I thought I would share a few things with agents trying to get better placement and folks signing up on their web sites. I just launched a new web site at the beginning of the month.

www.websterkirkwood.com

So far I have already had 16 people register for my IDX search and this week I am showing properties to 2 customers one of which is looking at Million dollar homes. And I'm getting all sorts of press and links from other web sites. I have not done any PPO, advertising, or any real SEO optimization yet. I'm totally floored.

However, I should not be surprised as I spent months researching what customers want and what does and doesn't work. I thought I'd share the the top 3 things I've learned:

1) It's about NICHE marketing and having totally targeted content.
2) They WILL reveal themselves and register if you supply good content and are the expert.
3) Site ranking in the search engines is not that hard if you have good content.

Okay, what's the common denominator? Great content. My site is totally targeted to the two main communities where I sell (not neighborhoods but municipalities within the St. Louis metro area). I spent over a year designing the site, collecting photos, and relevent links, content etc.

To be perfectly honest I have spent ZERO time thus far working on SEO and I'm already ranking #1 in Google for Kirkwood Listings and #2 for Webster Groves Listings. I am also ranking in MSN and Google for many other search terms. The key was TARGETING TARGETING TARGETING.

I did not try to capture the St. Louis Real Estate key words. It's too expensive and I don't cover all of St. Louis. I stayed focused on my niche.

Anyway, this is getting way too long. I just thought I'd share a success story for those of you who are trying to figure out what to do next. Don't skimp. Do it right. Treat it like a real business and find your specialty! That's the key.

Congrats! I can't tell you how many times I tell agents that serving a niche market is the best way to increase business. The first reaction is usually concern that they are cutting out too many prospective customers. However, when you tailor your marketing efforts to a niche, then you are now able to speak the language of your prospects and therefore, convert more leads.

I am so glad you chose this route and are having so much success!

I applaud you in your website success.... but... did you do your Keyword Analysis? You seem to have targeted 2 search phrase (and score well for) that no one is using to search the Internet (according to my tools).

I bet if you stop and backup a bit, do your keyword analysis, then target specific pages on your website for search phrases people are actually using, you'll be surprised how much business you'll have!

All the best in your continued success.

In my experience, some "tools" show that certain keywords or phrases are not being searched, but in reality, I've seen websites get lots of hits from those said phrases.

The reason why this site is scoring so high in such a short while is specifically because it targets keywords that are not as popular as others.

Sometimes doing something outside the norm can work well, too.

Ginger,

Your site looks awesome. I am also trying to build a more content based site and less of a site about me.

Question - you have a great site, how do you market it. It's one thing to have the site, it's another to get hits. What is your secret / plan?

ginger,

second question. I didn't think that point 2 agent was really flexible enough to do what you did? Obviously it is, or did they have to make exceptions for you or help you desigh it?

andrew

I can add someinfo as to how to get the hits. There are two ways that you will start getting hits...prospects will find you automatically due to the specific keywords they search for (duh, right?) and you can also do pay-per-click with Overture or Yahoo to draw immediate traffic.

Other great ways are to send out a mass press release and start writing articles with keyword-rich content. There are a number of great article submission sites out there.

I am sure Ginger can answer more specifically how she got more traffic on her site.

Good Luck!!!

I can add some info as to how to get the hits. There are two ways that you will start getting hits...prospects will find you automatically due to the specific keywords they search for (duh, right?) and you can also do pay-per-click with Overture or Yahoo to draw immediate traffic.

Other great ways are to send out a mass press release and start writing articles with keyword-rich content. There are a number of great article submission sites out there.

I am sure Ginger can answer more specifically how she got more traffic on her site.

Good Luck!!!

Evy
www.elsvirtualsolutions.com

I didn't have to do anything in Point2 (at least not from their end) in terms of making it flexible. I just basically chose "custom" for almost every page of my site rather than using their pre-determined design tools. It took way longer and many people have asked why use Point2 if I was designing such a custom site.

Well, I didn't know anything about html when I started with their freebie site and after messing with it for a few months I ended up with what I have. However, I'm actually glad I learned through their system as they have the backend support that I either would no have had, or it would have cost me thousands if my site were 100% custom.

As far as hits are concerned I just happened to get ranked really high in MSN from the gitgo. I'm working on Google as they only have indexed a couple of pages. I also have a very targeted market and a few weeks ago (when I launched the site) there was a local parade that all residents come out for. We had an office float and people give out candy and such to the crowds. Well I had pin on buttons made (3" round) with an old house photo and my web site name added with a line about registering for free Kirkwood gift certificates. Well that worked. Over 500 people went to my web site and many have signed up for my IDX search.

I also ended up as the featured web site on Point2's newsletter and that made visits soar as well. It was mainly agent traffic but it helped get me linked from some other big web sites, etc.

The rest so far is just plain dumb luck and the fact that the search engines seem to love my targeted search content. I am working on SEO for each page and hopefully that will get me ranked in Google for additional key words.

So far, considering I have not really spent much time or money on brining traffic to my site, I am pretty happy. I'll be even more happy if SEO and PPO pay off as well. That's my plan over the next month or so.

Now that you are basically up and running, how many hours a week do you think it will take for you to maintain the site. You have a lot of content and contests etc. but that all takes maintenance. I love your site, but I'm wondering if you will be spending more hours running the site, then on selling real estate and doing open houses etc.

Ginger,

Congratulations. I constantly encourage RE agents to look past the big keyword terms and find terms that fit directly into your business. That's what you did, and it was easier for you to rank well quickly.

Do not sit on your laurels, as far as linking and optimization, though. It's not a static situation. Your competitors will evenutally try to meet or exceed your efforts. The best defense is a good offense.

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.

GREAT JOB Ginger!! I like the fact that your website involes the community or the neighborhood. It gives a feel that it about them and not so much you. I was actually thinking of making my site more to where it involes the my community and local events. Face It! ...most customers and clients alike want to know what's in it for them? For me, my niche is the infamous FSBO. I use a FREE newsletter, FREE DVD, and FREE advertising on my website. Good Luck to you.

I'm going to kill three birds with one stone hear and comment on all three of the previous posts:

Andrew - you asked a good question about time. I have yet to figure that out since I'm so new at this but my plans are to hire a VA or someone to help me with updates. Right now the market is slow so I'm getting my feet wet.

Dirk - thanks for the article. I belong to the Realtalk listserv that is mainly e-PRO real estate agents. Can I link your article on that site? I know some other agents would like to hear what you have to say.

Diego - I see you use Talking House. Is it a tool to offer free to FSBO's before they sign up? Are you having luck with it? I hear lukewarm responses from other agents but the FSBO market might be a better one.

Ginger,

Thanks! Please do spread the word on that SEO article to Realtalk, or any other lists. We tried hard to make it unbiased and straightforward, in laymans terms.

The url is
http://www.domaindrivers.com/seobasics-realestate-main.htm

Search Engine Optimization Basics For Real Estate-Related Websites


Can I join that Realtalk listserv if I am not an RE agent? Do you have a link?

We are looking for more RE newsletters, so if you have more, please post them here.

Thx again

How did you set up the map feature that shows listings with mouseover?

Dirk, you can join here:http://realtalk.internetcrusade.com/ but just be sure you don't "sell" your services but rather answer a post that might fall within your expertise. I don't remember the rules for suppliers but you should check them out.

And for the other member, I set up my map using a service called "realbird" at www.realbird.com

Ginger,

I made my first post to realtalk.internetcrusade.com, answering a thread on SEO....

That's a powerful list..

Search Engine Optimization Basics For Real Estate-Related Websites

Ginger,
Your site is great. But why does it look so different from the ones offered at the Point 2 site?

Hi Ginger,

I noticed that you are using IDX Pro with your site. I have used IDX Pro on 3 of my sites so far and have been quite pleased.

I also noticed that you split up your site so that people could search different price ranges without having to use the search features built into IDX Pro. For example, if I click on "Des Peres Listings", it goes to a page that already shows all of those listings. To do that, did you just save searches from within IDX and then copy the url and add it as your linline frame url?

Thanks,

Scott

Point 2 sites can be customized completelly as long as you eliminate the standard menus and work with the content space only. Point 2 has great features but personally I like the freedom of design with no strings attached.