Upload a Sitemap: Internet Marketing Tip #47 of 100

© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

Real Estate Internet Marketing - 100 Tips in 100 Days

Tip 47 of 100 - Upload a Sitemap

Search engine ranking is a big part of real estate Internet marketing. Websites with excellent search engine ranking don't have to work as hard driving traffic, because the traffic finds the website. It's a web marketer's dream!

But achieving that kind of search engine visibility takes a lot of dedication, for there are many steps to follow and tactics to implement.

A sitemap is one of those tactics.

Now before I invite any confusion, let me clarify which kind of sitemap I'm talking about in this context. Basically there are two kinds of sitemaps:

1. A sitemap that's visible on your website and intended primarily for people.
2. A sitemap that's not visible on your website and intended for search engines.

The second sitemap is what I'm referring to here. Basically, the second sitemap is an XML file (acronym not important) that you upload to the main directory of your website. This XML file lists all of your web pages, and it's one of the first files a search engine will look for when reaching your web domain.

So if a search engine finds your XML sitemap file -- and your sitemap lists all of your web pages -- then there's a good chance the search engine will find, crawl and index (record) all of your web pages.

This is especially important if you have a large website, a website with complex navigation such as drop-down menus, or a combination of the two.

The end result is that (A) you'll have more information to feed the search engines, (B) you'll get credit for more pages and content, and (C) you'll have a better chance of ranking well for the key phrases found in those pages.

How to Generate an XML Sitemap

1. Go here http://www.xml-sitemaps.com/
2. Enter your URL in the box provided.
3. Click the start button.
4. When the sitemap is generated, download the first XML file.
5. Leave the file name exactly as is (sitemap.xml).
6. Put the sitemap in the root (main) level of your web domain.

Look for real estate Internet marketing tip #48 tomorrow!

~Brandon

Keep Your Integrity: Internet Marketing Tip #46 of 100

© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

Real Estate Internet Marketing - 100 Tips in 100 Days

Tip 46 of 100 - Keep Your Integrity

What is about the Internet that makes some people do things they wouldn't do to somebody face to face? It's the anonymity.

The anonymous nature of the Internet lures some Internet marketers into a dark world of spam, deceit and trickery.

An Example of Integrity Loss
Want a prime example of this? I just had to delete a bunch of comment spam from one of my real estate blogs ... left by a website that supposedly offers real estate advice to agents. In fact, that's their website name: realestateagentsadvice.com

Basically, this faceless "company" posted page content from their own website as a comment on my blog, and then put in dozens of links back to their own site to try and inflate their search engine ranking. A classic but always detestable tactic among SEO spammers with no integrity.

This is just one example of Internet marketing without integrity. Since I work online, I see this kind of thing all the time. And let me tell you something about the kinds of companies who resort to these tactics ... they always lose in the end. They use deception and trickery in marketing for so long, that it begins to bleed over into their dealings with customers. That's hardly the way to grow a business.

This Internet marketing tip has been brought to you by bloggers for a more ethical Internet (me)!

Look for real estate Internet marketing tip #47 tomorrow!

~Brandon

Launch Website #2: Internet Marketing Tip 45 of 100

© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

Real Estate Internet Marketing - 100 Tips in 100 Days

Tip 45 of 100 - Launch a Second Website

This real estate Internet marketing tip is for the advanced pupils. You know, those of you who already have a real estate blog or website that does well in the search engines.

If you fall into this group, why not launch a second website? Think about it, if you have a website that's on the first page of search engines for your key phrases, there's a 1-in-10 chance people will click on your site (over the other 9 listed on the page).

But if you eventually had two websites or blogs appearing on the first page, there would be a 2-in-10 chance people would click one of your websites. That's a significant increase in the number of people who find you through search engines.

And, provided you have some form of website lead generation in place, the double exposure would significantly add to your business growth.

What Kind of Website?
Choosing a focus for your second website depends on your business goals. If your primary website is for marketing, why not create a second website (or blog) with an educational angle. It could be sort of a "one-stop-shop" for home buying / selling information in your market area. That's just one of many ideas for a second site.

Look for real estate Internet marketing tip #46 tomorrow!

~Brandon

Real Estate Blog Book - Now Available

© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

The Triangle Publishing System

If you publish a real estate blog, or if you plan to in the near future, you owe it to yourself to download a copy of my Triangle Publishing System.

This step-by-step process can increase the search engine ranking of your real estate blog ... often dramatically. And it's simple enough for web novices! Learn more about this real estate blog book.

Have questions about this item? Please contact me.

~Brandon

Hunt for Links Wisely: Tip #44 of 100

© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

Real Estate Internet Marketing - 100 Tips in 100 Days

Tip 44 of 100 - Hunt for Links Wisely

In our last tip on real estate Internet marketing, we talked about the importance of seeking inbound links. I also offered some ideas on how you can build up your link profile gradually over time.

Here's a time-saving tip that will make your link-building efforts even more productive. Write down two or three websites that rank well in the search engines for your key phrases. Then find out which websites are linking to them. Often, the inbound links to these top-ranking websites will also be great link opportunities for you as well.

How do you research another website's inbound links? By using Yahoo Site Explorer.

Look for real estate Internet marketing tip #45 tomorrow!

~Brandon

Get Links: Internet Marketing Tip #43

© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

Real Estate Internet Marketing - 100 Tips in 100 Days

Tip 43 of 100 - Seek Inbound Links

There are many factors that contribute to a website's search engine ranking / visibility. Inbound links are one of the biggest factors, especially with Google ranking.

As search engines continue to evolve, they adjust their ranking algorithms. But inbound links will remain at the top of their list of ranking factors, now and well into the future.

Link building today is an investment in your search engine visibility tomorrow. As a real estate professional, you know all about investments, right?

How to get links:

• Publish articles online
• Publish press releases online
• Build something worth linking to
• Submit your website to directories
• Pay somebody to do it

Look for real estate Internet marketing tip #44 tomorrow!

~Brandon

Real Estate Blog Training - February 28

© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

There are still some spaces left for the Real Estate Blogging 101 webinar. So if you're still "on the fence" about whether or not you should sign up ... here's another reason:

How to Blog Your Way Up the Search Engines
Over the last few months, I've been experimenting with a particular blog strategy to increase my search engine visibility for specific phrases, while also educating my readers and fostering interaction.

It has worked ... not just once but twice, on two separate websites. And I'll share all the details with your at the blogging webinar. So if you're serious about Internet marketing and online visibility, you won't want to miss this event!

Hope you can make it.

~Brandon

Real Estate Blogs - New Article Posted

© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

Real estate blogs have become quite the hot topic lately.

It's like anything else with real estate Internet marketing. A new tool, topic or strategy comes onto the scene, and pretty soon everybody is extolling the virtues of it.

Well, I have some good news and some bad news regarding real estate blogs.

Let's start with the bad news. A real estate blog will not suddenly propel you onto Page 1 of Google, as some folks seem to think. After all, a blog is just a tool used to create web pages -- a chronological content-management system, if you will. Blogging takes work and dedication.

Now for the good news. The #1 benefit of a blog (in my opinion) is that it makes web publishing extremely easy, even for people who have no web coding skills whatsoever. A real estate blog will help you add fresh content to your website on a regular basis. This is good for people, of course, and it will also keep the search engines coming back to visit often. So in that regard, a blog can help you climb the search engines.

Want to learn more?

• Article on real estate blogging
• Real estate blog services
• How to get subscribers to your blog

Happy blogging!

~Brandon

Brush Up On "Do Not Call" - Internet Marketing Tip #42 of 100

© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

Real Estate Internet Marketing - 100 Tips in 100 Days

Tip 42 of 100 - Brush Up On "Do Not Call"

Real estate Internet marketing is a leads-oriented affair. When things work well, you get leads from your website. You would then follow up on those leads to try and further the relationship.

Call it Good Business 101. Proper follow-up can increase the value of your real estate Internet marketing program by turning those email and form inquiries into actual clients.

But following up with potential clients makes some real estate agents nervous, because of the "Do Not Call" laws. There is no reason to fear this law, so long as you understand it. Here's a brief summary of what you should know about the National Do Not Call Registry, as it applies to your real estate Internet marketing program.

When Does the Law Apply?
You have to be able to make phone calls to conduct your real estate business, and the government knows this. So follow-up phone calls are obviously permitted. The registry is not intended to prevent follow-up phone calls to people who have contacted you first, nor is it intended to prevent regular phone calls to existing clients. It's those unsolicited cold calls that the legislation focuses on.

Other Key Points of "Do Not Call"

• Telemarketers and sellers are required to search the registry at least once every 31 days and drop from their call lists the phone numbers of consumers who have registered. This rule may have changed as of this writing, so you'll want to read the current requirements.


• If a consumer makes an inquiry or submits an application to a company, the company can call for three months (unless the consumer makes a specific request that you do not call them).


• In other words, if somebody calls or emails you to request information of any kind, you may call them as needed (even if they are registered on the Do Not Call list). But if they request that you do not call them, you must honor that request.


• A company that has an established business relationship with a person may call that person for up to 18 months after the consumer’s last purchase or payment [or last business meeting, in the case of real estate agents], unless the consumer asks the company not to call again.

Are Real Estate Agents Telemarketers?
Now, you might not think of yourself as a telemarketer. But by the FTC's definition, if you call a prospective client (with whom you have no existing business relationship) to offer your services ... you're a telemarketer. A good example would be calling an FSBO or an expired listing with whom you have no previous relationship. In that particular case, you fit the legal definition of a telemarketer.

Don't fear the Do Not Call Registry -- just understand it and abide by it. Avoid cold-calling a person unless you're sure they're not on the registry. Just realize that 3 out of 4 adults in the U.S. are on the registry.

The average person will not file a legal complaint against you, but it has been known to happen from time to time. And the FTC is not shy about handing out fines.

Want more info? Go to the source and ask the horse:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/alerts/alt129.htm

Want the NAR's spin on it?
http://www.realtor.org/libweb.nsf/pages/fg707


Look for real estate Internet marketing tip #43 tomorrow!

~Brandon

Real Estate Blogging 101 - Online Seminar

© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

On February 28, 2007, I'll be conducting a webinar (web-based seminar) on using a blog as a real estate marketing tool. If you're new to blogging, or if you want to add a real estate blog to your marketing mix, you won't want to miss this informative event.

Learn how to publish your way to a stronger web presence!

Topics to be covered:

• What are blogs, and how do they work?
• How do I start my own blog?
• WordPress vs. Blogger - two popular blog programs
• An inside look at the two programs mentioned above
• The many benefits of blogging
• Blogs as an Internet marketing tool
• What to write / blog about
• How to create an automatic "idea stream" for daily inspiration
• How to increase your search engine ranking with a blog
• How I used one of my blogs to climb the Google ranks
• How to grow your audience steadily over time
• How to position yourself as a local resource and expert
• Where to go for blogging assistance
• And much more!

Why Should You Blog?

A well-produced real estate blog can make you more visible online, increase the freshness and value of your website, position you as an authority, and help you attract potential clients -- in just a few minutes a day.

Sign up today

I hope you can attend!

~Brandon

Real Estate Marketing Tools: Tip #41 of 100

© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

Real Estate Internet Marketing - 100 Tips in 100 Days

Tip 41 of 100 - Use Your Best Marketing Tool

Whether you realize it or not, you have an extremely powerful marketing tool at your disposal. Not, it's not your website or a piece of software ... or anything you've purchased for that matter. It's you!

You've probably seen advertisements for marketing products (like software) that promise to take your business to the next level. Unfortunately, none of these products has the power to do that. But there is one particular real estate marketing tool that can grow your business to any sized goal. You are that tool.

Learn more about the most powerful real estate marketing tool.

Look for real estate Internet marketing tip #42 tomorrow!

~Brandon

Real Estate Internet Marketing: Tips #30 - 40

© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

Real Estate Internet Marketing - 100 Tips in 100 Days

Tips 30 - 40 of 100

Well it seems I've gotten behind schedule again. So to keep up with my 100 tips in 100 days motif, I'm adding another combination post. This post combines real estate Internet marketing tips 30 through 40, with a "learn more" link for each one.

Without further ado...

Real Estate Marketing Online - Lead Generation Tips
Search engine marketing and online PR can drive traffic to your website. But what do you do with them once they're on your site? This article picks up where traffic acquisition leaves off, offering specific strategies for generating website leads.

Blog Marketing for Real Estate Agents
This article is part of a series that provides insight on the unique ways a blog can be used to further your real estate marketing objectives.

11 Tips for Email Marketing Success
Email marketing is still a viable medium, but it takes more effort these days to break through the clutter. The article below gives specific tips on improving your email-marketing message.

Use Email Marketing Software for Simplicity
If you use email to keep in touch with a large list of current and past clients, you owe it to yourself to purchase an email marketing program like Constant Contact or IntelliContact. It makes it easier for people to sign up, and easier for you to manage the list and dispatch emails.

Boost Your Online Visibility
Every real estate agent wants his or her website to rank well in the search engines. With so many buyers and sellers online these days, it's a no-brainer. Search engine visibility can increase the amount of qualified traffic to your website, and that has a direct impact on client acquisition.

Generate Website Leads with a School Report
People look to real estate agents for their expertise on local home prices, local market conditions, local school information and more. You can turn this desire into a lead-generating campaign simply by giving people what they want ... local information.

Website Design: The Usability Factor
If people find your real estate website hard to navigate and use, there's a strong chance they'll leave without taking any action whatsoever. This article offers timeless tips for making a website more usable -- and by extension more profitable.

Real Estate Web Design - An Agent's Guide
In reality, real estate website design is not much different than any other kind of web design. All of the basic principles of marketing and usability apply. The only thing that's unique about a real estate website is the audience and the objective.

Improve Search Engine Visibility with a Sitemap
An XML sitemap is basically a list of all your website's pages, coded in XML format. Search engines will use your sitemap file as a map to all of your pages. This helps ensure you'll get search engine "credit" for as many of your web pages as possible, thus improving your overall search engine visibility.

Boost Your SEO with an Optimized Press Release
Did you know you can submit a press release online (with keyword-rich links to your website) for only $80? It's true, and it's a tactic I use about once a month for publicity, direct exposure, and yes ... SEO benefits.

Combine Your Online and Offline Marketing
Your real estate marketing program should cover more than one channel. When you combine multiple marketing channels to serve a common goal, you can accomplish a lot more. Here's an example using real estate postcards along with your website.

Look for real estate Internet marketing tip #41 tomorrow!

~Brandon

Design for People: Marketing Tip #29 of 100

© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

Real Estate Internet Marketing - 100 Tips in 100 Days

Tip 29 of 100 - Design for People

Design is largely a subjective topic. We all have our own design-related preferences and opinions. But when it comes to website design -- specifically, real estate web design -- design becomes more of a business decision than a personal one.

Whenever you're making a design change to your real estate website, the questions you should always ask are:

1. Will this change help my visitors accomplish their goals?
2. Will this design change support my primary website goals (lead generation, for example)?
3. Is this design change in keeping with website usability standards? Or will it confuse people?

Design and usability go hand in hand. A well-designed website increases the chance that visitors will follow the path you want them to follow, and take the actions you want them to take. On the other hand, a poorly designed website can frustrate visitors and reflect poorly on the website owner.

Look for real estate Internet marketing tip #30 tomorrow!

~Brandon

Write One Page Per Keyword - Internet Marketing Tip #28 of 100

© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

Real Estate Internet Marketing - 100 Tips in 100 Days

Tip 28 of 100 - Write One Page Per Keyword

Here's an easy way to increase your website's search engine ranking / visibility for important phrases. When working with client websites, this is usually the first step in my process. I consider it "low-hanging fruit" because it's one of the easiest yet most reliable ways to climb the search engines.

Write one page of web content for each of your top ten keywords.

That's it. Seems pretty simple, doesn't it? Yet you'd be surprised how many websites lack the most fundamental element of search engine visibility -- content!

Your first step, of course, is to conduct some key phrase research to see what kinds of phrases you target audience is typing into search engines. For starters, just make a list of the top 10 - 20 phrases. Be realistic here ... remember, you'll be writing a page of content for each of those phrases.

The next step is to write a keyword-rich page of web content on each of your key phrases. If one of your top phrases is "Condos in Happytown, Vermont," then you should write a content-rich web page about condos in Happytown, Vermont.

Want to rank even higher for the phrase? Write two pages per keyword. Like I said, it's not a hard "science" to figure out.

Of course, you'll need to point some inbound links to those new pages. But we've covered that topic already.

Look for real estate Internet marketing tip #29 tomorrow!

~Brandon

P.S. - If you hate to write, I can help you create web content.

Direct Mail Postcard Tips - New Article Posted

© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

We interrupt this blog series on real estate Internet marketing to bring you the following news:

Howdy!

Just a quick post to let you know about a new article posted over at PostcardSmart. If you use direct mail postcards in your marketing program, or you plan to in the future, you'll find this article helpful. At least, I hope you will.

Direct Mail Postcards - Improving Response Rates
This article is basically a list of ways to improve response rates on your direct mail postcards, based on my own experiences working in the direct mail industry. Go there now

Until tomorrow,

~Brandon

Paint Your Cow Purple: Marketing Tip 27 of 100

© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

Real Estate Internet Marketing - 100 Tips in 100 Days

Tip 27 of 100 - Paint Your Cow Purple

Seth Godin is one of my favorite business and marketing writers. In his best-selling book Purple Cow, he states the following:

"Every day, consumers come face to face with a lot of boring stuff -- a lot of brown cows -- but you can bet they won't forget a Purple Cow."

His point is simple yet often forgotten. If your real estate marketing strategies are carbon copies of the strategies used by other real estate agents, you will be a brown cow. Seen one, you've seen 'em all.

I've know a handful of agents who have more business than they can handle. As with any industry, they represent the happy minority. And they all have one thing in common -- they're all doing something in their real estate marketing that makes me say, "Wow, what a great idea. That's fantastic!"

In other words, they have come up with real estate marketing ideas that are the equivalent of a purple cow. And they're all the more successful for it.

Look for real estate Internet marketing tip #28 tomorrow!

~Brandon

Real Estate SEO Tip - Free Keyword Tool Available

© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

Keyword research is an important part of real estate search engine optimization. And now, thanks to Wordtracker, there's a new keyword research tool you can use ... for free!

Read their blog announcement

If, like me, you've used Yahoo's / Overture's keyword research tool, you know that its performance has declined steadily in recent months. Yahoo's tool does not seem to be maintained anymore, and I've heard it is going bye-bye. I would certainly remove it if I were Yahoo ... that kind of broken tool hurts a company's reputation.

So this new release of the free Wordtracker tool comes partly in response to the slow, agonizing death of the Yahoo tool.

Here's what Mike Mindel from Wordtracker has to say about their new tool:

"Everyone should have access to a reliable, basic working keyword tool (database of intentions) that they can use for their pitches, proposals and good ole search engine optimization, AdWord campaigns etc. One that we pledge to support and continually make sure is reliable, fast and useful."

Here's the free keyword tool

~Brandon