Search engine optimization (SEO) is a term that gets thrown around a lot in the world of real estate marketing. And while it may seem like something only big businesses need to worry about, the truth is that SEO should be a top priority for any real estate agent looking to attract new clients online.
Many real estate agents think that having a few well-written blog posts is all they need to rank high in Google search results. But if you want to consistently bring in new leads through your website, you need to take a more strategic approach to your SEO efforts.
That's where this guide comes in. We'll show you everything you need to know about real estate agent SEO, from keyword research to link building, to make sure your excellent content gets seen by the right people.
Let's begin!
Keyword Research
If that sounds dry and boring, we're sorry to tell you that it absolutely is. But laying the groundwork is important, and keyword research is the foundation of any good SEO strategy.
Keyword research is the process of finding and targeting keywords that potential clients are using to search for properties and real estate services online. By optimizing your website and content for these keywords, you can improve your chances of ranking in the search results and getting found by people who are ready to buy or sell.
If your website is still new or you're just getting started with SEO, we suggest focusing your strategy on just one city. Once you've mastered the art of ranking in that city, you can then start expanding to other areas.
Some examples of popular real estate keywords include:
homes for sale in (city)
real estate agent (city)
buy a house (city)
sell my house (city)
The point is to target keywords that potential clients in your city are searching for—not what you think they should be searching for.
Finding relevant keywords can be deceptively difficult. You want to find keywords that have high search volume but low competition. Using SEO tools specifically designed for keyword research, like Google's Keyword Planner, can help you find keywords that fit this criterion.
Integrating Keywords
With your new keywords in tow, it's time to start integrating them into your website. The first place to start is your website's title tag, which is the text that appears in the search results when someone performs a query.
The title tag should be no more than 60 characters long, and it should accurately reflect the content of your page. For example, if you're writing an article about how to buy a house in your city, your title tag might look something like this:
How to Buy a House in (City): A Complete Guide
As you can see, the title is short, sweet, and to the point. It also includes the keyword "buy a house in (city)," which tells Google that this page is relevant to people who are searching for that term.
For better results, you can also insert keywords into your website's meta tags, header tags, content, and image alt text. These are all places where Google looks for keywords when determining the relevance of a page, so including them can help you rank higher in the search results.
Mobile Optimization
People are using their smartphones and tablets to search for properties and real estate services more than ever before. Some elements that Google looks at when determining if a website is mobile-friendly include:
Responsive design - This means that your website automatically adjusts to fit the screen size of any device, whether it's a phone, tablet, or laptop.
Clickable buttons and links - All buttons and links on your website should be big enough to be clicked on easily with a finger.
Fast loading time - Mobile users are impatient, so your website needs to load quickly on all devices. Google's Mobile-Friendly Test tool is a great way to see how your website measures up.
Link Building
In the world of SEO, links are like votes—the more links you have, the higher your website will rank in the search results.
Link building can be a bit of a Catch-22, though. On the one hand, you need links to rank well, but on the other hand, it can be tough to get links if your website isn't already ranking well.
One way to overcome this is to start by building links from high-quality websites that are relevant to your business. For example, if you're a real estate agent in Los Angeles, you might look for websites that are about Los Angeles, real estate, or home buying and selling. Once you've found a few good prospects, reach out to them and ask if they would be interested in linking to your website.
If you're having trouble finding websites to link to yours, there are a few other strategies you can try. One is to create helpful resources, like infographics or eBooks, and then reach out to people who have linked to similar content in the past. Another is to find websites that have already linked to your competitors and ask them for a link as well.
Just as setting goals is important to your business, so is tracking your SEO progress and making adjustments along the way. Regularly check your website's analytics to see how your SEO efforts are paying off, and don't be afraid to experiment with new strategies to see what works best for you. With a little hard work and dedication, you can make your website a top performer in no time.