A new site has a quick way to check out how your site is listed on Google Local, MSN, Yahoo, and Best of the Web. Go to http://getlisted.org/ and type in your business name and zip code. If you find your business isn’t listed they have links to allow you to do so.

I’m working with a mortgage broker whose site was relatively new. As I did SEO on his site, the number of visitors to his site increased dramatically. Unfortunately his business didn’t. Then one day he asked me to test his applications page. I filled out the application and it seemed to work. But he never received my information. In fact, he hadn’t received any response to his application. We looked at the analytics and one in four was visiting the page. His webmaster corrected the problem and his page now worked. Yet, how much business did he miss out on because his application page wasn’t working.

Most Realtors know that for a prospect to get a home, they must go through a background check, at least to determine their credit rating. Yet, these same Realtors will let a friend or relative develop their web site. Or turn to a web design company that they haven’t looked into. If a web site has the potential to be your biggest marketing tool, then think of it as one of your biggest investments. I was recently hired by a mortgage company whose site was developed by a company that professed to know SEO. Looking at the this agencies site, however, I realized immediately they didn’t know the first thing about getting a site ranked on Google or Yahoo. This agencies site had elements in it that would only cause problems with the search engines.

Once you determine you need a web site, take the time to look for an agency or person that knows what they are doing. That have had proven success. And if you already have a site, still take the time to look at where your site currently ranks. And how successful a track record your webmaster has. If you find they are wanting, walk away from them. A money pit is a home you constantly put money into without chance of recouping. This could also describe a failed web site.

I’m working with a Realtor who has nearly 25 years experience in real estate and who has won numerous awards. He knows the community in which he works, having sold hundreds of homes in the space of a few years. Yet, I didn’t find any of the information on his web site. Instead when you clicked on the about us link, the page was mostly about the web site.

If you have a web site it should have two goals to sell your client’s homes. And to get more clients. Many of the people visiting the site will first be researching agents on the web before they pick up the phone. Give them your background. Show them your successes.

Its been something most people in SEO have known for some time. The Yellow Pages have been replaced. I know when I’m looking for a business phone number or address, I’ll Google the business first. Either I can’t find the phone book or when I do its always difficult to read the number.

Now a new report shows that search engine have indeed become the first source of information. The <a href=”

report

“>report is worth reading for any business whose customers are local, whether they are Realtors or florists.

A lot of the first entries in this blog will be basic information. I know that right now no one is probably reading this. It hasn’t been indexed by the search engines and I’ve done little to publicize it. So I’m making the first entries for those with little knowledge of SEO. Later, when hopefully this blog reaches its intended market, I can link back to these entries while covering more complex topics.

When you do you site, do something similar. Don’t assume all your prospects are familiar with your market. Let’s assume your market is Phoenix. There is certainly enough information on the community and many of your prospects live there or have visited the city. Still there will be some who haven’t. When doing your site, contain information on your city, especially suburbs. This may influence them in what part of Phoenix they will look for homes in.

The success of your web site is dependent on the keywords your site is optimized for. SEO is about finding the words your prospects are using on the search engines, whether your business is real estate, health care, or any other service. If your a Realtor you would think this would be simple. Simply insert your community with the words Realtor or Real estate. Yet, even for a small community you could be missing out on a number of opportunities.

A map of Chicago provides a wealth of opportunites for home owners and the Realtors that serve them.

For example say you sell homes in Chicago. You could come up with literally dozens of possibilities. There is Chicago homes for sale, Chicago real estate, Chicago IL real estate, Chicago Illinois real estate, Chicago Realtor, Chicago real estate agency, etc. Then you could break it down by residential areas such as Lincoln Park Chicago real estate or by type of property such as Chicago real estate lofts.

Also look at housing trends. The unfortunate fact is that foreclosures are more than just news stories. They’re are something your prospects are looking for. One of my clients is a Fresno real estate agent who specializes in foreclosures. In fact, Fresno is one of the largest communities in which foreclosures are occurring, meaning there are many properties to choose from.

Finally if your a Realtor don’t focus on this phrase alone. When most people go online looking for a Realtor, they are looking for a number to choose from. This is why they focus on Realtors, not Realtor. For example, people type in Chicago Realtors nearly ten times more often then Chicago Realtor. So although you might think of yourself as an independent, optimize your site for Realtors in addition to Realtor.

There are a number of fine services to use when searching for keywords. I’d recommend Keyword Discovery, or Wordtracker, \Look for a one day term if possible. If your working with Google Adwords Program, then take advantage of their free tool.

I see them all the time, billboards for Realtors. There is a giant image of their face and their contact information. And probably something along the lines of I can sell your home, or I’m the Realtor to see your home. While this is a great way to announce yourself, its money not very well spent.

If they

In the past the distance between a prospect’s previous residence and their new home was just 25 miles. Now it is 242 miles, on average. This means billboards and even most newspaper ads aren’t being seen by most prospects needing your services. And what does a billboard really tell a prospect. It can’t show experience or current homes for sale.

In my community it costs 1200 dollars to run a billboard for one month. In most communities, its much more. This money would be better spent on pay per click campaigns or optimizing your site.

Put as much information about a community as you can on a site, but do your best to keep them on their site. I visited one site where their relocation page consisted of a list of other sites to visit to learn about the community the Realtor served. She even told

3 dollars for a map?

them they could get a map from her. They only had to pay 3 dollars for shipping. Not only was she redirecting them from her site, she wanted them to pay a measly 3 dollars for a map.

Why not provide the information herself. And eat the 3 dollar shipping charge. This way when the prospect came to the area, they would already have confidence in the Realor and possibly even know which neighborhoods they wanted to look for homes in.

The more time a visitor stays on the site, the more likely they are to become a prospect.

Those in the service industry should take a lesson from the real estate industry. Curb appeal means having a home that people driving by are attracted to. For a Realtor, in particular, they should worry about the images they use on their web site. Not to sell homes, but to sell themselves.

I had a Realtor client who insisted on having photos of himself with his family on his site. His idea was to show he was a family man. One image was of him as the Hulk wrestling with his children. I told him that the picture was cute, but he’d be better off showing images of him in a suit, interacting with clients. And showing homes with sold signs in front of them to show his success. He ignored my advice and now he’s no longer a Realtor.

By no means am I saying his choice of images is what hurt his career. But I do think his images had subliminal effect on visitors to his site.  People are looking for someone to sell their home or get them the best price on homes they’re interested in buying. Use your web site to show your success and professionalism. Leave the family photos for your myspace page.