International Search Engine Marketing Blog

Search engine optimization of a real estate website is for the most part no different than the optimization of a website in any other industry. There are a few differences, but for the basic strategies employed are the same. How many times a day can a blog write about backlinks and content? A quick search online will reveal that the answer to this question is: never enough. That is primarily since these two components go largely ignored by many website owners as well as search engine marketing companies. Oftentimes one component is focused upon while the other component is given less weight or ignored. Thus it is important to investigate the two primary ways SEM and SEO strategies are utilized for real estate websites and also those of most other industries.

Taking a look at the backlink portion of the equation is often the strongest single item to focus upon. This is especially true for Google. When utilizing SEO for real estate websites it is crucial to ensure that there are authoritative references (links) from other related sites that point back to your URL. This means that the references to your site should come from other real estate websites and those related to real estate. They should not come from a URL’s that focus on divorces, such as that in last month’s post. Rather it is crucial to focus on obtaining references from other related properties on web.

The other component when attempting optimization for real estate websites involves the content on the pages. First there should be at least eight pages of copy at a minimum. Why will other sites want to link to yours if it does not contain content of any value? Additionally, why will a search engine want to display results if there is no information on the domain? Search engines want visitors to find the info desired. If your site does not contain that information, then there is almost certainly another one that does.

This is why there are countless articles on the web that talk about these two crucial components. The trend will continue until webmasters and SEM companies start to follow that advice, which will likely never occur. That is why knowing this information is one additional competitive advantage for those who also utilize the practices described. Many webmasters do these tasks themselves but I find a larger number find it more cost effective to outsource it to a local or international SEM company, such as Agilis Marketing. Shameless plug – yes; but it is also true.

I am often asked, “Why not simply use SEM for your own sites?” The reply is simple; I am leaning more in that direction and accepting fewer clients. My Virginia divorce lawyer site is such an example. Why should I utilize knowledge to make other companies’ profits when I can use it solely for my benefit? Again the answer above applies, but it is also important to add that I enjoy assisting other companies and not everything is solely about profits.

Let’s take a look at my newer website and take a look at what is going on here. First off it is important to note the URL of http://www.virginia-divorce-lawyer.com/, obviously I carefully selected this URL based upon the keyword phrases this internet property intends to target and to whom the site will sell marketing space and generate advertisement revenue. Individuals with existing sites do not share the same luxury. However, the URL of the site is only one component in a local, national, or international SEM marketing campaign.

The WHOIS data clearly illustrates the purchase of the domain only a few months back:
Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: VIRGINIA-DIVORCE-LAWYER.COM
Created on: 15-Mar-09
Expires on: 15-Mar-10
Last Updated on: 18-Mar-09

Still the page is already well indexed and the homepage has a PR of 3. Yet, one will notice that the site still does not appear for any many major phrases on the SERPS. However a deeper look shows it is already number for when typing into Google allinanchor: Virginia beach lawyer. This clearly illustrates the sandbox penalty. Still , how did the site reach this PR in such a short time frame with a limited number of backlinks? One reason is there is news blog that is updated weekly with fresh content. While the main page itself,  http://www.virginia-divorce-lawyer.com/news/, does not currently show a PageRank all the information is indexed.

Of course there are many other components aside from a Virginia divorce news section that allowed for the site to reach these marks at such a rapid pace and that is what Agilis Marketing helps accomplish for its selected clients. Please feel free to contact us to learn more about our services and we can see whether or not Agilis and your company is a smart match for developing an SEM campaign. Whether a site relates to attorneys and the legal system or anything else makes little difference in the eyes of the major search engines.

With these difficult economic times completing SEO work on budget that does not break the bank is increasingly important. More and more people are deciding to do the work themselves rather than going with an outside firm. I fully encourage this. Primarily because once most individuals or companies do the work on their own they later decide to hire a professional local or international SEM company. Nonetheless, I wanted to provide visitors with some tips and advice for those who decide to do the work themselves, this way they are not left wondering if their efforts are in vain.

Tip one is to create quality and unique content. While most visitors likely already heard this a million times, few people actually implement this properly. The content should be within one link from the homepage if at all possible. Each primary page of the site should contain at least 250 words of text. A site should contain at least eight pages. All pages should utilize coding and URL’s that are easy for the search engines to read. These are some of the bare minimums, but are excellent places to start on your own.

Tip number two, which also is ingrained in most people’s minds is to build quality links from outside sites. Those on a tight budget are likely best with reciprocal exchanges. They are not as powerful as one-way links, but also only take the time required to establish the contact with another webmaster. When doing such it is crucial that to exchange link only with websites that are directly related to the company’s niche. Pass on everything else. As a cautionary note, link exchanges are often difficult on sites that are brand new and Google does not display a PR since others are less likely to want to trade.

As more companies and individuals are trimming budgets, these two tips alone will take a website far. Nonetheless, do not expect miracles overnight, nor to learn as much as individuals or companies who do this for a living. At some point in time it almost always makes sense to turn to a professional SEO company for help.

Search engine optimization for health websites is almost the same as SEM for any other industry niche. No matter which industry a company website is amongst the same principles apply in order for it to rank well within the search engines. However this post will address of few considerations that one should when optimizing a site within this niche.

A key consideration that companies will want to watch out for is accidentally linking to bad neighborhoods during their off page optimization efforts. When it comes to health sites it is easy to accidentally acquire a link from a website that sells Viagra or other items, which Google might use to classify a website as one that is part of a bad neighborhood. Unless you are selling Viagra, if your company is selling supplements or other health services then it is important to ensure links pointing to the company’s site do not come from websites in a bad neighborhood. I advise those wondering what Google views as “bad neighborhood” to utilize common sense principles. Essentially, if the site is inappropriate for children the Google is likely to classify it as a website that is part of a bad neighborhood. When performing health website SEM it is even more essential to only attempt to gather links from directly relevant websites than if your company operated in a different niche.

Of course there are a few other minor differences to keep in mind when performing SEO on a health website. However, for the most part following the same best practices utilized when optimizing a site in any industry will work fine whether starting an international SEM campaign for your company’s business or targeting a local audience. Please feel free to utilize the form below to add your insights and commentary.

Before an individual or company can optimize and use other SEM techniques for a website an entity must first develop one. Oftentimes, simple template websites do not look original or meet the specific demands of a company. It is also common that an artist or designer is able to create an excellent concept using Photoshop or another photo editing program, but cannot convert that design into html that is search engine friendly. When falling into either of the above categories, a service known as PSD slicing is an excellent way to turn a concept into an .xhtml website.

There are a variety of companies that provide such services and they all charge a wide array of prices. PSDSlicing.com is one company that is particularly talented in this arena, is competitively priced, and extremely efficient.  They make it simple and painless to turn a concept or image into a functional, WC3 compliant website. Understandably many individuals in the United States are hesitant to do business with an international company. However, this firm alleviates those concerns by only requiring a 50 percent deposit and providing numerous references to satisfied clients.

Developing a website is one of the first steps to creating a well defined search engine presence. Other factors such as the importance of links are required considerations. All that said, before anyone can even start the more complex process of marketing a website, obviously one is needed. “PSD Slicing” is an excellent service and place to start prior to commencing a search engine optimization project.

The real estate market is extremely competitive these days as anyone involved in the industry knows. That is why SEM and SEO for a real estate website is more crucial than ever before. The most completive geographical areas in the country also tend to require the most extensive work. As an example market, companies in the Breckenridge real estate market are always looking for new and innovative ways to promote their services since it is still a blooming area.

One particular firm that has done an extremely successful job is Mr. Breckenridge Real Estate. Of particular interest is their usage of YouTube videos to help market the website. This helps from an SEO and SEM perspective. Even individuals outside of the U.S. in international geographies viewed this video and then visited the site. Visit www.youtube.com and search for “Breckenridge Real Estate” or visit their video directly here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzPIAMU7jTI  . Notice this company’s video appears at the top of the list and therefore serves as an excellent example of strategy other agencies might attempt to replicate.

It is also important to note that rather than only serving one region. This company services nearby areas as well including the Copper Mountain CO real estate and Silverthorne real estate markets. Doing such ensures that once people reach the site they have plenty of options to pick amongst. It is difficult enough to obtain traffic to a website so it is vital that once someone reaches the destination relevant information is there that keeps visitors interested.

The primary takeaway here is that if you are a real estate agent, no matter what area you serve, it is crucial to have a well respected web presence and usage of innovative techniques. Mr. Breckenridge serves as an excellent example of a website that is able to generate leads as a result. The internet is an ideal place to achieve a superior ROI for a company’s marketing investment. I always advise people to do what they are best at. I do not try to sell real estate and it usually best for a real estate company to hire an outside agency to help with their internet marketing.

Whether using Agilis Marketing or another SEM company, hiring a professional firm is a smart move. It is also important to note that we did not do the marketing for this company, nor is this real estate firm a client of ours. It appears they received professional assistance from another reputable SEO firm and therefore serves as an excellent example of what an agency can accomplish whether using our company or another. Visitors may also wish to take a look at one our past post about selecting an SEO company loacated http://www.agilismarketing.com/sem-marketing-blog/selecting-a-united-states-seo-company/ and also advice on common tricks to avoid during your search on the post entitle SEO company tricks. As always, please feel free to comment with your thoughts.

When launching a website deciding where to register domain name and picking an SEO friendly one are not always easy tasks. There are a plethora of places to go to do such, but there are only a handful of sites that we suggest to clients and prospects. We recommend a few options to register domain names. A list of those options is accessible by following the previous link. One item to keep in mind is whether to purchase a new domain name or buy an existing one. There are both pros and cons to each choice.

There are multiple positive SEO benefits to registering a domain name that already exists and has PageRank. The largest benefit is that it becomes possible to avoid the Google Sandbox, thus saving an enormous amount of time before your website can appear in the search rankings. Another benefit is that the domain might already have traffic going that way. Of course these are usually only of value if the domain purchased is in the same industry as the content and information a company is planning to put on the website.

The primary benefits of a registering a new domain name is that it is often cheaper and you can select the exact name desired. Often companies prefer to use their register their business names as their domain names. However, bear in mind if you own a business called Widgets XYZ, it might be better to register the domain discount-widgets.com rather than widgetsxyz.com. The reason for this is that the former variation is likely to help more with search engine marketing and optimization efforts. Regardless of which option is selected the resource mentioned earlier is an excellent place to buy new domain names or existing ones.

One other factor to keep in mind is that sometimes hosting companies will register your domain name free of charge, but it is not always a smart idea to pick a bundled hosting package and domain name. This is true simply because switching to another hosting company can become more difficult as your business grows. Therefore even after selecting a hosting company it is a smart idea to register your domain name separately through another company such as those suggested earlier in this article.

Recently, I came across a phenomenal site that has done an excellent job when it comes to SEM. Silver Cross sells recycled and new healthcare equipment and has done an excellent job of attracting visitors and converting them into customers. This case study will examine why they are succeeding at selling electric scooters, stair lifts, power wheelchairs, and many other health related products for those with disabilities.

A SEO Friendly Blog

Silver Cross developed a stair lifts blog to discuss the product and provide more information on the company. This is essential in the days of social marketing. A larger number of customers are looking at a website’s blog before they make a purchasing decision. The blog also does a nice job of integrating video into the website which further helps with SEO on both the local, national, and international levels. As a result of all this the blog is quickly becoming the destination of choice for those who are searching for stair lifts.

Electric Scooters and Power Wheelchairs

These are two extremely competitive keyword phrases for any company to target. Yet Silver Scooters does an excellent job of going beyond the basics. They carefully exercise the practice of deep linking into their overall marketing strategy. A couple pages targeted are those that focus on electric scooters and power wheelchairs. Many companies make the mistake of only targeting their homepage. Silver scooters ensure that visitors are also directed to their electric scooters, power wheelchairs, and many other product specific pages. This is an increasingly important strategy as Google and the other search engines look beyond links pointing only to a websites homepage.

These are all excellent strategies for any company to keep in mind. Whether selling electric scooters, another health related product, or anything else on the internet these same strategies apply. Silver Cross is doing an excellent job at implementing all that mentioned above.