The real estate market is more competitive than ever. Smart real estate agents need a way to stand out from the crowd.
But the days of putting a picture of your smiling face on a billboard and waiting for the clues to roll in are over.
Like everything else, real estate has been digitized.
did you know 97% of home buyers Start the process with a Google search?
This is real. Long before they decide to contact a real estate agent, they’re browsing available homes in the area, checking prices, taking virtual tours — and checking out real estate agents.
This is why having a strong web presence is crucial.
But that means more than just having a Facebook profile – you need a real estate website that stands out from the background noise and attracts new clients to you.
The first is getting your site to rank high in search engines.
But how do you do it?
One of the best ways to improve your ranking on Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) is to Build high-quality inbound links.
These incoming links, also known as backlinks, signal to search engines The importance and reliability of the content on your website.
The higher your ratings in these categories, the higher your ranking in search engine results.
Now, you might say, “But wait, I’m a real estate agent, not an SEO expert. I don’t know the first thing about link building!”
Relax, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll show you four proven ways to get high-quality backlinks.
The real estate industry faces backlink challenges
Before we start our approach to creating inbound links, we need to address some specific challenges of link building in this industry.
The market is overcrowded
You don’t need to be told how stiff competition In the industry it is. But that only makes it more important that you generate good backlinks.
You’re competing with the big conglomerates — Keller Williams, RE/MAX, Berkshire Hathaway; the average local real estate agent is competing with the big national corporations to attract clients.
It’s hard to find good link sites.
When you request inbound links, the quality of the linking site matters.
Research These sites can be time-consuming, and building relationships to get links can be frustrating.
Metrics can be misleading
It’s a simple fact that not all backlinks are created equal.
As someone who is not an SEO professional, you might think that any incoming link is a good link.
Or, you might think that links from irrelevant sites with a lot of traffic are better than sites with less traffic but related ones. It is not.
Local search matters
General SEO is fine, but most of your valuable leads will search local search terms like this [houses near me]. Your backlink strategy should take care of this.
Now that we’ve got all of that out of the way, let’s dive into four strategies you can use to generate links, increase your site’s visibility, and hopefully get more deals.
1. network, network, network
The real estate game is about relationships. It’s about people you know, as much as you know, and even products on the market. Link building is the same.
Target: Leverage your local network for good incoming links.
Entire industries are built on collaboration.
From working with other agents to transfer properties to meeting with groups like the local chamber of commerce, no one achieves real estate success on their own.
Now that you have the network, why not use it for backlinks?
Connect with your local sources and build relationships with blogs and websites in the industry and your area.
Other real estate agent websites and blogs are great sources of links, but don’t forget business associations, social groups or even churches near you.
Getting them to link to your content may just require a polite, well-worded (and short) email.
By protecting these valuable local links, you’ll increase your visibility in local searches.
Just as importantly, you will be able to take advantage of these Geolocation link at the expense of non-local competitors.
Target audience: Homeowners and homebuyers.
Don’t think that backlinks from your network are only for search engines.
Conversely, when someone links to your content, they send a very strong message that they believe and trust what you do – something that homeowners and homebuyers haven’t forgotten.
The more links they see pointing to your site, the more visible you will be. Both of these mean one important thing: more customers.
2. Create Geotargeted Content
Are you starting to understand the importance of location-based targeting when it comes to building links and driving traffic to your website?
Target: Increase your exposure.
In the previous section, we discussed the importance of building a local network.
In this installment, we’ll discuss creating content type This will bring attention to people in your community on your website.
Geo-targeted content could be about new listings, new trends in real estate (for example, the growing popularity of revitalized neighborhoods), or even the social life of the area.
A blog post about the 10 best cocktail bars in your city is sure to grab attention, even from those who aren’t actively looking to buy or sell their home.
But when they show up, guess who will be the most important?
Such content can be used as a resource for web searchers and may result in links to your posts on websites and social media accounts of the places you mention.
Target audience: Influencers who can bring you traffic.
The only limit to creating geo-targeted content is your imagination.
Create content that is valuable to people in your area that will be picked up, shared and linked.
3. Build your network with testimonials and reviews
Nothing convinces the public of the legitimacy of a company like letters of recommendation and references Comment.
But in this case, you’re not soliciting them to build their reputation – you’re sending them out.
Target: Expand your network by partnering with other businesses.
A quick and effective way to build links to your real estate website is to give referrals to other businesses.
Do you have a crush on your appraiser? Or your favorite dry cleaner? Maybe you like your email marketing plan? Give them positive reviews on Google, Yelp, and other platforms. And make sure to include a link to your own website in your profile.
In addition to building your authority and promoting your own business, they will also build goodwill with the business you are reviewing.
Once you’ve established this positive relationship, most companies will happily provide you with backlinks.
Target audience: other businesses in your community.
List all the businesses you use, whether it’s an online tool or a local service provider.
Leave their testimonials on review sites. Then send them an email linking to the comment and asking for a backlink. Usually, they will agree.
4. Post in the forum
Buying or selling a home can be stressful and confusing for those involved.
Also, many of these buyers and sellers turn to forums like this Reddit, Know almost, and local sites seeking answers to your questions. That’s where you come in.
Target: Establish yourself as a real estate authority.
It’s not enough to just advertise your business on forum sites.
In fact, doing nothing but self-promotion is likely to negatively impact your reputation, especially in communities like Reddit where users vote on the quality of content.
Instead, you need to provide valuable information and actually help.
Help people find solutions to their problems and build your credentials before you start building links with these communities.
Only place links where they feel natural and follow the guidelines. Once you build a reputation as an expert, your links will be more appreciated and more likely to be clicked.
Target audience: Buyers and Sellers.
takeout
Don’t be put off by the idea of building backlinks for your real estate business. This may sound daunting, but there are many ways to do it. And this article is just the beginning.
In addition to the four strategies listed here, there are many other ways to gain backlinks. For example, you can try:
- Guest Posting / Guest Blogging / Appearing on Podcasts. The host will give you real estate on their website or podcast to link back to your own website, allowing you to create links and grow your audience at the same time.
- Make your content shareable on social media. Just add a quick share link to your post to share on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites lead to new links It doesn’t require much effort on your part.
- Participate in (and post) community events such as fundraisers. Participating in local events covered by the media is a great way to promote and generate incoming links from reputable and trusted news outlets.
- create white paper and information chart Others will find it valuable. The best content is the most valuable content. Since humans love to share their knowledge and findings, if you create a white paper or infographic with relevant information, they will be shared organically. This means inbound links.
Creating links is really about showing initiative and having the right mindset.
If you use a natural strategy to create backlinks, you will be able to win the SEO game in the long run. This is a win for your real estate business.
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Featured image: khunkorn/Shutterstock
