The key to successful optimization of a realtor website is localizing localizing localizing...
Important factors to consider:
1) Keywords within links to your website, and within internal links on your website
2) Keywords "after the slash" eg. in page title names
3) Keywords in domain name
4) Page content
5) Meta Tags
Let's look at these areas one at a time:
1 - Anchor Text, or "phrased links"
When you are linking your website from another webpage, use a phrase in the hyperlink that you'd like to come up for on Google, for example, Find Markham luxury homes, then link your website from that phrase.
I work at MCS Real Estate Systems (if you are an Ontario realtor seeking a strong web solution call 1866.470.4007 x 239 or just ask for Joe), so if I am linking our website from another website or blog, I may use something like:
Note that the underlying link is to www.mcsres.com
For competitive terms, like "toronto real estate", there will be thousands of links to major websites, so pick an area or three and get farming. Think in terms of neighborhoods, subdivisions, towns and areas. Phrases like Unionville detached homes, or Maple luxury homes, or Streetsville family home, will be more successful than Markham homes or Scarboro real estate.
2 - Keywords "after the slash"
Think about it; while keywords in the domain tell Google what your 50-page website is all about, the keywords after the slash (eg. Page Title at end of URL) let Google's index know what that specific page is about. For example:
JohnRealtor.com/SearchBurlingtonHomes.html
OR
GTAproperties.com/MarkhamLuxuryHomes
See how there is much more detailed info after the slash? Name your pages properly and you'll come up in a wider variety of searches and generate more leads from the web.
3. Keywords within the domain name
Something like SearchTorontoHomes.com will usually (not always, as #1 factor remains keyworded links to your website - anchor text) rank higher for that specific phrase and variants of it than something like JohnSmithRealtor.com would.
This is particularly important if you are farming a new subdivision area or section of town you really like. The smaller the area, the more value you'll get out of having keywords in the domain. Now, you don't want all your branding to reflect one small area, so if you register a domain name for an area you are farming / prospecting, consider it a sub-brand, and create a page on your website about that subdivision, then forward that domain to that page. A web branding rule: Main brands point to homepage via DNS, sub-brands forward to specific sub-page via Enable Forwarding (a GoDaddy.com term).
4. Words content on your website
The more you write about various parts of your city and cool towns nearby, the wider a range of searches you will come up in at Google. Search engines want to deliver relevant results. To make your website relevant to what your ideal client would search for at Google, write down the 15 phrases that this ideal client might type into the Google search engine.
Now try and work 3 or 4 of of those phrases into sentences on each page of your website, making your web presence organically relevant to what your desired client would search for. How do you do this? Okay, let's say these are 2 of your phrases:
find Toronto homes
If you are looking to find Toronto homes for sale online, THIS is the website for you!
Markham luxury homes
We offer expertise on elegant homes and properties throughout the Toronto GTA region, including the best neighborhoods for Markham luxury homes, Richmond Hill detached houses and luxurious Thornhill condos; call today!
5. Meta Tags - Not what they used to be!!!
Before Google began their global takeover (they ARE the 800 pound gorilla we were all afraid Microsoft might become...) in 1998, meta tags were a key factor in deciding search engine rankings, but not any more. They can still break a tie, however, so do a great job on your meta tags and this will enhance your search engine rankings. A couple of tips:
a) Do separate meta tags for each of your crucial pages
b) Whenever possible, don't use any keywords that are not on that specific page
Many happy returns!!!!
Links Relevant to Real Estate SEO:
Real Estate website design:
