5-local-seo-solutions-for-real-estate-agentsReal estate professionals must rely on search engine optimization if they want to beat their competitors and sell properties. With SEO, realty websites can improve their page ranks, bringing them closer to the top for relevant search results. SEO is also a key part of boosting brand recognition and encouraging greater clientele.

Furthermore, SEO is essential for lead generation and conversions. About 90 percent of buyers use the internet in the home buying process, and more than half will search online for a home before hitting the streets. If your site is optimized for search, you’ll see greater conversions.

It all starts with local SEO. Everything from the keywords you use to the captions on your listing photos will impact buyer decisions. To get started, here are some tips used daily by successful realtors.

1. Start with Local Keywords

Begin by researching local keywords and determining what brings the most traffic to your site. A 2015 study from the National Association of Realtors reveals that 69 percent of house hunters will begin their online search with a local keyword phrase such as “houses for sale in Houston.” By optimizing your website for these search terms, you can attract some of that local attention.

2. Use Videos

One of the stipulations in Google’s search algorithm is that quality is a key factor in determining rankings. When content on your site is high-quality, you’ll perform better against the competition. Photos are a no-brainer for any real estate site – however, now site visitors are demanding video for a better website experience. When used correctly, videos factor high in the quality aspect of websites.

3. Write a Consistent Blog

Blogs are essential for SEO and digital marketing. The more content you have, the easier it is for Google to cache your files and boost your rankings. Again, quality is an important factor here. The content should be relevant to both your website and trending topics. Just check out this real estate blog as an example.

It’s also important to optimize your blog for SEO purposes. Using keywords appropriately in meta descriptions, title tags, photo tags, and content can improve search relevance.

4. Improve Responsive Design

Very few people need to be told about the necessity of responsive design. With the majority of new home shoppers using their mobile devices to research listings and realtors, it’s fairly clear that access on multiple mobile devices really helps retain web visitors. Now, the discussion needs to move to improving responsive design on your site.

Take a look at what your website currently has to offer. You’ll want to consider the following:

  • Speed
  • Navigation
  • Image transfer
  • Branding
  • Contact info
  • Transmission of pages
  • Video abilities

If there are other important features on your site, consider those as well. Check that these features work properly. If things are slow, speed it up. If videos won’t play, change the coding so they will. Mobile search can be very frustrating for users, but if your site is updated with the latest in responsive design, you’ll have a much easier time retaining customers.

5. Use Social Media

Social media is great for advertising and building relationships, which translates to better SEO. Because you spend so much time on social media building relationships, you’ll gain more retention and visitors. As blog posts and listings are shared across Facebook, you’ll get more clicks that will improve the credibility of your site. Though social media won’t be your only source of marketing, it should be an important component.

The most important tip to remember about SEO for realtors is that it takes time. You have to be patient in order to see results. At the beginning of your efforts, you’ll likely see a quick increase in your rankings, but after that, it’s a steady upward course. Consistency and patience will lead to the results you want.