According to a NAR (National Association of Realtors) study, 97% of home buyers start their search online. To reach potential buyers, you need to fine-tune your listings for search engine optimization (SEO). This ensures that potential buyers searching for properties online see your listings.
SEO for estate agents is a long-term investment that can increase your visibility in search results and improve web traffic. In the long run, it can drive sales.
To get there, you need to understand the best practices for SEO for estate agents. This article will cover topics such as keyword research, title tags, meta descriptions, and on-page content. Let's get into the details:
Do Your Keyword Research
Keyword research is the process of identifying the terms and phrases people use to search for information online. When doing keyword research for real estate SEO, figure out who you are trying to reach with your real estate website. Once you know your target audience, identify the keywords they use to search for information.
You can use keyword research tools (including Google Keyword Planner, SEMRush, and Ahrefs) to find relevant keywords. Then, take a look at the websites of your competitors. They'll give you an idea of the keywords you should target.
When choosing keywords, consider the following factors: search volume, keyword difficulty, and relevance. Find out how many people are searching for each keyword and how difficult it is to rank for each. You should also understand the relevance of the SEO keywords for real estate.
Consider Local Keywords
Local keywords can help your listings appear in search results for people searching for properties in your area. When you use them in your listings, potential buyers and sellers looking for properties in your area will likely find you. Examples of local keywords for real estate SEO are 'homes for rent,' 'property for sale,' and 'land for sale near me.'
As you use local keywords, know who you are trying to reach with the listings. You should also identify the local keywords they use to search for properties. These words or phrases may have the name of the property's specific location.
Try to use local keywords in your meta description and throughout your listing. Also, include them in your image alt text (the text that appears when you hover over an image). Ensure the text is readable and informative, and update the local keywords to stay ahead of the competition and improve your SEO.
Use Keywords Throughout Your Property Listings
Using keywords throughout your property listings helps your listings show up in search results. This way, it's easier for potential buyers and sellers to find them. The keywords should appear in the title tag, meta description, body copy, and image alt text.
Where possible, opt for long-tail keywords since they are more specific and easier to rank for than short-tail keywords. For instance, instead of "real estate," you could use the keyword "real estate for sale in San Francisco."
Don't try to stuff your listings with keywords. Instead, naturally use real estate SEO keywords. The text should also be readable and informative.
As your listings change, update the keywords that you are using. Doing this will help you keep up with changing search queries and stay ahead of the competition. It also improves your SEO rankings.
Write Clear and Concise Property Descriptions
A property description summarizes the features and amenities of a piece of real estate offered for sale or lease. Clear and concise property descriptions help potential buyers and sellers understand the property. It also makes you more likely to attract interested buyers and sellers.
To write property descriptions, start with a strong introduction that gives a brief overview of the property. It should highlight the property type, location, and number of bedrooms and bathrooms.
From there, strong verbs will help your descriptions come alive. Instead of saying, "The property has a large backyard," say, "The property boasts a sprawling backyard." And above all, proofread your descriptions for errors in grammar or spelling.
Images and videos can help potential buyers and sellers better understand the property. Remember to use high-quality images and videos that represent the property. As your property changes, update your descriptions.
Optimize Your Images and Videos
Optimizing your images and videos in SEO for real estate can make your listings show up in search results. Potential buyers and sellers can easily find these listings. The images and videos should have descriptive file names and relevant keywords for this to happen.
It's also smart to add alt text to your photos. Alt text is the piece of text that pops up when people hover over an image. It can help the search engine better understand the photo.
Create high-quality videos that showcase the property's features. Optimize the video title and description with relevant keywords. Add closed captions to the video so that it is accessible to people who are deaf or have hearing difficulties.
The captions of your images and videos should include the keywords you are targeting. This way, potential buyers and sellers will understand what the image or video is about. You should also optimize your images and videos for handheld devices since most people use mobile devices to search for properties.
Build Backlinks to Your Property Listings
Building backlinks to your property listings can improve SEO for real estate websites. When other websites link to your site, it tells search engines it is authoritative and trustworthy. As a result, your site will rank top in search results, increasing traffic and leads.
To build backlinks to your property listings, create high-quality content that's easy to link to. The content always needs to be engaging, informative, and relevant. Submit your website to directories to get backlinks to your website.
Guest blogging is also a great way to get backlinks to your website. When you guest blog on another website, include an authoritative link to your site in the author bio. You can also reach out to other website managers and ask them to link to you.
Keep Your SEO Up-to-Date
Search engine algorithms are always changing, and new keywords are always emerging. Keeping your SEO up-to-date ensures that your website still ranks well in search results. You won't fall behind when your competitors update their SEO strategies.
To keep your real estate SEO up-to-date, regularly monitor your SEO rankings. Use a tool like Google Search Console to track your website's rankings for your target keywords. This way, you can see which keywords are performing well and which need improvement.
Keep your content fresh to keep your website relevant in search results. Get new backlinks from high-quality websites and remove those that are no longer relevant. You should also look up the latest SEO trends and embrace them.
Since there's no one-size-fits-all approach to SEO, experiment and test new strategies. Doing this will help you find what works for your website and target audience. Read SEO blogs, attend industry events, and follow SEO experts on social media.
Optimize Your Google My Business (GMB) Listing
Optimizing your GMB listing helps your real estate SEO services appear in search results. Your listing will be visible to buyers and sellers looking for properties in your area. It's because Google My Business listings are one of the top three factors that Google uses to determine local search rankings.
Complete all the information in your GMB profile to optimize your Google My Business listing. Use keywords that people will likely use when searching for properties in your area and photos of the business. Encourage your customers to leave good reviews and verify your listing to improve local search rankings.
Use Social Networking Platforms
Social media platforms let you connect and engage with potential buyers and sellers, build relationships, and drive traffic to your website. When used effectively, it can link you to people looking for properties like yours. This way, you close more deals and build a successful real estate business.
Choose the right platforms for social media to improve SEO for real estate agents. Some platforms are more suitable for real estate than others. For example, Facebook and Twitter are good platforms for connecting with potential buyers and sellers, while Pinterest is good for sharing property photos.
When you share content on social media, use relevant keywords. Look at what influencers, competitors, and customers use on their pages. The keywords will help people find your content when searching for properties like yours.
If you want to reach a broader audience, you can run social media ads. Social media ads are a type of digital marketing that use social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to deliver paid ads to your target audience. They can be a great way to get your business in front of people interested in buying or selling properties in your area.
Ready to Implement SEO for Estate Agents?
SEO for estate agents is a valuable tool that can help garner more leads and sales. It can help you create a strong online presence optimized for search engines to succeed when marketing your listings. Follow the strategies in this guide to boost the SEO of your listings and start seeing results.
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