How would you like to get new business from the web WITHOUT having a web site?

Sounds impossible, I know.  But stay with me for a few minutes.  I’ll show you how to get clients from the internet by posting your information at eight FREE places online that are certain to get visitors.

If you’ve been following my internet strategies for real estate professionals, and did your homework, you’ll be ready to get found online by your prime prospects.

When we last left off, I explained how to round out your list of localized KEYWORDS, TAGS, and LOCATIONS.  And now it’s time to take those lists and set up some simple web pages in various spots that get found online.

The “operative“ word in the last sentence was “VARIOUS“ and the missing word was SITE.  You first need to set up several PAGES in specific locations (you’ll find out where below).  And you can save setting up a full-blown SITE for last – if you already have a site, that’s fine, we’ll address that later.

Worry not…setting up pages online is easy.  In fact, it’s as fun as a family fishing trip…

You’re about to go fishing on a big pond called the “Internet“ but you’re not going deep, you’re staying in the shallow local waters.  Think of your PAGES as your “bait and hook“ while your SITE (or even your blog or an 800 hotline) will be your boat.  You’ll use various forms of bait and most will have a line back to your boat.

GOOD NEWS

Unlike the early years of the internet when you needed to have a programmer, a designer, and a pot of money… today, with WEB 2.0 opportunities everywhere, you can set up web pages quickly and without paying a cent.

Web 2.0 is many things by definition, but at its core is the concept that YOU are a content creator and if given the ability to add or create content on someone else’s site or system, you will.  For our purposes, this is like being handed the keys to the back door of the internet’s “bait and tackle“ shop.  We can quickly and easily create all the bait (content) we want to attract schools of prospects.  I’ll show you how in 3 easy steps…

HOW TO SET UP WEB PAGES THAT GET FOUND

EVEN WITHOUT A WEB SITE

STEP 1:  Identify the TYPE of Focused Content Pages

You need to take the localized KEYWORDS, TAGS, and LOCATIONS you compiled earlier and create very focused content that you can place on several web pages.  The content you create doesn’t need to be professionally written or “scholarly“, rather it needs to be homespun, helpful, brief, in your voice and honest.

Testimonials from third party sources and clients are great to use and are very powerful.  Everything needs to be peppered with real estate related KEYWORDS and LOCATIONS.  And if the system where you are posting your information allows you to categorize your content, then you’ll use your TAGS.

Keep in mind, the content you create should be structured to FIT the type of site where you are posting it, which means it might be in a format like one of the following:

• A PARAGRAPH about what you do,
• an ARTICLE about your service benefits,
• a LIST of things you do for clients (or areas you cover, or things a homeowner might look out for),
• a REVIEW of your business
• a PHOTO of you performing your service,
• a MAP of areas you cover,
• an online “Consumer Awareness Guide,“ or
• a testimonial VIDEO you post on YouTube.

The types of content are limited only by your creativity.  The more the better, but even a little will do.  Now let’s open the back door of the internet’s “bait and tackle“ shop and start creating our bait…

STEP 2:  Create Your Focused Content Pages

The better your content the greater impact it will have on your overall strategy.  So post quality, helpful, informative stuff and not just “promotional“ material!  If appropriate, pepper in testimonials and photos.  These items will do the selling for you.

Each system will have its own rules and recommendations…it’s worth the effort to skim through tutorials, FAQs, and policy guides to assure you maximize the potential of your content.

You can search each system for other content that might be like yours (using the keywords you have on your lists)… sometimes it’ll give you ideas.  Weave everything together naturally with KEYWORDS, TAGS, and LOCATIONS.  Don’t try to ‘stuff’ these terms into your content so it can’t be read by a human being.  That never works and can actually lower the search ranking of your content.

Important Tip:  Within your mix of content posts, you’ll want to create ONE central blog.  It will be the only place where it’s required to add additional content on a regular basis (this is covered more thoroughly in an upcoming article).  What we are seeking now are places where we can post ONCE (with perhaps only occasional updating required).

If your keyword list is larger, divide it into GROUPS (or what I call BUCKETS) and create separate content based on the focused/related keywords in each “bucket.“  Your content buckets could be information on your happy clients in the local area, why a person needs your services, or real estate how-to tips…

STEP 3:  Post Your Content Pages for Maximum Visibility

It’s time to set-up your pages and content in a few key locations.  The list below will get you started, but if you discover other prime spots (especially local spots) then merely add to this list.  Remember, the idea is to adjust or create your content to fit the environment where it will be placed.  Look around at each system that you find and add your content in the format, style or flavor of what you see on that site.

TWO GREAT PLACES TO START POSTING

YOUR CONTENT OR MEDIA

The examples below are not all real estate related on purpose…so as to expand your creativity

1. SQUIDOO
   http://www.squidoo.com/
   An example of a Squidoo LENS page for a Children’s Book:
   http://www.squidoo.com/ladybug-stuff/

2. HUBPAGES
   http://hubpages.com/
   An example of a HUB about Real Estate Ads:
   http://hubpages.com/hub/Real_Estate_Ads

   SIX MORE PLACES TO POST
   CONTENT OR MEDIA…

3. GOOGLE BASE
   http://base.google.com/
   An example of a GOOGLE BASE page – in this example a review of Dean Graziosi’s book:
   http://www.google.com/base/a/2575746/D4701930617138357370

4. GOOGLE PROFILE PAGE
   http://maps.google.com/help/maps/profile/index.html
   An example of a GOOGLE PROFILE page – in this example it’s me!
   http://maps.google.com/maps/user?uid=109843529767179534196&hl=en&gl=us

5. TUMBLR
   http://www.tumblr.com/
   An example of a TUMBLR for “to-do“ list generator:
   http://to-do-list.tumblr.com/

6. SWIKI
   http://www.eurekster.com/
   An example of a SWIKI for real estate:
   http://real-estate-foreclosures-state-by-state-swicki.eurekster.com/

7. FLICKR
   http://flickr.com/
   An example of MONTEL WILLIAMS using “bait“ for one of his “boats“:
   http://www.flickr.com/photos/8391553@N06/503947524/

8. YOUTUBE
   http://www.youtube.com/
   An example of a Rockin’ Cockatoo dancing to the Back Street Boys:
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utkb1nOJnD4

I’ve just given you eight places to post your content, get the word out about your real estate services, and harvest new business from the internet.

You can also set up a BLOG to post regular updates.  Search engines favor blogs over regular web sites, and you’ll find out why in my next article.

And boy will it be a treat for you…keep an eye out for my next article where I’ll reveal easy ways to set up a blog completely for free.  I’ll get you up and running in minutes…

See you soon!

In this article, we were brainstorming initial keywords your prospects search to find you on the web.

Today, we’ll talk about PLANTING and GROWING your keyword seeds and finalizing your preparation to get found online in 4 simple steps.  Most web designers don’t even know these insider strategies…

STEP 1:  Plant Your Seeds

The first step is to create a short list of 5 to 15 “seed” keywords. Your list might look like this one to the right:

STEP 2:  Grow Your Seeds

Next, visit the Keyword Tool below and expand your list to a solid 10 to 50 keywords and phrases that have a healthy number of searches actually occurring on a monthly basis.

Don’t assume the highest search volume keywords are the best, rather, pick the ones that truly might originate from the TYPE of customer you desire.

Explore the other tools and links all found on this page as you enter your “SEEDS” one at a time:

Click here to go to the Free Keyword Tool…

As you brainstorm keywords, keep in mind that because you will be focusing on a LOCAL market, you will most likely want to add your city, state, county, and/or zip code to the keyword phrases you compile (more on this in step 4).

What’s a “healthy” number of searches you might ask?  For now, shoot for adding keywords that have several search terms above zero.  You want to make web pages around keywords (and topics) people have an interest in and actually search to find.

STEP 3:  Add ‘TAGS’ To Your Keyword List

We do need to talk for a moment about ‘TAGS’.  Not like the ones on your clothes.  The internet variety that have become so BIG in so many ways these days.  To make it quick and easy to understand, you might think of a TAG as a one or two word keyword used to CATEGORIZE what you do or what your site or web page is about.

It’s another way that people might find your business, page, blog or site.  And here’s why it’s important…

Just as you need to know (or think about in advance) the keywords that a searcher might type into a search box, you also need to know what CATEGORY or set of TAGS best classify what you do.  These TAGS will be used more to categorize blog posts, photo’s, and other social media things you do – whereas, your keywords will be associated more with your web pages or sites.

Don’t get too hung-up thinking about why this works this way, rather let’s just move forward and while we have keywords on our mind, let’s pick a small highly focuses set of categorical TAGS so we have them ready for some blog posts and social media strategies I’ll discuss in future articles.

If you’ve just completed your keyword research, you can likely do this part off the top of your head.  Just think of 3 to 10 categories (one word to three words are best) that your service or site fits.

Your TAG LIST might resemble the one to the right (but please, create your own so you can be even more exacting… and localize as much as possible).

STEP 4:  Include Local Terms In Your Keywords

What are you in the middle of?

In other words, where the heck are you located?

What is your “service area”?  If you expect people to find you in a search engine or online, you have to PLANT the various “location” names, zips and spots directly into your listings and pages.

Only by doing this can the search engines know when and where to “deliver your page up” within the proper local SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages).

This step is critical and I have a couple of tools that will help make it very, very quick and easy.  What I want you to do now is create a list of every city, county, community, and ZIP code that is within a reasonable distance from your location.

Naturally, if it’s an area that you are NOT interested in getting calls or business from, you’ll exclude it.  Use the two tools below to create lists of areas you are most interested in (don’t stretch yourself too wide – focus in on your prime target areas):

1. The city and zip code part can be done with this tool:
   
   (You need only enter your ZIP and a radius in this tool – results will show at bottom)
   
   http://www.5minutesite.com/local_keywords.php

2. To help you with local county names, try this tool:
   
   http://www.naco.org/Content/NavigationMenu/About_Counties/
   Data_and_Demographics/Data_and_Demographics.htm

With our focused list of keywords, phrases, tags and locations in hand, we’re now ready to create web pages and blog pages that truly get found by our prime prospects.  Be on the lookout for my next article where I’ll show you how to create web pages with these local keywords, even WITHOUT a web site.

See you soon!

When people seeking your service start exploring online, they do so like you, me and everyone else. They rev up their browser, head off to a site or search engine and start searching.  Most searches are done by typing in a KEYWORD or PHRASE to a search box, clicking the search button and scanning through the resulting SERPs (Search Engine Results Page).

Since we know this is what people do, all that’s left for us to determine is WHAT the heck they are typing into that little search box.  If we can make an educated guess about that, then our job becomes more defined.  All we must do is PLANT ourselves (our service, our listing, a web site, a web page or a blog) so we show up in the SERPs where they are looking.  It’s simple if you know how; impossible if you don’t.

If you’ve heard anything about “Search Engine Optimization” (SEO), this is basically what we are discussing, but at a simplified level. You need not have any special talents to do this stuff, just the knowledge of what to do and where to do it.

The process, once clear in your mind, is rather simple.  The good news is that doing this stuff on the LOCAL level is far easier than trying to achieve a similar goal on a national or global scale.  But for you, and for your business, LOCAL is exactly where we want to be found.

So what do we need to do first?  We need to figure out what KEYWORDS or PHRASES local folks are typing into those search boxes!

WOOD WITH GORDS?

Are you good with words?  Great!  Even if you aren’t that’s OK.  There are many tools online that query actual search databases and tell us exactly what people are typing into those boxes.  To make it easier, I’ve posted a tool that is like a ONE STOP SHOP for most of your keyword research needs.  It’s located here (and it’s FREE):  http://danhollings.com/woodgords/

Another way to do quick research on top keywords is to use the Google Suggestion Tool.

This tool is now integrated into the main search toolbar on Google’s homepage.  You’ll notice when you begin typing a search phrase, before you press enter to search, suggested phrases automatically show up below.  Pay attention to these as they are high-traffic terms people search.

Here’s what you can do to get a feel for local real estate search terms…

For local search, just a little research on these general terms goes a long, long way.  But we’ll need to dive a little deeper to really uncover the specific KEYWORDS and PHRASES local homeowners, homebuyers and others may be using in their searches…

How to Find The Keywords and Phrases BUYERS and

SELLERS Are Typing Into Search Engines

1. Determine who you’re after…

2. Jump into the mind of the person (the homeowner in need)…

3. Ask Yourself…

4. You’re not done…

5. Explore your competition…

This process will give you a running start at getting your web site found by your ideal prospects.  In my next article, I’ll show you how to round out your keyword research to dominate local search results.

See you soon!

A few months back we hosted an article by one of the most prolific online marketers in the world today, Dan Hollings.  If you don’t remember, Dan spearheaded the online marketing efforts for the best-selling program, “The Secret”, which had over $200 million in sales.

We’re thrilled to announce that Dan has agreed to share a series of remarkable internet strategies with our Agent Inner Circle^® Community, as a 10-part sequence, starting today.  Here’s Dan’s helpful article (with more to follow)…

As I mentioned in a previous article here on Agent Inner Circle^®, understanding how your local prospect “thinks” when they do an online search is the starting point for getting found first on the internet.  (By the way, If you’d like to see my earlier article – the “first” in our 10-part sequence – simply CLICK HERE).

Today, I want to continue revealing top secret internet strategies specific to real estate professionals.  And we’ll start off in a place you might not expect – how to narrow your thinking to get rapid results online…

The internet, in the minds of most, is this big global network of people and computers plus a bottomless pit of information and resources so vast no human can really comprehend it.

And just when you think you’re beginning to grasp the massive breadth of all this, you’re dumbfounded to discover it’s likely doubled in size, and doubled again from what you last conceived.

Often in our fascination with the internet’s “bigness” and scope, we fail to realize how powerful a tool it can be on a smaller scale – locally.  It’s almost like thinking, “Hey this might be a great telescope, but lookie here, if I do it this way, it’s a great microscope!”

For most real estate professionals, the internet should be a local microscope, allowing you to focus in on YOUR neck of the woods in ways, only a few years ago, were totally impossible.

ADVANCED SECRET

INTERNET STRATEGY

“Think Local”…

Imagine this:

What if you could create a publicly searchable local map of all your happy clients and customers chock full of great stuff about YOU… testimonials, photos, links, videos and more.

Think it might impress a potential home seller? Think you’ll get the listing?

Oh, I almost forgot – What if you could do it for FREE?

How do you THINK LOCAL?…

Explore First, Then Plant Yourself Right Where

Your Best Prospects Are Looking…

First, discover LOCAL search.  I’ll focus for illustration purposes on Google Local, but all the major search engines offer local search results for keyword searches that are deemed “local.”

Go to Google.com and type in the address of where you live   Try it with the full address, then just your street name and city/state, then just your zip.

Any lights going off yet?  Something was FOUND, right?  Search engines seem to dig up something, no matter what.  But were any of the results useful?  And… Could you have been found there?

Now, try clicking on the MAP option that likely appeared when you did a street address search or ZIP CODE search.  You’ll notice under the search box a TAB called “Find Businesses” – click that.  Initially, you’ll get something like the image to the right.

In the search box to the left of your address, type in any business, keyword, or phrase you like.  In my example, I’ll type in what I do as my business… “Internet Strategist.” (next to location “Tucson AZ”)

Quick Side Note:  Google does change how their website looks from time to time.  So you may need to click “Show search options” and select “Businesses” from the drop-down menu.

As you can see, local businesses pull up on the left and at the TOP is my business (which I run from my home) called Web Services LLC.

Again, any lights flashing in your head yet?

Even on most other searches in my local area, my listing pulls up typically within the TOP 5 of local results.  If anyone searches by the county name where I live, or any neighboring communities… BINGO, they’ve found me.

If I were in any local service business, I could easily pursue a few simple steps and PLANT myself under keywords and phrases HOMEOWNERS, BUYERS, and PROSPECTS might type in when seeking to find the agent or services they need.

And to think, the population of Tucson, AZ is over

518,956

Out of over a half million residents living in my area, Tucson, I’m thinking a few might be seeking services or help, and many (if not more) in YOUR local area are desperately trying to find you… but can YOU be found?

It only gets better… Have you ever inquired what it costs to be in the local yellow pages?

Pick a big number and add several ouches afterwards.  Yet, Google and other search engines will give you a BIG yellow page style ad (with your own COUPON option) for absolutely FREE.  And we are not talking for just one year – we’re talking perpetually!  FREE!

So… you may be asking yourself, “Where exactly do I start to tap into local search?”…

1. FIRST identify the best sites to place your local business info.

Here are some HELPFUL RESOURCES to get you started…

2. NEXT, offer something of VALUE to local searchers.

Think about what YOU would want to see if you were searching for a local business…

• A “free home evaluation” coupon…
• Free “Consumer Real Estate Guides”…
• And, PROOF from satisfied customers

In my next article, I’ll unveil the step-by-step process SEO experts use to get found first online.

See you soon!