From Clicks to Closings: Supercharge Your IDX SEO Game
In the fast-paced and highly competitive world of real estate, having a strong online presence is crucial for success, and in today's market, the battle for online visibility is fierce. As highlighted in "Website Wizardry: 7 Secrets to Keep Clients and Prospects Hooked and Coming Back for More," one of the most effective ways to achieve having a strong online presence is through Search Engine Optimization (SEO), especially for IDX real estate websites. IDX (Internet Data Exchange) allows real estate agents to display real-time property listings on their websites, providing valuable information to potential buyers. However, without proper SEO, these listings might not reach the right audience. Here are essential SEO best practices for IDX real estate websites to ensure they rank well in search engine results and attract the right leads. 1. Keyword Research Keyword research forms the foundation of any successful SEO strategy. For IDX real estate websites, focus on real estate-specific keywords such as "homes for sale in [your target market(s)]," "real estate listings in [area]," or "property for sale near [landmark]." Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or others to identify relevant keywords with high search volumes and moderate competition. 2. Optimize Meta Titles and Descriptions Meta titles and descriptions are what users see in search engine results, so they need to be attention-catching, compelling, and informative. Include target keywords in meta titles and descriptions, keeping them concise and relevant to the property listings. For example, a meta title could be "Luxury Condos for Sale in Downtown Miami | Your Real Estate Agency," while the meta description could highlight unique selling points like "Explore our exclusive listings of luxury condos in the heart of Miami's vibrant downtown." 3. Create Unique, High-Quality Content Content is king in the world of SEO – Google's algorithm is entirely based on content. Create unique and informative content around your property listings, neighborhoods, real estate trends, and buying/selling tips. This not only provides value to your audience but also helps search engines understand the key value you are providing from your website. Consider writing blog posts, neighborhood guides, market reports, informative property descriptions, and value-driven content for your readers. 4. Optimize Images with Alt Text Real estate websites are image-heavy, showcasing various properties and their features. Optimize these images by adding descriptive alt text that includes relevant keywords discussed in tip number one. Alt text not only improves accessibility for visually impaired users, but also helps search engines understand the content of the images. For instance, "Luxury waterfront condo with panoramic views | Downtown Miami Real Estate." 5. Mobile-Friendly Design With the majority of internet users now browsing on mobile devices, having a mobile-friendly website is non-negotiable. Over 60% of visitors scroll your site from their phone versus a desktop or tablet. Ensure that your IDX website is responsive and optimized for different screen sizes. Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in its search results, so this step is truly non-negotiable. 6. Local SEO for Real Estate Local SEO is especially important for real estate agents targeting specific geographic areas. Claim your Google My Business profile and optimize it with accurate business information, including address, phone number, and business hours. It's free, and can make a tremendous impact on how your site ranks locally. After you have a successful transaction, encourage your satisfied clients to leave reviews on your Google profile, as positive reviews can help boost your local search rankings significantly. 7. Improve Website Speed A fast-loading website not only provides a better user experience but also ranks higher in search results. Use tools like PageSpeed Insights to identify and fix any issues that might be slowing down your website. Compress images, enable browser caching, and consider using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to improve load times. 8. Build Quality Backlinks Backlinks from reputable websites are a strong signal to search engines that your website is trustworthy and authoritative. Reach out to local businesses, industry partners, and real estate-related websites for opportunities to guest post, contribute content, or exchange backlinks. Focus on quality over quantity, as backlinks that appear to be spam or irrelevant can harm your SEO efforts. 9. Monitor and Analyze Performance SEO is an ongoing process, and it's essential to monitor your website's performance regularly. As Peter Drucker said, "What gets measured gets improved." Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track traffic, user behavior, keyword rankings, and website errors. Analyze this data to identify areas for improvement and adjust your strategy accordingly. Implementing these SEO best practices for IDX real estate websites can significantly improve visibility, attract qualified leads, and ultimately drive more sales. By optimizing your website for search engines and providing valuable content to users, you can establish your online presence as a trusted resource in the competitive real estate market. People do business with those they know, like, and trust, and creating this trust starts with how you portray your business online. To view the original article, visit the IDX Broker blog.

How the New Generation Is Changing Home Buying
A new generation of home buyers is beginning the house hunt not by searching online listings or participating in virtual tours and open houses. Instead, young buyers are connecting with REALTORS® and researching properties and neighborhoods on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. (On TikTok, the hashtag #realestate has over 5 million posts.) These platforms are popular avenues for Gen Z and millennials to consume information in general. One report found that a whopping 80% of Gen Zers spend their time on YouTube, another 75% on Instagram and about 60% on TikTok. And 35% of all Gen Zers spend over four hours each day on social media. But Gen Zers and Millennials aren't the only ones using social media platforms as their primary source of finding information. According to one forecast, approximately 11.3 million baby boomers will purchase a product via social media. Another study found that 83.9% of baby boomers say they feel like social media has improved their lives. What does this mean for real estate professionals? Now more than ever, establishing an online presence across a wide variety of media platforms is incredibly important to having a successful business. The Importance of Building a Digital Brand Having active, up-to-date profiles on all social media platforms will give practitioners a much better chance of reaching their target audience. Social media can help you position yourself as an expert and make important connections with other leaders in the industry. You can also use social media as a tool to educate buyers who may not be familiar with all the ins and outs of purchasing a home, further boosting your credibility. Perhaps the most powerful opportunity in social media is generating referrals and driving traffic to your website. When people discover you and are ready to take the next step in their homebuying journey, that's when they visit your website. And that's where you can convert them into leads. Standing Out in the Digital Age Where do you even begin in setting up a high-quality, intentionally crafted online presence, especially across multiple platforms? Here are a few tips to help you get started. Make sure you have a website that you can link to in your social media "bio" section. Often, people will look at your social media profiles as a preview of what you do and who you are, and they'll want to visit your website for the bigger picture. You'll need to make sure that your website is simple, professional, easy to use and includes multiple reminders to contact you via email or phone. You can quickly create a sleek, professional website with a .realtor™ domain, which is one of your exclusive benefits as an NAR member. Build up content that you can spread out over the week, and consider using an automation tool to schedule and publish posts. Find a day where your workload is a little lighter than usual and create as much content as you can in one go. Once you've created and edited this content to your satisfaction, you can schedule them to post on certain days of the week, taking the timing pressure off. Many platforms have free built-in tools that allow you to schedule the posts to publish ahead of time. Set aside time to respond to messages and comments. While you want to try and respond to audience interactions as quickly as possible, sometimes there will be comments or questions that require more thought. Depending on the growth of your following, you may also have an overwhelming amount of interactions on your profiles. Set aside an hour or so each day to go through and reply to messages and comments. Leveraging the .realtor™ Domain and Website NAR members can claim their .realtor™ domain (free for the first year), which includes a professional website with a number of templates to choose from. You can even choose to pay for concierge services that will help you register your domain, connect your social media, add a photo gallery and more. Having a .realtor™ domain immediately tells customers that you're a trustworthy, reliable real estate expert. It tells people what you do in an instant. Your website will help you stand head and shoulders above the competition, all while providing potential clients an easy and effortless way to access your accomplishments, the areas you service, and your digital portfolio. Social media is here to stay. The digital world is rapidly changing the way that people approach home buying, and it will continue to create trends that impact the real estate industry. So, don't miss out! Get started with your .realtor™ domain so you can begin building your digital brand and guarantee future business growth. Related reading Elevate Your Visibility Online With a Lasting Digital Brand The Top 10 Ways to Build Your Personal Brand Online, from REALTORS® Who Know Boost Your SEO Rankings with a .realestate Domain Lead Gen for Every Career Stage: How to Scale Your Website with Your Business Friday Freebie: One Month of a .realtor™ or .realestate Premium Website

Top 5 Benefits of Having an IDX Website
In the dynamic realm of real estate, having a world-class IDX website isn't just a nice-to-have, it's a need-to-have. An IDX website serves as a gateway to a treasure trove of property listings, offering you and your clients unparalleled access to a comprehensive array of homes, apartments, and commercial spaces available for sale or rent. With the ability to seamlessly integrate and display data from multiple listing services (MLS), an IDX website empowers both real estate professionals and prospective buyers by providing up-to-date information, advanced search functionalities, and a user-friendly interface. In an era where digital presence is essential, having an IDX website is not merely a choice but a strategic imperative for any real estate professional vested in growing their business and driving business success. Whether having an IDX website is a new strategic move you are considering for your business or whether you are an experienced user who needs a refresher on the numerous benefits it provides, let's dive into the top five benefits of having a world-class IDX website. Here are the top five benefits of having a world-class IDX website: 1. Expanded Property Listings An IDX website allows real estate agents and brokers to display a comprehensive database of property listings sourced directly from the multiple listing service (MLS). This gives visitors access to a wide range of properties, increasing their chances of finding their ideal home and providing them with the most accurate and up-to-date information about their marketplace. 2. Improved User Experience IDX websites offer intuitive search features and customizable filters that enable users to quickly narrow down their search criteria and find properties that match their preferences. This streamlined user experience enhances engagement and encourages visitors to spend more time on your website. 3. Lead Generation and Capture IDX websites are powerful lead generation tools. They allow agents to capture valuable lead information from visitors who register or sign up to receive property alerts, newsletters, or other updates. This information can then be used to nurture leads and convert them into clients. 4. Enhanced Credibility and Professionalism By providing visitors with access to up-to-date property listings directly from the MLS, your IDX website establishes you as a knowledgeable and trustworthy professional in the real estate industry and your community. This credibility can help build trust with potential clients and differentiate you from competitors. 5. Competitive Advantage Having a strong IDX website is a surefire way to stand out from the crowd. In today's digital age, having an IDX website is essential for staying competitive in the real estate market. It allows you to showcase your expertise, market properties effectively, and reach a wider audience of potential buyers and sellers. By leveraging the advanced features and functionality of IDX websites, you can stay ahead of the curve and attract more clients and leads. To view the original article, visit the IDX Broker blog.

Paid vs. Organic Search for Real Estate Sites
You've spent weeks optimizing your real estate website and creating helpful content, but you're still not ranking on page one of Google for those competitive keywords. Don't worry, it's not your fault. Ranking organically on Google for real estate terms can take months or even years of work. If you want to start generating more leads and traffic right away, paid search is the way to go. Paid search, also known as pay-per-click or PPC, allows you to pay to have your website or ad rank higher in search results. You only pay when someone clicks your ad. Organic search, on the other hand, relies solely on Google's algorithm to determine your rank. The good news is you don't have to choose one or the other. Using paid and organic search together is the most effective strategy for real estate websites. Paid Search, What is it? Paid search, also known as pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, is a way for businesses to promote their websites by bidding on keywords related to their products or services. When someone searches for those keywords, your ad may appear at the top of the search results page. You only pay when someone clicks your ad. For real estate sites, paid search ads can be an effective way to drive traffic and generate leads. You choose keywords like "homes for sale," "real estate agent," or "[location name] real estate" that people in your target market may search for. When prospective clients search for those terms, your ad pops up. If the ad catches their eye and they click it, they'll land on your website. Pay only for clicks: You set a maximum cost-per-click (CPC) bid for your keywords. If your ad ranks high enough to show, you'll pay the minimum amount needed to maintain that position, up to your maximum bid. You're only charged when someone clicks your ad. Check out most important real estate keywords now. Reach people actively searching: Paid search targets people who are actively searching for information related to your business. They're already interested, so they may be more receptive to your message. Measure results: Paid search provides detailed reporting to help measure the performance and ROI of your campaigns. See which keywords are most effective, how many clicks and impressions your ads are getting, and how much traffic is being driven to your site. Tweak as needed to improve results. Requires ongoing management: Paid search campaigns require regular monitoring and optimization to achieve the best results. You'll need to keep tabs on your budget, bids, ad copy, and keyword performance. As search trends change, you'll want to make adjustments to your strategy. Paid search can be an integral part of a real estate website's marketing plan. When leveraged effectively, it helps generate high-quality leads and builds brand visibility. However, to achieve success, paid search campaigns require time, money, and consistent optimization. Organic Search, What is it? Organic search, also known as natural search, refers to the unpaid results that show up on search engine results pages (SERPs) based on the relevancy to a user's search query. For real estate websites, ranking high in organic search results is crucial to generating traffic and leads. How Organic Search Works Search engines use algorithms and bots to crawl the web and index websites and their content. As people search, the algorithm determines which sites and pages are most relevant based on the search query and ranks them accordingly. The sites and pages that rank the highest, like on the first page of Google's search results, get the most visibility and traffic. For real estate sites, ranking well in organic search usually comes down to two main factors: on-page SEO and off-page SEO. On-page SEO refers to optimizing your own website content for search engines, including page titles, content, URL structure, meta descriptions, image alt text, and internal linking. Off-page SEO refers to building quality backlinks to your site from other authoritative domains. More backlinks and higher quality content both signal to search engines like Google that your site is an authority on the topics and keywords you're targeting. The higher your authority, the higher you can rank in organic search results. Optimizing for voice search has also become increasingly important. Many people now search for "homes for sale near me" or "apartments for rent in [city name]." Make sure your site content also targets these types of local and voice searches. For real estate agents and brokers, a higher position in organic search results means more visibility to potential clients. According to studies, the top three organic search results get the vast majority of clicks for any given search. If you can rank on page one, especially in positions one through three, you'll be in a great position to generate new leads and clients through organic search traffic. Continually optimizing your on-page and off-page SEO, publishing new content, earning high-quality backlinks, and providing the best user experience are the keys to climbing the ranks in organic search. While it does take work, the rewards of first-page rankings and a steady stream of organic traffic and new clients can be well worth the effort. Learn more about real estate SEO at our complete guide on it. Pros and Cons of Each Approach for Real Estate When it comes to driving traffic to your real estate website, you have two main options: paid search or organic search. Both have their pros and cons, so you need to determine which approach aligns best with your business goals and budget. Paid Search (Pay-Per-Click or PPC) With pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, you pay to have your website appear at the top of search engine results pages (SERPs) when people search for keywords related to your business. Platforms like Google Ads and Bing Ads allow you to target potential clients based on location, intent, and interests. Pros Quick results. PPC ads can drive traffic and leads almost immediately. Targeted. You can focus your ads on people actively searching for real estate or properties like yours. Measurable. PPC provides detailed reports on impressions, clicks, conversions, and costs so you know what's working. Cons Expensive. PPC ads can cost $1 to $50 per click depending on the keyword, and costs add up quickly. Requires ongoing optimization. PPC campaigns need constant monitoring and tweaking to maximize results and limit wasted spend Organic Search (SEO) With search engine optimization (SEO), you aim to rank highly in the unpaid, organic results on SERPs. By optimizing your website content, technical elements, and backlinks, you can improve your visibility in search engines like Google and Bing over time. Pros Free. Organic search is free once you've optimized your real estate website. Long-term results. SEO can drive sustainable traffic and leads for months and years to come. Credibility. Ranking organically builds trust and authority in the eyes of searchers. Cons Slow results. It can take 3-12 months of ongoing work to start seeing significant improvements in organic rankings and traffic. Constant work required. SEO is an ongoing process that needs continuous monitoring and updates to avoid losing ground. Unpredictable. Organic rankings can fluctuate due to algorithm changes and new competitor websites. For most real estate businesses, a combination of paid and organic search strategies works best. PPC can drive short-term results while you work on long-term SEO, and SEO helps reduce your reliance on paid ads over time. The key is finding the right balance based on your priorities. Key Takeaways: When to Use Paid vs. Organic Search When it comes to optimizing your real estate website, you'll need to determine the right mix of paid and organic search. Both have their pros and cons, so consider your goals and budget to find the optimal balance. Organic Search (SEO) Organic search, or search engine optimization (SEO), focuses on improving your ranking in the unpaid search results on Google and other engines. The main benefits of organic search are: It's free. You don't have to pay for clicks or impressions. It builds long-term value. Good SEO will continue to drive traffic to your site over time. It improves brand visibility. Ranking highly in organic search helps establish your authority and credibility. However, SEO also has some downsides: It can take time to see results. It may be 6-18 months before you achieve top rankings for competitive keywords. Google algorithm changes can impact your traffic. If Google tweaks its algorithm, your rankings and traffic could drop significantly. You're dependent on the search engines. You have no control over where they rank your site. Paid Search (PPC) With pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, you bid on keywords and pay each time someone clicks your ad. The main benefits of PPC include: Fast results. You can launch a PPC campaign and start getting traffic within a day. More control. You have more control over where your ads appear and can adjust bids and budgets as needed. Targeting options. PPC allows you to target specific keywords, locations, devices, and more. However, there are some downsides to PPC: It can be expensive. Fees for competitive keywords and locations can cost $30-$50 per click or more. Traffic stops when you stop paying. As soon as you pause or cancel your PPC campaign, your traffic will drop to zero. Click fraud is possible. Some clicks on your ads may be invalid, costing you money. In summary, for most real estate websites a combination of paid and organic search works well. Use SEO to build up long-term traffic and authority, while employing PPC to drive immediate results and fill in gaps. Find the right balance for your needs and budget. Conclusion So there you have it. Organic and paid search both have an important role to play in driving traffic to your real estate website. Focusing exclusively on one or the other means leaving opportunity and money on the table. The key is finding the right balance between SEO and PPC to maximize your visibility and leads. organic search may take longer to gain traction but leads tend to convert at a higher rate. Paid search delivers immediate results but at a cost and conversion rates may be lower. By investing in both, you're covering all your bases. You'll drive more traffic, generate more leads, and ultimately close more deals. The world of online marketing can seem overwhelming but keeping it simple and focusing on what works for your business is the smartest strategy. Check out our other most readable article titled: Cracking the Code: A Guide to Real Estate Marketing Terms. To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog. Related reading SEO vs. PPC: Which is best for you? The Fundamentals of Real Estate PPC Services

10 Proven Ways to Optimize Your Real Estate Website for Lead Generation
Are you looking to supercharge your real estate website's lead generation potential? A high-performing website is crucial for attracting and converting leads in the competitive real estate market. In this post, we'll explore 10 proven strategies to optimize your real estate website for maximum lead generation potential, backed by actionable insights and industry trends. From leveraging search engine optimization to creating compelling lead magnets, we've got you covered with practical tips to elevate your real estate website's lead generation game. Let's dive in and unlock the full potential of your real estate business online. Understanding the importance of lead generation for real estate websites In the competitive real estate market, lead generation is pivotal in driving business growth. Real estate professionals like yourself can expand their client base, increase sales, and boost revenue by harnessing effective lead-generation strategies. Let's take a look at the significance of lead generation for real estate websites and the role that a well-optimized website plays in this process. The role of a well-optimized website in lead generation A well-optimized website serves as the digital storefront for your real estate business, playing a critical role in attracting and converting leads. By leveraging search engine optimization (SEO) strategies, user-friendly design, and compelling content, real estate websites can enhance their visibility and engage potential clients. A good website makes it easy to attract and engage potential leads, giving you the tools and opportunity to build strong client connections and drive conversions. Key strategies for optimizing your real estate website for lead generation Let's explore key tactics to enhance your real estate website's lead generation capabilities. Create compelling landing pagesDesign landing pages specifically tailored to different buyer personas. Offer valuable content such as market reports, home valuation tools, or e-books in exchange for contact information. Implement clear calls-to-action (CTAs)Strategically place CTAs throughout your website, prompting visitors to take action. Use compelling language and contrasting colors to make them stand out. Optimize for local SEOTarget local keywords and phrases relevant to your area to boost your website's visibility in local search results. Incorporate location-specific content and meta tags. Utilize high-quality imagery and videosVisual content is powerful in the real estate industry. Invest in professional photography and videos to showcase your listings and engage visitors. Offer virtual toursIn today's digital age, virtual tours are a game-changer. Provide immersive 3D tours of your listings to give potential buyers a true sense of the space. Incorporate live chat supportEnable live chat functionality on your website to instantly engage with visitors and answer their queries. This personal touch can significantly increase lead conversions. Utilize testimonials and reviewsDisplaying positive feedback from satisfied clients builds trust and credibility. Integrate testimonials and reviews throughout your website to showcase your expertise. Create informative blog contentRegularly publish blog posts addressing common real estate concerns, local market trends, and buying/selling tips. This positions you as a knowledgeable resource and boosts SEO. Optimize for mobile responsivenessEnsure your website is fully responsive across all devices. With the increasing use of mobile devices, a seamless mobile experience is non-negotiable. Integrate social media sharing buttonsEncourage visitors to share your listings and content on social media platforms. This can expand your reach and attract potential leads through social sharing. Prioritizing user experience, using high-quality content, and incorporating lead capture forms will help you effectively attract and engage potential clients. Embracing SEO best practices like targeting local keywords and optimizing for mobile will further improve your website's visibility and accessibility. Additionally, including social proof and client testimonials can help establish trust and credibility, encouraging more conversions. Remember to continually analyze and refine your lead generation strategies to adapt to evolving market trends and consumer behaviors. By consistently optimizing your real estate website, you can create a powerful digital presence that drives sustainable lead generation and fosters long-term business success. To view the original article, visit the iGuide blog. Related reading How to Create Top-Notch Real Estate Website Pages The Best SEO Tools for Real Estate Websites 24 Tips for Analyzing a Competitor's Real Estate SEO Strategy

Friday Freebie: One Month of a .realtor™ or .realestate Premium Website
Want to give your online brand a boost in 2024? Consider trading in your tired .com website for a shiny, new .realtor™ or .realestate website. Switching to a real estate-focused domain announces that you're a trusted REALTOR® — and it looks pretty eye-catching on marketing materials, too. We want to make taking the leap as easy as possible for you, and that's why we're highlighting an exclusive offer from the National Association of REALTORS® Top Level Domains in this week's Friday Freebie. Read on to learn how to claim this deal! Get a Free Month of a Premium .realtor™ or .realestate Website, courtesy of Get.realtor! You're busy selling homes — and that means you probably don't have the time or the interest in becoming a webmaster. Fortunately, every .realtor™ or .realestate domain from get.realtor comes with a professional looking website that's easy to set up and edit as needed. Your website can be up and running in just minutes — and it's SEO-optimized, lead generating and mobile friendly, to boot. But if you'd like a little more flexibility (or just want a next-level site), consider upgrading to the Premium website package. Check out an example here! It's free for RE Technology readers to try for one month with promo code RETECH, and it includes these extra features: Full website editor capability: Access to all available widgets Multi-page website template with blog and video capabilities AudioEye, an ADA platform Onboarding and how-to videos, guides, webinars and more Unlimited client testimonials Ability to add your own IDX service And more! Ready for a website that helps you stand out from the competition? Use promo code RETECH to claim your FREE month of a .realtor™ or .realestate Premium website today!

How to Create Top-Notch Real Estate Website Pages
In today's competitive real estate market, a strong online presence is crucial for success. Your real estate website is often the first point of contact for potential clients, making it vital to create web pages that not only inform but also captivate and engage your audience. In this article, we'll walk you through the essential steps to help you craft top-notch real estate website pages that leave a lasting impression and drive business growth. 1. Define Your Target Audience Before diving into webpage creation, it's essential to understand your target audience. Different clients have different needs, preferences, and expectations. Consider whether you're catering to first-time homebuyers, luxury property seekers, commercial real estate clients, or a mix of these. Tailoring your webpages to address their specific interests and pain points will make your site more effective. 2. High-Quality Visuals Real estate is inherently visual, and the imagery you use can make or break a webpage. Invest in professional photography or virtual tours to showcase properties effectively. Ensure that images are high-resolution, well-lit, and showcase the property's best features. Additionally, optimize images for fast loading times to improve user experience. 3. Clear and Compelling Headlines A clear and compelling headline is the first thing visitors see when they land on your webpage. It should succinctly convey the page's purpose and entice readers to explore further. Use descriptive and engaging language to pique their interest. 4. Engaging and Informative Content Content is king in the online world, and your real estate webpages should offer valuable information. Provide detailed property descriptions, neighborhood insights, market trends, and buying/selling guides. Use a conversational tone that's easy to understand, avoiding jargon that might confuse potential clients. 5. User-Friendly Navigation A user-friendly website is more likely to keep visitors engaged. Ensure that your navigation menus are intuitive, with clear labels that guide users to different sections of your website. Use a responsive design to ensure your webpages look and function well on various devices, including smartphones and tablets. 6. Lead Capture Forms To convert visitors into leads, incorporate lead capture forms strategically throughout your webpages. These forms should be easy to find and quick to complete. Consider offering valuable resources such as e-books, newsletters, or property alerts in exchange for contact information. 7. Testimonials and Reviews Building trust is vital in the real estate industry. Showcase client testimonials and reviews prominently on your webpages. Real-life success stories and positive experiences from previous clients can help establish your credibility and encourage potential clients to reach out. 8. Call to Action (CTA) Every real estate webpage should have a clear and compelling call-to-action. Whether it's scheduling a property tour, requesting a consultation, or signing up for property alerts, make it easy for visitors to take the next step. Use action-oriented language to prompt immediate engagement. 9. Regular Updates To keep your website relevant and authoritative, regularly update your content. This could include adding new property listings, blog posts about local real estate trends, or market reports. Fresh content not only keeps visitors coming back but also improves your website's search engine ranking. 10. Analytics and Optimization Lastly, use web analytics tools to track the performance of your webpages. Analyze user behavior, such as page views, bounce rates, and conversion rates. Use this data to make informed decisions and continuously optimize your webpages for better results. Creating top-notch real estate website pages takes time and effort, but the results can significantly impact your business's success. By focusing on your target audience, using high-quality visuals, and providing engaging content, you can create a website that not only attracts visitors but also converts them into satisfied clients. Remember that the real estate market is constantly evolving, so staying up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies is key to maintaining a competitive edge in the digital landscape. With dedication and attention to detail, your real estate website can become a powerful tool for growing your business and serving your clients effectively. To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.

How to Leverage Titles and Meta Descriptions for Better Real Estate SEO
In today's competitive real estate market, it's more important than ever to have a strong online presence. And one of the most important aspects of your online presence is your website's SEO. Two of the most important factors in SEO are your website's titles and meta descriptions. These are the snippets of text that appear in search engine results pages (SERPs) when people search for keywords related to your website. Well-written SEO titles and meta descriptions can help you: Rank higher in SERPs, which can lead to more traffic to your website Increase your click-through rate (CTR), which is the percentage of people who see your search listing and click on it Improve your brand awareness and credibility Attract more qualified leads and buyers In short, SEO titles and meta descriptions are essential for any real estate website that wants to succeed in the online marketplace. The role of SEO titles in real estate SEO SEO titles play a crucial role in real estate SEO. They are the first thing that potential buyers see when they search for properties online. These titles are not only important for attracting attention but also for improving your website's ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs). When crafting SEO titles for your real estate website, it's important to include relevant keywords that potential buyers will likely use when searching for properties. For example, if you specialize in luxury homes in a particular city, your SEO title could be "Luxury Homes for Sale in [City Name] – [Your Real Estate Company Name]." This title includes the keywords "luxury homes," "for sale," and the location, which are all relevant to your target audience. It's also important to keep your SEO titles concise and compelling. Most search engines only display the first 50-60 characters of a title, so it's crucial to make those characters count. Please just consider using action words or numbers to make your titles stand out. For example, "Discover the Top 10 Luxury Homes for Sale in [City Name]" is more engaging than a generic title like "Luxury Homes for Sale." In addition to incorporating keywords and making your titles compelling, it's important to ensure that your SEO titles accurately reflect the content of your web pages. Misleading or irrelevant titles can lead to a high bounce rate, which can negatively impact your website's ranking. Make sure that the content on your web pages matches the promises made in your SEO titles. How to write effective SEO titles for real estate websites Writing effective SEO titles for your real estate website requires careful consideration of your target audience, keywords, and competition. Here are some tips to help you create compelling and optimized SEO titles: 1. Research relevant keywords: Start by identifying the keywords that potential buyers are likely to use when searching for properties in your area. Use keyword research tools or consult with a real estate SEO expert to identify high-volume and low-competition keywords that are relevant to your target audience. 2. Incorporate keywords strategically: Once you have identified your target keywords, incorporate them naturally into your SEO titles. Avoid keyword stuffing, which can negatively impact your website's ranking. Instead, focus on using keywords in a way that accurately reflects the content of your web pages and appeals to potential buyers. 3. Make your titles compelling: Your SEO titles should not only include keywords but also be compelling enough to attract clicks. Consider using action words, numbers, or intriguing phrases to make your titles stand out in SERPs. For example, instead of "Homes for Sale," try "Discover Your Dream Home Today – Homes for Sale in [City Name]." 4. Test and optimize: SEO is an ongoing process, and it's important to test and optimize your SEO titles regularly. Monitor your website's performance using analytics tools and make adjustments as needed. Test different variations of your SEO titles to see which ones perform the best in click-through rates and conversions. By following these tips, you can create effective SEO titles that not only improve your website's visibility but also attract qualified leads and buyers to your real estate website. The role of meta descriptions in real estate SEO While SEO titles grab the attention of potential buyers in SERPs, meta descriptions provide additional information about your web pages. Although meta descriptions do not directly affect your website's ranking, they play a crucial role in improving your click-through rate (CTR) and attracting qualified traffic to your real estate website. Meta descriptions should be concise, informative, and appealing. They should accurately summarize the content of your web pages and entice potential buyers to click on your search listing. You should consider including unique selling points, key features, and a call-to-action in your meta descriptions. It's important to note that search engines may not always display the exact meta description you provide. In some cases, search engines may generate their descriptions based on the content of your web pages. However, by providing well-crafted and optimized meta descriptions, you increase the chances of search engines using your descriptions in SERPs. How to write effective meta descriptions for real estate websites Creating compelling meta descriptions for your real estate website requires a combination of creativity, keyword optimization, and a deep understanding of your target audience. Here are some tips to help you craft effective meta descriptions: 1. Keep them concise: Meta descriptions should be no longer than 160 characters. This ensures that they are displayed in their entirety in SERPs and don't get cut off. Use concise language to convey the key selling points of your web pages. 2. Include relevant keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords into your meta descriptions to improve their visibility in SERPs. However, avoid keyword stuffing and prioritize creating engaging and informative descriptions that appeal to potential buyers. 3. Highlight unique selling points: Use your meta descriptions to highlight the unique selling points of your properties or real estate services. Consider mentioning key features, amenities, or any special offers that set you apart from the competition. 4. Include a call-to-action: Encourage potential buyers to take action by including a clear call-to-action in your meta descriptions. For example, you could use phrases like "Schedule a viewing today" or "Browse our listings now" to prompt users to click on your search listing. Remember, meta descriptions should accurately reflect the content of your web pages. Avoid misleading or irrelevant descriptions, as they can lead to a high bounce rate and negatively impact your website's ranking. Best practices for optimizing SEO titles and meta descriptions in real estate SEO Optimizing SEO titles and meta descriptions for your real estate website requires a strategic approach. Here are some best practices to help you maximize their impact: 1. Conduct regular keyword research: Keyword trends and search behaviors change over time. Stay up-to-date with the latest keyword research to ensure that your SEO titles and meta descriptions align with what potential buyers are searching for. 2. Monitor your competitors: Keep an eye on what your competitors are doing with their SEO titles and meta descriptions. Analyze their strategies and identify opportunities to differentiate yourself and stand out in SERPs. 3. Test and analyze: Regularly test different variations of your SEO titles and meta descriptions to see which ones perform the best. Use analytics tools to track your website's performance and make data-driven decisions. 4. Optimize for mobile: With the increasing use of mobile devices for property searches, it's important to ensure that your SEO titles and meta descriptions are optimized for mobile users. Please make sure to keep them concise and easy to read on smaller screens. 5. Leverage local SEO: If you specialize in a specific geographic area, include location-specific keywords in your SEO titles and meta descriptions. This helps attract local buyers and improves your website's visibility in local search results. SEO title and meta description examples for real estate websites To provide you with some inspiration, here are a few examples of well-crafted SEO titles and meta descriptions for real estate websites: SEO Title: "Find Your Dream Home in [City Name] – Exclusive Listings and Expert Advice – [Your Real Estate Company Name]" Meta Description: "Discover a wide range of luxury homes, condos, and apartments for sale in [City Name]. Our experienced real estate agents are here to guide you through the buying process. Start your search today and find your dream home." SEO Title: "Invest in [City Name] Real Estate – Profitable Opportunities and Expert Insights – [Your Real Estate Company Name]" Meta Description: "Explore the lucrative real estate market in [City Name]. From residential properties to commercial investments, our team of experts can help you find profitable opportunities. Get expert insights and start investing in [City Name] real estate today." SEO Title: "Sell Your Home Fast in [City Name] – Trusted Real Estate Agents and Effective Marketing – [Your Real Estate Company Name]" Meta Description: "Ready to sell your home in [City Name]? Our trusted real estate agents specialize in selling properties quickly and at the best possible price. Benefit from our effective marketing strategies and get your home sold fast." These examples demonstrate how SEO titles and meta descriptions can effectively convey the unique selling points of your real estate website and attract potential buyers. Tools and resources for optimizing SEO titles and meta descriptions in real estate SEO Optimizing SEO titles and meta descriptions can be made easier with the help of various tools and resources. Here are a few that you may find useful: 1. Keyword research tools: Tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Moz Keyword Explorer can help you identify relevant keywords to incorporate into your SEO titles and meta descriptions. 2. Analytics tools: Tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console can provide valuable insights into your website's performance, including click-through rates, bounce rates, and conversions. Use these tools to monitor the impact of your SEO titles and meta descriptions. 3. SEO plugins: If you're using a content management system like WordPress, consider using SEO plugins like Yoast SEO or All in One SEO Pack. These plugins provide guidance and optimization suggestions for your SEO titles and meta descriptions. We have another amazing article in which we introduced all SEO tools for your Real Estate Website. Check it out if you are interested in knowing more! The importance of regularly updating and optimizing SEO titles and meta descriptions SEO is an ongoing process, and it's crucial to update and optimize your SEO titles and meta descriptions regularly. Here's why: 1. Evolving search trends: Search behaviors and trends change over time. By regularly updating your SEO titles and meta descriptions, you can ensure that they align with the latest search trends and keywords. 2. Stay ahead of competitors: Your competitors are also optimizing their SEO titles and meta descriptions. By regularly analyzing and updating yours, you can stay ahead of the competition and maintain a strong online presence. 3. Improved click-through rates: As you optimize your SEO titles and meta descriptions, you can increase your click-through rates. Compelling and relevant titles and descriptions attract more potential buyers to click on your search listings, leading to increased traffic and potential leads. 4. Better user experience: By providing accurate and engaging SEO titles and meta descriptions, you enhance the user experience. Users are more likely to trust and engage with your website if the content matches their expectations. 5. Search engine algorithm updates: Search engine algorithms are constantly evolving. Regularly updating your SEO titles and meta descriptions ensures that you comply with any algorithm changes and maintain a high ranking in SERPs. Remember, effective SEO titles and meta descriptions are a combination of creativity, keyword optimization, and a deep understanding of your target audience. By investing time and effort into crafting compelling and optimized titles and descriptions, you can harness their power to drive success in your real estate SEO efforts. Conclusion: Harnessing the power of SEO titles and meta descriptions for real estate SEO success In today's competitive real estate market, it's more important than ever to have a strong online presence. And one of the most crucial aspects of your online presence is your website's SEO. Two of the most critical factors in SEO are your website's titles and meta descriptions. These snippets of text appear in search engine results pages (SERPs) when people search for keywords related to your website. Well-written SEO titles and meta descriptions can have a significant impact on your real estate website's success. They can help you rank higher in SERPs, leading to more traffic to your website. Additionally, they can increase your click-through rate (CTR), improve your brand awareness and credibility, and attract more qualified leads and buyers. In short, SEO titles and meta descriptions are essential for any real estate website that wants to thrive in the online marketplace. If you are interested in learning more about real estate SEO, check these articles out: Optimize robots.txt for real estate website Optimize Sitemap for real estate websites To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.

Robots.txt: A Comprehensive Guide for Real Estate Websites
Robots.txt is a simple text file that tells search engines which pages on your website they can and cannot crawl. It is an important tool for real estate websites, as it can help you improve your search engine ranking and help fix some of your indexing issues. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide to robots.txt for real estate websites. We will explain what robots.txt is, how it works, and how to use it to control how search engines crawl your website. We will also cover common robots.txt mistakes to avoid and provide tips for troubleshooting robots.txt issues. By the end of this article, you will have a good understanding of how to use robots.txt to improve your real estate website's SEO and protect it from harm. What is robots.txt? Robots.txt is a file that resides in the root of your website, and it tells search engine spiders which pages and directories they are allowed to access. It is a critical tool for controlling how search engines crawl your website and can have a significant impact on your website's visibility in search engine results. By using robots.txt, you can prevent search engines from indexing certain pages or directories, ensuring that only the most relevant and valuable content is included in search results. The robots.txt file uses a simple syntax that allows you to specify rules for search engine spiders. These rules can be used to allow or disallow access to specific pages, directories, or even entire sections of your website. By carefully crafting your robots.txt file, you can ensure that search engine spiders are only crawling and indexing the pages that are most important to your real estate website. Creating a robots.txt file is relatively simple. All you need is a text editor, such as Notepad or TextEdit, and a basic understanding of the syntax used in a robots.txt file. Once you have created your robots.txt file, you can upload it to the root directory of your website using an FTP program or your website's content management system (CMS). NOTE: By "spider," we mean search engine or bots crawlers, for example, Google Bots, or SEO Tools Bots (Ahref, Moz, Semrush, etc.) Why is robots.txt important for real estate websites? Real estate websites often contain a large number of pages, including property listings, blog posts, and other types of content. It is essential to control how search engines crawl and index these pages to ensure that the most relevant content appears in search engine results. By using robots.txt, you can specify which pages should be crawled and indexed, and which pages should be ignored. In addition to controlling how search engines crawl your website, robots.txt can also help to protect your website from malicious activity. By disallowing access to sensitive directories, such as your website's admin area or private user information, you can prevent unauthorized access and potential security breaches. Furthermore, robots.txt can be used to manage the crawl budget of your website. The crawl budget refers to the number of pages a search engine will crawl on your website during a given timeframe. By specifying which pages should be crawled, you can ensure that search engine spiders are spending their time and resources on the most valuable pages of your real estate website. Understanding the structure of a robots.txt file To create a robots.txt file for your real estate website, it is important to understand its structure and syntax. A robots.txt file consists of one or more rules, each of which is composed of two parts: the user-agent and the directive. The user-agent specifies which search engine spiders the rule applies to. For example, the user-agent "*" applies to all search engine spiders, while "Googlebot" applies specifically to the Google search engine spider. By using different user-agents, you can create rules that apply to specific search engines or groups of search engines or tools. The directive specifies the action that should be taken by the search engine spider. The most common directive is "Disallow," which tells the search engine spider not to crawl a specific page or directory. For example, the directive "Disallow: /admin" would prevent search engine spiders from accessing the admin directory of your real estate website. It is important to note that the syntax of a robots.txt file is case-sensitive. For example, "Disallow" and "disallow" are treated as different directives by search engine spiders. Therefore, it is essential to use the correct capitalization when creating your robots.txt file. How to create a basic robots.txt file for a real estate website Creating a basic robots.txt file for your real estate website is relatively straightforward. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you get started: 1. Open a text editor, such as Notepad or TextEdit. 2. Create a new file and save it as "robots.txt". 3. Add the following lines to your robots.txt file: "` User-agent: * Disallow: "` The first line specifies that the rule applies to all search engine spiders, while the second line specifies that no pages or directories should be disallowed. 4. Save the robots.txt file and upload it to the root directory of your real estate website using an FTP program or your website's content management system (CMS). By creating this basic robots.txt file, you are allowing all search engine spiders to crawl and index all pages and directories on your real estate website. However, there may be specific pages or directories that you want to disallow. In the next section, we will cover advanced robots.txt techniques for real estate websites. Advanced robots.txt techniques for real estate websites While a basic robots.txt file can be sufficient for many real estate websites, there are several advanced techniques that can help you further optimize your website's crawlability and visibility in search engine results. Here are a few techniques to consider: 1. Disallowing irrelevant pages: Real estate websites often contain pages that are not useful to search engine users, such as login pages or search result pages with no properties. By disallowing these pages in your robots.txt file, you can ensure that search engine spiders are focusing on the most valuable pages of your website. "` User-agent: Disallow: /login Disallow: /search-results?properties=0 "` 2. Optimizing crawl budget: As mentioned earlier, the crawl budget refers to the number of pages a search engine will crawl on your website during a given timeframe. By specifying which pages should be crawled, you can ensure that search engine spiders are spending their time and resources on the most valuable pages of your real estate website. "` User-agent: Googlebot Crawl-delay: 5 Sitemap: https://www.example.com/sitemap.xml "` The "Crawl-delay" directive specifies the number of seconds to wait between successive requests to your website. This can be useful if your website has limited server resources or if you want to control the rate at which search engine spiders crawl your website. The "Sitemap" directive specifies the location of your website's XML sitemap, which can help search engines discover and index your website's pages more efficiently. If you want to know how to optimize your sitemap files, check out this article: Sitemap for real estate websites. 3. Handling duplicate content: Real estate websites often have multiple pages with similar or identical content, such as property listings with different sorting options. To prevent search engines from penalizing your website for duplicate content, you can use the "canonical" tag in your HTML code or specify the preferred version of a page in your robots.txt file. "` User-agent: Allow: /property-listings/ Disallow: /property-listings/?sort=price_asc "` In this example, we are allowing search engine spiders to crawl and index all pages in the "/property-listings/" directory, but disallowing pages with the "sort=price_asc" parameter. This ensures that search engines will consider the version of the page without the sorting parameter as the preferred version. By using these advanced techniques, you can further optimize your real estate website's crawlability and visibility in search engine results. However, it is important to be cautious when implementing these techniques, as incorrect usage of robots.txt directives can unintentionally block search engine spiders from accessing important pages of your website. If it's hard for you to use this file and its structure, it's better to get help from an SEO real estate expert. Common mistakes to avoid when using robots.txt While robots.txt can be a powerful tool for controlling how search engines crawl your real estate website, there are several common mistakes that website owners make. Here are a few mistakes to avoid: 1. Blocking important pages: One of the most common mistakes is unintentionally blocking important pages of your website. This can happen if you use the "Disallow" directive without fully understanding its impact. Always double-check your robots.txt file to ensure that you are not blocking any pages that should be crawled and indexed by search engines. 2. Using incorrect syntax: The syntax of a robots.txt file is case-sensitive, and even a small mistake can have a significant impact on how search engine spiders interpret your directives. Always use the correct capitalization and syntax when creating your robots.txt file. 3. Neglecting to update your robots.txt file: As your real estate website evolves, you may add or remove pages or directories that should be crawled by search engines. It is important to regularly review and update your robots.txt file to reflect these changes. Failure to do so can result in search engine spiders continuing to crawl and index outdated or irrelevant pages. 4. Not testing your robots.txt file: Before uploading your robots.txt file to your real estate website, it is crucial to test it using the robots.txt testing tool provided by Google Search Console. This tool allows you to simulate how search engine spiders will interpret your robots.txt file and identify any potential issues or mistakes. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can ensure that your real estate website's robots.txt file is correctly configured and optimized for search engine crawlability. Testing and troubleshooting your robots.txt file After creating or making changes to your robots.txt file, it is essential to test it to ensure that it is working as intended. The robots.txt testing tool provided by Google Search Console is a valuable resource for testing and troubleshooting robots.txt files. Here's how you can use the tool: 1. Verify your website in Google Search Console: If you haven't already done so, verify your real estate website in Google Search Console. This will give you access to a range of tools and reports that can help you monitor and optimize your website's performance in Google search results. 2. Open this page: https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/robots-testing-tool and select the property you are working on. 3. In the robots.txt testing tool, enter the URL of your robots.txt file and click on "Test." The tool will then simulate how search engine spiders will interpret your robots.txt file and display the results. By using the robots.txt testing tool, you can identify any issues or mistakes in your robots.txt file and make the necessary adjustments to ensure that it is working correctly. The impact of robots.txt on SEO for real estate websites The robots.txt file plays a crucial role in the SEO strategy of real estate websites. By properly configuring your robots.txt file, you can control how search engines crawl and index your website, ensuring that only the most relevant and valuable pages are included in search engine results. An optimized robots.txt file can help to improve your website's search engine ranking by ensuring that search engines are focusing their resources on the most important pages of your real estate website. By preventing search engines from crawling irrelevant or duplicate content, you can help to eliminate potential penalties for duplicate content and improve the overall quality and relevance of your website's search engine results. Furthermore, robots.txt can help to protect your real estate website from malicious activity. By disallowing access to sensitive directories, such as your website's admin area or private user information, you can prevent unauthorized access and potential security breaches. It is important to note that while robots.txt can have a significant impact on your real estate website's SEO, it is just one piece of the puzzle. A comprehensive SEO strategy should also include other factors, such as high-quality content, user-friendly design, effective link-building, etc. Conclusion: Leveraging robots.txt for a successful real estate website In conclusion, robots.txt is a valuable tool for real estate websites. By properly configuring your robots.txt file, you can control how search engines crawl and index your website, improve your search engine ranking, and protect your website from malicious activity. In this article, we have provided a comprehensive guide to robots.txt for real estate websites. We explained what robots.txt is, how it works, and how to use it to control how search engines crawl your website. We also covered common robots.txt mistakes to avoid and provided tips for troubleshooting robots.txt issues. By following the best practices outlined in this article, you can optimize your real estate website's robots.txt file for search engine crawlability and visibility, helping you to improve your website's SEO and protect it from harm. Remember, robots.txt is just one piece of the SEO puzzle, and it should be used in conjunction with other SEO strategies to achieve the best results for your real estate website. To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.

How to Personalize Real Estate Agent Websites for Brand Building
With how saturated the real estate market is, how do you stand out? Through website personalization. Learn how to build a powerful brand that resonates with your target audience and can convert leads with the detailed guide below. About Me/Us Page Your website's "About Me/Us" page has a huge potential to captivate potential clients, so don't treat it as a resume by just listing your professional qualifications. Transform it into a page that tells a compelling narrative of your unique journey, experiences, and values. Put a personal touch on your professional achievements and make yourself trustworthy and relatable. We also encourage you to incorporate multimedia elements such as videos and infographics to make your page more engaging. Sprinkman Real Estate’s personalized 'About Us' page. Leveraging Testimonials Unbiased and authentic reviews from previous clients effectively build your credibility and influence potential clients to work with you. Make sure to display testimonials that showcase your services, expertise, and how you were instrumental in solving your client's challenges. Furthermore, feature testimonials on your homepage for maximum exposure, and remember to regularly request feedback to keep your posted reviews current. Showcase Community Expertise As a real estate agent, you're not just selling a home; you're also selling the community. It is crucial to show your in-depth knowledge of the area so potential buyers can trust you and you can set yourself apart from competitors. Create dedicated blog posts for each community you service, and highlight their unique features. It is also beneficial to collaborate with local businesses and organizations to form joint promotions, and to share your past clients' successful home searching stories. Pro tip: use local SEO to make it easier for your target audience to find your community-centered content. Provide Valuable Resources Remember, your website isn't just a place to showcase your listings, it should also offer valuable resources to benefit your site visitors. Tools like mortgage calculators, market reports, and home evaluation guides can keep your potential clients engaged and encourage them to contact you for your service. This strategy can also help you build your email list when you offer downloadable resources in return for visitors' subscriptions. Additionally, you can collaborate with industry experts to create the guides or reports. Fresh and High-Quality Content To stay relevant, your website needs fresh and updated content. Use a content calendar to track your content and plan your future posts. For added excitement and a new perspective, you can collaborate with industry experts and ask them to guest write for your blog. Don't forget to also engage your viewers by encouraging them to comment and discuss. Regarding content, it's important to note that quality trumps quantity. Optimize your content for SEO to attract organic traffic and to ensure that your posts are relevant to your target audience. Your content should provide value and be crafted with your users' intent in mind. Join the REW forums if you want to stay updated with the latest SEO trends. Lang Realty showcasing a high-quality and fresh listing page. Technical Aspect Content may be the soul of your website, but the technical side is still crucial to your success. As a real estate professional, you need IDX integration to directly show MLS listings on your website. Always provide the best user experience and fast page load speed to reduce bounce rate. Moreover, your website must be mobile-optimized and regularly backed up to prevent data loss. Conclusion To be an industry leader, your website needs to constantly evolve and match your audience's needs. Keep in mind that relationships matter, and your website is the platform that will connect you to people. By incorporating personal touches to your website, you're setting yourself apart from the competition and providing unparalleled value. Don't hesitate to contact Real Estate Webmasters if you need a custom and personalized website built just for you. This is a shortened version of a blog article previously published on the Real Estate Webmasters website. Thank you to Real Estate Webmasters for sponsoring this article on RE Technology! Read more from Real Estate Webmasters Want to Get More Quality Leads? Use Client Feedback to Refine Your Website 24 tips for analyzing a competitor's real estate SEO strategy Flavin Realty rebuilds their website with Real Estate Webmasters: Inside the project

Monitoring Your Keyword Rankings
Thank you to Real Estate Webmasters for sponsoring this article on RE Technology: Understanding the power of SEO and keyword rankings is essential to stand out in the competitive real estate landscape. As more Realtors and potential buyers shift their searches online, mastering SEO is not just an option but a necessity. The top spot on search engine results pages trumps a prime billboard location, and being relegated to the bottom means less views on your property listings. Basics of Keyword Rankings Keyword ranking is part of search engine optimization (SEO), and it serves as a guide to the most relevant content based on users' search queries. It determines your search engine result pages (SERP) position, so it is also best to keep track of algorithm changes to maintain your ranking. When choosing keywords, always consider your target audience. Think about the terms and words they're most likely using in their searches and incorporate those in your final selection. Furthermore, refrain from using generic terms like "house for sale," and opt for long-tail keywords like "4-bedroom homes in [specific location]" or "lakefront houses in [city]." Tools for Keyword Ranking Monitoring tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics can be used to analyze your keyword performance and gain valuable data on keyword rankings, click-through rates, and user behavior. Google Trends, on the other hand, is helpful for insights regarding the amount of times your keyword was searched in a year. SEO audits, tracking, and constant adjustments are also essential for sustained success. Conclusion In conclusion, the Real Estate industry has drastically evolved and is now about visibility, relevance, and ranking. By focusing on SEO and keyword ranking, you position your business at the forefront of your client's minds and, ultimately, for success. You can contact Real Estate Webmasters if you're interested in getting professional help to elevate your online presence. This is a condensed version of a blog originally published on Real Estate Webmasters' website.

How to Use ChatGPT for Real Estate Community Page Content
In the bustling world of real estate, it's no longer enough to simply showcase property listings on your website. For real estate agents and brokers seeking to stand out from the crowd and compete against the giants of the industry, a shift in strategy is needed. Providing comprehensive community information within your website's community pages can be a game changer. This approach not only differentiates your website from competitors, but also positions you as a local expert about the communities you serve. By educating buyers and building trust, you're not just attracting site visitors, but creating lasting client relationships. This is the age of information, where knowledge isn't just power – it's a key to unlocking potential business opportunities. How AI Can Help Artificial intelligence (AI), especially models like ChatGPT, is revolutionizing the way we create and consume content, and the real estate industry is no exception. With their ability to process vast amounts of information and generate engaging, informative, and unique content, these AI tools can greatly enhance the community pages on real estate websites. Why? Because AI and ChatGPT are incredibly effective at transforming raw data into coherent and engaging narratives. Imagine feeding the AI a list of community features – parks, schools, local businesses, crime rates, and more. The AI can then use this data to produce comprehensive content that not only informs potential buyers about the community but does so in a way that is engaging and easy to understand. Moreover, using AI and ChatGPT for content creation doesn't require any technical expertise. There are plenty of user-friendly platforms available that make it easy for anyone to get started. You simply input your requirements, and the AI does the rest, saving you time and effort. In essence, by leveraging AI and ChatGPT, real estate professionals can provide their clients with valuable local knowledge, differentiate themselves from competitors and, ultimately, transform website visitors into potential clients. It's a powerful tool that's changing the face of real estate marketing, and you don't need to be a tech wizard to use it! Watch and Learn: Producing Community Page Content With AI We recently held a webinar with a special guest host, Michael Thorne of TMB Real Estate, in the Vancouver, BC area. Michael is well-versed in using AI and ChatGPT. In this webinar, you'll hear his story about why he decided to add custom content to the community pages on his team's website, and how incredibly fast and easy it was using ChatGPT. Michael also touched on the importance of adopting AI for everything you do to work far more efficiently, outsmart your competition, and have more personal time for your life outside of work. And who wouldn't like that? ChatGPT: Getting Started If you're new to ChatGPT, you'll find plenty of resources online for help and tips. Here are a couple of essentials: ChatGPT website – Free accounts are currently offered and the premium version offers more features for $20/month. How To Write ChatGPT Prompts To Get The Best Results – This article from Search Engine Journal explains how to get better results from your own ChatGPT prompts. To view the original article, visit the iHomeFinder blog.

24 tips for analyzing a competitor's real estate SEO strategy
In today's digital age, the real estate sector is undergoing significant changes, and SEO plays a pivotal role in ensuring a real estate business's online success. To stay ahead, it's crucial to understand and evaluate your competitors' SEO strategies. This blog is a summary of the full version written on Real Estate Webmasters' blog page. Identifying Your Competitors Knowing who you're up against is the first step in a competitive SEO analysis. Define Your Keywords: Begin by identifying SEO keywords relevant to your real estate business. For instance, a Chicago-based agent might focus on "Chicago real estate" or "homes for sale in Chicago," among other keywords. Run a Search: Search these keywords online. The top five results are typically your main competitors. Broaden Your Search: Use varied keywords to discover more competitors. Use Tools: Tools like Ahrefs and SEMRush offer insights into your online competitors and other valuable data. With the right tools and approach, you can pinpoint your main competitors and set the stage for deeper analysis. Analyzing Your Competitors' Keyword Strategy Keywords are the backbone of SEO, and understanding your competitor's approach can offer valuable insights. Keyword Overview: Tools like Ahrefs or Moz can help identify the keywords your competitors rank for. High-Value Keywords: Focus on high-volume, low-competition keywords your competitors rank for. Long-Tail Keywords: These are less competitive and can be easier to rank for. Keyword Placement: Observe keyword placements on competitor sites for potential opportunities. By studying your competitors' keyword strategies, you can identify opportunities or gaps in your own approach. Investigating Competitors' On-Page SEO Tactics On-page SEO elements play a crucial role in how a website ranks in search results. Title Tags and Meta Descriptions: Check how competitors use keywords in these areas. URL Structure: Good SEO often involves clear, concise URLs with keywords. Content Quality: Quality content is vital for ranking. Internal Linking: Observe how competitors link their pages throughout their websites. Images and Alt Text: Images offer another chance to improve SEO. A comprehensive understanding of your competitors' on-page tactics can guide you in optimizing your site for better search engine performance. Analyzing Competitors' Content Marketing Strategy Quality content drives SEO success, and understanding your competitors' content approach can be enlightening. Review Their Blog: Check the frequency and quality of competitor blog posts. Analyze Their Use of Multimedia: Multimedia can enhance engagement and SEO. Observe Their Content Lengths: Longer content tends to rank better — to a degree; highly optimized blog posts are at least 500 words for blogs you want to rank well. By evaluating your competitors' content strategies, you can craft a unique and effective content plan for your own business. Reviewing Your Competitors' Social Media Influence While not a direct SEO ranking factor, a strong social media presence can indirectly boost your online visibility. Assess Their Presence: Identify platforms they're active on, and what their engagement levels are like. Identify Shared Content: Observe the type of content they share. By gauging your competitors' social media influence, you can strategize your own efforts to complement your SEO strategy. Interpreting the Data: What Does it All Mean? Gathering data is just the beginning; the real value lies in its interpretation. Look for Patterns: Common keywords among competitors can be valuable. Spot Opportunities: Identify where competitors excel or lack. Evaluate Trends: Continually reassess competitor strategies for changes. By understanding and interpreting data from your competitor analysis, you can make informed strategic decisions about your own SEO efforts. Benchmarking Your Real Estate SEO Strategy To truly understand your SEO performance, it's essential to benchmark your efforts against your competitors. Ranking Comparison: Use tools to compare keyword rankings with competitors. Backlink Analysis: Compare the quality of backlinks to your competitors. Speed and Mobile Optimization: Evaluate your site's speed and mobile-friendliness — some tools you can use are GT Metrix and Page Speed Insights. Benchmarking provides a clear picture of where you stand, highlighting areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. Turning Analysis into Action Understanding your competitors' SEO strategies is about leveraging that knowledge to your benefit. It's about identifying gaps in their efforts, finding opportunities in yours, and leveraging new knowledge about SEO — like that found in Real Estate Webmasters' SEO forum. The aim is not to mimic but to surpass your competitors.

Friday Freebie: The Power of Google and Your Online Reputation
Google — it's the gateway to your real estate business. Prospective clients use it to not only find a real estate agent, but to vet the service you provide via online reviews and your overall online footprint. How easily can real estate leads find you — and when they do find you, what kind of impression awaits them? If your online presence needs a boost or a little polish, never fear! In this week's Friday Freebie, we're highlighting a free on-demand webinar from NAR that will help you learn everything you need to know about taking your internet presence to the next level. Read on to learn more! Free on-demand webinar, courtesy of NAR's top level domains .realtor™ and .realestate "The Power of Google and Your Online Reputation" is brought to you by 2023 NAR Reach partner REALGrader and .realtor™ .realestate, and is currently available free to NAR members. Watch this webinar now to learn the biggest mistakes agents are making on Google and their real estate profiles. You'll discover how to get more reviews to build your online reputation, how to win more leads — and the easiest way to get it all done. Here's what you'll learn: Best practices to optimize your digital presence The biggest mistakes top producers are making How to avoid making the same mistakes Ready to make your online reputation stronger than ever? Watch NAR's The Power of Google and Your Online Reputation webinar now!

Friday Freebie: .realtor Website for One Year
There are over two dozen website domain extensions that are related to real estate, but today we're only going to talk about one. Why? Because it's available free for one year to all NAR members, that's why. In this week's Friday Freebie, find out how to get a free .realtor™ web address and a website. Read on to learn more! Free .realtor™ website for one year, courtesy of NAR Dot com alternatives are a great way to differentiate yourself from the competition. And with a well chosen domain name, you can potentially earn your website a little extra SEO and branding power, too. Try it out for yourself — the National Association of REALTORS® is offering all NAR members a .realtor™ website domain that's free for one year. You'll also get a lead generating website that's absolutely free as long as you own your web address. Let the world know you're a REALTOR® and set yourself apart from the .COMpetition. Your new .realtor™ website will: Instantly show you're a REALTOR® Build your personal brand Get you found faster Your website will be Google optimized for search, and loaded with pre-written content. You'll be up and running with a beautiful website in minutes! (Curious? View a demo site here.) Set yourself apart with a FREE .realtor™ website. Get started now!

How Alt Text Can Improve Real Estate SEO
Alt text, also known as "alternative text," is a brief description that can be added to an image on a webpage to describe its content. By providing descriptive alt text with relevant keywords for your real estate website, you can improve your chances of appearing in image search results for your target audience. This means that potential customers looking for real estate properties in your area are more likely to find your images in their search results. When search engines crawl a web page, they cannot "see" images the way humans can. Therefore, search engines rely on alt text to understand what the image is about and how it relates to the webpage's content. Including relevant keywords in your alt text can help search engines understand the content of your images and improve your search engine rankings. For example, if you are showcasing a property for sale, including keywords such as "real estate," "property for sale," and the location of the property in the alt text can help search engines understand the context of the image. Moreover, alt text plays a crucial role in image search results. Search engines use alt text to categorize and rank images in image search results. By providing accurate and relevant alt text for the images on a webpage, search engines can better understand the context of the page and how it should be ranked in search results. This can lead to improved visibility and traffic to the webpage, ultimately contributing to the SEO of the site. Tips for Writing SEO-Friendly Alt Text for Your Property Images Be Accurate: Alt text should be descriptive and accurately reflect what is shown in the image. Use keywords related to the property, such as the location, type of property, and important features. Avoid using generic or vague descriptions like "image" or "photo." Keep it concise: Alt text should be short and to the point. This not only makes it easier for users to read, but also helps search engines understand the context of the image more quickly. Avoid keyword stuffing: While it's important to include relevant keywords in your alt text, avoid stuffing it with too many keywords. This can be seen as spammy and hurt your SEO efforts. Use keywords in a natural, contextual way. Use hyphens or underscores: When writing alt text, separate words with hyphens or underscores instead of spaces. This makes it easier for search engines to read and understand the text. Don't use duplicate alt text: Avoid using the same alt text for multiple images on your website. Each image should have its own unique alt text that accurately describes the content of the image. To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.

The Benefits of Notification Systems on Real Estate Websites
Notification systems are automated tools that allow real estate websites to notify clients about newly listed properties that match their preferences. With the help of an auto-notification system, clients can be kept up-to-date on new listings, price drops, and other updates in real-time. In this article, we will explore the benefits of having notification systems on real estate websites and how they can help improve customer experience. Real estate website notifications can provide numerous benefits for your customers: 1. Keeps Your Customers Informed With notification systems, clients can specify their search criteria, and the system will automatically notify them when a property that matches their requirements is listed. This helps clients focus on properties that are relevant to their needs. 2. Boosts Engagement Notification systems help to keep clients engaged with the real estate website. By providing clients with relevant updates, they are more likely to visit the website frequently, increasing engagement levels. This, in turn, helps real estate agents to convert more leads into sales. 3. Increases Customer Satisfaction Notification systems can improve customer satisfaction levels by keeping clients informed about new listings. Clients feel more involved in the buying process and are more likely to trust the agent. This, in turn, can lead to positive reviews, referrals, and repeat business. 4. Improves Conversion Rates Notification systems can improve conversion rates for real estate websites by enhancing the customer experience. By understanding clients preferences, agents can build stronger relationships with their audience, which helps to build trust between the agent and the client. As a result, clients are more likely to make a purchase, and agents can increase their chances of closing a deal. To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.

How to Migrate Your Website Hosting Without Affecting SEO
As your real estate website grows, it may be necessary to migrate it at some point. Unfortunately, the process of migrating your website to another host is not easy. It takes a great deal of thought and consideration to migrate your website effectively. For example, suppose you have invested significant time and effort into search engine optimization. In that case, you may be concerned that your efforts would be wasted if you transfer web hosting providers. Migration, while challenging, has the potential to open up new prospects while resolving issues that you were experiencing with your previous hosting platform, if carried out correctly. In today's article, we will focus on how you can migrate your website host without losing SEO value. When it comes to SEO, web hosting is significant since it influences crucial factors such as the speed at which your site loads and up and downtimes. Here are the three main changes involved when migrating your web host and how they affect SEO: Domain change Nameserver change, and Web host change Choose the Right Real Estate Hosting Provider You should not have to worry about your real estate SEO and search engine rankings if you migrate your web hosts the right way. You may want to switch web hosts to receive better service. Your real estate website will be hosted on entirely new servers, which will result in a change in the IP address of your website. If your new web host has a skilled support team, you shouldn't have to be concerned about losing traffic or experiencing substantial downtime during your transition. Before choosing a host, ensure that it meets all of your requirements. You can, for example, look at the following features: Low downtime Server bandwidth Excellent documentation and technical support The technical specifications of the server Changing Nameservers This is perhaps the most straightforward part of the website migration, but it can significantly impact your real estate SEO. If you simply change your nameservers, it is unlikely that you will see any changes in your search engine rankings. Furthermore, you can change your nameservers in minutes. However, using an effective hosting provider to streamline the process is vital. Domain Change If you change your domain name, you should place permanent redirects, also known as 301 redirect, on your website's old pages. This will route your users to the new domain name when visiting the old one. The 301 redirects in web development indicate a permanent move, and 302 redirects let Google know the move is not permanent. These are the commonly used types of redirects. However, a 301 redirect is used for most domain changes since it is a permanent move. Other Factors You Should Consider When Migrating Your Real Estate Website Carefully Choose a Real Estate Server Location Geographical advantage can be crucial in deciding your real estate website SEO. For example, if you were targeting the United States before relocating and using a server in the area, you'll need to find a similar hosting provider in terms of location. You should be familiar with the server on which you will host your real estate website. In addition to impacting your SEO rankings, your server location affects your target audience. Create Backup Make a comprehensive backup of your website before beginning the migration process. You can use plug-ins for effective backup. This step will ensure your return to the old real estate website if something goes wrong. Conclusion Follow these steps carefully to ensure that you don't damage your SEO while migrating your real estate website. Ideally, it should not affect your search engine optimization. However, to avoid confusion, it is advisable to maintain control of the old site for at least five months to ensure that the transition is done properly. Nevertheless, always use web developers to execute the migration effectively. To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.

The Importance of Domain Name for Your Real Estate Website
Let's talk about the importance of a domain name for your real estate website and how the right domain name can help improve your website traffic and SEO ranking. If you're interested in learning more, keep reading! Why Are Domain Names So Important for Your Real Estate Website? Your domain name is a vital part of your real estate website as it allows people to find your company online. It also plays a significant factor in driving more potential clients to your website and increasing your lead generation. Having the right domain name can help drive more traffic to your real estate website and increase your ranking on search engines. Additionally, it represents your company and adds credibility to your business, making your customers more likely to trust your services. Investing in a domain name streamlines migration, which means that you will be free to switch web hosts or change things up without it harming your SEO or ranking. How to Pick the Right Domain Name for Your Real Estate Website To ensure that you have the right domain name, you must consider the following: Keep the Name Short and Professional Something to consider is keeping your domain name short and professional. The key is to make it possible for your clients to easily remember your domain name. By making it short and professional, people are more likely to remember it. In addition, the name should indicate what you are offering on your website. However, the content of your real estate website still plays a significant role in how search engines rank you. It's not only about keywords but about choosing names that will connect you to your target audience. With a short and powerful domain name, you can make a more lasting impression on your clients. Pick a Unique Name Pick a unique domain name and not just go with your agent name. Unless you are well known in the industry, people are less likely to recognize your name, so it is better to use highly searched keywords in your domain name to make it more recognizable on Google and other search engines. At the same time, try to make it unique and professional to leave a lasting impression. Try to match your domain with your company name as it reinforces your brand and makes it easier for your customers to remember you. It will also help your customers pass it along to friends and help expand your business through referrals. Take Control of Your Domain Extensions To protect your company, make sure to purchase and take control of all the widely used extensions of your domain name, such as .com, .org, and .net. This will prevent your domain name from being resold online with a different extension. It can also help you outrank your competitors on search engine results by controlling over variations of your domain name. Other Things to Take Into Consideration Lastly, one more thing to take into consideration: Do NOT use "Realtor" in your domain name. Only the members of the NAR are authorized to use the Realtor mark to indicate their NAR membership. However, NAR members can purchase domain names with a .Realtor extension, e.g. www.agentname.realtor. To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.

Tips for Effective Calls-to-Action on a Real Estate Website
So you've built your real estate website, but it's seemingly not converting enough leads for you. There are various reasons that could trigger this undesired response. In case you've overlooked the possibility of adding calls to action throughout your website, let's discuss how you can fix that right away. What Is a CTA? First, we'll explain what a CTA (call to action) is and why it is important. The phrase explains itself: "call to action!" A call to action is an attention-grabber and the first step in the client's engagement with your site. Whether you were interested in learning more about a service or registered on a website through a bright pink colored button that said "Register today!" we've all seen (and clicked) on a call to action before. It sounds pretty simple, but knowing how to effectively use these calls to action allows you to convert more leads through your website. As a real estate agent, you can use a CTA to guide your potential leads into various actions like: Signing up for a newsletter Scheduling an appointment Receiving a home valuation In short, calls to action are a great way to engage your leads and introduce them to your retention funnel. What Should Your CTA Look Like? Now that you understand why you need a CTA in the first place, know that not all CTAs will convert. A good CTA is visually inviting. This can be done by using suitable color schemes and ensuring that the CTA is visible. The text needs to be as straightforward as possible and offer value to the target audience. Calls to action can also appear in different varieties, and luckily, this gives you room to target various sections of the page in more visually engaging ways. How Do You Use a CTA? You're getting closer to finally adding your most vital source of lead conversion to your website. Now the question is: How should you use a CTA on your website? The reason why it is vital to answer this question is that too many calls for action can risk confusing your clients. The most popular advice is to use only one CTA upfront on your landing pages as this provides clear focus and direction for the client. It's also best to focus on one CTA per page if your page is short; for longer pages, the same CTA can be repeated up to three times. Another rule is to make sure that the CTA is relevant to the content of the page. For example, if you publish a home-seller guide, the lead reading the guide would probably be more interested to move forward with a home valuation than an email update for new listings. Final Summary Each practice of a real estate agent is different, therefore there is no go-to catchphrase for all. Knowing the process of using calls to action to your advantage is a great way for you to get started. And drafting ideas on what you can offer your potential clients, whether it's a home loan or an end-of-the-year sale, goes a long way to get your brand ahead of the competition. To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.

Microblogging on Real Estate Websites
If you Google "homes for sale" in any mainstream city, chances are high the top 10 search results page will return Zillow, Realtor.com, Movoto, Redfin, or a national real estate franchise. Unless you have had a dynamic website domain for 15 to 20 years, it's highly unlikely your website will pop onto the top 10 search page unless you have a large paid advertising budget with Google Ads. So, how can you compete with the larger competition and get in front of new leads? Beyond creating community pages with saved links and creating posts and videos about your listing ahead of MLS syndication, you can promote your brand and establish expertise and credibility as a real estate professional by publishing content on your website in the form of a blog—specifically a micro blog that highlights and showcases the benefits of buying a home and living in a specific neighborhood or community. An effective and affordable long-term strategy for your real estate business, micro blog posts should dig deeper into the reasons why a certain community or neighborhood is attractive. Is crime low? Are schools receiving high report cards? Are homes close to lakes, parks, rivers, restaurants, businesses, golf courses, etc.? Embedding Useful Content Consider homes in Nashua, NH that share a property line with the Sky Meadow Country Club. In addition to feature photos and key details, the listing agent embedded a YouTube video originally published by the Country Club with aerial drone views of the golf course into a micro blog post highlighting the benefits of living so close to the putting greens. Below the text and the video is a center point map and IDX widget with links to the individual properties. The combination of highlighting benefits, embedding maps and videos, and linking directly to featured properties is a great way to make your page more search engine friendly. Another way to keep a site fresh with current and relevant content is to embed an RSS feed to another site. In this example, an IDX widget has been added to the top of a page featuring homes in the Nashua School District followed by an RSS feed that pulls in information published by Nashua.edu. As new content is published by the school district, the stories automatically update on the site. Writing What People Want to Read Without a specific property address, people typically search for homes for a specific area or neighborhood or community using search terms like "waterfront condos for sale in Palm Beach County." If you are using a CMS like WordPress, you can analyze how much visitor traffic your site is experiencing through Google or Bing and add to or adjust the content to highlight certain markets or homes based on what pages people are clicking on and reading. Writing What People Like to Read You can also micro blog about properties of notoriety, properties that are not necessarily one of your active listings. For example, if you are in Miami or LA, a property of notoriety could be related to a celebrity of some kind or a historically significant building. Or perhaps the property is unique in its construction, architectural style, or design. Frank Sinatra's Palm Desert home or Elvis Presley's honeymoon home, for example. As long as the content you write is original, you add a disclaimer to the bottom, and add a link back to the listing agent, the story may bring extra visitors (and potentially a new lead) to your site. Be sure to include the property address and a link that says, "Click here for more pictures" that points to the syndicated property page directly through the MLS feed on your own website. Oftentimes your post can rank higher than the listing agent's own link on a Google search. Learning More If setting up a micro blog on your real estate website sounds appealing to you, but you don't have the bandwidth to set everything up, consider working with IDX Broker Developer Partner. For more information on optimizing your real estate website using community pages, saved searches, duplicate content, micro blogging, and other essential digital marketing practices, watch the Content is King recorded webinar through the Elm Street Technology on-demand educational academy. To view the original article, visit the IDX Broker blog.

Establishing Digital Expertise, Authority, and Trust (EAT)
Before the evolution of real estate websites, smartphone apps, and multimedia messaging services, agents and brokers were the keepers and gatekeepers of listing data. Today, Realtors use real estate websites to share this information, generate leads, and communicate other useful information about their local communities and the home buying and selling processes. But how do you beat the competition when it comes to a Google search? It turns out, the experience you offer your clients can be easily transferred to your digital marketing strategy. As cliché as it may sound, remember the acronym EAT any time you add new information or make updates to your website or social media messaging. EAT stands for Expertise, Authority, and Trust and strategy built out over time. Expertise Expertise is evaluated at the content-level. Google SEO rewards subject matter experts who write authentic, original content in their subject matter areas. You know the ins and outs of the real estate industry. Write about what you know. Authority Authority is reputation based. When people leave online reviews on sites like Google Business, G2, Capterra, you grow your authority. Authority can also be given in the form of inbound links from news stories and other high-authority sites within the same (or complementary) industry. Trust As in real life, trust is about legitimacy, transparency, and accuracy. Trusted sites are ones that strive to have up-to-date and accurate content, use SSL (secure) certificates, and provide contact information and disclosures when using affiliate links and cookies used for tracking user behavior. SEO The next step in the EAT strategy is to monitor your Google Analytics and Google Search Console accounts to monitor who is coming to your site, how long they are staying for, what they are reading, and how they are accessing the information (desktop, tablet, smartphone). You can review demographics such as age, gender, and location to better adjust your content and know what might be important to them. Match your content with the selling season and write ahead of time (so the information is there when the searching begins). And, of course, we recommend using a CRM to manage leads, keep-in-touch and stay organized to the needs and preferences of your customer base. To view the original article, visit the IXACT Contact blog.

ADA and Its Implications for Real Estate Websites
The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law in 1990, and it has provided a series of rights for folks with accessibility requirements. Also, it has reshaped how businesses offer services to the public. Since 2010, when most businesses started to provide major services on the web, the focus has shifted a bit towards the online world. According to the WCAG 2.0 AA, websites that provide services to the public are considered places of public accommodation and are obliged to provide accessible services to people with all ranges of abilities. To make things more complicated, the Department of Justice has yet to offer clear guidelines on how online businesses should proceed with the ADA. Nevertheless, WCAG has been used as a source of measures for compliance with the ADA. Are Real Estate Websites Subject to ADA? Despite the lack of clear specifications by the DOJ, the consensus suggests that real estate websites offer products and services that are indeed aimed at the general public, and they must provide accessible features or be subjected to litigation. So the answer to this question is yes. If you stick around, I will provide some suggestions to help you start getting a hold of these issues. We begin with the most common shortcomings of real estate websites. What Are Common Issues with ADA Compliance for Real Estate Websites? As with any other website that interacts with the public, real estate websites should make sure that their web and mobile services are easy to use for people with disabilities. Here are some of the most common issues with websites in this regard: The website is not easy to navigate. Folks with disabilities cannot use their specific tools like screen reading, zooming, etc. to interact with the website. Videos do not have closed captions or transcriptions, and folks with visual impairments are unable to access this form of content. Not enough time is considered for the disabled to take necessary actions on the website. Not enough guidance is provided on how to take actions, and folks with disabilities might inadvertently take unwanted actions. What Can I Do to Avoid Litigations with Regard to Website Accessibility? There are so many things you can do to avoid being the next subject of a web accessibility lawsuit. Here are some actions to start with: Take Actions Now Don't wait for an official announcement or guidelines by the DOJ for web accessibility. Work on improving the accessibility features today. Create an Action Plan Based on the results of your assessment, or that of an expert service provider, you must create an action plan and start implementing what is necessary to maintain compliance with the ADA. Stay Updated with the Recommendations WCAG is subject to occasional updates and further recommendations. Make sure you are familiar with its guidelines, and check it every now and then. Add an Accessibility Notice on Your Website While you are assessing and taking actions, you can include a notice with regards to accessibility features of your website. This shows you care about the issue of accessibility, and you are dedicated to equal access for all members of the society. NAR has implemented this statement on their website, and you can freely use it on your website. Bottom Line Web accessibility is an issue you cannot ignore, so make sure you pay enough attention to it and consider that as part of your business growth online. To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.

9 Web Content Ideas for Real Estate Agents
If you are searching for content ideas for your real estate website or thinking of ways to spice up your blog, we've got you covered. In this article, we will list all the things you should include on your real estate website. Listings A professional real estate website includes IDX listings and a detailed description of your properties for sale. For example, include the number of bedrooms, the houses' interior and exterior appearance, and much more. Don't forget to add your contact information so that you can make it easy for your potential client to contact you. News Updates A good website should have a page dedicated to the latest trends and news in the real estate marketplace. If you want to attract more clients, post blogs about the latest news updates in the real estate market. Keep your audience engaged and up to date on all things real estate so that you can keep them coming back for more. Blog Posts Speaking of blogs, a significant aspect of having an informative website is dedicating time to your blog posts. You'll be surprised at how impactful blogging can be for your real estate business. Blogging helps you connect with your existing and prospective clients through written content. It also helps you build more trust with your clients and better your company's overall image. With a high-quality blog, you are on your way to increasing your website traffic and lead generation, as well as showcasing your expertise and knowledge. Home Tours and Guides Home tours have been immensely popular for years, but showcasing your home tour in an artificial 3D virtual environment will surely drive more traffic to your website. By using 3D virtual tours, your clients can have a unique experience while touring your property directly on your website. With the help of VR, a.k.a. virtual reality, your clients can easily take tours of your property in the comfort of their own homes, view everything at their speed and make adjustments based on their preferences. Clients can also take advantage of VR benefits by sampling ideas before committing to decisions. Client Reviews and Testimonials By posting your clients' reviews and testimonials, you provide your customers with information about your company. For example, what did your past customers like most about your services, or what you could have improved on? Testimonials give your clients a sense of comfort knowing that they are in trusted hands. So make sure that you include them to give your clients a better understanding of your work. Events It's always a good idea to include a page of upcoming events in your city. For instance, upcoming open houses, community events like festivals, or even city council meetings. You can also include videos and photos of these events for your audience to get a glimpse of what these events are like. Partnerships Another great addition to your real estate website is to dedicate a page to partners in your business. Share stories with your partners and dedicate a page to your shared work achievements. This shows that your company is willing to expand its horizons and form partnerships with those that share the same values. About Page The about page is an important addition to your real estate website. Why? Because it adds a hint of personality to your online presence. It gives your audience a peek into your personal life. Whether the website is personal or for your brokerage, it's always good to include an about page where your clients can get to know more about you and your real estate practice. A good website should include information about your business—the work you do and your expertise, how many years of experience you have in real estate, your core values and mission. Contact Page Last but not least, have a contact information page. We recommend that you have your phone number at the top of your home page so that your clients can easily reach you. Still, a separate page dedicated to your contact information is also very useful. Ensure that your contact page includes all the necessary information such as your email, phone number, location, etc. The more accessible it is for your clients to connect with you, the better the chances that they weill consider you as their primary choice. To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.

4 Tips to Increase SEO for Real Estate Agents
Time and time again, we've mentioned how difficult it is to stand out in the world of real estate. Computers have replaced flyers, digital ads have replaced newspaper ads, and websites play a huge factor in the homebuying process. In fact, according to NAR, in 1981, 22 percent of homebuyers read the newspaper to find a home. Fast forward to 2021, 41 percent looked for properties online first. This is only growing and growing. A home buyer's trust in a real estate agent is paramount. In 2021, NAR reported that 87 percent of home buyers worked with an agent to find their home. So, how do you stand out in the real estate world and how do you increase your SEO as a real estate agent? Keep reading. First of all, what is SEO? For all of those who come here with no prior knowledge of what SEO is, it stands for Search Engine Optimization. It is the process of optimizing your website to get basic, organic, un-paid traffic. This is a fancy way of basically saying to get more visitors on your website. As simple as it may sound, it has to be handled with care and dealt with in a clever way. So, we've done the work for you. Here are four tips to increasing SEO as a real estate agent. 1. Your Website Needs to Be Mobile-Friendly and Responsive to Increase SEO Simply put, if you don't have a mobile-friendly website, forget about getting most of your leads. Potential home buyers, or any website visitors for that matter, will be more inclined to look at your website on their phone or tablet rather than on a desktop or laptop. Most people are on the go these days and are looking for their potential real estate agent while at work or in line at the grocery store. Your website should also be responsive because your prospects wont have to adjust their screens to look at your site. The website will automatically be set up to view on a smart device. Your website should also have the ability to capture leads automatically so that you don't have to worry about that aspect. 2. Create a Real Estate Blog Once your real estate agent website comes with a blog, it adds credibility to you, as a trustworthy real estate agent. As a potential home buyer, would you want to go on a website of a real estate agent and find that you see nothing personal? No, you wouldn't. You would feel overwhelmed because, prior to meeting them, you would feel overwhelmed and nervous that they would be too pushy or not understand your needs or requirements. Having a blog on your website will also increase your chances of ranking on search engines. Having a blog with neat, real estate articles relevant to your visitors will also pop up on Google, which will also increase the chances of your website appearing on search results. 3. Promote Your Website through Local SEO According to an article published by Blue Corona, having your real estate website targeting your local geographic area makes a difference. Blue Corona states that more than half of your audience is searching for a home on their mobile device, which means you need to focus on your local SEO tactics. A good example of this would be creating content that has keywords and search terms containing your city name. This will make the prospect more likely to come across your website during their search process. Even if you can get your past clients to write reviews that have your name and city, it is already increasing your local SEO by a longshot. Simple keywords and terms go a long way. Having localized content is also a bonus. Featuring local events, seminars, a map, and any other information relevant to your community will also help increase your organic viewership. 4. Videos and Photos Make a Difference The heading speaks for itself. Once you have professional looking photos and quality videos on your website, viewers are more attracted and are inclined to talk about you. According to Blue Corona, 70 percent of homeowners prefer to list with an agent who uses video marketing. Additionally, 89 percent of potential home buyers find it useful to have photos of listings. Keep in mind, these should be strategic as well. If you need help with photos and videos of your listings, read up on these tips from a previous blog of ours. Having sharp photos is a must. In fact, Blue Corona also reports that 44 percent of listings with crisp photos sell at or above list price. In Conclusion We just went over four tips to increasing your SEO as a real estate agent. If you didn't know what SEO was, we hope you came away with a better understanding of its true meaning. Yes, SEO is a marketing term, but you don't have to be in marketing to apply it to your business. Just by making a few strategic changes, you will already see the difference. Not only will you get more organic visitors to your website, but you will be able to turn leads into listings. On top of that, you will be the star of the show in your community. To view the original article, visit the IXACT Contact blog.

You Have an Online Reputation (In Case You Didn't Know)
Your real estate website is your digital first impression. Today's buyers are more likely to meet you online than through a showing or other face-to-face event. This is only growing more true as Millennials and Generation Z buyers enter the market. Technology is essential to the lifestyles of younger buyers. No matter whether you're a solo agent or work within a large brokerage, you already know you need a website. But is your website actually producing the business value you expect from it? For many in the industry, the answer is no. The website isn't making the strong first impression you want and deserve. When agents first get started, it's not out of the ordinary to post a simple website as soon as possible and hope for the best. But your website is more than just a brochure that introduces you. It draws the right people to your door and helps turn visitors into customers. Even if your website isn't doing much for you right now, it's never too late to change your strategy. Done right, your website has the potential to work for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even while you sleep. It is the key to growing your practice while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Your Website Tells People What to Expect from You – Is It Sending the Right Message? Your website communicates more than just what's on the page. Yes, visitors are looking through what you have to say about yourself and your business. But they are also reading between the lines, making decisions in seconds. They judge your digital brand based on your website's user experience. User experience is everything that impacts a person while they use a website, yours or anyone else's. It includes the look, feel, navigation, speed, ease of use, and how well the website helps someone to meet their needs or answer their questions. Some of these factors can be very subtle. Developers and designers spend thousands of hours figuring out how to deliver the best user experience for a given website. Luckily, because user experience incorporates so many different elements, there are always plenty of ways you can improve it — even if you don't have dazzling technical skills yourself. Let's look at some of the biggest elements that influence your digital reputation: Ease of Navigation The most important topics on your website should be reflected in the top navigation bar, where they only take one click to find. It's wise to avoid having any information that takes more than three clicks to reach. If you can't avoid having some "buried treasure," make sure your site has a good search function. Mobile-Friendliness An increasing number of people use a smartphone as their primary or even only method of going online. A truly mobile-friendly site is responsive, meaning it changes to fit the display size and inputs available for a smartphone or tablet user. Even older websites can often be made responsive in a few clicks. Professionalism What does it mean for a website to "look professional?" Professionalism is communicated by things that are easy to take for granted: The site has a consistent layout, color scheme, and fonts, relevant imagery is used, and everything is organized in a way that makes sense. Trust Markers "Trust markers" are things that help frame you as a credible and established expert. In real estate, the most important are seals and logos you're entitled to use as a member of a professional organization or holder of a recognized certification. Helpful, Informative Content Content is anything you publish with the goal of helping others make more informed decisions. Blogs and video are the most common forms of real estate content. They provide a reason to explore your website in detail. They can also help you capture traffic from relevant online searches. Information About You and Your Practice You are your most important brand asset — the star of the show. The best way to make an introduction is with a video message first-time visitors can use to learn about you. Answer their big questions: What makes you different? Who do you help and how? Easy Ways to Get in Contact When someone contacts you for the first time, seconds count. Make it easy for them to connect by phone, email, social media, or text. Alerts from your website can help you respond more quickly. Your Current Listings Last, but certainly not least, your listings should be reflected right on your own website. MLS gives you plenty of options to incorporate your active listings. When visitors can browse listings directly from your website, they are much more likely to reach out to you or subscribe to your email marketing list. To view the original article, visit the Delta Media Group blog.

Where Most Leads Come From -- and How You Can Cover Your Bases
Are you covering all of your bases with real estate lead generation? With so many different ways to generate leads, it can be easy to overlook some of the valuable, reliable tools that can help keep your pipeline stocked to the brim. Diversifying your strategy can help you reach a wider pool of potential clients and give you the confidence that you're leaving no stone unturned when it comes to generating leads. That's why it's so important to understand where most leads come from and how you can ensure that you're maximizing your lead generation opportunities. Start with Your Real Estate Website Your real estate website should be one of your best sources for leads online, but simply setting up a website isn't enough to guarantee success. For your website to become a lead-generation machine, it needs to provide a seamless experience with the right features and design elements. This is important both for attracting prospects to your website in the first place and turning them into qualified leads once they arrive. IDX Listing Integration - Many of the prospects who visit your website will be coming to look at listings first and foremost, so it's important to make that process as easy as possible for them. IDX listing integration makes it simple for prospects to search for homes in your markets, and those listings will be a key source of leads. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) - While SEO doesn't generate leads directly like some of the other items on our list, it's a critical factor in attracting traffic to your real estate website. Over time, SEO helps you achieve a higher search engine ranking, which leads directly to more traffic. And more traffic to your website ultimately means more leads. Real Estate Content - The content on your real estate website helps you build trust, establish your real estate expertise, and show prospects how you can help them achieve their goals. Whether it's in the form of video content, blog posts, or both, your content helps convince prospects to take the next step. Social Proof - Social proof in the form of reviews and testimonials is one of the key factors in the decision-making process of modern real estate prospects. Integrating social proof throughout key areas of your website is a must for maximizing your lead generation. Lead Capture Forms - Once a prospect has spent some time on your website and seen what you have to offer, the goal is to have them fill out a lead capture form. This is where they'll provide contact information, outline their real estate needs, and take the first key step toward becoming a client. Social Media Marketing and Relationship Building The biggest social media platforms continue to rank among the best sources of leads online, so it likely comes as no surprise that social media marketing is so popular in real estate. Whether you're showcasing listings on Instagram, building relationships on Facebook, or sharing your best video content on TikTok, building your social presence is a must for generating leads in 2022. Referrals and Your Personal/Professional Networks The most highly qualified leads often come from referrals, and referrals are still one of the most dependable sources of leads for your real estate business. For individual agents, those referrals can often come from your personal and professional networks, in addition to your current clients. Building and maintaining great relationships still goes a long way toward generating leads, no matter who you're trying to reach. Virtual Tours and Open Houses More than ever, buyers are choosing to tour homes from the comfort of their current location with the help of virtual open houses and showings. Just like their in-person counterparts, these tools are key sources of leads — and not just for buyers! When sellers see that you're promoting listings with the best modern tech, they'll be more likely to choose you as well. Social Media and Search Engine Advertising Building your social media presence and boosting the SEO on your real estate website are both well worth the effort. However, it also takes time to see results. Paid advertising on social media and search engines provides more immediate results as a source of leads. Paid advertising is great for boosting visibility while building up your online presence and for supplementing your other lead-generation efforts. Covering Your Bases for Lead Generation in 2022 Whether you're interested in opening new avenues of lead generation or optimizing your existing strategy, achieving your goals is so much easier when you have the right tools for the job. With the DeltaNET®6 all-in-one real estate solution, all of the tools, tech, and resources you need to generate leads are always at your fingertips. RE Technology readers can try DeltaNET®6 free for 30 days. To view the original article, visit the Delta Media Group blog.

Landing Pages: Your Secret Lead Conversion Weapon
In today's hyper-digital world, agents need a winning online presence to sustain a successful real estate business. The best IDX websites are user-friendly, attractive, and filled with fresh listings. But agents that want to take their websites to the next level to supercharge lead generation need to be leveraging custom landing pages. A landing page is a standalone page on your website. Think about your "About Us" page or each one of your online listings. Landing Pages Are Super Powerful Lead Generation Tools Besides giving your website more pages — which boosts your SEO performance since you're generating more searchable content — custom landing pages roll out the red carpet for leads. Landing pages allow for a more personalized experience when people visit your website. Landing pages offer something valuable to your website visitors in exchange for contact information. Creating landing pages gives agents the opportunity to include more contact forms and CTAs. While you're introducing a neighborhood that you service or highlight listings that are coming soon, you can prompt leads to submit their contact information to convert more online traffic into leads. 15 Examples of Landing Pages to Add to Your Site Home Valuation Page Neighborhood Guides Local Market Report First-Time Homebuyer Course (or eBook!) "Coming Soon" Listings Home Improvement Guides for Sellers Contact Information for Municipal Service Providers Credit Repair Program Seller Lead-Specific Page Encyclopedia of Real Estate Terms Blog Contact Client Reviews Buyer/Seller FAQ Agent Career Highlights Mortgage Information Guide Get creative with your selection of landing pages. This is your opportunity to directly speak with potential leads and show them why you should be their agent. Think about creative landing pages and content ideas that out-do what competing websites have to offer. More Landing Pages Means More Conversion Companies that create 30 or more landing pages get seven times more leads than those that use fewer than 10. #ProTip: Using videos on landing pages can improve conversion by 86%. When building your landing pages, include high-quality video content to accompany your text. These can be a visuals-only neighborhood tour or an agent-guided tour of the area. When sharing basic real estate advice and tips, agents can use video to introduce themselves to their clients. Recording short videos where you introduce yourself and discuss the topic of the landing page further can be a great way to create and share new content. You can also use these videos for your social media, blog, and email marketing campaigns. Landing Pages Are the Bridge Between Site Visitors and Leads A landing page is the final stop before a site visitor becomes a lead. With your robust marketing campaign, you're casting your net across a variety of channels — such as digital advertising, social media content, webinars, and billboards. You need those marketing efforts to drive lead traffic to a "landing spot," where you can get their contact information and make a superb first impression. [Source: Unbounce] How to Get Leads to Take the Leap: A Simple and Customized Experience When you finally drive leads to your landing page, how do you get them to engage with your page and ultimately submit their contact information? Here's a Marketing 101 Crash Course: The consumer holds the power. They can leave your site, or they can provide their name and email. Being able to accommodate consumer demands is critical for activating the power of your landing pages. In today's market where instant gratification wins, your site visitors want your website to exceed their expectations. Internet users are used to targeted ads, gorgeous landing pages, and interactive apps. It's your job as an agent to meet those demands and build a seamless, enjoyable experience. This is what will allow you to stay competitive with the "Zillows" in the industry. Providing a simple and customized experience is the key to getting leads to follow your calls-to-action and submit their contact information, consenting to open communications with you. When you're building your landing pages and expanding your digital presence, ask yourself the following questions: Am I delivering a simple and customized experience? Is my site providing value beyond my competitors? Does my site invite visitors to browse more landing pages? Happy Website Building! To view the original article, visit the BoomTown blog.

Do You Need a Real Estate Website?
As a real estate professional, you know searching for real estate-related information on the internet has become an important part of the home buying process. Whether it's to find an agent, view listings or educate themselves about real estate, home buyers are exploring online content more frequently to find what they need. According to the NAR's 2021 Real Estate in a Digital Age report: 43% of prospective buyers looked online at properties for sale as their first step in the home buying process 89% of buyers that used the internet found photos to be very useful, and 86% found detailed information about listings to be very useful Having a real estate agent website makes it possible to supply these potential clients with information they are searching for and establish a connection in doing so. However, if that is not enough, here are four specific reasons why all agents should have a personal real estate website. 1. Agent Websites Are a Resource for First-Time Buyers As previously stated, 43 percent of home buyers start their journeys with an online search to learn about the overall home buying process. A personal agent website is a great channel to attract and educate potential clients who are new to real estate. Specifically, agents should try to include a blog on their site. A blog is an ideal platform for sharing helpful content. It can also help you generate top of mind awareness with your website visitors. For example, first-time home buyers might conduct searches based on the following questions: What are the benefits of buying as opposed to renting? Why should I consider using a real estate agent? What costs do I need to consider when buying a home? Which type of mortgage makes the most sense for me? Providing thoughtful answers and advice in these areas can help establish your credibility, which is crucial to building relationships with potential home buyers. Those who are still browsing may not be prepared to commit to an agent or a property just yet. This is where your shared expertise will come in handy. In other words, it will keep you "top of mind" with potential clients. Once they are ready to move forward in the home buying process, they will have you in mind. 2. Agent Websites Help Leverage Local Searches One major advantage of the internet in relation to real estate is that it allows home buyers to quickly and easily seek out agents and/or properties by location. Having a personalized website enables you to optimize for any local searches home buyers choose to conduct. For example, a person looking to buy a home in Orlando, Florida might opt to narrow down their results by doing a search for "real estate agents in Orlando" instead of just "real estate agent." By making sure your website content includes the city and state in which you work, you will be better able to attract clients looking to purchase a home in your area. 3. Agent Websites Help Establish Your Personal Brand While it is important to share your industry expertise, it is equally as important to share your personality or personal brand. This is a great way to differentiate yourself and connect with prospective clients on a deeper level. For example, home buyers with children are likely to relate to agents who have families of their own. Individuals looking to downsize may gravitate toward agents who express their passion for working with "empty-nesters." A real estate website offers a great platform for sharing everything about you. Develop an "About" section to display: Personal information you would like prospects to know. How many years of experience you have in real estate. What your core values are. What makes you passionate about real estate. Who your ideal home buyers are (e.g., first-timers, families, singles, empty-nesters). A photo of yourself. In addition to the above information, you can also post testimonials from past clients to help verify your reputation, as well as links to your social media channels. 4. Agent Websites Can Support Automatic Lead Capture In addition to attracting prospects, a real estate agent website is ideal for efficiently capturing high-quality leads. This is made possible by incorporating online contact forms for buyers or even sellers who come to your site and are interested in learning more about your services. Each time a form is completed, you will receive an email notification so that no lead goes unnoticed. Capturing leads through an integrated website also enables you to automatically add new contacts to your real estate CRM or assign them to a relevant email nurturing campaign. Takeaway Points: From connecting with first-time home buyers, to showing off your personality, to CRM and email marketing integration, it is clear that having a personalized agent website holds many advantages. In fact, not having one is likely to put you at a great disadvantage. It is likely that your competitors already have a digital presence. By having your personal website, you will: Provide important resources for home buyers Build trust with your prospects and clients Be able to better optimize searches and improve your SEO rankings Establish your personal brand Effectively capture leads To view the original article, visit the IXACT Contact blog.

How to Capture Leads with Your Real Estate Website
Many agents believe that simply having a real estate website is enough to capture a sizeable number of leads. But while that may have been true in the early days of the internet, relying on your average, run-of-the-mill site today is a surefire way to miss out on new business. So, if you're finding your website is doing little more than taking up space online, you're probably guilty of a few of the below. Why isn't my real estate website capturing leads? Your website looks ancient If your website looks like you haven't put any care into it since it was first launched in 1996, you're not going to generate any leads. It's that simple. The majority of today's homebuyers and sellers, spurred on by the pandemic, are seeking out digitally adept agents. If they're a seller, they know that getting the best deal depends on effectively advertising their home via both traditional and digital (e.g., digital marketing, virtual tours and walkthroughs, etc.) channels. If they're a buyer, they're looking for assurance that an agent will be able to locate (and close) on the best home for them, however and wherever it's listed—especially in a sellers' market where a sizeable number of properties are for sale for less than a week. An archaic website screams you're not with the times. You've ignored the back end for too long Maybe you built your website yourself and weren't altogether sure what you were doing. Maybe you hired your nephew to handle the design a few years back. Regardless, your site isn't functioning like it once was. Links are broken. CTAs don't work. Pages take forever to load—if they load at all. And your once-beautiful property photographs now fail to populate. As much as we'd like to think that websites are static, set-it-and-forget-it solutions, they're not. Websites need maintenance. And one in disrepair will not only frustrate and deter prospective buyers and sellers, but Google will push it down search rankings, believing your business may now be defunct. You don't offer property search There's no shortage of sites consumers can use to conduct their property search. So without the ability to do so on your website, what are the chances you'll win more business? What's more likely: They use another agent's website and then come back to your website, contact, and hire you? Or they work with the agent whose site they've already found helpful? Exactly. You don't have any effective lead capture Not all CTAs are created equally. Many agents mistakenly believe they can place a "Contact Me" button somewhere on their website and that alone will drive interested prospects. But it won't. The most effective lead capture forms are those that offer value to the consumer. CTAs tied to an offer have been found to increase conversion rates by as much as 121%. Examples of these for real estate agents include newsletter signups, market reports, and free home valuations. How to Capture Leads with Your Real Estate Website Assuming you've corrected the aforementioned issues and added effective lead capture forms, your next step should be to include your website in any and all marketing materials. If you're promoting your business via paid advertising—social and search—make sure you've included a link to your site. If you have a Google business profile, a necessary digital marketing tool for any real estate agent, make sure your profile links out to your website. Promote your website on all your social media platforms, and don't forget to include it on any offline print collateral you produce. Beyond promotion, keep your site updated often with fresh, new content, such as photos and market insights. Showcase your recent successes, and if you've had any business that has been particularly noteworthy—such as a home selling fast or for far beyond its listing price—make sure to highlight that on some of your pages. Don't be afraid to brag. It's your website, after all. To view the original article, visit the Homesnap blog.

Is Your Website's Branding THAT Important to Home Buyers?
Here's an unpopular view I'd like you to consider. What if the branding on your website doesn't matter as much as you think? What I mean by this is that your logo and what your logo represents doesn't mean much to the average online consumer. Keller Williams, Berkshire Hathaway, Century 21, whichever brokerage -- it's all the same. To be fair, Gary Keller is an amazing salesman and marketer and his book The One Thing is one of my favorites, and Warren Buffet is a brilliant entrepreneur and investor plus who doesn't love Dairy Queen? But that doesn't really matter to the average online consumer. In this article, I will examine NAR's 2018 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers report and share information from the report that shows the branding on your real estate website doesn't really matter to the average online consumer. 1. What Matters to the Average Online Consumer? According to NAR's 2018 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers report, the top ten most popular website features that home buyers valued were: Photos: Very Useful (87%), Somewhat Useful (11%), Not Useful (1%), Did Not Use (1%). Detailed Information About Properties for Sale: Very Useful (85%), Somewhat Useful (14%), Not Useful (1%), Did Not Use (less than 1%). Floor Plans: Very Useful (52%), Somewhat Useful (32%), Not Useful (7%), Did Not Use (9%). Virtual Tours: Very Useful (46%), Somewhat Useful (34%), Not Useful (10%), Did Not Use (11%). Real Estate Agent Contact Information: Very Useful (42%), Somewhat Useful (31%), Not Useful (16%), Did Not Use (11%). Detailed Information About Recently Sold Homes: Very Useful (41%), Somewhat Useful (42%), Not Useful (9%), Did Not Use (7%). Neighborhood Information: Very Useful (39%), Somewhat Useful (44%), Not Useful (9%), Did Not Use (8%). Interactive Maps: Very Useful (37%), Somewhat Useful (33%), Not Useful (13%), Did Not Use (16%). Pending Sales/Contract Status: Very Useful (36%), Somewhat Useful (35%), Not Useful (15%), Did Not Use (13%). Videos: Very Useful (25%), Somewhat Useful (35%), Not Useful (16%), Did Not Use (24%). As you can see, photos, detailed information about properties for sale, and floor plans topped the charts while contact information ranked fifth. This tells me that the listings page is the by far the most important page on your website. If you're able to include and optimize these top website features on one listing page, you can compel more website traffic to want your contact information and convert them into a lead. 2. The Consumer Buying Process The statistics above paint a picture that is reflective of the consumer buying process. The consumer, for whatever reason, realizes it's time to buy a home, then they look for homes online (photos, property information, floor plans, virtual tours). Next, they look to see who they can contact to help them learn more about the home or see it in person (your contact information), then they look for relevant information about you (your past sales), and/or the home (its neighborhood). 3. Why Does Less Website Branding Matter? In digital marketing, the most successful websites focus on the consumer's experience and their needs. By focusing more on the consumer and less on your branding, you can provide the best experience possible. Making the most important features of your website clear and easy to access with minimal distractions will increase your conversion rates. How? When a consumer enjoys your website and finds it easy to use and navigate, they tend to spend more time on it, view more pages, and use more tools. They tend to trust the website if they find the information valid and valuable also. Do not forget to add lead capture forms to your most valuable content. The information should be valuable enough to make a consumer want to exchange their contact information for your content. Less branding doesn't mean no branding on your website. It just means it's not as important as you may think because it's not a priority for the consumer – the listing is. When a consumer wants to learn about you and your brand, they will, but it's not their primary focus. To view the original article, visit the TORCHx blog.

9 Reasons Why It's So Important to Have Your Own Domain
Not all websites are created equal. Just as no two real estate agents are the same, each agent's website highlights the differences between other agents vying for the marketplace. Though content is king, it's important to understand that even your website's domain name has a significant impact on your performance and perception. Here are nine benefits and advantages of having a custom domain name: 1. It's a No-Brainer Why should you have a custom domain name? Why not? It's simple, especially when you're trying to encourage clients to access it. Instead of asking clients to remember a confusing web address, simply adding a ".com" to your business name makes engagement effortless. It also makes it easier for clients to find you passively, for instance, when they search for you online. If they search "John Smith" and find "johnsmith.com," they'll know that they've found the correct address. 2. It Gives You a Leg-Up on the Competition Do you know how many of the other agents in your market have their own custom domain names? Chances are high there are many which simply use web addresses provided by a hosting site. By locking down your custom domain name, you have another leg-up on the competition by demonstrating your legitimacy. 3. It Demonstrates Legitimacy How does having a custom domain address demonstrate legitimacy? First, it shows that you're using the latest technologies. Though websites are nothing new, you'd be surprised how many agents still do not use custom domain names despite the relative ease of obtaining one. It also helps a user feel more comfortable following your link. "johnsmith.com" appears much more legitimate than "johnsmith.domainhosting.com." 4. It Increases Your SEO Ranking SEO. Three letters your small business needs to know regardless of which industry you serve. If you're online, Search Engine Optimization is essential to your success. With so many other agencies selling homes in your area, you need the best search ranking possible on Google. Having a custom domain is one way to increase your SEO ranking in the eyes of Google's algorithm. 5. It Enables Custom Email Addresses Similar to your web address itself, your email addresses are small yet important elements of how your business is perceived. Sure, an @gmail.com or @outlook.com address will work just the same, but having an @johnsmith.com address will once again enhance your legitimacy and reassure customers that you're the real deal. 6. It Elevates Your Brand The brand you've cultivated in the real world can be easily integrated into the digital world with a custom website address. It also helps your brand consistency to have a legitimate domain name that matches your other online profiles, like your social media accounts. 7. It Enhances Your Branding "Branding" is different from "brand." Your brand is the business; your branding is what your business does. For instance, you may be a luxury real estate agent, but the content you supply that highlights your listings is an act of branding. A custom domain name is an investment. When clients click that link, they're taken to your website to interact with you through your branding. If you're trying to wow your luxury home market, for example, your domain name is the doorway to these interactions. 8. It Opens Potential for New Leads You don't need an open house to generate new "walk-in" leads. As you strengthen your website's content with a custom domain, you increase the chances that new customers will organically visit your site when they find it through a search engine. With the right tools, you can convert these visits to potential leads by continuing to engage them after they've left your site. 9. It May Be the Future of Virtual Businesses Thousands of new websites are created each day, which means many domain names become unavailable every instant. It's clear that more and more agents are adopting custom domain names. Keep in mind other agents may also scoop up domain names that you're interested in. Delta Media Group's digital marketing platform will easily integrate your custom domain, ensuring you reap the maximum benefits from your online presence. If you lack a custom domain name, we encourage you to consider these advantages and discover how quickly a new website address can benefit your agency. RE Technology users can try DeltaNet 6 FREE for 30 days. To view the original article, visit the Delta Media Group blog.

Common Misconceptions Agents Have About Real Estate Websites
When it comes to real estate websites, there are a few complaints that we hear more often than others. This is typically due to misconceptions or assumptions. We are here to clear all that up. Here are common misconceptions about real estate websites:

How to Optimize Your 'About Me' Page for Conversions
In this article, you'll learn the elements of a successful, lead converting "About Me" web page that will increase the page's conversion rate. If you analyze the data on your website, there's a good chance your About Me page is one of the top five most visited pages on your website. I've visited so many poorly constructed About Me pages that I felt compelled to write a blog article about it. If your About Me page receives views but no clicks, form fills or any other engagement, it's time to revamp and optimize it for conversions.

The Top 10 Ways to Drive New Traffic to Your Real Estate Website
As a real estate agent, one of your primary goals and constant challenge is driving consumers to your website. Your real estate website is like your online store, so it's vital to your success to explore strategies that increase traffic to your website. Real estate is a numbers game. More traffic to your website means more opportunities to convert a consumer into a lead. The more leads, the more opportunity for clients, and the more clients means more income and more referrals. When you brainstorm ways to drive more traffic to your website, think of ways your target audience consumes information and how you can intercept their attention. In this article, you'll discover 10 marketing tactics used to drive new website visitor traffic to your website.

How to Get Search Engines to Come Crawling Back
In this article for Delta Media Group's real estate industry publication, Real Estate Marketing and Technology Magazine, Aaron Geh discusses how SEO helps your real estate website attract more traffic and better quality leads. Whether searching for a sales associate or going on a house hunt, most people start their search online. Search engine results are a huge potential source of traffic for your real estate website, which leads to fierce competition for the top positions in search rankings. That's where search engine optimization (SEO) enters the picture. SEO is one of the most powerful tools for growing your real estate firm online, but SEO's complexity means that not everyone understands it. Let's look at these SEO tips to help your business attract more traffic and better quality leads.

Website SEO Tips
Bondilyn Jolly, VP of Marketing at Elevate, interviews CJ Hays of Agent Reputation on his top tips for driving amazing SEO on Google. If you are looking for your website "to be found" on Google searches, tune into this discussion on tactical blogging, original content, IDX indelibility, reviews and more. CJ packs TONS of great tips into 14 minutes, so be ready to hit the "replay" button! Want MORE great website SEO tips? Download Elevate's FREE "Website SEO Guide" at: TryElevate.com/websiteseoguide/

Answering Your Questions About SEO and Your Real Estate Website
I have spent over 20 years helping a wide variety of companies grow their businesses on the Internet. Here are two of the most frequently asked questions I receive and their answers: What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)? Why does SEO need to be approached differently within the real estate industry? What Is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)? First, let me define what Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is from my perspective. SEO techniques are used on and off websites to make a site more appealing to search engines. The more search engines like a website, the more they visit to index its pages. The result of SEO work done correctly--search engines push your website higher in search results for specific key phrases associated with your products and/services. Traffic generated from SEO is called "organic traffic." SEO in the Early Days Over the years, SEO has evolved, but I'd argue the core fundamentals have not changed that much. Early on in the infancy stage of SEO, it was the Wild West (late 1990s). Many people resorted to keyword stuffing or paying link farms to create thousands of links back to a site. While this process resulted in short term gains for these companies, any advancement made was quickly replaced with penalties once search engines caught on to their spammy techniques. Even during these Wild West days, savvy developers and online marketers understood it was all about designing sites for the end user. Eventually, search engines started publishing best practices, many of which still apply today. SEO Best Practices You need to build a site that is easy to use and navigate. The website needs to be technically sound. It needs to perform well speed-wise. The website needs designing with the end-user in mind, not the search engines. It needs to have unique and engaging content. You need to research high authority 'complementary' sites and obtain links back to your site. It needs to be trustworthy Add on-page optimization and internal linking throughout your website to help search engines better understand what the site is about and to navigate it easier. This last point is evolving a bit as the search engines are becoming smarter and don't need as much assistance. There are different approaches to SEO if you are a B2B or B2C company, but at the end of the day, the goals for any SEO campaign should be to increase traffic and leads/sales. Why Is SEO for the Real Estate Industry Approached Differently? Within most other industries, whether you are B2B or B2C, you are dealing with information that does not change often. For example, if you are a carpet cleaning company, your services will not change much over time. Or if you have an online store, products are added or discontinued over time, but generally speaking, your offerings stay pretty consistent. The consistency in these two examples allows the marketer to focus more intently on specific products and/or services, building out valuable content and links over time around the core services or products. The most significant difference with a real estate website is the lack of consistency with the products: homes, buildings, land, etc. Each property has a unique SKU number, so to speak, so it makes things even more challenging; the properties are only online until they sell. In major markets, we are talking thousands of property listings turning over quickly. Instead of trying to optimize each listing individually, many marketers in the real estate industry will focus on areas--states, counties, cities, neighborhoods, school districts, subdivisions, etc. For example, if you are a real estate firm in Sarasota, Fla., you may create a landing page with listings for Sarasota. And from that page, you'll drill down and create additional pages for neighborhoods within Sarasota. Consequently, you would use SEO tactics on all of those pages. This process is a fairly common practice within the real estate industry. The downside to this approach is that you will be missing out on visitors searching for a specific home for sale. Surprisingly, we have found that single address property searches equate to a significant amount of monthly traffic. Some of our clients see nearly 50 percent of their traffic originating from single address property search--i.e., 123 Main Street, Sarasota. Moreover, when it comes to recruiting and retaining, a firm with real estate listings displayed on the first page of Google has a distinct advantage over local competitors who cannot. To stay ahead of the curve, you should review your current website from two different aspects. 1. Technical Aspect of SEO The technical aspects of SEO (the how and why behind search engines crawling and indexing a site) are even more important with real estate sites than other industries because of the sheer amount of data processed daily. Clear paths for search engines need to be created to crawl from page-to-page, gathering pertinent information throughout your site. I have found that many real estate websites struggle in this area. To determine if your site has technical issues, look at how many pages you have indexed in Google (example: type site: www.hpw.com into Google search). Based on the number of listings and other content throughout your site, if the number of indexed pages seems low, there may be underlying issues. 2. Content Aspect of SEO Within the real estate industry, content is essential given the industry's competitive nature and some of the previously mentioned challenges. Blogging is a popular way to grow your site's visibility in search engines. As a rule of thumb, blogs should support the site's overall SEO strategy. However, in many cases, blogs are the only area where SEO is leveraged. For example, if your website is not ranking for the markets you serve, a blog may be your only avenue to publish optimized content for better visibility. Unless you are willing to invest significantly in time and money to make an impact, this option may not be ideal for you. Some companies do it and are successful, but having a better understanding of the website's shortfalls and correcting them will save you time and money in the long run. Taking a Look at the Competition I also wanted to touch on the industry's competitive nature and attempt to set proper expectations if you are a local firm engaging in SEO. The real estate industry is competitive, REALLY competitive. You have portals led by Zillow, corporate franchises, and then all of the local firms all competing for the number one position within the search results. The more competitive the market is in general (e.g., Dallas or San Francisco), the bigger the hill is to climb because there are even more online competitors. Realistically speaking, most local firms are not going to outrank the portals or even corporate franchises for phrases like "Dallas real estate," for example. These sites have an enormous amount of content because they have a national presence and all of the listings and associated content to go along with it. That is a big deal and one that is tough to beat. It's not impossible to outrank bigger players because many of our clients do. The clients that do tend to be very large and have spent years investing in SEO and content strategies. A realistic approach is to focus on less competitive phrases and ensure that your listing shows up on the first page of results. Less competitive phrases revolve around neighborhoods, subdivisions, and school districts. If you are successful and climb to the top for these phrases, it generally produces better quality traffic and leads. Also, visitors using these types of search phrases have narrowed their focus and are a bit more qualified. With SEO, Patience Is a Virtue... Really! A word to the wise: SEO is a long-term play, meaning don't expect immediate results. My rule of thumb is that if you don't at least stick it out for a year, look to invest your marketing dollars elsewhere. We are fortunate that we can move the needle fairly quickly for most of our clients. However, we run into some cases where it takes a bit longer, and that requires patience. Many factors determine SEO success. Every market and every company is different even though we are all in the real estate industry. So be patient and look at it as a long term investment. If It Sounds Too Good to Be True, It Probably Is Be cautious of companies making wild guarantees like: "We will get your site to the first position in Google for 'real estate.'" This sounds great to someone that is not too familiar with SEO, but realistically, most have no shot. When communicating with a potential partner, you need to feel like you can trust them, know what they are doing, and have your best interest at heart. If it doesn't seem logical or feel realistic, you should probably be concerned. Finally, just because a company claims "to do" SEO, be highly skeptical, especially in the real estate space. It's vital to understand precisely how these companies "do" SEO, and what success looks like based on data they have collected over time. Remember, SEO is about increasing traffic and leads. If they cannot provide you data on how they have helped other firms–run! It's also essential to understand the retention rate for the clients they currently serve. If they cannot retain clients, they are not providing value. So do your homework. Aaron Geh is a featured content contributor for Delta Media Group's industry magazine, Real Estate Marketing & Technology. Sign up today to receive your free subscription to Real Estate Marketing & Technology. To view the original article, visit the Delta Media Group blog.

Social Media Ideas Certain to Bring Love to Your Website
Social media marketing is one of the leading ways to connect with your community as a sales associate. Studies have shown that experts in real estate are consistently among the most active professionals on most social media platforms. Used correctly, social media is an unbeatable tool for driving traffic to your website and turning those visitors into leads. It also helps you cultivate long-term relationships with current clients, past clients, and future referrals within their network. The right social media can show people to your website right when they need you.

The Power of a High Functioning Website
This is a digital age, where the minute a prospective buyer learns of your name, they rush to Google to plug your name in--and what comes up will ultimately determine their next steps. Eighty-four percent of homebuyers use the internet as part of their home search, and you only get one chance at a digital first impression. So if your website is representing you around the clock, are you making it count? Here are essential items to consider for an agent website that converts on its clicks.

Real Estate Website Tips: Why Page Load Time Matters
Today, time is one of the most precious things. The world is moving forward, the technological revolution has made life easier and faster. Every website user expects to receive information as fast as possible. Google Research shows that 33% of smartphone users in each market have a negative view of a brand if mobile experience is slow. In this fast-paced world, you have to think to stay notable and discoverable. Having a good real estate website is a must in order to have a successful business. When talking about the website and its functionality, we take into consideration different things like what kind of design it has, if it's responsive or not, which tools it contains, add-ons that differentiate it from other websites and, of course, page load time. The time it takes for a page to load has a big influence on the bounce rate of your site.

How to Promote Yourself and Stay Connected with Clients
The weather outside is cold, but that doesn't mean the market is! With more Americans planning to buy or sell their homes, it is critical to not only catch the client's attention, but to stay connected once you have it. Here are some helpful tricks and tips you can use to build long-lasting relationships and a positive reputation.

Who is Your Ideal Real Estate Customer and How Does Your Website Serve Them?
How much time have you spent identifying your ideal real estate customer? When it comes to real estate websites, the vast majority use a kind of shotgun approach to customer acquisition. The typical residential real estate agent wants to list homes and work with buyers too. When you can do both in one deal, it's a party.

10 Things Google Loves About Your Website
There's no doubt about it: you don't just want Google to like your real estate website, you want Google to LOVE it. Why? When Google loves your website, you get a higher ranking in search results for real estate businesses and topics in your area. Most prospects don't look past the first few links on the first page of results, so a higher search ranking ultimately means more leads and more business. Fortunately, this love story doesn't have to be complicated.

Building Effective Real Estate Community Pages
Most real estate professionals are familiar with the concept of community pages on real estate websites. With a single click into one of these pages, visitors can start exploring listings in a given community. Links to the pages are typically provided in the site navigation menus and/or provided on the home page, often with photos of each community. Community pages are always a good idea because they provide the option for immediate access to listings without requiring the use of a property search form.

How to Boost Your Real Estate Website Traffic 10x with Pinterest
Every single real estate agent should be obsessed with finding new ways to funnel traffic to their site. More traffic means more potential leads, which in the long term, means more clients. The question is, "What is the best way for a real estate professional to drive traffic to their website?" The Top Methods for Driving Real Estate Traffic If you are striving to become one of the top agents in your area, you need to funnel a large amount of the search engine traffic to your brand. Some of the typical ways agents accomplish this are: Real estate blogging Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram, etc) Video Marketing (Vimeo or YouTube) Paid Advertising (i.e., Google Adwords and Facebook Ads) Email marketing These are all extremely effective ways to increase the amount of traffic you are receiving. So what else can you do? The Forgotten Platform that Homebuyers Are Using We know from our lessons in SEO that the forgotten areas of content are often the places where it is easiest to quickly stand out. There is a social media tool that most real estate agents have forgotten. Bypassing this platform is a big mistake if you are looking for new website traffic sources. The forgotten social media tool we are referring to is… Pinterest. When most people think of Pinterest, they conjure mental images of DIY crafts and delicious cupcake recipes. Pinterest is a great place for finding new craft ideas, but it can also be a powerful tool for real estate agents. Why Real Estate Agents Should Consider Pinterest If your go-to social media platform is Twitter, you may be surprised to learn that a "pin" is 100 times more spreadable than a tweet. What about Facebook? A pin has a half-life or is active 1,600X longer than your average Facebook post. What does this mean for you as an agent? A well-crafted piece of content on Pinterest may be highly visible online for a week whereas a Facebook post has about 90 minutes to gain traction. Pinterest Statistic for Agents to Consider Pinterest has about 175 million active users that use the social media platform at least once a month. 81% of all Pinterest users are females, with the median age of 40. We know what you are thinking, "But how much do they make?" Thirty percent of Pinterest users earn over $50,000 per year, while 10% of users have a household income of $125,000 or greater. That sounds like a large group of social media users who could easily qualify for a mortgage to us. First Things First: Sign Up for a Business Account If you are not active on Pinterest right now, simply signing up for a business account and regularly submitting content on the platform should give your traffic a massive bump. However, if you already have a personal account that you wish to use for your real estate business, be sure to switch to a business account. This will give you access to Pinterest analytics so you can see which pins are the most popular and who is viewing those pieces of content. Make Your Real Estate Pictures Pinterest Perfect There is an art to creating pictures and other forms of media for Pinterest. First of all, your image has to be the correct size. Pinterest is all about vertical imagery due to the fact that over 80% of Pinterest users browse their feed on their smartphone. Aim for an aspect ratio of 4:5 or 2:3. Example of Pinterest Image What does this mean in terms of height and width? Let's say you took a picture of a "dream home" to share with your followers. If the width of this picture is 500, the length should be 750 to achieve the 2:3 ratio. As a general rule of thumb on Pinterest, longer is better. Why? When a user is scrolling through their feed, a longer image will be on the screen longer, increasing the chances that they notice it. Pinterest Picture Tips for Agents If you are new to the platform, here are a couple of tips to keep in mind: Use the highest quality images you can find. If possible, work with a professional photographer or invest in a full-frame DSLR camera. Utilize text on your images. This attracts the user and helps them instantly understand what your pin is about. Not comfortable with Photoshop? Find a designer in your hometown! Don't show your face. Images without visible human faces tend to receive about 20% more repins. Make the background exciting. A pin of an object floating on a plain white background will receive less attention than the same object on an aged wood table. Regardless of your political opinions, red is better than blue. On average, images that utilize red tones get twice as many repins than those that use blue on Pinterest. Use Pinterest as a Funnel for Prospects As a real estate agent on Pinterest, you have two main objectives. First, you want to attract the attention of Pinterest users who are interested in buying or selling their homes. Your second objective is to take this attention and funnel it back to your website. There are many ways to achieve this, but the most common method is linking to your site in your pin descriptions. If you have created a valuable piece of content such as an infographic, offer further related content if a user decides to visit your site. For example, your infographic might be about the top five mistakes first time homebuyers make when selecting a home. At the bottom of your infographic, link to a blog post where you explain 10 further mistakes that a new homebuyer should avoid. Attention Is the Currency of Real Estate Pinterest is a valuable tool, but it is just as complex as the other social media platforms. Don't get discouraged if you don't have success immediately. Just like anything else, it will take time to learn the ins and outs of the platform, but if you stick with it, you will have a new source of valuable website traffic to enjoy. To view the original article, visit the Parkbench blog.

How to Create the Perfect Neighborhood Guide for Your Real Estate Website
The top real estate agents in the industry offer so much more than basic buying and selling services. The agents that become leaders are those who provide a continuous stream of value for their core clientele. Bring Your Prospects Value If you want to increase your number of commission checks, start thinking of ways to educate and support your community. Of course, you can pass on tips relating to the core elements of real estate like everyone else. But maybe there are other areas that you could provide insights on as well?

17 Common Real Estate Website Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
While WordPress is by far the best website platform available, mistakes are commonly made when setting it up. This guide will walk you through the most common mistakes made when setting up a real estate website using WordPress and how to fix them.

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.

Know Your Numbers to Get Analytics Working for You!
At a recent real estate event, a question was posed to the audience. What do you get paid for? The answers were varied. Negotiation, marketing skills, and value were words commonly mentioned. Then someone said "my experience" and the speaker's eyes lit up. "What does experience mean?" she asked. The room quieted for a moment as the attendees contemplated the answer. "Experience," she said, "means that you are bringing to the table all of the things that your customer doesn't have without you."