Do It Yourself, Optimizing a Website: Part 3
- Click Here! But for what? The Value of Proper Link Names:
- Know Your Limits! Keyword Phrases per Page
- Choosing a Keyword Phrase to Suit Your Needs:
VIII. Click Here! But for what? The Value of Proper Link Names:
Another commonly overlooked area of search engine optimization is page links. If you're writing a page rich in content that also contains several links, but those links are improperly labelled, you are missing out on a simple way to improve your ranking. Search engines actually grade links higher than plain text. So if you can incorporate your keyword phrase within the link, it will have a greater positive effect than simply restating some variant of 'Click Here'. If you cannot find a suitable way to implement your keyword phrase within the link, remember that search engines also rate the text surrounding a link higher than other plain text on the page -- so try and use your keyword phrase in or nearby links to achieve the best results.
IX. Choosing a Keyword Phrase to Suit Your Needs:
Often times ones first impression when thinking of a keyword phrase to optimize is to go with one of the standard, generalized keyword phrases that are all too commonly overused, such as Toronto Homes for Sale or Toronto Condos for Sale, however this isn't necessarily the best course of action. Typically competition is fierce for those uber-popular keyword phrases, and websites enlisting the help of professional SEO companies primarily occupy the first pages of search results.
Instead of trying to take the battle headlong, think of a keyword phrase that helps you better define the central topic of your web page. Carve out a niche for yourself. Instead of trying to optimize for Toronto for Sale, which is a broad and highly sought after keyword phrase, one could opt to specify the neighbourhood they work out of, such as Leaside Homes for Sale. This not only helps to better define your area of focus, but also directs your web page into a ranking competition with a keyword phrase that A.) Caters to a niche market, B.) Avoids competing for popular generic keyword phrases with other heavily SEO'd websites, and C.) Allows you to earn a higher organic ranking faster due to less overall competition for the keyword phrase.
Remember it is better to have a strong albeit smaller online presence that attracts people for a specific purpose (i.e. homes in one particular area, say Leaside) than it is to try and provide something for everyone. When you try to cater to the masses, individuals usually slip through the cracks, and in the real estate business, it is better to suitably serve the individual than hope to appease the masses.
X. Choosing a Keyword Phrase to Suit Your Needs:
So you've got an awesome website, filled with helpful information and everything a potential customer might need when looking to purchase or sell a property - but nobody is visiting? Why? Well there can be many reasons, but a good place to start looking is at the popularity of your keyword phrases on the major search engines. If you've mistakenly chosen the wrong set of keyword phrases, your website's potential could be greatly diminished due to not having it properly optimized with popular keyword phrases that adhere to rule #9.
By taking advantage of tools such as the Yahoo! Buzz Index, Google Trends and AdWords you can obtain some basic insight into the popularity of keyword searches at any given time. These tools are extremely helpful in monitoring not only your keyword phrases, but also those of areas you are considering branching into.
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Now that you've read through all 10 of the do it yourself optimization tips, feel free to take a look at a sample page that has been optimized for 2 keyword phrases, "Leaside Homes for Sale" and "Buy a Leaside Home". It is important to note that this page is just a starting point, aimed at highlighting this article's 10 seo tips; however it should also prove useful as a reference if you happen to get stuck on your optimization journey!
In closing it is important to realize that the 'do it yourself' method of search engine optimization is not necessarily complicated, but rather time-consuming and requires a thought-out approach. The best results come when you chart out a specific path for yourself, focus on a specific niche and work from there. In order to get yourself highly ranked for one keyword phrase, be prepared to write about that phrase; why should you be highly ranked in a search engine's eyes? Make yourself standout and show that you're knowledgeable about the area you're working in, and more importantly about real estate. Beyond these 10 do-it-yourself optimization methods, there are a myriad of other options, to name a couple: test pay-per-click's waters for quick and cost-effective sponsored advertising rankings, or try sms messaging to better connect with today's communication-hungry market - which brings me to my next point!
Next week's article which will be on SMS Messaging. I will show you how to properly setup SMS Keywords; what words to pick, what to write, and how to maximize their usefulness. Can it be?! An inexpensive, useful and easy-to-use marketing tool? Stay tuned to find out more.
Authored By: Bryan Coughlin, Client Relations