Not sure what a title tag is?  You’re not the only one.  Title tags is a small HTML Tag and it looks like this.  <title>This is my title tag</title>.  It is perhaps the most imprtant part of your site when it comes to telling Google what you want to rank for.

If yor Title Tag says <title>Tom Lyons Realtor</title> what do you think Google will think my site is about?  Yep, that’s right, Tom Lyons Realtor.

So if I want to rank “Belleville Homes for Sale” what do you think my title tag should be?  Right again, <title>Belleville Homes for Sale</title>.  See how easy this is!

So how do you change your title tag?  Well that really depends on what you have for a website.  But I would talk to your web person and have them change it to what you really want it to say.

2.  Create Squidoo Page

Squidoo.com is the brainchild of marketer/writer/blogger/bald guy Seth Godin.  Anyway the point of Squidoo is to allow people to build niche specfic expert pages.   The upside is Squidoo holds petty good authority with the Search Engines and can often get a good placement for the keywords you target, plus create traffic and visitors to your site.

The key is to write a really good squidoo page and then link it to your site with a strong call to action.

3. Submit your site to directories.

Dmoz.org and Yahoo.com or two of the biggest directories out there and worth doing a submission to but there are also 1000’s of smaller lesser known directories that you can submit to.  Having your site added to those directories will create targeted inbound links.  Although most of these links only provide a small amount of link juice to your site they can add up.  In many real estate markets these action alone can be enough to push your site to first page rankings and they will always give you a base line amount of links to your site.

Jump in and do the above items.  You’ll be on your way to higher rankings and more traffic.  By all means this is not a complete guide, but everyone needs to start somewhere.  The important thing is to start.

Everyday I get questions about how to get more search traffic. Some about main keywords such as “Las Vegas real estate” or “Belleville homes for sale”, but main keywords are just the start.

Did you know that Roost.com, which is a home search engine, recently posted the top ten terms home buyers use when searching for a property. More importantly they posted the add-on terms people use to refine the search.

So everyone knows that when creating a new listing title you should be using keywords related to the home. Such as the address, or type of home right?

But understanding the terms searchers actually use to refine the homes they want to see is priceless. Here’s an example:

Ok title: 85 Progress Ave, Belleville, Condo

That title will allow searche engines to index the address and that it’s a condo in Belleville

Better Title: 85 Progress Ave, Spacious Belleville Condo with Pool

The difference is slight, but by adding pool and spacious we grab a couple extra keywords to help the home show up when someone is looking for a home with pools or a roomy condo.

Here’s the list of Keywords from Roost.com, ask yourself if you use these words in your titles and descriptions. Both on the web and in other forms of advertising.

1. Pool

2. Garage

3. Hardwood

4. Waterfront

5. View

6. Basement

7. Tile

8. Deck

9. Condo

10. Shop

Happy Posting!

So we have covered how to get your profile set up. You can view it here.

Today we are moving on to doing your Facebook Page.  The Facebook Page is your business front to the world.  It’s less personal than your Profile.

The big advantage to a Page is it’s ability to communicate with your Fans and the viral nature of the information being sent to your fans.

Let’s start with Step #1:

First you need to create a page.  Login into your Facebook Account and then go to:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php

You’ll see a page much like this:(Click on Image for Full Size)

Step #2:

Here you’ll add your business name and other details about your business.

Step #3

You’re almost done, fill in your other details.  You can add the RSS feed from your blog in the mini feed.  Or upload videos and pictures of your homes.

We’ll cover more details down the road to help you get more out of your facebook page.  But for now just take your time and explore a little.  Don’t forget to let all your Facebook friends know about your new page and invite them to become a fan.

One of the most common questions I get from Realtors is about advertising. The market has been changing over the last decade. Print media is slowing dieing, we see that in the response we get from ads. The National Association of Realtors also pumps out it’s annual Buyer/Seller Profile, and each year print is shown as less effective with this year showing only 1% of buyers finding the home they purchased from print media. While the Internet is up to 32%.

But what does that leave the Realtor. MLS? Agent Websites? If you don’t have good Search Engine placement, traffic is low, leads are non existent. You can purchase Pay per click traffic, which when done correctly is a gold mine.

But still there must be more? Well I’m here to tell you there is!

We’re going to start with Kijiji.com or Kijiji.ca depending on what country you’re in. The video below shows my results for one weekend with one listing.

Enjoy!

Do you have any tips or sites you use? Add them to the comments below and we’ll enter to win “Get More Referrals Now!” by Bill Cates, America’s #1 Referral Coach.

Well for your website it’s starts with a game plan and we thought you could use this little diagram to get you started.

Is there something we missed? Add your comment below we loved to hear from you! Click the thumbnail for the full size image.

This is for all the Realtors out there that want to take thier business to a whole new level.

Rules are the same as last time.

1. Add comment below with your Twitter ID

2. Make sure to tell people why they should follow you.

That’s it!

Goodluck and here’s to next year being a huge success!

But we know better, in fact twitter passes us information, news and friendship from across the world keeping people in touch at all times. I’ll admit I was skeptic and it took me much longer than I care to admit to finally get on board. But I’m a convert, evangelical in nature even.

But my conversion can be attributed to those who make the effort to provide real value out to the twitterverse. That’s what this post is all about, paying homage to those I respect and follow.

1. From http://www.hubspot.com.
@mvolpe and @Karenrubin - Because of Hubspot.tv and the fact that these two use twitter to answer question during the show. They also showed me the benefit of binding Social Media, SEO and Web marketing together for best benefits.

Also, special shout out to @ellieeille for her excellent linking and great sense of humour.

2. From http://jimsmarketingblog.com @Jimconnolly for his constant support to the community. His blog is fantastic! A good example is this post here. He answer direct messages and replies with thought, and tells the truth about what he thinks when you ask his opinion.

3. @joelrunner he was one of the first to actual follow and retweet one of my post. I don’t think people realize how excited a person gets when they see something they spent time and energy on get reposted. I’m know that many of my leads came from his first retweet. Not sure how I’ll repay the favour, since he never wants anything in return. You can find his blog at: http://activerain.com/blogs/joelrunner

4. @BeeRealty if you choose to follow anyone follow this Lady, she’s amazingly funny, tweets about all sorts of things, and must cause me to follow have a dozen new people each day just to find how she even got on a subject. I’m pretty sure she’s the reason Twitter exist. Her website is: http://BeeRealty.com

There’s more, and I’ll add them in another post down the road. But I promise you if you start to follow these people you’ll get what Twitter is about, and you’ll see why I’m convert now.

What or who caused you to be a twitter addict?

I’m giving away a brand new copy of “The Emyth Revisited” by Michael E. Gerber.

Anyone one who wants to grow their business yet free up your own time to enjoy your life needs this book.

That leaves only one question, how do you win.  Well you made it here so that’s a good start.

The next part is just as easy, submit a comment below, be sure to include your twitter name.

If you’re feeling really generous, retweet the contest out to the Twitterverse, be sure to include @tlyons in the tweet so I see it and I’ll give you 5 extra chances to win.

Be sure to follow me on twitter, that’s how I will announce the twinner(tweet winner), on Friday, December 18, 08.

Make sure to include your twitter address in your comment below and in 140 characters or less, tell other what you do and why they should follow you.

Goodluck and let’s have some fun Tweeple!

UPDATE:  Congratulations to Dave Blockhus,  @losaltoshomes

Winner of “The Emyth Revisited”

Well they’re right.  The IPhone, Blackberry, Google G1, and every other smart phone is changing everything.  Because if you’re under 40 you’ve probably used your phone to find a local business.  If you’re under 30 you probably used the GPS in your phone to drive to a location.

Are you starting to understand?  I DID NOT USE A PHONE BOOK!!  I used my phone, it’s with me all the time.  It gives me a map of where to drive, sometimes the hours of operation.  It can give me more than one option and perhaps some reviews.

Sure the phone book is good if the power goes out, or your phone is dead, or you’re lost in the desert with no cell reception, a phone book and a payphone.  But beyond that it really serves no purpose.  Do people still use it? Yes, of course they do but let’s face it, the phone is replacing the phonebook.

So what’s the hold up, well, many contractor still don’t have websites.  They don’t know how to get on Google Local and Maps.  These small companies are not Geeks like I am, and although they hardly use the Yellow Pages either, it’s the only way to find them.

Come on people, lets do two things.

1. Let’s make sure we get ourselves listed in Google Local.

It’s easy. Click Here to Sign up for Google Local

Just follow the instructions and you’ll be listed in no time.

2. Everyone one of us has a friend who’s contractor, plumber, accountant, dentist, you get my point.  Get them listed, it will take you five minutes to make it happen.  You’ll help their business, that’s what friends do.  Friends don’t let friends waste resources and money.

No let’s get out there and help the little guy!

I want to hear your thoughts, add your comment below!