The Ultimate Guide to Real Estate Keywords

There's no doubt that online search is one of the most important tools for helping prospects find your real estate business. According to the National Association of REALTORS, 50 percent of real estate customers find the home they eventually buy through online search, and plenty more use search to identify the real estate agent who helps them find the right home. So it's important to make your website as search engine-friendly as possible—which starts with using the right real estate keywords.

Today, we're going to take a closer look at what real estate keywords are, how they work, and what you can do to leverage the power of keywords for your real estate website.

What Are Real Estate Keywords?

On the most basic level, real estate keywords are terms that describe the content on a given page of your website. Keywords are also used by prospects when searching for real estate content or services. So, if you have a landing page for a specific target market, using the keyword string "homes for sale in (market name)" both identifies the content on that page, and helps prospects find the page when they are searching for homes in that area. The basic idea is very straightforward—create content that people want to see, include relevant keywords, and make it easier for prospects to find your business.

Choosing the Right Types of Keywords

There are a variety of keyword types for real estate websites, and each can be valuable in the right situation:

• Generic, short-tail keywords, like "homes for sale," may accurately identify a page, but can be too general to help your page stand out from the crowd in search results.
• Local keywords, referring to a specific market area, make it easier to focus your content geographically, and help clients find your website when they're looking for home/neighborhood information in a specific area.
• Hyperlocal, longtail keywords like "3-bedroom house in (market area)" are very specific, which makes it easier to reach a target demographic. Since it is hard to rank for generic, short-tail keywords due to intense competition, local and hyperlocal longtail keywords will be key to improving your search engine visibility.

Organizing Your Keyword List

You'll find a ton of keywords that can be useful for the real estate industry, so organizing your keyword list is crucial for both success and simplicity. You can break your list down to short and longtail keywords based on priority, or use a pyramid model. In the pyramid model, your longtail keywords are placed at the bottom where you start, before moving up to secondary and primary keywords. You can create different lists for different purposes, like specific market areas or varied target demographics.

Researching New Keyword Opportunities

Making the most of real estate keywords requires consistent commitment, and a willingness to look for new opportunities. The Google Ads keyword planner allows you to enter keyword phrases into search, and learn more about the search volume of specific keywords. Brainstorm a list of potential keywords, look at the keywords competitors are using, and use Google Ads to see which keywords may be a fit for your business. Check the results when you use a new keyword, refine your keyword list, and never stop looking for new opportunities to stand out.

To view the original article, visit the Delta Media Group blog.