Search Engine Optimization: Getting Real Estate Websites High Ranking In Search Engines Part 3

February 28, 2011

However, none of these websites are directories per se.  There’s a key difference between search engines and online directories.  An online directory is largely maintained by people who determine how the directory’s information is ranked and displayed.  Search engines are largely maintained by software programs.  These software programs are designed to continually seek out new web pages, index each new page’s information, and rank each page in terms of what information the page contains and it’s perceived relevance to a given topic.  For a given topic (eg. Toronto real estate) search engines  rank the page and/or site with the greatest perceived relevance first, and all other sites and pages according to their relevance in relation to one another.  So a search results page for the search “Toronto real estate” will reflect this hierarchy of ranking: the best page/site will be ranked first, the second best page/site ranked second, and so on.

What Is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Wikipedia defines Search Engine Optimization (SEO) as “the process of improving the visibility of a website or a web page in search engines”.   The basic idea with search engines is the higher your web pages rank in the search results of searches done by your target market, and the more frequently your pages appear in those search results, the more likely your target prospects will find you, recognize your real estate expertise, and do business with you.

Do I Need My Own Real Estate Website Today?

Yes!  If you don’t have your own real estate website, you really don’t have a face on the internet.

To be competitive today as a real estate professional, you must have your own website.  It doesn’t cut it anymore only having yourself listed on your brokerage’s website.  Every real estate professional knows we’re in business for ourselves and the key to success is PROMOTION. Only being listed on your broker’s site simply doesn’t give you enough exposure in any way, so you’re highly unlikely to get prospects from it on a consistent basis. These broker sites also do little to build your own personal brand, and today your brand is much more important to home buyers and sellers than the company or brokerage you work for.

Filed under: Marketing Tips,SEO For Realtor Websites

Tags: branding, Google, Google AdWords, marketing, real estate internet marketing, real estate internet marketing tips, real estate internet training, real estate search engine ranking, real estate search engine training, Search Engine Optimization, search engine training, SEO, website training tips