How real estate agents can use Google Alerts for SEO

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Google alerts are just like the “daily email updates” your IDX system sends out to people searching for homes. Except instead of emailing new real estate listings, Google will email you the latest relevant Google search results that match your search criteria. This includes web, news, blog posts etc.

Pretty cool right? You get the latest relevant Google results on any topic, keyword phrase, a persons name, whatever your interest, automatically emailed to you, once a day, as it happens or once a week. Your choice.

Some of the Google Alerts you may want to consider setting up:

  • Your name
  • Your website name
  • Your latest industry news
  • Your competitors
  • Your market area
  • The keyword phrases you would expect people use to find your web site

The last item on the list is the one I most want to discuss. Most realtors I speak with want to be found this way in a Google search: city state real estate

example: westport ct real estate

Google Alert for Westport CT Real Estate

Google Alert for Westport CT Real Estate

Using Google Alerts will make the concept crystal clear about two things I explain to clients on an almost daily basis:

  1. The old fashioned marketing strategy of static content is no longer performing for real estate web sites.
  2. If you don’t have relevant content including your keyword phrases you can not expect to be found for that particular search.

Another important thing to remember, and creating Google Alerts will remind you, is this: People don’t necessarily come to your web site to read your content. Specific headlines and including your market area (city and state) and topic in your copy is essential for search engines and for understanding what your content is about outside the context of your web site.

Create a Google Alert and improve your web marketing strategy now! www.google.com/alerts

Google top ten? Re-think your website goals!

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If your main website goal is to be found in the top 10 search results on Google then you will want to consider re-defining your goals.

I have many clients who enjoy an enviable top 10, #1, top 3 etc. search engine position. This was their goal and a key reason for hiring me. These same clients now want to increase their results to include additional search terms and generate even more traffic. They are convinced that even though they are prominent for the search terms of their market area it just isn’t good enough and they need more. Well sure, who doesn’t want more traffic?

There is a flaw in this strategy, ask yourself this; What is this great flow of traffic going to do when they get to your website? Call you? Hire you? Send you money, buy your stuff or just surf on to another search result? Check your web stats, if your visitor’s are moving on then you need to consider why.

Admittedly, just a few years ago, having a web presence and being found in a search was novel enough to generate leads. This is no longer the case. The web isn’t new, it has evolved and so have the people who use it.

People using a search engine or “googling” are researching, looking for an answer, looking to purchase something specific or maybe want to be entertained. The website that answers the question, fulfills the need, engages the visitor, earns trust, makes a connection, builds a relationship etc. will generate the lead. And this of course, should be the goal of your website.

You need to take responsibility for your web success by building relationships and trust with your visitors. Define your your audience and give them what they want. Re-focus the time, energy and money you spend on search engine positioning and direct it towards content for your audience.

Incidentally, acheiving this goal will also greatly improve your SEO.