Real estate is a highly competitive industry, and with 97% of buyers using the internet for house hunting, having a solid SEO strategy is crucial. But what exactly is real estate SEO, and how can you optimize your online presence to reach potential customers and drive more leads?
Real estate SEO is the practice of optimizing your website and online presence to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) for relevant keywords and phrases. For real estate professionals, this means focusing on highly localized keywords and addressing the unique needs of home buyers in your area.
Why is real estate SEO important? The benefits are clear: higher web ranking, increased traffic, improved brand reputation, and a steady stream of leads over time.
With that in mind, let’s dive into some tips for optimizing your real estate SEO strategy.
Tips for real estate SEO
As you build your SEO strategy for real estate, here are a few key tips to keep in mind. Remember that SEO should be highly personalized to your offerings, so each of these tips should be considered within your real estate specialty.
1. Master Local Keywords
To start, focus on bolstering your local keyword strategy. This means including location-based keywords that reflect your city, state, or region, as well as keywords that include the word “near.” For example, “homes for sale in Des Moines near schools.”
In content, you can also incorporate local keywords about your area by including the address of your listings in the title and introduction.
2. Optimize Your Meta Data
While it may be tedious, filling out your metadata can significantly impact your SEO success. Be sure to include keyword-based URLs, headers, meta descriptions, and image descriptions to help elevate your webpage’s content ranking.
3. Prioritize Mobile Optimization
Mobile devices are critical for home buyers, since 76% of viewers are using a mobile device or tablet to search for homes. Make sure your website is optimized for mobile by using short, attention-grabbing headlines and descriptions, and ensuring that your site is responsive.
4. Create Compelling Visual Content
SEO is not just about text. You can boost your ranking by providing engaging visual content like images, videos, virtual tours, floor plans, etc. that will help captivate home hunters.
5. Learn from Your Competitors
Analyzing your competition can help you develop effective SEO strategies. What type of content are they publishing, and what keywords are they targeting? Use third-party tools like Ubersuggest to identify areas where you can improve your own SEO approach.
6. Focus on Reviews and Backlinks
Reviews and backlinks are essential for building your brand reputation and improving your SEO ranking. Start by getting reviews on platforms like Yelp and Google Places, and consider local links that can help drive traffic to your site.
7. Offer Value with Online Tools
Real estate websites are no longer just for house hunting. Stand out from the competition by offering online tools with advanced filters, such as a mortgage calculator, travel time calculator, market analysis, etc. that can enhance the user experience and increase time spent on the website.
8. Get Expert Help with Technical SEO
Technical SEO can be complex, but it’s essential to ensure your site is optimized for search engines. Work with a trusted partner like Onsharp to optimize your site’s technical SEO and achieve better results.
Conclusion
Implementing these tips can elevate your real estate SEO strategy and drive more leads to your business. Remember, SEO is a long-term investment, so be patient and stay consistent in your efforts. With the right approach and the right partner, you can achieve success in this highly competitive industry.
