Hi I was hoping for some feedback on my new site I have been working on. Unfortunately my broker does not allow us to use IDX so no MLS searching thru my site. But I do have some of our company's local open houses on there.

Its a Myers site, ironically (I saw some discussion about them below). I didn't know much about site making and they have been extremely helpful to me so far.
Also whats the quickest way to get google to crawl your site? I know it takes a few weeks at least, are there any ways to speed it up?

http://www.centralnjhouses.com

Also can you find any frames on my site? I must admit I don't know always how to spot them....sometimes they are very obvious but I am not a very web site savy person so I wasn't sure.

Not to hurt your feelings but your site looks pretty much like all the rest.

For an effective real estate website (I define "effective" as attracting buyers and sellers you can earn a commission check from) you need to furnish people what they're looking for; the "what's in it for me" theory as relates to consumers of real estate services.

Here's a couple of example of what I think are the finest real estate website on the www today.

http://www.come2az.com/

Notice the clean look, easy navigation, and minimum copy. Consumers don't want to read a novel on your website, they want to find what they're looking for.

http://www.dallashomes.com/

Again, clean look, ease of finding stuff, AND minimum copy.

I know both these ladies and know they get a TON of business from these websites.

Here's a good resource that rates real estate specific websites; you can pick up some great ideas by looking at other sites here (just don't pick up any copyrighted ideas )

www.IRED.com

You site is not framed. Think of a framed website as looking through a window. The 'frame' is the part around the outside and the content is like looking through the window.

My website, www.JimLee.com is framed.

This link will tell you more than you probably want to know about Google crawling sites.

http://forums.seochat.com/archive/t-8533/Google-Deep-Crawl

Search engine placement is part science, part art, and I think sometimes, a little black magic too.

I prefer to spend most of my time listing and selling houses rather than trying to be a search engine expert; I've hired one of those and he does a great job.

If you think your time would be more productive being a Realtor you might want to think of giving my guy, Ed Robecheaux a call. He's done a great job for me and quite a few other Realtors all over the country.

http://www.erpositioning.com/

Thanks Jim- my brother owns his own SEO company I'm just waiting till he has some spare time to take a look at my site, lol! I will take a look at those sites you mentioned, thanks for the feedback I do appreciate it!

Google has recently implemented a new system for making sure ALL of your pages get crawled. GOOGLE SITEMAPS

I've been using it since it was introduced... works like a charm!

https://www.google.com/webmasters/sitemaps/docs/en/about.html

And, generally speaking, template websites do not usually rank very well (or at all), in addition to usually being virtually the same as thousands of others out there (except yours may be green with a 'girl' picture, his may be blue with a 'boy' picture.). But the content is usually identical, and Google does not index sites with duplicate content.

Templating and copy are two different things. Most, if not all web builders use templating to some degree. I agree that templates filled with generic copy is fruitless, but the template itself can be very usefull. In fact, templating is the most cost effective method of webpage construction. Entire sites can be built on simple templates, yet have highly unique copy that sets it apart.

When I say template websites, I mean these cookie cutter sites that 'rent' a website to an agent with duplicate, identical content as every other REALTOR site they sell. They're just canned websites. (ie Advanced Access, iHouse2000, ala mode, Z57, Homes.com, etc.)

Those sites are vitually all the same, except for the 1% of REALTORS who actually take the time and effort to customize them. Therefore they usually do not rank very well, and over time cost a considerable amount of money. More importantly, if and when you decide to stop using these templated sites, you are left with absolutely nothing but your domain name and an empty wallet.

"But the content is usually identical, and Google does not index sites with duplicate content."

"Those sites are virtually all the same, except for the 1% of REALTORS who actually take the time and effort to customize them. Therefore they usually do not rank very well, and over time cost a considerable amount of money. More importantly, if and when you decide to stop using these templated sites, you are left with absolutely nothing but your domain name and an empty wallet."

Okay, I'm going to rag on you for a bit!

Number one, Google DOES index sites with duplicate content! Your page may not score very well in search results, but it WILL be indexed. All it takes is the smallest of changes to be "unique". Look at all the websites that are "cookie-cutter" websites without unique content scoring first page in Google! You can't really think Google doesn't index them!?!

Second, OF COURSE only 1% of the agents take the time and effort to customize them! 5% of the agent do 95% of the business! So of course very few do what it takes to make their websites successful! But I can GUARENTEE that a cookie-cutter website with duplicate content can make it on the FRONT PAGE of the search engines... we do it all the time! Just do a search on a popular area, and I bet you'll find all sorts of Advanced Access websites on the front page, all cookie-cutter and with duplicate content.

And being left with nothing except an empty wallet. If they never take the time to put any effort into their website, do you think that Realtor put any time and effort into anything else? I think all the association fees, lockbox fees, signs, business cards, flyers, and everything else they bought is going to leave a bigger dent in their wallet then a year of $19.95 per month. And if they never "get around" to doing anything with their website, why would they want it when they are broke and out of business?

Okay... I'm done ragging on you... but stop giving out misinformation!

Well, sometimes the FIRST page of most of these templated websites gets ranked if its highly customized. The inside pages (which are mostly identical content) do not usually rank well at all. And many are framed inside identical pages on top of it.

And it also depends on your market area as well. If you're in a major metro area, my guess is you will not rank very well. In a small market with little competition, you may have a better chance.

Generally speaking, they do not rank well. Of course, your company sells templated, cookie cutter websites, so you obviously will say whatever it takes to get the sale....

I think most people will agree if you're looking for a highly ranked website, generally speaking you will not get it with a templated, mass produced website.

Search highly competitive areas or highly competitive search phrases, and you'll find MANY cookie-cutter sites in the top 10. Your first reply was so definet, and with your second reply, you are generally speaking... sometimes... depends on... Are you related to (not our president) Kerry? LOL

We could get into a bitch slapping session here... but I'll just agree to dis-agree with you.

(PS. We also do one of a kind sites for ANY industry, as I also own www.a1hostco.com)

Cannot access your site, get timeout.
If accessible I can send our test indexing robot over the site. ( real state only search engine currently in test mode )
Would throw out messages if something is wrong or search robot unfriendly.

operation timeout

Cheryl:

I think the colors used in this template gets the content lost. My eyes can barely follow the left navigation. It's not proportioned well with the body of the site.

If your provider offers a different template, I'd definitely recommend checking out another one. You want to make sure your navigation is very user-friendly, the colors don't detract from your content and that the benefits of working with you to buy/sell a home are highly visible.

Hope this helps.

Now for something new...

I'd give your bio text some serious editing... "Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole" (and I'd do the same to any print stuff you've got around and your dialog with folks too)

1)I wouldn't dis your collegues, never not a little not at all. Why talk about being harrassed by agents? Why talk about agents not returning phone calls? It's true enough, but folks that have experienced it know it already. I think you'd go farther making strong statements about your positive approach. "I always return my phone calls." "I understand that buying a home is a huge decision." "I respect my clients' time and privacy."

2) Get a bottle of white out, or two, and erase everytime you mention being a new agent. I didn't know it till you told me. Nobody wants to be your test-case, but every agent has a first client and a first year. Just tell folks about your enthusiasm and dedication, and don't lie to them about experience you don't have and get to work.

3) I'd talk about your mentoring and training in ways that don't emphasize that you're new. "We have an ONGOING training program to keep us up to date on the LATEST changes in the market." "We work closely in my office to be sure that all our clients' needs are met." (that's what mentoring is isn't it???)

That's a little critique... the fact that you did the site and put it up here shows that you're out there and working... here's to all the success you're obviously so willing to work for!

Gary

I know my viewpoint flies in the face of typical, old fashioned "me me me" marketing, but I believe it is completely true. The people who market themselves online successfully think a bit outside the box and market themselves differently. They are the people who are successful.

Personally, my opinion is remove ALL of your information as well as your photograph from the front page. I completely subscribe to the theory that buyers shopping online, when they make 'first contact' with you (ie your website), they are NOT looking for a house salesman. They are looking for information, education, properties. The lee time is 9-16 months before they will become serious buyers, and they are NOT ready to talk to a salesperson (and you don't want to waste your time either).

According to VREO Software's focus group research of 1,173 real estate Web site visitors, 54 percent of their respondents said the agent's picture on the home page either interfered with visitors' ability to find what they were searching for or caused them to leave the site.

People want to be anonymous – your picture smack dab on your home page makes it personal. Your picture on your marketing materials allows people to make a snap judgment about who you are based strictly upon your physical appearance. When your picture is missing, the person receiving your marketing pitch can focus on the message, rather than the messenger.

In addition, when your picture is prominently displayed on the Web or on your marketing materials, the message is: "It's about me" rather than "It's about the client."

On your Web site, give consumers what they want – information on properties for sale, multiple pictures and virtual tours, and access to the Multiple Listing Service. If you are going to use your picture, place it on a separate "about me" page on your Web site. If the consumer is interested, they will read it.

Go to Toyota's website. Is a picture and bio of Mr. Toyota on the front page? NO. Nobody cares. People are interested in product, features, price, amenities. I'm sure IF you cared, you could find out about Mr. Toyota and his company. But it's not on the front page because it's NOT want customers want. They want INFORMATION. That's what the web is all about.

If your website (i.e. YOU) provide what the customer WANTS (info, education, listings), and you implement various ways of keeping YOUR information in front of them (email newsletters, email MLS updates, etc) you create a 'virtual relationship' with these customers during the 9-16 month lee time before they are ready to hit the pavement. When they ARE ready, there is no question who they will choose to call: The person that gave them WHAT they wanted and allowed them to gather that information anonymously - if they chose to.