Hi guys, I have this website and, I don't need the content critqued so much as I need the providers ability to be ranked in google/yahoo if the content is there.

I am really not into the link exchange thing as from what I have read, a site will rank with good content just as well, if not better as with a reciprical link directory.

Anyways, just wanting opinions on how "seo" this site can be made? Am I limited by the site?

The provider is Ihouse FYI.

Thanks!

Shoot, I thought it would be in my sig,

the web site is www.wakelinghomes.com

Thanks

You can certainly improve your site's SEO. I'd also recommend cleaning up the organization a bit.

Try breaking "Portland Oregon Real Estate Resource Site. Search the MLS for homes in Porltand, Beaverton, Aloha, Hillsboro, Tigard, Tualitin, Sherwood and surrounding areas." up a bit. Make it so the important terms stand out (remember your site is also for consumers - not only search engines).

Look at things on your site like "Visit My Portland Oregon Real Estate Information Blog" Why is the whole thing a link? Why not make "Portland Oregon real estate blog" a link?

Drop menus are not good either for seo. Engines can't easily crawl your links in the drop menus.

I realize that this is a bit jumpy, but I wanted to throw you a few ideas.

Thanks, I have been seruoulsy considering dumping this site for a more customized seo site. I'm not interested in link campaigns and really just want a site that ranks clearly off of content. IYHO does this site have the capability to raank high without the link gimmick?

Any site has the ability to rank high, but it takes work. Link exchanges are starting to be less important in terms of SEO.

Have you considered a PPC campaign or hiring an SEO company?

yes, on the SWe omcpany no on rhw lins exchage,,,

????

pdxrealtor,

You can choose to not link exchange, but why?

I can show example after example of it working. Well.

Your competitors will simply ignore the pundits that say it does not work. When you see them at the top of the search results, you may become very frustrated.

Competing with a site with 500 to 1000 reciprocated links from other home and real estate sites is VERY HARD TO DO. Where are your links oging to come from?

Good content does not guarantee links. That's an SEO fantasy. Good content is necessary, but does not automatically get links. Links come from promotional efforts. Reciprocation is one way to promote a site. Take it off the table, and you are competing with one hand behind your back.

LS, I the really good sites that I see do not have link exchange, I just feel it's cheating the system and will eventually not work.

Matt,

I am not trying to be a wiseacre. I am trying to get you to confront the reality of your situation.

I just ran a link back report on 5 of the sites that rank well in Google for "Portland Oregon Real Estate".

You have a considerable competitive hurdle to overcome. Some of them have hundreds and hundreds of links, obtained by a variety of methods. Some by reciprocation, and some not.

Some links were apparently purchased outright, probably at considerable cost. Buying links is most definitely a blatant form of Google-gaming. So much for "honest" compettition. Sites will do all kinds of things to get ahead.

Your own site shows maybe a dozen or so links from unique domains, so you will need a very well-planned comprehensive plan to compete. How are you going to proceed?

Sitting and waiting for people to cite your content, as some in the SEO community advise, simply will not cut it. These other competing sites will continue to earn more links, since links beget links. Those with links get more, automatically. In the real world, there is a built in advantage to established sites.

Matt, again, I just trying to put you on a path toward competitive realization. from what I see, you will ahve to be very pro-active about getting links. Reciprcating not only allows you to get stable links, in decent numbers, but to do it affordably. I think that you will see that other pro-active methods that can provide numbers you need will be VERY expensive.

I do this every day, and I have to do it in real world situations, not the world of SEO theory. You are going to need significant link count, from somewhere, somehow, and the sooner, the better. You can choose to avoid reciprocation, and listen to the SEO pundits, but in doing so, you take away the single most effective and affordable weapon at your disposal. It's your choice, and your money.

Here's a multi-page document that was specifically written for real estate professionals, using real estate examples:


Search Engine Optimization Basics For Real Estate-Related Websites

I hope it helps.

Thanks, how do you find out the backlink number of my site or any others?

bigp said:

"Link exchanges are starting to be less important in terms of SEO."

Do you ahve any proof of that? Because that is nt what we are seeing here. Our clients, old and new, are doing quite well. Many of them rely only on reciprocation to build their link popularity. If reciprocation was not important, they'd not do well.

I see statements like the one you've put forward all over the place. I never see any proof, though. Just speculation. It's certainly not based on analysis of real search results, especially in the real estate industry, where reciprocation is alive, well, and very effective.

didn't yahoo have a huge thing with Advaced Access and completley remove them from their search results due to link exchange between AA sites?

So, I guess my main question is, can this site be made to hit the top, or should I choose a different provider that doen't base their sites on frames?

I really need help with this as my goal is to have a site up, running and have been submitted by February at the latest. Would it be cheaper just to play the PPC game? I hate doing that though. Like someone said somplace, I'm a Realtor, not a web designer. Why would I want to be a FSBO....

Please advise, thanks!

Matt-
All my sites are P2A sites and from what
I've seen are very amenable to SEO. I've seen
P2A sites with a PR of 5..Here:
http://www.agentinottawa.com/

T