I run an SEO company and deal with agents every day. Most want to be on page one of the Google organic search results for their main keywords. Yet, very few want to make the real investment (time & money) it takes.
Seems they are looking for the 'fast fix' and so are taken to the cleaners by the many Internet scams directed towards the real estate community.
One of the most common errors I see, is advice by web designers. They could be great designers, but know just enough about SEO to be dangerous.
Before you take any SEO advice or sign up for SEO services, check into the track record of the person or company who is telling you how great they are or what their software can do for you!
Look for prior results in the 'real' or 'organic' search results for very competitive keyword phrases. For real estate, one of the best keywords is your town followed by real estate. Ex. San Diego real estate
Oh, just for the record, here are just a few of our Google page one organic standings for real estate & other sites we work on:
As of 4-19-09...
san diego real estate, san diego real estate agent, san diego real estate broker,san diego real estate blog, san diego real estate market
www.california-gold-rush-miner.us
california gold nuggets, california gold nugget prospecting, Arizona gold nugget prospecting, gold nugget prospecting
San Diego lawyers, San Diego attorneys, San Diego legal advice, San Diego auto accident lawyers
www.medical-research-study-directory.info
San Diego medical trials, San Diego clinical trials, San Diego medical research study, San Diego medical research
What is your opinion on which format to use on a website in which you desire to get good search results? (aside from outside influences)
I wonder. .aside form fixing meta tags and help to have a direct plan for website to come up. .what do you do in a monthly basis?. .this company in India wants to charge monthly and I asked them the same thing. no response.
The first thing I look for on a web site for an "SEO Expert" is a portfolio of web sites they have created or optimized.
If they have no portfolio for the viewer to observe their product, I then have to ask, "What are they hiding?"
Seems to me that a good web master or SEO service company would show examples of their work.
Thanks for the info Judi. I'll check you guys out as soon as I have a minute.
Cameron, It would be best to add a Wordpress blog to your site.
Fernando, #1 BEFORE you hire any company, look for their results. They should be able to show you the website adress and keywords they are ranking for on page ONE of MSN, Google or Yahoo. Just look at my post above, here you have the info that you can verify! #2. I always add new useful content!
Lenn, Thanks for your comment, you are one of the few who do it right!
Gabe, Thanks for your comment!
Is there a reason you recommend wordpress over blogger (or active rain)?
Julia,
Thanks for the comment/question. The reson I recommend Wordpress is because Google loves it!
Plus, the best way to get maximum SEO benefit it to have a Wordpress blog attached to your own site. Sure, the free wordpress site, blogger and AR are great places to have exposure, but, the NUMBER ONE MISTAKE many real estate professionals make is NOT investing in their own site & blog FIRST!