analyzing which pages generate the most traffic.

10. Why does my website show up in MSN, but not Google?

Google is a more difficult search engine to rank with because they put more stringent requirements on your website than MSN.

Google Real Estate Base | Upload Listings

2007-01-13T05:19:00.000-08:00

Free Real Estate Web Tool for Listings!

Google Real Estate, or Google Base (Beta) is the latest and greatest of a series of extraordinary real estate web tools being offered by the Googleopoly, this time for buyers and sellers of real estate. Google Properties is a FREE tool that assists agents in marketing their individual home listings with step-by-step instructions.

Launching quietly, Google has been courting the real estate industry with a booth at the NAR National Association of Realtors Convention in New Orleans this past weekend, and has partnered with big-name brokerages such as Ohio-based Real Living, with nearly 4,000 agents in 12 states, and Prudential California/Nevada/Texas Realty in it's quest to get listings into the hands of those online searching for homes.

This sounds like a good thing, however, it could adversely effect web listing companies such as Cendant, Move.com and HomeGain. The tool doesn't threaten web marketing companies, any more than it would threaten the real estate profession. Instead, it shows more things are going on line and it's time to get your act together with a top-graded website to meet the demands of tomorrow's web-based real estate marketplace.

Get ready for this, there are other new Google Real Estate Agent Toolsin the works, including high-tech MLS mapping technology that and killer 3-D home modeling tool.

Source: Google Blog

Source: Netscape

Links

Ruling Broadens Online Real Estate Listings

SEO ELEMENTS

2007-01-13T04:58:00.000-08:00

What effects the optimization of your website? EVERYTHING. We've included a list here of things that will effect your rankings:

1. Website age

2. Website size

3. Google PageRank

5. Number if relevant incoming links

6. Keywords included in URL

7. Keywords included in domain name

8. Keywords included in title tag

9. Keyword included in body content

10. Keyword Density in body content

11. Keywords included in description Meta Tag

12. Keywords included in Keyword Metatag

13. Keywords included in H1, H2 and H3 Headings

14. Keyword font size

15. Keyword proximity

16. Keyword synonymous presence in the body text

17. Keyword prominence to the top of the webpage

18. Keyword included in alt tag of linking images

19. Keyword included in anchor text

20. Valid (non-broken) links to internal webpages

21. Valid (non-broken) links to external webpages

22. Textual navigation/link structure and menu

23. Links to external leading reference pages for targeted keywords

24. Less than 100 links per webpage

25. Link stability over time

26. Domain Name type (eg .com versus .org)

27. Webpage Size

28. Hyphens versus Underscore in URLs

29. Content Freshness

30. Links Freshness

31. Website Update Frequency and Rate

32. Webpages Update Frequency and Rate

33. Non automatic generated webpages

34. Static versus Dynamic webpages

35. Webpage Theming

Real Estate Web Directories

2007-01-11T22:53:00.000-08:00

Real Estate Slate - Free with Link Exchange

Overlyreal

Real Estate Link Exchanges

Real Estate ABC

Reals.com

List of Real Estate Directories

Just Real Estate

IB Stream Real Estate Directory

EPowered Professionals

IRED Real Estate Directory $25 per year

CityStar - Monthly Fee

ValueComm - Link Exchange

irealestatedirectory

Foreclosure Central - Free Reciprocal Link

Net Savvy Agent - Free Reciprocal Link

Directory Real Estate - $19 Lowest Price

Builder Directory - Free Recripocal Link

Search 4 Agent - Free Recripocal Link

REALS.com

RealEstate4.com

LinkRE.com

DirectoryRealEstate.com

RealEstateAward.com

iRealEstateDirectory.com

NetSavvyAgent.com

RealEstateYellow.com

RealEstateBest.com

AmericaRealEstateDirectory.com

CanadaRealEstateDirectory.com

UKRealEstateDirectory.com

AustraliaRealEstateDirectory.com

ListingPage.com

ApartmentRentalGuide.com

BuilderDirectory.com

CommercialCentral.com

ForeclosureCentral.com

ForeclosureDirectory.com

LandDirectory.com

OfficeSpaceDirectory.com

InspectionDirectory.com

MortgageDirectory.com

MoverDirectory.com

NewHomeBuySell.com

HomeWarrantyDirectory.com

BusinessBrokerDirectory.com

Search4Agent.com

Search4Mortgage.com

Search4Listing.com

Search4Rental.com

Search4byOwner.com

Search4Builder.com

Search4Contractor.com

Search4Foreclosure.com

Search4insurance.com

EuropeRealEstateDirectory.com

AsiaRealEstateDirectory.com

InternationalRealEstateDirectory.com

HouseBuySell.com

Popular Real Estates

Web Site Promotion for Real Estate Agent

2005-07-23T18:37:00.000-07:00

My first real estate web site was built for a broker in Fort Worth, Texas. Specializing in Fort Worth Real Estate, Sharon Mays wanted to make the most of her web site and use it as a tool to not only help her current home buyers and home sellers, but to attract new clients as well. I am happy to say that we've been able to exceed her expectations.

She gets approximately one lead in per day, some are viable and some are not. This is without her having to lift a finger, these are leads that are passively generated on the web. What's even better is that her number of daily leads is increasing monthly. No telling how many leads she'll get in per day once her site reaches full optimized maturity.

Here's what we've done to create a lead generating Fort Worth Real Estate web site for Mays Realty in Fort Worth, Texas.

1. We built the web site from the ground floor on up to be search engine friendly. Great thought went into every aspect of the web site.

2. We included keyword rich content throughout the site. This helps both the visitors and the search engines. Visitors can enjoy the information the Mays Realty web site provides while the search engine crawlers gobble the keywords in the text.

3. Website tool integration. Sharon was really good about going the extra mile to make sure that her clients have the tools they need to find the home of their dreams. She integrated a fancy MLS search on her site that her web site visitors appreciate. It makes her site more "sticky," which means that her prospects stick around longer because there is something for them to do.

That doesn't sum it up, but at least we're off to a good start. Many other parts of the Mays Realty web site are perfected for search engine optimization and for a high web traffic conversion rate. If you have any questions about real estate web marketing for yourself, please contact me, Jennifer Ryan at 214-680-6177 or email me at jennifer@themarketingshop.com. Visit our web site at The Marketing Shop.

How to Find out Your Google Page Rank

2004-12-14T19:26:00.000-08:00

If you want to know the Google Page Rank of your website and all the websites you visit, go to ttp://toolbar.google.com/and download the Google Toolbar. It's awesome!

Once you've downloaded the Google Toolbar, you can search Google from any webpage. It's totally cool...I use it all the time. Even though your Google bar is installed, you still will not be able to see the page ranking until you turn it on. You have to click on options and then go to Page Information and make sure the box is checked that says, "Page Rank."

Once you check that box, look on your Googlebar that's now a permanent part of your browser. The page rank will be in the middle...it's a green bar. Run your mouse over the "PageRank" area and you'll see a number...that number is Google's estimate of the importance of your website.

If you have any questions at all, please contact me via email:jennifer.ryan@the-marketing-shop.com

Jennifer Leigh Ryan
Real Estate Web Marketing Enthusiast
http://www.the-marketing-shop.com/realtor-marketing-center.com

Real Estate Marketing 101

2004-08-18T17:45:00.001-07:00

Many Realtors are unaware of the value of internet marketing. I've spoken to more than my share as a marketing person who markets to real estate agents. Besides a glassy, wide-eyed stare, the typical response I usually get when I bring up the subject of websites is, "I tried that before and it didn't work."

They are not alone. There are many would-be web success stories who fizzle at the keyboard. Many folks think of anything internet related as is akin to a pyramid scheme or