- Block Duplicate Content - With the nifty All In One SEO pack for Wordpress, you can easily set your category and archive pages to be noindex/follow… meaning that Google will follow the links to the individual articles, but not index those pages which will help guard against the duplicate content problem. For those of you not running Wordpress, try turning off your archives, and not placing posts in more than one category. Read more about: Multiple categories & Onsite Duplicate Content.
- Keyword Research Before You Post - This little tactic has helped me tremendously. Before you get ready to hit publish, run the keyword phrase that you used in your title through a keyword research tool like Google’s Keyword Tool. You may often find that with just a slight variation, you’ll be targeting phrases that get a higher volume of searches. For more help on keyword research, read this post I wrote about the money tail.
- Internal Link Juice - In order to properly pass Page Rank, and link value to deep pages of your site (like older blog posts), you’ll want to link to these posts often. This can be achieved through a related posts section, or by simply linking back to previous articles as resources. Sometimes a few basic internal links with proper anchor text can have a great effect on that page’s ranking. Andrew Shotland gave a great tip related to this when I interviewed him about local search marketing.
- Keep Your Link Count Down - This can be a problem with some blogs… too many links on one page. It can water down your internal Page Rank, and cause problems with full indexing. Generally, try to keep the number of links on a single page below 100. Google has said that it may not crawl any links past the 100 mark. So be careful with your categories, archives and blogrolls. These are the things that can eat up your links fast especially on the home page and category page.
- Use Unique Titles For Blog Posts - Diversify your ranking potential by using unique titles on blog posts. I’ve written about this topic extensively here: Keyword Cannibalization.
- Each Post is a Ranking Opportunity - View each post you write as a new opportunity to rank for a unique keyword phrase. Each post has it’s own content, title, title tag, and URL slug making it a prime candidate for unique ranking for certain phrases. Don’t try to target the same phrases over and over in each post.
- Use Heading Tags - Not only is this important for usability, it’s vital for search engine ranking. If you are targeting a phrase in the title of the post, try to incorporate that phrase somewhere in the post within a heading tag. This will also break up the article nicely and make it easier to read.
- Label Pictures Properly - Each picture should include the tag that can be used to describe a picture with text. Be descriptive, but try to also include keyword phrases that you are targeting.
- The Perfectly Targeted Post - When you are attempting to rank a post well, you must do the following: 1. Identify a keyword phrase 2. Place the phrase in the post title towards the front 3. Place the phrase in the first sentence of the post 4. Use at least one subheading in the post that includes the phrase 5. Place the phrase in any images on the page using the alt tage. 6. Let the phrase flow naturally throughout the post.
- Write a Linkbait Post - This is a post that is written for the sole intention of building more links to the website through viral popularity and interest. It could be something funny, something controversial, a hoax, insider news, a free resource, and more. Just about anything can be linkbait if it ends up getting other people to link to you.
- Create Link Clusters - Each post has it’s own keyword phrase ranking potential in the search engines (usually based on the keywords used in the title and body). Create extra links to pages like this in clusters. Example: you have a post that is targeting: “blue widgets”. Create 10 links to that post from other related articles with that exact anchor text as the link: “blue widgets”. This can dramatically increase the ranking of that page for the chosen keyword phrase.
- Leverage Strong Pages - Every website has a few strong pages. Usually these are the most popular posts that have the most incoming links and comments. These pages can be leveraged to help build the authority of other pages on the site that may not be performing to their full potential. Link generously. Try using this tool for finding your strongest pages.
- Monitor 404 Error Statistics - Using Google Analytics and Google webmaster tools can help identify error statistics. Keep your eye 404 errors for pages that get consistently accessed. It probably means that there is an old link to that page that is bringing traffic to it. You’ll want to set up a 301 redirect for the 404 error page, or talk to the webmaster of the other site to have them change the link to a working page.
- Check Status of Outgoing Links - Many times the pages we link to get moved, taked offline, etc. It’s important that all of your outgoing links work properly so your readers can be taken to outside resources that actually work. Try this dead link checking tool.
- Find Missed Link Opportunities - Many times, your company or website can be referenced online without the actual hyperlink. It can be an effective strategy to find these references and ask the webmaster to turn them into a link. Use this query to find pages with these references.
15 Quick SEO Tips for Real Estate Bloggers
99 comments • Justin Smith | SEO, SMO & Blogging Consultant • May 21 2009 11:17PMComments
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Though I did get most of what you wrote, can you re-write this as if you are telling it to a 5th grader. There are many that are just getting started in the internet world and this is a bit over their head.....not the process, just the verbiage. Excellent content. I did not know how much I was doing right by accident........
Sell on.....
Not may comments here. I think the idea of providing tips is great but maybe several at a time...that list looks overwhelming.
Invaluable tips, as always. I think this requires a re-read in the morning when I'm fresh. fully conscious. LOL. Thanks, Justin.
I agree with Michael the list is a little overwhelming. It has great information, and I have bookmarked it so I can come back and get a bit more at a time.
I have to ride the special yellow school bus for this stuff....
You have just added so much great tips. I'm bookmarking this one to keep coming back to. Thanks!
There is no short cut to SEO, is there?
Justin,
Tim is right. I feel like I am only grazing on the surfice. Each thing sort of clicks, but it is too over my head. I bookmarked, but can't answer how coming back to it will help me.
Hi, Justin! Ahem, I'm going to have to come back and re-read. There may only be 15 points here, but it might as well have been 150. : ) Thanks for sharing.
Hi Justin..Do you think when I come back from ReBar camp I will have a better understanding..I too am bookmarking..U are just brillant..you shine like a diam
ond in the bright sunlight..Thank you
HelpfulHannah your friend in Philadelphia
Thanks Justin: good tips ,You sound like a pretty bright guy.
Liz
Justin, I would tell you that you are a pretty smart dude if I didnt think it might go to your head, lol. Your tomatoe blog is one of the most concise and to the point tools on the entire Active Rain. It should be mandatory reading for everyone the day the start their first website or blog.
Justin- Thanks for the blog. Good ideas and if we just try one new one then it is well worth reading.
Whew, that's a lot of tips. But SEO is key unless one is going to pay for position.
Wowsa! Such great information here. I'm so excited about your SEO tips. I can't wait to start applying them to my three websites and other web marketing strategies. I feel like I found a gold mine and I can't wait to start digging. THANKS!!!
as always, both informative and useful. My only thing is that when I'm writing a blog post, trying to keep all these SEO tips in mind is , er, trying.
I will also bookmark this one as I try some of your tips. Thanks
Justin, thanks very much for the tips. Now to remember and implement them, that's the hard part!
Justin, I didn't know about the Leveraging Strong posts. Thanks, I know what mine are but I need to check this out to see how I can leverage them. I was mentioning a few of these in our Board of Realtors Director meeting this past Tuesday and only one other Director understood any of it.
"Missy, just pick out a task force, I have no clue what you are talking about".
Hi Justin, Thanks for all these great tips. I just learned last week that duplicate content hurts your indexing in Google but hadn't done anything to work on fixing that problem. You've prompted me to look into putting the All in One SEO pack on my WordPress blog. I didn't know a lot of the other tips either...knowing this information will definitely help!
Have a great holiday weekend,
Anne Rains
Justin: I think this is an incredible list of SEO tips. Some I knew, some are new:o)) I always appreciate your in depth posts on improving our blogs and web sites. I will be combing through my outside outside blog today and applying your suggestions. It takes time, but it is so worth it to be on page one of Google. I hope you will keep posting on this level for those of us that understand and appreciate this valuable information.
Great stuff as always - bookmarked for later!
Justin, most of this is new to me. I'm going to have to return and read the other posts you mentioned. Maybe I'll figure it out.
Good stuff, thanks for this...
Great information Justin - keep the tips coming
I must admit - I am so grateful that you posted all of these great tips, but I need to figure out what you were talking about with many of them. I am excited to give the few I understood a shot and see if it helps. I have bookmarked for reference!
Where are the rest of the tips?
Of course, I know just enough to be dangerous.
Everybody is impressed by the list, but overwhelmed by the quantity. In a way I don't blame them. I do a lot of SEO work personally and professionally and I learned a few things from your list, so it's clear you had sophisticated content. For those battling to do better on their own site, I'd emphasize your suggestion about "The perfectly targeted post". That tip alone defines good practice for SEO.
Agreed on the post, as well as your class yesterday,(Denver RE bar) clearly GREAT CONTENT, but a little over some of our heads. I learned when talking about staging, that even if people don't ask questions, it's not because they are too timid to ask, it's because they don't know WHAT/HOW to ask... I did learn some things from your class, and from your post, so still a positive!
One question that came up in the car on the way home, (from the Realtors in the car): You said that you believe a combo blog website is a good thing, contrary to what Lorelle from WordPress said. The Realtors seemed unaware of any combo situation where they could incorporate IDX...any suggestions? I know I have gone way OVER comment status, should have been an e-mail, but it is important to many... Thanks for sharing your insight!
Right spot on!... Justin, thanks...
A great refresh... It's so easy to forget some of these essential building blocks.
René
Hi Cheryl,
Glad you were able to take a few things away from yesterday. It's extremely difficult to cater to such a diverse audience.
When I do a website/blog I keep everything on the same domain name using Wordpress. This would be an example: smithteam.com
The pages make up the "website" portion, and the blog and "posts" make up the blog section. IDX can fit into just about anything....
Sorry to all the others that this may have been too advanced. Again, I can't always cater to every type of person. I had a person at REBarCamp Denver yesterday ask me in these exact words: "how do I do a website?"....
Justin...I too don't grasp all of this...and would like to lock myself in a mountain cabin or some such place for a week and just do nothing but work on all these kids of things!
Until then, bookmarked and will be back to follow up!
Thanks Justin, I will forward this info! I believe you about the "how do I...?" because as you said, it was a very diverse group with all varieties of skills, talents, years and goals!
Hello again, Justin. While this post is too advanced for me, I'll take my time to understand and apply what will work for me. Thank you again and I'm subscribing to learn more.
Off topic, everyone, please remember our service members who sacrificed for our country.
Justin,
Great Post. I think some some of the previous comments were right on. This was very informative.
Thanks for sharing,
Matt Naumann
Great post and good information. I especially like what you said about the duplicate content issue and archives.
Personal Financial Guide
Justin: I could spend my entire day reading all of your great posts. Instead, I'll have to bookmark them and read them in the wee hours of the morning. You have such great tips and advice, I don't won't to miss an of it. Thank you.
Justin, this is one of the most useful SEO articles I have seen. Thanks for your contribution.
Wow! What alot of great information. It's alot to take in but something I will read again and again until get it down. Thanks.
Wooops. Clients postponed tonight, so I've had a glass (okay, two glasses) of wine. Will bookmark and try to digest tomorrow. So glad I found this blog!
Justin, I find reading your posts is very informative, at the same time it is like when I studied Latin in HS I memorized, regergitated the info to get thru the class and the following year I understod what I learned the year before:))Hence it is bookmarket for re-reading and implementing. Thank you again for your wisdom.
I love your posts -- and figure if I can actualize one tip each time I visit, learn one new thing to think about I am getting better at blogging, or SEO, or making my site sticky, etc. thanks for all your info.
Justin, Thanks for all the really helpful information, though I have to admit that some of it goes way over my head. I've bookmarked this and will plan to come back again and again.
I'm new to blogging, and learned as much from this post as I have from all the other research I've done. Outstanding post!
Gotta come back to read all these - bookmarking and hopefully getting too soon!
what a great post of information! I too am bookmarking for further reference!
Justin, Thanks for taking the time to provide such concise and helpful information. Slowly, very slowly, I'm learning a little more to add to my website, and SEO knowledge base - with plenty of help from folks like you.
Justin,
Great Post. Lots of great tips.
Thanks for sharing,
Matt Naumann
Hi, Justin. I am new To Active Rain and new to blogging so I'm learning as much as I can as fast as I can. Thi sis really useful information...thanks1
thanks so much for the great information.
Justin I book marked. I'm sure I will get to a point that I can come back and understand some of this. I'm fairly new and not quite sure how everything interfaces. thanks for the info.
Hi, Justin. Me again. I'm still learning...this time around I understand what you said about creating link clusters but I don't know how to do it. Can you point me in the right direction? Thanks!
Justin---Great information! I understood some of the post but must admit that I am far from tech savvy. Perhaps breaking down each one of those bulleted points and provide an example and make each bulleted point a blog post. (Lots of posts)!!!!
I know that in techspeak what you posted is bottomline primo information, but for those of us who need a sufficient nudge to get this stuff....smaller chunks would be so helpful! Thankyou again for posting resourceful tech tips!
Thanks for the nice post that's full of information. I will look for your other posts.
Justin - This is great information, and this information has also been taught by some here on Active Rain. The thing is, I have seen these things really work. Thanks for putting them in a concise list for us to reference.
Justin - I enjoyed reading this. The tip about having too many links is one that i had not seen yet. Once again, thanks.
As a fellow SEO enthusiast, your tips are spot on. Thanks for the excellent reminders.
Good stuff - I will start labeling my photos from this! Jason
Great information and very comprehensive. You've packed a lot of info into a small posting. I suggest any attempting to manage their own SEO campaign to save/print Justins post and use it as a reference.
It is a lot of information and I am taking it in. I do need more help with SEO. Doesn't it take awhile to reap the rewards of good SEO?
Justin,
There is a lot here, and for the advanced blogger. Thanks for all the links. They help. I really need to get back into my Google analytics. It has been some time absent.
Richard
This is an excellent post. Thanks for all the great information. I am on my way to try your suggestions.
Great tips! I too have bookmarked it to come back and try to digest a bit at a time.
Great post as usual. It looks I have to bookmark most of your posts.
Thank you for the tips and great reminders. Darn, I just posted and now I need to go back and do what you said to tweak it better.
Thank you for sharing
One of the tactics that I learned is to re Task previous blogs posts. By adding hyperlinks from the past posts that are still relevant by topic, I add link to current pages om my website.
Ex; Blog from Last year, Now I have a new page(s) of content, Open and edit past blog post to add hyperlink page that now exists.
Cheers
David Pylyp
Living in Toronto
i very seldom "get it" the first time.
but i went to google's keyword tool and i'll revisit, and mess with it, to see where it leads me, and what i might learn.
Good info, although I can't get the All in One SEO pack to work for me. Must have messed up my Wordpress install somehow. Found some other plugins that do similar things though.
From the comments here, sounds like you're one of those lucky guys that can make lots of posts out of this one list (more frequent posting is good for SEO too, right?!?) But seriously, great tips. A few little changes here and there can really help you start moving up in the search engines.
Great post content. I had to bookmark this one!
Thanks for taking the time to put this up.
This makes a good check list to add/ edit your content in a way that helps consummer. If they don't see you content is useless
Justin, this is a great post! Very educational. I'm going to print and save it as a reference. Thank you!
I love the idea of "cluster links" never heard that before.
I love your tips and I love your blog, thank you for the tips.
looks like a great article. I will read this evening.
In the meantime i have a question if anyone can answer. How do I put the video on my active rain for the listing. I had done one but cannot remember. Anyone ....can you help. please send me message at info@gtawesthomes.com or post comment
Wow Justin what a "kick______" post with some great tips, thanks for sharing this info and if you had posted this in one of my groups I would have jumped on this and featured it!
Vegas Bob
Excellent tips. This is a hard subject for many people to understand. Everyone should take the time to learn about SEO, it is very beneficial.
Xposure Real Estate Photography -- www.PropertyXposure.com
Exceptional post and covers all the basics. Wish I would have found this earlier as it took a couple of months of research to obtain this info elsewhere.
Wish there was an easy short-cut to SEO. Thanks for the great information!
Amy Mooney @ Classic Coastal Homes
Great post! I'm going back to change my keyword searches on my latest blogs! Thanks for sharing!
Justin,
Thanks for sharing this information. I think I will need to work on it a little at a time.
Justin, thanks for the tips. I'm going to have to re-read this a few times. Much appreciated!!
I printed this one out for reference
Thanks
These are great reminders on some things I've been neglecting, like doing some keyword research regularly. And some tips I haven't heard before. Thanks!
Justin, Wow - an amazing list of great SEO tips, many are new to me and I've been working for the last hour to implement some of your tips and will be doing much more next week. This is a great post. Thanks for this information.
Thanks for the SEO grab bag...like trick or treating and taking inventory the next morning when you are 10. Trading, sharing with your friends.
Thanks for the great SEO tips - will definitely bookmark and come back again!
Great tips Justin. Thanks for posting.
Wow, this is great. I am bookmarking!
Marianne
Wow... I've got a lot to learn
Thanks Justin for the information. I bookedmarked this one.
Thanks for the info Justin! After all these years, people are still getting help from your post!
You should be getting more hits on this again today, as more people find you again! I am still working through it. Lots of great information.
This is an old post that deserves to be up front again with it's valuable information
Also, use photos and make sure and enter appropriate alt image text. Photos enhance blog posts and the alt text is another way to get keywords into a post.
This is great information. I'll refer back to it. Thanks for sharing.
I feel as though I have a tiger (nerd) by the tail! But am holding on tight and determined to learn. Thanks to all of you who posted in the whaaa??????????????aaaat catagory, I no longer feel alone in my infinite knowledgeness. I will follow you and try to keep up....but don't slow down for the sake of we who are on the bloggers steepest of the learning curves. Like the poor, we will always be among you!
I have read this a couple times now and will make a point of reading it again before I post my next blog. Hopefully I can put into practice the great tips! Thanks