How to Create a Blog Post for Customers and Search Engines.
1. How to title a blog post: Use a title that a customer would type into Google. example: "Open Houses in Mesquite Nevada" Targeting Neighborhoods and focusing on Communities are best, but you can also use City/State. Most searches by consumers always include a geographic area. example: "Vacant Land For Sale in Bend, Oregon" Don't just title your post "Vacant Land For Sale" as it probably won't get indexed to a specific location and will likely get lost in the Search Engine Abyss. (SEO abyss = page 24 of Google)
2. Repeat the title in BOLD in the first sentence of your blog post. example: "Vacant Land For Sale in Bend, Oregon" and now priced better than ever! Build your dream home in Bend, Oregon!" By creating the first sentence of your post to include the title and BOLD key search words, terms, or phrases, you'll increase the potential of being found and then read. That first sentence is typically the first sentence that shows up under your TITLE within the Google search results. It's an important part of getting the search engines to recognize your topic and see it's relative content. It's also what will help a consumer decide if they want to click on your link or NOT!
3. Write your blog posts to the title...then add in good content that a customer would want to know about. It takes a bit more time to think this strategy through, but the results and rewards will be tremendous. This in NOT the only way to gain SEO and more exposure, but it's a great place to start if you're new to Blogging and are wanting quicker results from your time and efforts here.
Creating posts and Understanding Long tail and Short tail search terms: Short tail searches are just that, very short keyword searches. example: "Homes for sale" or "Homes For Sale Austin, Texas". This is where most searches begin during the early stages of research by consumers. The Long tail search comes into play the closer consumers get to making a final purchase decision. example: "Gated Community Homes For Sale With a Pool in Austin Texas" Justin Smith explains more about Long tail/ Short tail searches in his post. You can also find more details by searching Google for "Long tail and Short tail searches." Here's a video that might help make heads or "tails" about this.
4. Go through your blog post and make sure that the words of your title are repeated a minimum of at least three or four times. At least one time every other paragraph or so. You should also bold those keywords so they stand out to the reader and to the search engines. You need to be somewhat creative in doing this and remember, don't over do it.
5. Tag your blog posts with other keywords and phrases the customer may type into Google. These should be topic related and relevant to your post. Do not try to game the search engines by packing in keywords that have nothing to do with the post, this will do more harm than good in most if not all cases. Also make sure to include images and links to relative sites, this will create more stickiness and add value to your posts.
There are three important audiences to be writing for: 1. Other members and friends of your Social Networks. 2. Consumers, Subscribers, and a Target Audience of readers. 3. Search Engines. I'm sure this is preaching to the choir, but this is important information to be shared if you want to get maximum exposure and results from your Blog posts with consumers, visitors, and with Google. Google Juice? I'll drink to that! :-)
![]()
Blogging for Customers and Search Engines correctly is a key component to a successful Blog.
Using these effective strategies and time tested methods when creating your post can make a huge difference. The first thing when writing a post is to determine the audience you are writing for, the product or concept you're promoting, and the geographic market you are targeting. In this scenario, we are creating a Blog post to drive readers, consumers, and search engines to your Blog which is All About Your Area. Things like "Vacant Land", "Open Houses", "Loan Modifications", "Tax Credit", "Pest Control", "Relocation", "Market Statistics", "Short Sales", "Condos" etc.

1. How to title a blog post: Use a title that a customer would type into Google. example: "Open Houses in Mesquite Nevada" Targeting Neighborhoods and focusing on Communities are best, but you can also use City/State. Most searches by consumers always include a geographic area. example: "Vacant Land For Sale in Bend, Oregon" Don't just title your post "Vacant Land For Sale" as it probably won't get indexed to a specific location and will likely get lost in the Search Engine Abyss. (SEO abyss = page 24 of Google)

Creating a Blog Post for Customers and Search engines is not that difficult once you understand some of these basic concepts and then practice and apply them on a regular basis. This is not to say you shouldn't write about other topics both personal and business, even those can be tailored to get you better results with customers and search engines. We tested this theory on the Fourth of July Weekend and you should see some of the results ActiveRain members experienced. It really does work.
![]()
I hope you can use these tips on "How to Create a Blog Post for Customers and Search Engines."
VERY IMPORTANT: If your post on ActiveRain is (MEMBERS ONLY) then none of the above applies.


Brad, wonderful info, I am bookmarking for later. I did what you suggested on the 4th of July and am STILL getting hits on the follow up with photos that I did. Wow, and the first post got great activity as well, even on the 2 other blogs I have! Thank you for that!
Now about the Google juice thingy. Getting rankings is hard work, keeping them up even harder. Kind of like milking the cows, every day, twice a day, no matter what, rain shine holiday tired sick, whatever. Google MILK Brad, Milk Milk Milk. :D
Have a great weekend!
Brad --- this post is very timely for me --- I have read some others about the tags, but somehow don't think that I really got it. I think that I do now --- thanks -- I'm going to try this out.
Brad - Terrific post for those seo people out there. Great tips to follow and make sure you get great rankings.
I love this stuff. Now I just gotta follow it all...lol
Got Milk? Andrea makes a great point....
Brad...thanks so much..this really helps and I am going back through my old posts to update.
Thanks Brad. Your info is always helpful. I'm bookmarking it and taking notes!
Brad, execution of the fundamentals can be so powerful with SEO. Thanks for reminding us! John
Thanks for the great reminders! I was a contract employee with Google as a quality rater, and your suggestions are right on!
Stephanie
REVATS.net
BRAD..Helpful info always great stuff..i just used your slide presentation..it was so easy to use and so much fun..you really are active Brad..Than
k you
HELPFULHANNAH
That is great information. One of the things that I am working on is getting my rankings up as well as hitting my target market. I will apply your suggestions!
DAC
Brad - Thanks for the post. I think we often forget that there are different experience levels on ActiveRain. What may be second nature and obvious to some is new information to others. Although I have had good SEO results for my posts, it was based on pure luck and not planned. Thanks for sharing some insights on how to improve one's blog posts.
Brad, I have a question. How do I add a widget? I saw a few options, but I want to add something from my properties website. Thanks!
Brad, thank you, thank you, thank you. I did experiment with the Fourth of July blog and came up in the #1 or #2 spot. I've read about making sure your key words are in the title and in the body of the blog but you really outlined it for me with this post. I've bookmarked it and will refer to it for next post.
Brad . . . all good, but when the "for sale vacant land in Bend, Oregon" is SOLD . . . then what? A/R isn't a listing service and Realtors(r) have to advertise truthfully. When their listing sells, what are you advising they do??
Delete to create a true picture of the advertisement?
OMIGOSH -- the points . . . are they going to get DELETED . . . the precious points . . . think of the points Brad! (que: the gnashing of A/R members teeth)
What happens when the price changes? Are the A/R member bloggers who are Realtor(s) changing their blogs? I would hope so.
Standard of Practice 12-4
REALTORS® shall not offer for sale/lease or advertise property without authority. When acting as listing brokers or as subagents, REALTORS® shall not quote a price different from that agreed upon with the seller/landlord.
Standard of Practice 12-10
REALTORS®' obligation to present a true picture in their advertising and representations to the public includes the URLs and domain names they use, and prohibits REALTORS® from:
It's not really a true picture if the 'For sale Vacant Land in Bend, Oregon," is NO LONGER FOR SALE.
This is perfect timing. I just listened to Randy Edgar's bloggin webinar and this fits right into what has beenn on my mind on how to improve. I also had no idea of what long tails where and now I do.
Brad - I sent out the post to get started to my folks and they are so appreciative. Thanks again!
Brad - Thanks for a great post with excellent educational info ... I learned a lot today.
As for Comment #17 above, you make some very good points. But if the Realtor posts a blog at a particular point in time when all the facts are correct, do they really need to change the origial blog when the facts change?
Hi Brad, Thanks for the very specific tips. Always helps when you include some typical usage terms and examples.
Brad ... Thanks for this further coaching on blog posts.
I am surprised that you said "Go through your blog post and make sure that the words of your title are repeated a minimum of at least three or four times."
That sounds like it would be boring for the reader, but it probably works for google juice.
Harrison - I did it in this post, I hope it wasn't too boring. :-) lol~
They say a picture tells a thousand stories:
(Screen Shot - Less than one hour after posting this)
Hey Brad!
This post is going to be a great tool for new people to ActiveRain. I will pass it along to all the newbies I meet! :) I have recently been practiving this strategy, and I can already see the results showing up in the first few spots in Google. It works, and it's easy.
-Lisa
Hi Brad, Great blog post, very informative, we all can use alittle more google juice. Thanks!
BRad - another great tutorial. This is stuff even a brand new blogger can understand and readily implement. Looking forward to the Ambassador Program.
Jeff
Another great post Brad. You continue to be my mentor like it or not.
Hi Brad,
Thank you for posting this information and I also could do with some more google juice :)
Sharon
Andrea - "MILK" does the body good! :-))
Stephanie - thanks for the confirmation.
Ally - here you go: http://activerain.com/blogsview/170783/Widgets-How-to-Add
Carla - great point, but no need to remove the post, or lose points, just edit the post and add "SOLD" if that be the case. This was just a sample of keywords and terms or ideas to use instead of "I have a ton of vacant land for sale if you want to buy it" probably not a search term or phrase that would be searched by consumers. It's really up to each individual since it is their Blog or site to make sure it is kept compliant with ALL local, state, and federal regulations, rules, and laws. I suppose I could have used or selected a different set of keywords or phrases for this post. Sorry bout that. :-)
Stewart - you have a great point as well, each post is dated and time stamped but I'm not familiar with each area and what is required by the different organizations that our members are a part of. This post is only about "How To Create A Blog Post for Customers and Search Engines."
Rich - that is the exact purpose and reason behind me posting this today, the results speak for themselves.
John - I like it! Always here to help ya if I can my friend. :-)
Ashley - Congrats!! BIG SMILE!!
gotta run, my phone is ringing off the hook right now... be back in a bit...
Brad - Being new to blogging and AR this is VERY helpful to me. Thank You for the post!
Brad, Great stuff here. Now at the risk of sounding, once again, like an idiot....How do I bookmark this for later? Many, many thanks,
Tanya in Montreal
Hi Brad.
I've made some what I consider "test" posts and have noticed in some of my posts that initially it hits #1 #4 and/or #5 but then the placing falls to page two or so a few days later.
Brad, Thank you, all the advice here is very helpful. I do not use enough long tail keywords and noticed many other things I could do better when writing a post. Thank you again for the information and help.
Thanks for posting it. I've bookmarked this for future reference.
Thanks Brad, as always you give the best information. A great reminder on what to include for every post!
I swear I'm going to print this out and use as a checklist before I post a blog. I really DO write helpful information (I think), but don't see it coming up in search engines. After reading this, I think I understand why.
Thanks as always for helping us be more successful!
Brad: This is better than that book The Secret! This is awesome. Did a post on Pirnce William County Home Inspectors using this advice and blam...there I am at the top of google.
Thanks for your expertise in the world of blogging. I am new at it. Your blogs are like the instruments in a small plane. They guide you safely when looking outside the windshield is like looking into a bucket of milk.
Thanks for all the great tips. I am going to try it out today. In fact right now.
Hi Brad! This is excellent information to help us help those who are trying to make the decision to become a Rainmaker--another home run, Brad!
I'm in heaven, Brad, with this info! Can't type more because I have some work to do...
Bob...
To quote the great Lenn Harley ..."it's magic!"
I can attest that if anyone follows the steps that your laid out, the magic will happen for a certainty!
Great stuff as always Brad. Now, I have to go and redo all of my market reports and localism posts!
Thanks Brad, I'm going to bookmark this as it will no doubt be a valuable resource.
These are some great tips. Bookmarked for later reference.
Great information Brad - I have a basic understanding and try to incorporate many of these but wasn't aware of the "long tail" searches or using the title as the first sentence - and I have not been using BOLD - so thanks - it will make a difference I am sure.
Brad... YOU ROCK. Great advice. Thanks for the tips/help.
Hi Brad, noticed your screen shot of my post up there on my listing here in Mesquite. Thank you for the compliment!
That was a good post for me. It had 4199 page views, with 810 clicks on it. More important : I have had many calls from it and got several buyers from it.
One of those buyers called me on a Saturday night - he was reading the post to me and asking questions, the first question was 'is it still available?' Then he said, 'if it looks as good as the pictures, I'll take it.'
True story. (I should write a post about it :)
I offered to buy his gas and get him a hotel room if he would jump in his car and drive the 400 miles to look at it before buying it. He looked at it the next morning and bought it.
This is one of many of my Active Rain closed transactions. AR blogs sell houses.
BTW - Carla on comment #17 is right - I am going to audit my old listing posts and make sure that I have added:
UPDATE !! This home is sold - call me if I can help you find a similar home!
The post can stay, the points stay, the commenters keep their 25 points.....
.....and the powerful Active Rain Google juice stays forever.
Brad, I love this post. It is so helpful as I am so new to all of this. I just got my outside blog with ar so the timing of your post was perfect. Thanks!!
Brad,
I'm still learning. The importance of the first sentence for maximum readership and SEO benefit stands out here. And using bold lettering selectively. Thanx.
Oh, I have so much to learn :)
Brad - very timely tutorial. Need to revise few of the older posts to comply with these simple and effective rules. Like the video, too.
It's always time to learn!
Brad, this is a great post with simple things to do that bring results. Great Job.
Brad,
Great information here for strengthening the SEO in a post.
Brad, once agin thanks. I also learned how to bookmark..Thanks
Good tips. I definately need to do way better. I will start using these right away.
Brad.. As always.. THANK YOU for the great tips you provide.. this is a good one 1
Brad - Thanks for writing this post. You always provide great support for your members.
Brad,
Thank you for the Blog info. I do have a question though- Does comment content, tags, etc. come up in google searches, like in a thread?
As always, great posts. I always enjoy reading your stuff.
Brad: Thank you for the lesson. .very right to the point and easy to understand. My question to you now is HOW WE TIE THEM TOGETHER ? if you write during a month about Homes For Sale with Pool In Boise Idaho 3 or 4 posts . .how do you put them together to come up faster. . or each on it's own? Can you share some of these techniques?
Brad - Personally, I don't, by design, write so rigid for the machine that is Google. A part of that has to do with I didn't quite know how. Now I do. Perhaps I will leap outside my sphere of comfort.
Excellent job, bud.
Brad, I can't tell you how many times I've asked how to do this correctly and gotten different answers from everyone. Thank you.
Now this is going to page 1 of my blogging and SEO binder! Thanks Brad.
Thanks, Brad. I am just getting into Blogging and this helps tremendously.
Brad, Thank you, these are useful tips. I have never thought of repeating the title in the first sentance before, but will do so in my localism posts from now on.
Great Information. I just keep learning. There is just sooo MUCH!! Perhaps someday I will get it :o).
Thank you,
Brenda
Brad, this is one of the best posts ever. It's great to have step-by-step instructions of what to do.
I also liked Andrea's comment about having to milk cows every day. Milk cows are kind of like leads. If you don't milk them every day, they will dry up and stop producing.
Brad, Thank you for confirming for me that I really DO know what I am doing! I read through your post here and found that I am doing all that you say works for all parties that matter. Here's a sample of my most recent real estate blog I created for an agent of mine in New Jersey. The great thing about this is that I LOVE WHAT I DO and how it really makes a difference to my real estate client's business! Spkeaing of July 4th, I did the same for a real estate blog I created for an agent of mine in Tulsa, OK and got over 2,000 unique visitors to that blog!
Oh, and your layout, use of photos with backlinks, video and break up of short paragraphs is awesome! You're the man, Brad!
Little by little I am learning how all of this works. Each time I read a blog about SEO I pick up on something new that I had been missing when post/writing my blogs! So, I cannot thank you enough for posting this great info on how to create a post for consumers and search engines.
Thanks Brad- I'll be looking again at my website to see what can be incorporated there too.
Brad, awesome post that is definitely going into my bookmark catalog. I will try some of these suggestions on my next post to see if it helps me rank better in google! I ran into a blog yesterday where the person put "Indianapolis Real Estate Agent" in the post at least every other sentence. It was an annoying article to read because I was so sick of seeing that term "Indianapolis Real Estate Agent", but I'm guessing after reading your post that they obviously did it to place higher in google...
Chanda panda
Woot your comment #24.
Wish I had had this on Thursday when I was teaching. Great stuff. I did mention this but you have such a way with words!!
Thanks Brad, You sure put a lot of time and great info in your blogs. I like all the pictures, and videos, also. Thank you for sharing!!
Hi Brad...Great Information on posting, I book marked post,along with many of your other helpfull posts,
Cheers, Thanks for Giving :O)
Brad, as the Land Man in the greater Los Angeles area, this hit home for me more than you realize. Thank you. It is also great for improving my Blogging skills and customer/google generations.
Thanks for the post Brad! I learned something from your post....as I always do.
Brad, thank you for this very helpful post and thanks to all responders who provided additional tips.
Brad - This is a very informative post... and easy to understand and implement. For people like me that need things explained in "laypersons'" terms, this post is priceless. I learned some things I need to impliment. Thanks.
Great stuff
If this is preaching to the choir then here is one member that really needed more than just a tune-up. Crucial information Brad and the video was so easy to follow, plus your suggestions...WOW! Now I've got to go back and redo much of what has already been done wrong. Bookmarked as a constant reminder...thank you SO-O much!
Brad - Awesome info ! We can all get better to tailor our blog posts better by remembering these points ! Am listening to the video right now ! Also very informative.
Brad,I had to come back. I went back to some of my old blog posts and started correcting them and making them more "juicy". Now I'm not normally very aware of my points but since I'm reaching an important milestone I am AND since making those changes I have LOST POINTS. Can you explain this? No more corrections or updates for me.
Thanks Brad, I was drowning in a sea of blog speak and this is a life line! I'll bookmark it.
Brad - this is fantastic SEO information. When I am targeting a message, I follow some of these guidelines, thanks to what I learned from Katerina Gasset.
Thanks for the great advice. There's always more to learn.
thanks Brad, as always your posts are helpful.
Howdy there Brad
Maybe one of these days, I'll have a comment to you at the top of one of your posts.
Thank you, kindly for always writing helpful tips for all of us here at AR to learn from.
Thanks a ton. I am new at this and this was very helpful. Appreciated.
great post and I'm so glad that AR allows us to bookmark these blogs, I'll be using this one in the future for sure
Brad! I found the bookmark icon. Woohoo! Thanks for the advice...and for not embarassing me for my silly question! Hope you're having a great weekend,
Tanya in Montreal
Brad I am going to come back and read this later whenever I get the time. This is one that I need really bad and can be very helpful for me. Have a great weekend Brad. Great post.
Chris Ann - better than the secret? :-)) WOW, thanks.
Steve - lol, try not to get my instruments near that bucket of milk ok?
Ginger - I know points are important to some, but getting found, read and closing deals is the way to go. Points or Google?
Robert - if you don't bold certain keywords or phrases, that's ok too, try it both ways and see what happens... :-)
Karen - that is the coolest. I don't think folks need to go back to every post and change it, just apply this to future posts and maybe some of the existing if you feel it's appropriate, you've clearly affirmed that this indeed does work. Thanks.
Debe - exactly, this information was shared in an ambassador conference so I thought I'd share if with others. Unfortunately this will still remain a secret to some as this post will eventually get buried in time and "rain!" but those who eat of this knowledge now will be fruitful in the days and years ahead. Many members could spend a year or two like I did before finding out some of these tips.
Hopefully this post will be shared and help many.
Suzanne - great looking Blog but you should be using an ActiveBlog from AR. If you want to know why....call me. :-)
Missy - Woot! :-) Just checked and it's still there holding strong.
Tanya - :-))
Lanre - you're welcome back anytime.
"Rainmakers" - Imagine what you can now do with some of your future posts. You can dominate certain areas, key topics, important RE Information, local news and updates, detailed market information etc. By putting just a bit more effort and thought process into it, you could make every post you write a 1st place winner in both the eyes of a consumer and the spiders and crawlers of Google.
Thanks you guys for the reblog too, it's nice to see this get out there and hopefully help other members. Thanks.
Brad,
Thanks for the helpful, easy-to-understand post. I have some updating to do.
Hope you're having a great summer!
Great post Brad. Very informative and an excellent one for the newbies.
Brad: Thank you for the lesson. .very right to the point and easy to understand. My question to you now is HOW WE TIE THEM TOGETHER ? if you write during a month about Homes For Sale with Pool In Boise Idaho 3 or 4 posts . .how do you put them together to come up faster. . or each on it's own? Can you share some of these techniques?
Fernando - I will cover this in a future post, great question??
Great post, Brad. I wrote a 4th of July post a few years ago and it has been my most popular post with the most hits. I comes up on the first page in a Google search. I didn't have a clue what I was doing at the time, but when I went back and noticed the results, I started to tailor more of my posts in that fashion.
This is great information. Thank you so much!
Brad - the power of doing this is so easy to demonstrate. I wrote an article about waterfront homes in Oceanside california yesterday and less than 12 hours later it was #2. More amazing - I posted a similar article today for Solana Beach - 15 minutes later it is in the #1 position!
Jeff
Great info. Very well written
Brad, Thank you I am new to all of this and love all tips! I printed this and an going to try it on my next blog!!!
Cheryl
Great post. Always good to keep reminding us how to juice it up.
Thanks Brad, your posts are the best!
This stuff is so good to hear. It sounds basic, but we frequently do not know it or stray from good habits.
I'm going to start doing this right away. Thanks for the basics.
Brad, I'm still learning blogging and search engines and this post was really, really helpful. Great information. I bookmarked as well for future reference. Thank you!
Brad, this sounds very helpful. I think I can use some of it! Thanks for the tips.
This is awesome! I am working on getting a handle on all this keyword theory and this post really clarified some things for me. Appreciate it!
Brad, Thank you for this excellent info. I bookmarked this entry so I can spend more time reading and applying it to my next post.
Brad, did you write this because after talking to me you realized the other choir was out to lunch last time you did this??? LOL!!! Thank you for all you've done to enlighten me thus far! Still got a ways to go but I'm working on it ... in between beautiful hikes into the mountains and all ;-). Many thanks! xo
Trish Giassa http://www.homes-in-crested-butte.com
http://BuyLowREO.com
Brad,
What a great, concise article. As I read I heard myself saying, Yes I know to do that, repeated several time. Then I went back to look at the post I just made. What a surprise. To know and to do are not the same. Some of your suggestions were followed and I had ping backs with responses within minutes. I know if I follow what you say my rate of feedback should improve.
Thanks for the help and the easy reminder.
Vivian Hooton
Wow! So much to learn and practice and then once the leads start pouring in, I just hope I am able to continue...
Hi Brad,
I've been doing exactly this for a while now on my site with very good results. thank you for the tips
Brad - thanks again for good and simple information. I try to put "Santa Fe" in everything.
Brad, thanks for the pointers. I had always thought that using the keywords in the text multiple times would lower the Google ranking...
I have now read this and am going to attempt the challenge and write 7 posts following your directions beginning tomorrow. Feel free to come by and give me a letter grade. Of course, I'd prefer an 'A' but will be happy with a 'C' or better. (Oh dear, I sound like I'm talking to my teenager about his report card :-)
Thanks Brad! For some of us this stuff is like trying to understand the secrets of the universe. It helps to have it explained in detail.
Brad - Thanks for the info. I bookmarked for future reference. I've been doing some of them already and getting good results.
Great advice Brad! You always make it sound so logical and easy to get the most out of each blog post.
Hope to see you at Inman & ReBarCampSF this summer!
Great information. I look forward to doing these suggestions and seeing where my blogging takes me
you are, hands down, the king of Real Estate Blogging technique, tutorials and teaching! thanks for breaking it down for us!
Great info as usual - didn't know bold was important!
Thanks Brad for spelling this out so clearly.
I have referred to this a couple times and I will implement this into all my blogs now, thanks
Outstanding information! It's amazing all the small components that are involved and how easy it is to forget one or two. Bookmarking this to revisit it every so often for a nice reminder.
Brad, Great points! I wrote a 4th of July post for Lake Norman and got 4000 hits on the best day compared to my average of 300!
Spectacular post Brad.
The information you impart here should be required reading for anyone who is trying to reach their audience.
Well done my friend!
Hi Brad. I checked my test posts all of which showed up on the first page of Google then slowly fell to second page. They are now back on the first page.
Hmm///I think I'll try one and see how it comes out.
Patricia
Great post! How on earth did I miss this one until now?
Brad excellent post chaulk full of great seo tips that I will try to put into good use in my next blogs that I write. Now with the offer of writing community blogs Im off.
Brad,
As always, your posts are so full of info and ideas. I am off to write a post.
Thanks for your hard work,
Ann
Brad - this is an excellent post, and I appreciate the information. I am going to write a new post as well.
Thanks Brad, for spelling out in such a clear, straightforward way how to get more google juice from our blogs!
Brad: I am finishing the post for Bob's contest. I hope I got it right. Tere.
Bookmarked! Thanks!
I actually have a post in mind... shot the pics yesterday... I guess I'll have to try it out.
Brad - it worked. Not two hours after I posted! Thanks.
Brad, thanks for the great explanation. I finally understand what long tails and short tails mean! You make it all sound so simple even to the techno challenged amongst us.
Brad,
I own Google! All thanks to your guidance here and Bob Stewart's point bribe. My Outside Blog doesn't show up but my AR one dominates...
THANK YOU BRAD, I always enjoy your tips and also Katerina's SEO tips! you guys rock!
Is there a link or manual for the blog points on Active rain that you could share? Do outside blogs get higher points/credit with active rain?
Thank you for the helpful tips, I am new to active rain and need all the pointers I can get!
Delray - here's a link to help explain points, Outside AR Blogs don't get points but the credit that does come from them includes far greater rewards than points. Let me know if you need help setting one up. Here's a link that may help as well.
Brad,
Thank you for the great information. Some of this was new to me. I will bookmark this and refer back to it on my next post! So much to remember! I guess I just have to learn it a little at a time! It just doesn't soak in as fast for me, but I am trying!
Judy
Blog-n-Roll Brad...
Don't mind me. I'm just pushing you around :)
TLW...ROAR!
Yet another usful post today.
Thank you,
Patricia Aulson/portsmouth nh real estate
Thanks for another interesting article to increase one's presence on the Internet. All great stuff. Bookmarked!
Brad - I love how this keeps popping up on top as a reminder for folks to read and re-read, and put into practice. I wrote a real estate article the other day and within 15 inutes it popped up as #1. Now that has shifted some, but I was amazed. I will be sharing this juicy tidbit with folks I talk with about getting started.
Jeff
You're right about a good title being a must. You need to bait people at times so they just can't not click on a post. I Jumped A Lady in the Parking Lot was one title I used that got a lot of clicks. It was about giving a lady a jump start, but the title sucked them in. I know that it had nothing to do with real estate, but it got people to my blog.
I have done two post doing this in the last two days on two different short sale opportunities in different suburbs. I blogged separately her and on my web site blog. Both blog post made it immediately on the first page of Google on a long tail search about short sales and they were they only ones offering property. All the others were corporate type sign ups. For those that want to buy or get a realtor who really does short sales, I'm the guy. FYI, it took less than 10 mintues to be indexed on both post.
Thanks for the detailed information.
OK you make it sound so easy! Where were you when I first joined this network and blindly started posting? I just picked up some great tips and THANK YOU!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Great stuff, so glad you posted this info...in clear and concise terms.
Will definitely try to put this one into practice! I'm going to print this post (ya, gonna actually use paper in this world of technology :~) to keep it handy and easy to refer to. Thanks yet again!
I am so glad this was featured again?!?! It's loaded with tons of great information! Thanks, I hope all is well with you and yours!
Brad - I've bookmarked this and also will be sharing with my office and networking group. This should be taught as part of real estate 101 these days. Good, solid info Brad! thank you!!
Great Info. I still consider myself a bit "technically challenged".....lol I will learn from this
Great...I'm working on it now. Thanks so much!
Brad -
Yet again, I bow before your greatness! THANK YOU!! Without your posts, I would be so far in the dark on this stuff I'd feel like a complete Luddite ..... whereas now, reading all of your posts, I am operating as only half a Luddite...and soon, I hope, as 1/4 Luddite.
Thanks again! :)
Luddite:
"Any opponent of technological progress"...
I'm kinda worried about myself. That's the fourth time I've had to look that up. Perhaps this time, the definition will stick :)
TLW...ROAR!
I'm trying to practice what you preach ~ thanks for the great tutorials you always share!
I loved this! This is exactly the information I have been seeking. Thankyou, thank you, thank you.
Brad, thanks for the easy to understand tutorial. Do you advise going back and correcting old posts? I can never decide if that is worth the time or if it would be better spent going forward correctly.
Any advice would be appreciated!
Holly - that is a GREAT question! It's your choice, but personally I would just apply the new ideas and concepts you learn from others in the "rain" on a go forward basis. In the time it takes to go back to each of your posts and make corrections every time you learn about something that could get them better results, traffic, SEO etc., you could have created 10 new and fresh posts that would get you the same results. Depending on the time you have available, and the severity of the changes, this is something each member will have to weigh out and decide. I know this isn't a black or white yes or no answer, but hopefully it helps you decide what's best for your blog posts. :-)
These are awesome tips on how to "score" in blogging, as usual you give us the best Brad! Thank you!
Brad and Holly, I did go back and add some of these suggestions just to my most recent posts...like those in the last week. I had one post I especially thought a lot of and wanted that one to get some mileage, so I made the suggested changes. It took me about 5 minutes, total!
The long tail is a concept people need to understand as you get more traffic from it. Your ideas are perfect fot long tail results.
I do appreciate the advice offered, but it will probably take me less time to post a blog than it did to read all of the comments posted ahead of me!
Hi Brad, I just applied this to my new post on Hernando Beach Waterfront Homes for Sale. Thanks for the help!
Great tips which I am applying to my blog in another window. I hope to be able to refine the content of my neighborhood blogs by the week's end. I imagine my first few may be a bit shaky.
Phenomenal tips Brad! I can't wait to work over my blogs for maximum exposure!
thanks for the info. I have been slacking with my writing and really need to get more constant as I need the google juice. I think you might have inspired a few posts!
Hi Brad~ I love these posts you are doing!! It's so nice to get back to basics again for a refresher course on all this stuff. I still learn something every day! Thanks again, MWA!
Brad:
Great post, every now and then you need to get it back on track.
Thanks,
Richard
Brad thanks but, I just read this and it is the 27th. Just been running like mad with a crazy closing and buyers. Excellent blog though thands
Brad...Thanks for the post, I had started blogging before but never really got all the SEO and tag stuff and really couldn't think of so many important things to write about on a regular basis, so I stopped..but this helps a lot and maybe the push I needed to get back into it.
Brad: Thank you so much for this incredibly useful information.
Brandon - not sure about the "freaky" juice (lol) but it will help index your images for the search engines. Jeremy Blanton just did a post regarding Alt-Tags and images, he adds some great samples and information regarding the "freaky" juice too. :-)
Hi Brad, Thank you for this critical info- we need to have it in mind for every post.
Hope we don't all crash AR's servers redoing our blog posts, LOL!
Activerain is a treasure of great information...
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! This was exactly what I needed to read to help me. I read it so deligently that I didn't hear my dog moaning to go potty! Better take care of that. Thanks so much
Brad,
I have been away on vacation so I have just sat down and read your post. Thank you so much for the excellent advice and I will definitely be putting it into action.
Sharon
Brad, this is a gem. Thanks for condensing these important tips for SEO!
Sharon
Brad - This post is worth reading several times !
Hi Brad! For months I have continued to read all of your GREAT helpful hints, and slowly am beginng to creep my way into the world of blogging...with much still to learn. Last week I posted
Walter Cronkite St Joseph Native Remembered
it not only was a Feature on Active Rain, but when I checked Google the next day it ranked lst in the top 4 positions out of 1,900,000,000 SITES. I still have much to learn but your helpful hints WORK.
Brad, how can you tell who reblog your blog? where in the page can I find this? I would appreciate your help.
Antonio
Thanks Brad! I will try to incorporate this into all my posts from now on. Oh yea, Google Juice!
Brad: I am writing my fourth post using this information. The first few lessons are down packed, but I am not sure what this means.
5. Tag your blog posts with other keywords and phrases the customer may type into Google.
Do I write these words and bold? or do I have to link them to relevant website?
Tere
Hi Tere - Adding keywords and phrases in Bold that consumers may search for in search engines is all that means. Include them through-out your blog posts, just don't over do it. Use them in sentences, and also create links to relative topics and sites. You can also add certain keywords in the "Tag Keyword Box" located below each of your posts while you're in the edit mode.
Antonio - to see who has reblogged any post, just click on the dots below the reblog icon, this will bring up a list and links to all those that reblogged that particular post. To reblog it yourself, just click on the reblog button. You can only reblog others blog posts, not your own.
Thank you. I'm going to be reading and pouring through this . I need to gain better understanding of the power of blogging.
I learn so much every day from reading these posts. Today, it was short tail and long tail titles. I just subscribed to your blog. Thank you so much.
Brad, Great advice once again. Slowly but surely I'm beginning to figure this "game" out.
Brad: Thanks for the tag information. I think I am on informatin overload. Tere
Kent - Look at it more like a "Business Plan" then a "game". In a game, there is always a winner and a loser. In a successful Business Plan, there are only winners! :-)
Thanks for the tips. I've watched my neighborhood blogs soar to the top of the list. My NorthWest Crossing blog post is now second. First places goes to NorthWest crossings home page.
Brad, thank you so much for so such rich information. This is just what I needed right now. I've bookmarked as well.
Brad: What a great post. I did not see this the first time around, but just read a post from Bob about the "Series" contest... and he included a link to this, and recommended we take a look if we had not seen it before. Thanks for all the great ideas. Now, if I can only figure out what to do with them.
This was so helpful. I am going to go back and rewrite some blogs I was about to post.
Where can we see the rest of the series you showed from U-Tube?
Creative Eye Home Staging
Hi Kim - you'll find some great video on the web and not just Youtube. You can search google, youtube, google's blogs and many other locations for great information and videos regarding SEO, long and shorttail searches, tags etc.
Good advice. I will incorporate it into my future blogs and the new contest.
Thank you for the useful information Brad. As you know, we love the Google juice. Keep it coming!
Brad - I am working on writing my posts so they use the information that you wrote about. I first heard about this concept from Doug, who talked to me about Virginia Hepp. It seems to be working, but I don't have it down to perfection yet.
Great info- I had not heard the part about repeating the title in the post- so simple to do also.
Brad,
Can you tell me where I can find instructions on how to attach images to my blog?
Sybil - there are tutorials on my AR profile page. They are step by step instructions on how to do many of these types of things on AR.
You can also use the search tool located at the top of every AR page to find these types of things in the future.
If you need more help, please let me know. :-)
Thanks for this information, I'm going to put it into practice as of rigth now
Hi Brad, thank you thank you thank you, I was looking for this information and stumpled upon. Very helpful and I will implement
I've read this 3 times already and I keep learning. I have to go back again and make sure I repeated the title words 3 or 4 times...not the exact title, just the words.
I'm learning a lot. Thank you for all this good advice. I am subscribing to your blogs and hope to recieve more of it.
Thanks again, ~Captain Wayne
Thank you again Brad for this valuable information-it is very timely for me. Since joining AR, I have learned so much from reading your posts!
Nice post and explaining the difference between short tail and long tail keywords and the relevance each has. It now makes sense to start fishing for longtail key words in order to grad those that are more local and ready to buy.
this is some great stuff!!
Thanks for mentioning the post in Susan's blog comments. I need to work on increasing my Google rankings.
It's all about the rankings... I really appreciate all the useful information available out here!
Bob Stewart suggested I take a look at your posts, and I can see why. As a beginner in the blogging world, this is amazingly helpful! Glad Bob recommended you!
Hi Tim - thanks for stopping by. I'll be sure to thank Bob and if you need anything here in the community, feel free to contact me, any of our staff or AR Ambassadors. Thanks. :-)
Brad, Great info. Very helpful as I am a new agent as well as new to blogging. Inspired me to do my research on the local pumpkin patches & corn mazes here in Montgomery County, MD. Both of these blogs are bookmarked for future reference. Thanks again!
Good stuff; detailed and laid out succinctly! Thanks!
Hello Brad,
I'm so "Green" when it comes to blogging! Thanks for your post. I'm going to apply what you have mentioned and look forward to moving up the ranks!
Regards,
Kathy
Great post! I went back through and corrected some of my blogs! Thanks so much for the helpful information!
Powerful lessons here! I expect my blog posts to rock from now on!
Cheers,
Brad, you are SO not preaching to the choir with me. I need this, I love this, I've bookmarked it because I don't really get all of it right now......baby steps.
THANK YOU
Kathleen - We are here to help you take those baby steps and convert them into "Giant Olympic" size hurdles! :-)
Thank you Brad for the great information. I think I need to take some extra time with my blog titles and the first paragraph of my posts...I always learn so much from you!
Got to this from another blog of yours and great information here. I am fine tuning my blogging as I go and some good things here I did not do.
Brad, thanks again for the great information. Google is your friend, Google is your friend....
Applying some of these simple strategies WILL make a difference in the effectiveness of your Blog posts and how they get ranked and indexed by the search engines. Getting found by search engines is great, but getting your link clicked on is the best!! :-))
Thank you soo much! This blog was very helpful. New to blogging I want to use my time the best way I know how and this was a great tool for pushing up my blogs on the system. Thanks for your expertise!
I believe I have read this post before - but I picked up a little more this time and will go ask google what the "people" are asking for!
I don't think I'm doing my post right I think I'm going to practice more
Blogs can really maximize exposure! GREAT POST!! I use blogs to build my opt in list... FREE REPORT HERE
Much appreciated, Brad...and thanks for the response the other day too, This post was extremely helpful!
Thanks Brad I always learn so much from your posts.
Thanks Brad for the useful information, your post are FABULOUS!
Thanks for the info Brad. This post certainly is helpful to me.
Hi Brad,
It's me again (just thanked you earlier for How to Complete Your Profile Part II). I was just navigating through the topics and found this one and lo and behold, it's written by you, LOL! No matter where I go in AR territory, I seem to be ending up reading your great posts! Thanks again! :)
Hi Brad!
Thanks for all the useful information! I have found this very helpful!
Cody
Brad- Just found this post this am - great information and we'll definitely incorporate into our AR blog posts
Google JUICE for those of us lactose-intolerant and Google precipitant. Very helpful, Brad. Thank you.
James - that's funny! The new and improved Google Juice will soon be available in "Space Food Sticks!" :-))
Brad, This is just the advice i was looking for this morning. Thanks
Good stuff Brad, I am preparing my fourth blog and am still hoping to get google found. If you get a chance to review one on my blog listings and see what could have been done to get them picked up by goggle then I'll get busy writing more. but I check daily and I'm somewhere on page 15 or so. any help would be greatly appreciated or if there is a blog or lesson to take I'd be glad to do that as well.
Thank You
Thank you Brad! This post is awesome. I think I am ready to learn it all.
Awesome! Keep repeating... maybe it will sink in by osmosis to all of us. And the post loaded even though there were 276 comments.
Brad,
An awesome article. Count me in! and mil gracias.
Judi and Scott - this stuff really works, we are also doing classes on this at ActiveRain University if you're ever interested.
You need to READ BRAD's POST. You need to study the post. You need to implement his suggestions
Well, I'm glad I followed the link above!! I'm excited about implementing your tips in the fantastic contest Bob is offering!! :)
After writing a couple of posts rereading your list all makes better sense. Thanks for all AR has offered.
Thank you Brad.... I have to go back and fix all my market reports.... Your always up on things and always there to make me become the best Active Rain member ever... I just which I had more time in the day to do it all
Thanks for the tips! So very helpful. I sometimes try to be too clever with my titles. Need to concentrate on the SEO. Thanks!
This is great. I have been using many of these techniques in my recent posts and found that it has definitely helped. I have bookmarked and am going to see what I can do with the Localism stuff!
Great Post, Thx
Brad:
I see you did this at the end of July last year. I think I may have had my AR account set up, but I wasn't blogging or signing on at all back then.
I deeply regret that.
If I would have seen this post back on the day you did it, it would have changed my social media world.
Terrific post.
Thanks, Brad, for taking the time and effort to 'be there' for us in the real estate profession. There are days I believe I need a CTO.
I needed to brush up on some of this. Somehow I think I've been doing it so long that I've accidentally picked up some bad habits. But I also have a question. Have you ever noticed the little HTML box I put at the top of each of my posts? I do it for aesthetics, but I also include text that contains words from the title and post, although it's not exact. But I've always wondered if the box was hindering, or helping. If I repeat the title in the HTML box, does it work as well as if I had just typed it on the first line?
Okay, Read it...Wish I had seen it sooner:) Now I am going to put it to work... Let's see how I do in the contest
I just read it one more time to get ready for the new contest...
As always, Brad, it's an awesome post. So much stuff to keep track of.
Hey Brad I have been directed here thru a post by Bob Stewart . I am reading and rereading all these great tips thank you so much for all your help in this critical area
Good morning Brad,
Thanks for a great post. Always learning..always learning..these tips are invaluable!
Always up for the challenge - I'm on board.
I think this is a great idea but i have a few questions. Are we limited to the 7 posts becuase i feel once i get going this will be great. 2nd do we have to start tomorrow the 25th and post every other day or can we do our posts on seperate days but with in the 14 days you have given us?
Thanks.
Lisa - not sure if having your first sentence and repeat title in a box makes any difference, try using google to search one of your titles and see what comes up? I would imagine that if the text isn't framed, it should be fine.
Shawn - the details for the contest you are asking about can be found here: Time To Get Hyper-Local Again
Great post Brad, time to get Hyper Local and make something happen.
Thanks for the tips and your commitment to making us all better bloggers!!!
I am definetly going to give this a try. This is what I want to start doing anyway. Thanks
Thank you so much...you explained the difference between short tail and long tail key words so well...I think I finally get it :)
Brad,
Thanks for the challenging post. I appreciate what Activerain is doing for my business!
Thank for sharing this great knowledge. I did learn a few things.
Once again, thanks for the very informative post. I enjoy learning new things on AR.
The hammering and ground pounding on just property terms misses the boat on tags that cover life style changes. And why the outside buyer who has never been to your real estate office or your state even is typing in "low cost Maine farms" or "cheap hobby farms in Maine". If you can match like the Concentration game show with "find the two items" what the surfer actual types in..you hit pay dirt. How you would do your search if the tables were the other way around can help you think like the buyer and stop being just the broker day in and day out on this end.
Brad,
Thanks, for continuing to keep these fomulas in front of us in Active Rain.
Steve
Thanks and looking forward to the new contest.. I am getting my thinking cap on...this is such valuable info
Thanks Brad. Great information. It will help to hone my skills going forward.
Thanks for all the tips
I started looking at this post for the blog contest, but I have really learned a lot. Thanks for posting!
Brad, here is my first attempt. I know i need help jazzing this up a bit but the information is solid.
http://activerain.com/blogsview/1566274/a-summary-of-what-to-expect-in-the-short-sale-process
This is an awesome article! Thanks Brad. AR has a enormous internet presence and we all benefit from it!
Great info as always. Thanks, Brad!
Shawn - call me when you get a chance, I think I may be able to help you a bit, especially with the 'jazzing" part. lol~
It's a great start and yes, the info is pretty solid, now let's get it on the first page of the google search engine. I'll show you how. :-)
I can't believe I didn't see your blog when it was posted. Better late late than never.... This was an informative well written blog, with a wealth of content!
As always, great step by step:-) Love the new toolbar too!
Hi Brad,
Great Tips on short tails and long tails...I'm a work in progress. So far since raincamp in ny I have a buyer under contract and another going under contract w/social media. So I am interested as I can use all the help you are offering and love the idea of the extra points too. When do they show up on our ranking?
Hi Patricia - congrats on your buyer, that's awesome!! The point hamsters take a bit to get around to each and every member to update your points, but they'll get there. You find all your points in the "point summary" link located on your "My Home" page. It's one of the links on the left hand sidebar. Keep up the good work, better than points are the transactions to come. :-)
Great post Brad and oh so important. I didn't know the members only didn't affect google, but that makes sense or it would be out there for the whole world to find!
Hi Don - your anchor text hyperlinks should take readers to sites or webpages or Blog posts that bring value to your readers and that add to or are relative to the topic of your post. A combination of links to your website and to outside resourceful sites is my recommendation. Remember to use good anchor text terms and keywords for your links, don't use words or terms like "Click Here" or "Read More" etc.
Brad, thanks for the response, I will be calling you. Here is my second attempt trying to include some of the suggestions you have made. How do you watermark a picture?
Here is my 2nd post
http://activerain.com/blogsview/1569668/peoria-arizona-a-nice-place-to-live-
Hey Shawn - got your email, Monday works fine. You don't have to try and place the links here in the comments, we can review them on your blog over the phone. Thanks. Have a great rest of the weekend. :-)
Sorry Shawn - that was me in the comment above, I was logged in as the ARU professor! lol~ :-)
Thanks, Brad, wish I'd read this a year ago! It's never too late....
Hi Brad, New at social media sites... and about blogging and SEO, etc. This blog is something I will visit and read several time every so often or at-least every few times I have written a blog. Thanks a bunch.
Terrific information. I will apply this to my blogging. I appreciate the tips!
This is great info Brad! Thanks for sharing it with the AR community!
Brad, thanks so much for your insight. I can't wait to report my first lead and eventual sale from being more creative with my blogs. It is taking me a little longer than a lot of the younger generation to pick up on how to do all of this, especially setting up the header banner and background. Even though I read it over and over, I just can't seem to find that right combination.
Don - don't be too critical of yourself... content, connecting, and consistency, are the key! :-)
I've bookmarked this post for future reference. I have a website designer who has been teaching me ALL about the keywords and how to construct them effectively.
Hi Brad ~ I've been on AR for awhile now and still feel like such a newbie. I absolutely love this site and have learned so much over the years; however, I realize from reading your blogs as well as blogs and comments from others, that I have a long way to go. Thank you!
Brad here is one of the posts you gave me suggestions on. Thanks again for your help on these.
http://activerain.com/blogsview/1583229/fishing-in-arizona-its-not-all-desert
I couldn't figure out the column thing yet so I made the suggested changes we talked about on this one as well however the posting errors and proxy delays are still there. Here is the post
http://activerain.com/blogsview/1577188/foreclosure-versus-short-sale-what-is-good-for-you-
Hey Shawn - the new servers and upgrades should resolve many of the errors you may be experiencing. We hope to have them up and running smoothly by this weekend, thanks for your patience. :-)
I know this is an older post, but awesome! Thank you for the details. I was an assistant and blogging for my team leader, but now I am back and on my own as an independent agent. Learning more everyday.
Thanks Kristen - feel free to checkout ActiveRain University for a ton of free classes, sessions, and support. We do a wide variety of training and would love to have you join us anytime. http://activerain.com/blogs/university
Thanks Brad for the very informative post. I've been playing around with some of your suggestions but I think it's time for me to get more serious.
:)
WOW this is great Thank you
AS ALWAYS GREAT TIPS!
Keep them coming~
Thanks so much!
As always, really useful information. Thank you for your help.
Tremendous insight, Brad. Thanks!
Cool! well guess I'll give it a shot and see how it turns out. Well, i'm off to write a #1 google blog
Super info Brad. I need to look at how I am proceeding and this will certainly help. Love the bookmarks. ~ Doug
Great reading Brad! Good reminders, even a year later! Thank you!
This is really helpful and I will try to remember this info.
This is really helpful and I will try to remember this info.
Excellent post. Timeless and practical.
Brad, this is great, I'm new ot A.R. I'm going to re-blog for my Ct. peers ~ Dave
Hi Brad - this is great. Do you have more videos on this subject?
Hey Rob - there is a lot of information on the web including videos about SEO, techniques, tutorials etc., just be careful not to get sucked into some of those "high cost" "low performance" sites and promises from companies and individuals promising to get you on the first page of google.
Just use google and youtube to search out what you're looking for and then confirm with those who you know, love, and trust... like me!
<big smile>
Brad, I'm happpy I found this blog, great google juice to dive into. I would have liked to re-blogged this to my friends in Ct. but not able..... I find your blogs very helpful since I am a 3 month old newbie to AR. ~ DAve
Great Information Thanks Brad!
Good stuff! Thanks, Brad!
Nice to have some of this in print. Ben Kinney flies through this topic so fast at RainCamp that's it's hard to keep up, let alone take coherent notes!