Are you considering ways to get more local traffic from your blogging? You need an SEO checklist!
Like many agents, you may be wondering how to get more traffic to your blog posts. Perhaps you publish articles every week. When you check the web analytics for your blog, however, the traffic graph displays a disappointing slump, or simply flatlines with little change from week to week.
Sound familiar?
So how do you get more people in your geographic farm to see your blog and respond?
By having a blog, you’re already on the right track. In fact, for new agents, blogging is without a doubt one of the most effective ways to generate free, organic traffic. With the right landing pages and proper CRM integration, your blog posts can fuel your sales pipeline with qualified leads and subscribers each month!
Benefits of an SEO Checklist
Writing blog articles that get seen and shared is not as difficult as you might expect. Assuming you’ve done your research to identify your target audience, optimizing your blogs the right way will drive organic visitors to your website.
Regardless of the topic, the following blog optimization checklist will:
- Enhance the visibility of your blog posts in search results
- Increase engagement on social media
- Drive qualified traffic to your landing pages
- Convert more visitors into subscribers
With that in mind, follow our helpful SEO checklist below each time you publish a blog:
Real Estate Blogging SEO Checklist
Local Keywords
Search engines match your blog article with users based on the target keyword. Local keywords that are unique to your geographic farm can generate a ton of qualified traffic from local residents.
Location keywords, colloquial expressions, and even local business names are all great keywords for driving local traffic. Utilize them in your text, title, and subheadings.
Your keyword research will identify the right keyword terms and phrases, as well as the size of your audience. Use a keyword research tool to identify alternate phrasing you can utilize as well.
Blog Copy
A blog article should be well written. Grammar, punctuation, spelling, as well as organization, should all be edited before you hit publish.
Each article you write should develop an argument that is clear to the reader and easy to follow. Keep paragraphs tight, with as little extra verbiage as possible. Aim for shorter sentences, keeping in mind that your audience will likely be reading from a smartphone or iPhone screen.
If you’re not a strong writer, read real estate blogs for ideas and examples. You can also subscribe to a blog writing site that offers free tips and advice.
Blog Title
Blog titles are displayed prominently in search results
Always include your target keywords in your title. Search engines crawl the H1 title which is prominently displayed as the blog title in search results.
A strong title with the right keywords will stand out against competitors and attract prospects.
Subheadings
To enhance the readability of your blog articles, add subheadings that neatly summarize your key points. Include your target keyword in at least 1 of your subheadings as well.
Adding H2 – H4 subheadings to your blog copy is good SEO and good writing. Readers scrolling your article on a mobile screen can quickly scan the subheadings to assess the relevance of your content.
Enriched Snippets
Ranked search results on Google will quite often appear with enhanced content. Star ratings, map directions, business hours, menu, etc.
Example of a rich snippet in Google results
Enriched snippets can help your blog articles and other website content stand out in search results by providing readers with additional information:
Real estate agents can enrich snippets to stand out in search results
If you’re using WordPress, there are plugins you can use to create your own enriched snippets. Agents with a Google + Google My Business account can access free snippet tools online. Web developers can access Google’s guide for developers.
External Page Links
Hyperlinks that direct readers to external pages can enhance the quality of your blog articles. Include statistical data, quotes, and charts in your blog article to support your argument, then include links to the source.
Seek out reputable sources such as the NAR website, realtor.com, and real estate influencers. The authority of these websites will not only assure readers of the trustworthiness of your content but search engines as well.
Internal links
Implementing internal links into your blog copy can lead visitors to blog articles you may have published months or even years ago. Add internal links that lead readers to other rel
Images
Optimize your images by adding captions, a title, and a description. Add keywords to the ‘alt text’ field as well, which will boost your blog’s visibility in search results.
Video
Online video consumption is growing and will likely continue to for some time. Currently, 55% of people watch online video content every day. Close to half of all users search for video content regarding a product or service before visiting a business in person.
You can either use your smartphone to create your own videos or embed relevant video content from Youtube into your articles. Be sure to credit the owner of any Youtube content, and avoid linking to spammy content with distracting ads.
Julie Broad of Revnyou.com shares some great tips for agents who want more blog traffic:
Social media buttons
Enable social media sharing by adding social sharing buttons to your blog articles. Make sure there is an icon for your most used and up-to-date social media accounts.
Seek out specialty sites as well and online forums dedicated to your target audience. If your focus is retirees, join relevant Facebook groups as well as Meetups, and local health groups for seniors. Share your articles on these channels or request to sponsor a post on their website.
Call To Action
Lastly, craft a series of compelling landing pages and include a link in your call to action. Your call to action should express your core value proposition in simple, direct terms:
- “Subscribe to my newsletter for monthly deals!”
- “Book your listing appointment now and sell your home fast!”
- “Get your free and confidential home valuation report today!”
- “Download your free ebook with my tips for first-time buyers now!”
Summary
Optimizing your blog posts will generate free organic traffic, but traffic volume is not the only measure of success. Engagement from a targeted audience will drive referrals to your pipeline that you can convert into listings.
Each online visitor who discovers your blog is a potential buyer, seller, or referral source. Make it easy for them to find and share you online, and your sphere of influence will grow steadily.
Got any blogging tips you’d like to share? We’d love to hear about them in the comments below!