The big mystery is how to turn Social Media friendships into business results....
I have been using many SEO techniques to have the highest single trafficked Kansas City real estate agent website. I have now adapted new marketing techniques with social media to gain a 1st page listing on Google on my top 5 keywords.
In the late 90’s I had a discussion with a realtor.com salesperson. They felt that their plan was a much better marketing plan and that Search Engine Optimization was too difficult. Lets fast forward to 2010. Realtor.com gets less than 6% of the real estate web traffic and my $5000 I spent with them has yielded me very little business.
I’m going to spill the beans and share a plan on how you can see the same success.
This may appear to be basic for some who read this Blog, however my experience has been that most Kansas City business people have not yet designed a plan to make sure they are being found online. Some Kansas City business people have good intentions, set up a few sites and forget them. This is worse than not having any profiles at all.
The guidelines below can be expanded over time; however, it’s just a plan to get you started in the right direction. Remember that your goal is “....to drive traffic to your websites, your services, and develop relationships that will result into a face-to-face contact.”
Nearly everything below is free or very affordable, however you must be willing to invest the time for setup and a certain amount of time every day to work your plan. If you’re not willing to do that, then hire someone to set you up and assist you to get started or don’t do it at all. This is by no means an overnight success for getting found online. If you don’t think you need it, just go “Google yourself” (Google search your name inside quotation marks) and do some soul searching about your future.
So, here’s my proposed SEO and Social Media Business plan:
1) First choose Keywords that your consumer will use to search you on Google. If you need help, use these tools: Google Keywords, Wordtracker, Mike’s Marketing Tools and now my new favorite SEO Beta (a plugin to Google Chrome).
2) Start using an Analytic Tool to see where your website is and keep track of what SEO techniques you implement. My favorite analytic tools are: Google Analytics, Compete and Hitwise.
3) Activate an account on Only2Clicks and start saving the websites mentioned here. Only2Clicks is a fantastic bookmark site that saves a clip of the site saved. I have over 50 categories that I save websites on.
4) Start a Blog that is geared toward the Kansas City marketplace and community. I recommend Blogger. Blogger is a Google blog that is indexed quickly and has some awesome SEO tools. There are many other FREE Blogs you can get started with. Ex. are Wordpress, Technorati, Typepad & Posterous.
Once you are setup, You’ll need to do the following:
5) Use a second Blog platform (Amplify, Posterous or Ping.fm) to share interesting business and Kansas City events from etc.
6) Google Tools
7) Facebook
8) LinkedIn
11) Submit your site to:
Directories: Kansas City Business Journal, Google Places, Twellow and many more . . .
Review Sites: RateItAll, Yelp, Merchant’s Circle and many more sites . . .
Bookmarking Sites: Delicious, Digg, StumbleUpon, ClipMarks and many more sites . . .
12) Networking
Social Media Networking is like real life networking, but it is on the internet. Try joining roundtables, meetups and networking communities and start sharing on social media.
Some of my favorites are: Kansas City SEO and Website Promotion, Kansas City Networking, Kansas City Social Media, Social Media Club of Kansas City, Internet Marketing and Social Media Meetup. To find more groups and to list yours go to: Kansas City Business and Community Calendar
Feeling like there is to much to do or you have questions, feel free to read my “Why Social Media Ebook for Kansas City Businesses.” It is Free!
Checkout Part 2, coming soon.
I have been using many SEO techniques to have the highest single trafficked Kansas City real estate agent website. I have now adapted new marketing techniques with social media to gain a 1st page listing on Google on my top 5 keywords.
In the late 90’s I had a discussion with a realtor.com salesperson. They felt that their plan was a much better marketing plan and that Search Engine Optimization was too difficult. Lets fast forward to 2010. Realtor.com gets less than 6% of the real estate web traffic and my $5000 I spent with them has yielded me very little business.
I’m going to spill the beans and share a plan on how you can see the same success.
This may appear to be basic for some who read this Blog, however my experience has been that most Kansas City business people have not yet designed a plan to make sure they are being found online. Some Kansas City business people have good intentions, set up a few sites and forget them. This is worse than not having any profiles at all.
The guidelines below can be expanded over time; however, it’s just a plan to get you started in the right direction. Remember that your goal is “....to drive traffic to your websites, your services, and develop relationships that will result into a face-to-face contact.”
Nearly everything below is free or very affordable, however you must be willing to invest the time for setup and a certain amount of time every day to work your plan. If you’re not willing to do that, then hire someone to set you up and assist you to get started or don’t do it at all. This is by no means an overnight success for getting found online. If you don’t think you need it, just go “Google yourself” (Google search your name inside quotation marks) and do some soul searching about your future.
So, here’s my proposed SEO and Social Media Business plan:
1) First choose Keywords that your consumer will use to search you on Google. If you need help, use these tools: Google Keywords, Wordtracker, Mike’s Marketing Tools and now my new favorite SEO Beta (a plugin to Google Chrome).
2) Start using an Analytic Tool to see where your website is and keep track of what SEO techniques you implement. My favorite analytic tools are: Google Analytics, Compete and Hitwise.
3) Activate an account on Only2Clicks and start saving the websites mentioned here. Only2Clicks is a fantastic bookmark site that saves a clip of the site saved. I have over 50 categories that I save websites on.
4) Start a Blog that is geared toward the Kansas City marketplace and community. I recommend Blogger. Blogger is a Google blog that is indexed quickly and has some awesome SEO tools. There are many other FREE Blogs you can get started with. Ex. are Wordpress, Technorati, Typepad & Posterous.
Once you are setup, You’ll need to do the following:
- Write to your audience with good, interesting content
- Use good keywords that relate to your business and community
- Include links to resources, sites, and points of interest & a photo on each Blog post
- Use widgets for email signup, RSS, older posts, and links
- Use key Plugins and Widgets for Social, Optimization, and other time saving goodies
- Start a practice of commenting on other blogs. Maybe the author or a reader will come to your blog.
- For more information on blogging, download the following eBook and go to the blogging chapter -> eBook: Social Media eBook
5) Use a second Blog platform (Amplify, Posterous or Ping.fm) to share interesting business and Kansas City events from etc.
- Ping your Blog. There are many. My favorites are: Ping my Blog and Ping that Blog,
- Share your posts on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
- Bookmark your Blog posts and others in categories to share
- Use Add This Button for sharing on Delicious, Digg, StumbleUpon and others
6) Google Tools
- Google Profile: Make it complete with links to all your other sites, Blogs, and Social media profiles.
- Google Reader: Wonderful for research, staying abreast of industry news, innovations, and community. My favorites include Mashable, .
- Google Alerts: Setup Google Alerts on yourself, your company, your competition, your community and real estate in general. This will alert you on timely matters and news.
7) Facebook
- Profile: Use a photo, complete your profile with keywords that will relate to you, your business, and interests. Brand your page with your name. Complete your profile. Example: www.Facebook.com/KansasCityRealEstate.
- Business Page: You can get this page branded and customized to match your website or Blog (Fee involved) or use some of the applications included with Facebook. Once you hit 25 fans I would suggest getting a username name for an url.
- Focus on Community: Places to see, things to do, events, festivals, meetings, points of interest, and other relevant facts. Write on other community pages.
- Use RSS and share Blog posts to your business page.
- Have a Tab set up to your LinkedIn, Videos, Business Page
- Marketplace: Another avenue for promoting and advertising your business.
- For more information on blogging, download the following eBook and go to the social networking chapter -> eBook: Social Media eBook
8) LinkedIn
- Make sure your profile is complete.
- Participate in the Questions and Answers section.
- Applications: Forward Twitter streams to your LinkedIn, setup your Blog to RSS into LinkedIn, post your recommended books.
- Build your recommendations up to 12 plus from key local community business people and centers of influence.
- Complete a Resume for your LinkedIn geared toward real estate. Remember you wake up unemployed every day. Your resume should highlight your career successes, education, and accomplishments.
- For more information on blogging, download the following eBook and go to the social networking chapter -> eBook: Social Media eBook
9) YouTube
- Set up a Profile and YouTube Channel for your Business.
- Use YouTube to do quick real estate market updates for your community, discuss community events, grand openings, and other items of interest that can be shared. Keep these videos to under 2 minutes.
- Share your updated videos on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
- Upload appropriate videos to your Blog.
- For more information on blogging, download the following eBook and go to the video chapter -> eBook: Social Media eBook
10) Twitter
Your Tiwtter Profile can only be 140 characters or less, so focus on your community, products ate, homes, services, and a link to your website or blog. I actually recommend 120-125 characters so that your friends can retweet your tweets. Pimp your referral businesses.- A Photo or Avatar is a must.
- Share, Thank, compliment often (3 to 1 rule).
- RT others Tweets that are interesting and informative.
- Don’t sell – provide links to further information.
- For more information on blogging, download the following eBook and go to the micro blogging chapter -> eBook: Social Media eBook
11) Submit your site to:
Directories: Kansas City Business Journal, Google Places, Twellow and many more . . .
Review Sites: RateItAll, Yelp, Merchant’s Circle and many more sites . . .
Bookmarking Sites: Delicious, Digg, StumbleUpon, ClipMarks and many more sites . . .
12) Networking
Social Media Networking is like real life networking, but it is on the internet. Try joining roundtables, meetups and networking communities and start sharing on social media.
Some of my favorites are: Kansas City SEO and Website Promotion, Kansas City Networking, Kansas City Social Media, Social Media Club of Kansas City, Internet Marketing and Social Media Meetup. To find more groups and to list yours go to: Kansas City Business and Community Calendar
Feeling like there is to much to do or you have questions, feel free to read my “Why Social Media Ebook for Kansas City Businesses.” It is Free!
Checkout Part 2, coming soon.
Are you doing anything using the media above that I didn’t mention? Please share your tips in the comments below.
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3 Comments
Great SEO business plan you have here! I think a lot of people underestimate the power of the Google Keyword Tool, but they'd better get hip because it can sure save you a lot of guess work.
ReplyDeleteIf you’re like many small businesses, you probably spent a lot of time pulling together a web site for your company, only to find that in order to be found in the search engines, your site needs to be optimized.
ReplyDeleteIts a wonderful Blog.I found useful information here.,The Search engine optimization means improving the navigation, content, and link popularity of your website. This helps your site to be found easily by the search engines and considered relevant for the terms your buyers use to find your products or services.
ReplyDeleteThank You for commenting on our Blogger blog, http://OnlineKansasCity.Blogspot.com!
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