Got SEO? Some Important Questions to Ask Yourself

When it comes to SEO (Search Engine Optimization) you should always consider the following questions.  SEO is VERY important for your Blog or Website.  Done right it can bring you a wealth of new prospects.  Done incorrectly you can waste a lot of time and money or both.

Q: How long does it take for me to see my website in Google or Bing?

A: There is really no direct answer to this question.  Some people see results in days and some in weeks. Also some is perception.  What I mean is if your niche is “The Admirals Walk in Edgewater New Jersey” you may see results in days since it is such a small niche and oly returned a few hundred results.  If your target is Real Estate you may not see any results for months if ever although out of the 5,00,000 results yours actually ranked 4,126,743.

Q: Who is the King? Google, Yahoo or Bing?

A: Google still the king of the hill in terms of volume but all 3 engines have appeal to different people.  My advice is treat them all well and try to optimize for all of them.  Since they all have different algorithms for ranking your website you may see better results on one over the other.

Q: How long do I have worry about optimizing my website?

A: SEO is let me set it up once and forget about it.  You need to review your website and tweak your SEO all the time.  Over time your rankings will keep on getting better but their is always someone out there wanting to rank higher than you.  So keep on top of your website’s SEO.
Q: Who should be doing my SEO?

A: Like anything in life, 2 things factor who should be doing your SEO.  Time and money.  If you have the knowledge and time to do your own SEO then go for it.  Otherwise you might want to hire a professional.  Either way the goal is to get it done right and be consistent.

Q: How do I measure my success?

A: There are a few ways to measure your success.  You can buy SEO software that can crawl the search engines and determine your rankings or a more direct way to look at it is to actually see an increase in traffic to your website.  Surely measure your conversion rate, how many people are coming from Internet sources.

This is no means a complete list but a great start.  How do you measure your SEO success?  Do you have a great tip you want to share?  Let’s build this list to make it a great resource for others.

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Attention Realtors…Mobile Web Sites are a Plus to Your Marketing Efforts

Mobile browsing is the way of the future and the technology is here. If you have a real estate Web site and are trying to stay ahead of the technology curve, getting a mobile site would be key to your marketing.

• Internet browsing on mobile is becoming more popular – Many home buyers  are surfing mobile browsers to find homes. Potential home buyers are using GPS enabled phones to find homes within a geographical location. Many are also using this technology to search fro open houses on weekends when they are driving around.
• Higher ranking in search engines – More and more mobile websites are getting priority in mobile searches on many of the search engines.
• Higher speeds – If users are browsing your main real estate site from their mobile device it may be slow as there are potentially too many graphics. Getting a vibrant mobile site with fewer graphic can open faster than a normal site. Users will be able to quickly and effectively view listings.
• Appeals to tech-savvy clients – Home sellers want as much exposure for their listing as possible. By getting a mobile site, you are making it easier for potential homebuyers to view their property. You will impress the potential home seller on your next listing presentation by showing them your new mobile Web site.

Do you think you business will grow with a presence of Mobile site?
Do you think you will reach to more home buyers with a Mobile site?
Do you think its necessary to stay on the cutting-edge of technology?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you should investigate the many features and benefits your new site will have.

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RE/Advantage specializes in Real Estate Website Design, IDX Solutions, and Internet Technology. We have been working with the Real Estate Industry for over 10 years so we understand what makes a site work for you and your buyers and sellers. After all we have been developing real estate web sites, Internet tools and marketing strategies since 1997. No one provides a more comprehensive, well-thought-out site and tool set for your Internet presence. We provide you with not only the tools to manage and customize your site, but the peace of mind that comes from knowing we are here to help if you need us.

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Study shows QR code popularity is increasing

A new study based on collected statistics for smartphones in the US has revealed at 14 million people scanned QR or bar codes in June 2011. According to ComStore, these users are most commonly males, aged between 18-34 years of age, with an average household income of more than $100,000 per year.

The more interesting statistics to come out of the study is where the users are located when scanning, and what the source of the QR code was. Almost half of the QR codes scanned were in magazines or newspapers, and almost 60% of the QR codes scanned were scanned while at home.

So the question is – how effective are QR codes on your website, a property flier or rider? The numbers seem to imply that users are less likely to scan QR codes from these sources, than from newspapers or product packaging. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t incorporate QR codes into your marketing plans. But it can help to set expectations on when, where and how often consumers might use a QR code to contact you regarding a listing.

The upside is that QR codes are, overall, gaining in popularity. If you watch carefully when you are shopping, traveling or reading, you will notice them more often. How do you plan on using QR codes? We’d love to hear from you.

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Mobile Listings Search

REALTORS® – mobile websites and QR codes are the newest ‘must have’ in marketing your business and services online. Nearly everyone you see has an iPhone, BlackBerry or Andriod smart-phone…meaning they have a mobile, internet capable device – which means your reach can go far beyond print media and computers! Capitalizing on an ever changing, technology driven world is important and being able to offer property information on a smart-phone brands you as a smart-Agent!

Benefits of Mobile IDX

• Instant Gratitude – prospects will get property information sooner then ever
• Exposure – being branded to every listing on a mobile device will launch your brand. Your name and contact information should appear everywhere!
• Location Based Searching – since a MOBILE phone is being used, GPS based searches are available
• Lead Capture – your mobile solution should be built with a lead capture form making it simpler for your prospects to get in contact with you about specific listings

What is important to you regarding mobile business marketing? QR codes? Mobile website? – We’d like to know!

For more information on RE/Advantage’s Mobile IDX $99 Special please contact us!

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Why REALTORS® Should Use Linked In

One of the main reasons to use Linked In is to gain professional connections. By linking up with mortgage professionals, appraisers and even other agents (for referrals) you can build a great network around internet ‘word of mouth’ business! Linked In is used as a glorified, more personal resume builder. Real Estate professionals are able to list current and past work, schooling, designations and specialties for prospects and clients to view.

When creating a profile you must keep in mind that Linked In is being used as a mini search engine – so the better you use your keywords the better your chance of being found on Linked In. So what profile aspects should you focus on:

• Your Description
• Your Current/Past Work
• Your Summary
• Your Specialties

You should also think about customizing your profile/account URL this way you can put your Linked In URL on your email signatures and newsletter for added exposure. How to customize your Linked in URL: go to the “Edit Profile” tab and click “Public Profile” at bottom left. Once you’re on this page, on the far right you will see “Your Current URL.” This is where you can customize your LinkedIn domain name so you can better brand your account.

Linked In groups are another great way to cultivate relationships and generate leads. It is important to join and create groups, this way you get resourceful information from the groups you’ve joined and leverage marketing for the groups you’ve created. Many real estate professionals RE/Advantage has worked with said that business happens from the personal ‘question and answer’ environment Linked In fosters.

If you would like to learn more about Linked In and how to leverage business using this social media platform, please do not hesitate to contact us!

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Matt Cutts from Google talks about some tips on site re-design

Google recently posted one of the Matt Cutts Q&A videos where he talks about the effects of site redesigns with redirects on search rankings.  Watch his video here.

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