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Real Estate SEO Services | Boost Local Rankings & Visibility

12 Aug 2024·14 min read
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If there was ever an industry that depended heavily on local visibility, it’s real estate. Realty is a hugely competitive industry, with local agents vying for the hottest properties and most serious buyers. Agents have traditionally relied on expensive newspaper ads, billboards, and cold calling to compete with each other. But today, it’s top local rankings that are the truly valuable real estate. Leveraging local SEO for real estate agents to attract potential buyers and sellers frees you up to show more homes and close more deals. And with powerful tools like Semrush Local on your side, it’s easier than ever to secure local SEO visibility.

seo real estate

Key Takeaways

  • Real estate is a highly competitive industry that requires a strong local presence to succeed.
  • Local SEO for real estate agents is crucial for attracting potential buyers and sellers.
  • Leveraging tools like Semrush Local can help real estate agents secure top local rankings and visibility.
  • Real estate website optimization and real estate content strategy are essential for boosting online presence.
  • Real estate link building and real estate keyword research are key components of a successful seo real estate strategy.

What is Local SEO for Real Estate?

Gone are the days of using local newspapers and browsing the windows of the local real estate agency. Today, most homebuyers and sellers begin their real estate journey online. According to the National Association of Realtors, 97% of all homebuyers use the internet in their home search. When people want help buying or selling a home in a given area, they’ll search for something like “real estate agent in Baltimore.” And you need to be a real estate agent that appears in the results.

Gone are the Days of Traditional Real Estate Marketing

Increasing your positive review count, optimizing your Google Business Profile (GBP), and properly managing business listings can all boost local SEO for real estate agents. And you don’t need to be an expert to get started. Your listings surveyor: Semrush’s Listing Management identifies directories you aren’t listed in and publishes your details for you.

The Importance of Online Visibility for Real Estate Agents

In the above results, the first real estate agent has a lower average rating than the other two. However, it has significantly more reviews. Increasing your positive review count, optimizing your Google Business Profile (GBP), and properly managing business listings can all boost local SEO for real estate agents.

Understanding the Local SEO Landscape

As with property sales, it’s best to start with a professional evaluation of what you’re working with. Use a tool like Semrush Local’s free auditor to quickly learn what’s going right and where you can get some quick wins. In next to no time, you’ll discover directories you should be in, but aren’t, any errors in your current listings, how many online reviews you have, and your average rating across all reviews. Keeping your NAP (name, address, phone number) consistent is key to a solid local SEO strategy. It signals to search engines that the information you provide is reliable and worth ranking for users.

Optimizing Your Google Business Profile

With a 92.63% search engine market share, Google is most people’s first stop for finding a real estate seo agent. That’s why optimizing your Google Business Profile should be a top priority. GBP is used for Google’s Local Pack and Maps, so you’ll want to provide as much information as possible for maximum visibility. Start by claiming your GBP if it already exists, or creating one if Google doesn’t know about you yet.

Claiming and Verifying Your GBP Listing

Next, make your GBP stand out from the competition by completing all aspects of your profile. This includes your business name, address, service area, phone number, website, description, opening hours, opening date, booking link, social media, photos, services, facilities, and business categories. Once you’ve completed all sections of your GBP, you’ll see a green circle in your management dashboard to indicate good profile strength. With a strong GBP in your local seo for realtors portfolio, it’s time to build more citations on other top directories.

Enhancing Your GBP with Relevant Information

By providing comprehensive and accurate information on your Google Business Profile, you can significantly boost your real estate website optimization and visibility in local search results. Utilize this prime digital real estate to showcase your expertise, services, and unique value proposition to potential clients searching for a real estate content strategy.

Building Local Citations and Listings

One of Google’s top three local ranking factors is prominence, which refers to how well-known your real estate business is. The search engine checks other trusted websites and directories for your NAP (name, address, phone number) data to verify your information is accurate. But Google can’t do that if you don’t get it out there. You could make a spreadsheet of all the top online directories like Yelp, Bing Places, and Apple Maps, create or claim your profiles for each, and fully optimize them one by one. Or you could use a real estate seo listing management tool to distribute your essential details to multiple platforms in one simple action. Don’t forget: Add your details to trusted directories specific to the real estate industry, like Realtor, Yahoo Homes, and RedFin.

The Power of Consistent NAP Data

Keeping your NAP (name, address, phone number) consistent is key to a solid local seo for realtors strategy. It signals to search engines that the information you provide is reliable and worth ranking for users. Listing management tools save a lot of time and also keep an eye on your listings to make sure no errors or duplicate accounts appear. Spring clean: The path to better rankings is paved with good real estate website optimization housekeeping. Leverage Semrush’s Listing Management to maintain accurate and up-to-date business information across all online platforms and directories.

Leveraging Listing Management Tools

Don’t forget: Add your details to trusted directories specific to the real estate industry, like Realtor, Yahoo Homes, and RedFin. Listing management tools save a lot of time and also keep an eye on your listings to make sure no errors or duplicate accounts appear. Spring clean: The path to better rankings is paved with good real estate content strategy housekeeping. Leverage Semrush’s Listing Management to maintain accurate and up-to-date business information across all online platforms and directories.

Building Local Citations

Generating and Responding to Online Reviews

Reputation is everything in real estate marketing. A real estate agent’s online image can make or break success. Buying and selling property is often one of the biggest decisions a person can make, so they’ll do their research to find a real estate agent they can trust. Positive reviews don’t just play a pivotal role in shaping your digital reputation, they can also help you rank higher. Google factors in both the quality and quantity of reviews when determining your real estate website’s position in search results.

The Impact of Reviews on Local Rankings

That means you can directly affect your local search engine rankings by actively soliciting reviews from satisfied clients. Review generation can be as simple as reaching out to clients after the keys to the property are handed over and asking them to share their thoughts online. Text messages boast the highest open rate of all marketing channels, almost 100% by some estimates. Include a link to the platform you want them to leave a review on so it’s as easy as possible for them.

Strategies for Soliciting Positive Reviews

When a review comes in, be sure to reply to show them and users reading your reviews that you truly value client feedback. That goes for negative reviews too. Replying thoughtfully to bad reviews demonstrates your commitment to client satisfaction and resolving issues. If you feel the review was unfair, don’t be tempted to fire off an angry response. Take the time to compose a review that addresses the client’s concerns, and offer to make amends if you are at fault.

Handling Negative Reviews Professionally

When a review comes in, be sure to reply to show them and users reading your reviews that you truly value client feedback. That goes for negative reviews too. Replying thoughtfully to bad reviews demonstrates your commitment to client satisfaction and resolving issues. If you feel the review was unfair, don’t be tempted to fire off an angry response. Take the time to compose a review that addresses the client’s concerns, and offer to make amends if you are at fault.

seo real estate with Optimized Website Content

Your website has so much more potential than just real estate listings. First, consider the user experience: Is your website easy to navigate? Does it load quickly so they don’t bounce? Are you optimized for mobile devices? Do you have a valid SSL certificate? Are there any broken links? Run a site audit to check for any technical issues that might make a bad first impression with potential clients and negatively impact your local SEO.

Creating a User-Friendly Website Experience

Next, consider local content marketing. Quality content establishes your expertise, earns trust, and builds strong relationships in your community. Buying a home isn’t a quick decision. It’s a long process that usually starts with basic questions. Extend your reach beyond highly competitive SEO keywords. Write content based on long-tail keywords that target potential homebuyers earlier on in their buyer journey. For example, people who eventually look for “homes for sale in Baltimore” might start with search queries like “relocating to Baltimore” or “best areas for families in Baltimore”.

Developing Localized Content for Real Estate

Great content is also a magnet for backlinks. When a trusted local or industry-related website links to you, it shows Google that others value your content. The key to success: Use Semrush’s keyword research feature to discover localized keywords related to real estate in your target area.

Earning Backlinks Through Quality Content

Mastering Local Keyword Research

Dive into old client emails and pull out any common questions clients have asked you before the sale closed. By addressing their pain points with a blog post at this early stage, you’re putting your agency top of mind by the time they’re ready to do business. Great content is also a magnet for backlinks. When a trusted local or industry-related website links to you, it shows Google that others value your content.

Identifying Location-Based Keywords

The key to success: Use Semrush’s real estate keyword research feature to discover localized keywords related to seo real estate in your target area. Extend your reach beyond highly competitive SEO keywords. Write content based on long-tail keywords that target potential homebuyers earlier on in their buyer journey. For example, people who eventually look for “homes for sale in Baltimore” might start with search queries like “relocating to Baltimore” or “best areas for families in Baltimore”.

Leveraging Long-Tail Keywords

Mastering real estate content strategy and real estate keyword research is key to securing high-visibility rankings in your local real estate market. By focusing on long-tail queries, you can attract valuable prospective clients who are earlier in the home buying process, putting your seo real estate agency top of mind when they’re ready to make a move.

real estate keyword research

Tracking and Measuring Your Local SEO Success

Your investment into national, regional, or local seo real estate will drastically improve the longevity of your marketing dollars long-term. One of the major aspects of using a local real estate SEO agency is that it helps to establish your Google Business Profile page — AND integrating your GMB profile into your website. Your GMB profile provides valuable information to Google, such as your address, hours, reviews, and the services you offer. We not only help you rank highly, but we also optimize your site to be discovered by potential clients in what’s known as the Google Local Pack.

Google’s algorithm crawls your website in order to determine how much value it provides to users. As it is evaluating your website, Google also looks at the technical backend to evaluate things such as title tags, meta descriptions, URL structure, header tags, keywords, and internal and external links. Our team of real estate SEO experts will assess your current on-page seo real estate for real estate best practices and identify the top SEO keywords for real estate to ensure that your site’s on-page real estate website optimization is at peak optimization.

Monitoring Local Search Rankings

Tracking your local search rankings is crucial to understanding the impact of your real estate marketing efforts. By monitoring your position in local search results, you can identify areas for improvement and measure the success of your SEO strategy over time.

Analyzing Website Traffic and Engagement

In addition to tracking your local search rankings, it’s important to analyze your website’s traffic and engagement metrics. This data can provide valuable insights into how users are interacting with your site, which pages are performing well, and where you may need to make adjustments to your real estate website optimization strategy.

Staying Ahead of Local SEO Trends

Search engines like Google constantly evaluate your website’s content to determine if it adds value for their users. It’s widely accepted by industry experts that real estate sites without a quality content marketing strategy have a poor chance when it comes to ranking against competitors who do have high-quality content. Developing a content calendar and producing consistent, quality content requires an investment of time many real estate agencies just don’t have. That’s where our team of real estate SEO service content writers shines.

Adapting to Algorithm Updates

A poor user experience will quickly drive visitors away from your site. In order to keep your potential clients engaged in your real estate agency’s website, the site needs to be mobile-friendly, operate at an optimal site speed, have no (or minimal) 404 errors, and utilize an optimized contact form. SEOReseller’s SEO Services for Real Estate Agents combine rank-building initiatives to help real estate agencies like yours improve their online presence and stay at the top of their game for SEO for realtors.

Embracing Emerging Technologies

As real estate marketing continues to evolve, it’s crucial to stay ahead of the curve and embrace emerging technologies that can enhance your real estate website optimization efforts. From virtual tours to augmented reality, leveraging innovative tools can set your listings apart and provide a more immersive experience for potential buyers. By adapting to these changes and incorporating them into your real estate content strategy, you’ll be able to captivate your audience and maintain a competitive edge in the dynamic seo real estate landscape.

Partnering with a Reputable Real Estate SEO Agency

Finding new clients is always the goal of our real estate SEO experts, and SEO strategy for real estate is no exception. By targeting highly-relevant SEO keywords for real estate, we will boost your position in search results, thereby attracting leads who are actively searching to buy or sell. The cost of a real estate SEO company will vary on the specialized plan we create for your business. Real estate SEO agencies come in all forms, so whether you’re a small agency or have multiple locations around the country, we have the ability to customize an real estate SEO plan to meet your needs.

The Benefits of Professional SEO Services

SEO pricing will depend on what you’ll need. We start with a free audit of your website, and together we can develop a plan that will provide the results you’re looking for and meet your budget requirements. Real estate SEO agencies come in all forms. So, whether you’re a small agency or have multiple locations around the country, we have the ability to customize an real estate SEO plan to meet your business’s unique needs.

Choosing the Right SEO Partner

Finding new clients is always the goal of our real estate SEO experts, and SEO strategy for real estate is no exception. By targeting highly-relevant SEO keywords for real estate, we will boost your position in search results, thereby attracting leads who are actively searching to buy or sell. The cost of a real estate SEO company will vary on the specialized plan we create for your business. Real estate SEO agencies come in all forms, so whether you’re a small agency or have multiple locations around the country, we have the ability to customize an real estate SEO plan to meet your needs.

Conclusion

In the fast-evolving real estate market, a surprising trend has emerged: Millennials, long pegged as the generation of renters and home-shy adults, now dominate the home buying scene in the US market. This shift, highlighted in a 2022 survey by the National Association of Realtors, signals a new era where digital prowess determines market winners. Gone are the days when millennials were content with temporary setups; today, they are ready to invest, and they’re searching for their next home online.

As digital marketplaces like Zillow and Redfin reshape how properties are discovered, merely having an online presence isn’t enough. Your listings must not only appear but also shine at the top of search engine results. This is where SEO for real estate becomes your most potent tool. Effective SEO strategies tailored for real estate — from enhancing your realtor website’s visibility to mastering local search nuances — ensure that when millennials start their search, it’s your listings they find first.

In today’s digital-driven real estate landscape, a robust real estate marketing strategy centered on real estate website optimization is no longer a nice-to-have, but a necessity. By leveraging the power of search engine optimization, you can position your agency at the forefront of this evolving market and connect with the next generation of homebuyers who are defining the future of the industry.

FAQ

What is local SEO for real estate?

Local SEO for real estate refers to the strategies and tactics used to improve the online visibility and ranking of a real estate agent or agency in local search results. This includes optimizing their website, Google Business Profile, and other local business listings to appear prominently when potential clients search for real estate services in a specific geographic area.

Why is online visibility important for real estate agents?

Online visibility is critical for real estate agents because most homebuyers and sellers now begin their search for real estate services online. By ranking highly in local search results, real estate agents can reach and attract more potential clients who are actively looking to buy or sell a home in their area.

How can I optimize my Google Business Profile for better local SEO?

To optimize your Google Business Profile (GBP) for local SEO, you should claim and verify your listing, complete all the relevant information (business name, address, phone number, website, hours, photos, etc.), and ensure your NAP (name, address, phone) data is consistent across all online directories and listings.

What is the importance of building local citations and listings?

Building accurate and consistent local citations (mentions of your business name, address, and phone number on other websites and directories) is crucial for local SEO. It helps search engines verify the legitimacy and location of your real estate business, which can improve your rankings in local search results.

How can online reviews impact my local SEO?

Positive online reviews can have a significant impact on your local SEO. Google and other search engines use the quality and quantity of reviews as a ranking factor, so actively soliciting and responding to reviews can help boost your visibility in local search results.

What role does website content play in local SEO for real estate?

High-quality, localized content on your real estate website can greatly improve your local SEO. This includes creating pages and blog posts that target specific neighborhoods, communities, or buyer/seller needs in your local market, as well as earning backlinks from other local and industry-related websites.

How can I effectively conduct local keyword research for real estate?

Effective local keyword research for real estate involves identifying location-based keywords (such as “homes for sale in [city]”) as well as long-tail keywords that potential buyers and sellers might use earlier in their search process (e.g., “best areas to live in [city]”).

How can I track and measure the success of my local SEO efforts?

Tracking and measuring the success of your local SEO efforts involves monitoring your rankings in local search results, analyzing website traffic and engagement metrics, and evaluating the quality of leads and conversions generated from your local SEO strategy.

How can I stay ahead of local SEO trends for real estate?

To stay ahead of local SEO trends in real estate, you should adapt your strategies to align with changes in search engine algorithms, embrace emerging technologies (such as voice search and local pack optimization), and continually refine your approach based on data and industry best practices.

Why should I consider partnering with a real estate SEO agency?

Partnering with a reputable real estate SEO agency can provide you with the expertise, tools, and resources needed to effectively implement and manage your local SEO strategy. This can include technical website optimizations, content creation, citation building, review management, and more, freeing you up to focus on your core real estate business.

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