Search engines should always be in the back of your mind and how you are going to gain rankings within them. There are a few things that you can do to easily increase your exposure within the search engines. Websites get better ranking when they are updated often whether it be by updating your web site with the latest MLS listings, adding an integrated property search function, external link resources, or monthly newsletters. Updating content to your site is crucial to getting your website extra exposure.
1) Add the IDX (Internet Data Exchange) to your website… One of the easiest ways to get constant updates made to your website is by adding the IDX. The IDX provides your website with the latest up to date MLS listings. The IDX is directly connected to the MLS and whenever the MLS gets updated so does your website.
Featured Listings… You should know that the number one reason that most people visit real estate websites is to view properties. This means that if you want traffic to your website and if you want visitors to remain on your site for a longer period of time you should give the people what they want, add listings.
Note: Adding listings to your site can be a difficult task at times especially for new Realtors. When in need of listings to add to your website you can ask your broker for permission to add the Brokers listings to your website. For larger brokerages this is a great way to often add several listings to your website daily. If your brokerage is smaller or if times are slow, fresh listings could still be hard to come by. In this case, don’t have blank pages on your website, but list your past solds. This gives prospective clients an idea of where your area of expertise lies, and also adds to your area keyword list for search engines.
Property Search… Integrated property search not only provides clients with the ability to search for listings but also gives you more of an opportunity to add extra exposure to your clients. By adding your personal contact information to all properties searched along with “Schedule a Showing” request forms, this lets your visitors know right off that you are available to show them any property found on your site.
Note: The new trend seems to be leaning towards requiring login information in order to perform a property search to your website. This provides you with a qualified list of leads to work with. The old trend was to offer this information of for free without requiring any contact information to view the listings. It used to be good enough exposure to offer the property search feature on your website for free, but now getting valuable leads by offering free property search has become more difficult, primarily because the number of sites available that currently offer the free property search function on their website. By requiring login information this usually not only provides you with your visitors contact information but also gives you insight as to exactly what this particular buyer is looking for.
Listing Alerts… Adding Email Updates to your website is an excellent way to get your name out in front of prospective clients on a daily basis. Whenever a new listing hits the market your clients can be updated via email with all of your contact information easily accessible.
Property Organizer… By adding property organizer capabilities to your website that requires log in access is an excellent way to fully understand your clients needs and desires in finding a home. The property organizer function allows your prospective clients to log in and search for listings and save new listings that they may want to take a closer look at later, all within your personally branded website.
By integrating user functionality to your website with full property search capabilities it allows your visitors the opportunity to “One Stop Shop” for the latest MLS listings. This helps to keep your visitors off your competitors website and to further drive your brand name home. It is said that it takes the average buyer as many as 9 interactions to even be considered in the thought process to cause them to purchase or work with the person or product that they are working with.
2) Ask for links. . .Visit non-competing informational sites in your area of expertise and ask the owners to add links to your site. This works best when your site includes useful informational resources rather than strictly promotional material.
Exchange links. . .Before requesting links, add a section to your site that contains links to related businesses. Then, contact the webmasters of those sites to request a return link.
This process is called “Reciprocal Link Exchange”, by creating a link directory on your site
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