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Notes from Hawaii Internet Lead Generation Seminar
KWRI just released the capability to utilize google sitemaps in conjunction with a google webmaster account.
Full details pending. For the techs out there, check section 2.4 of the agent website tool for details.
Setting up a google webmaster account: http://www.kw.com/websiteT
A little birdy has told me that native site hosting is coming next - no more domain redirects, forwarding, or masking of your domains. It's about time.
Kevin Kaley is teaching a fabulous 4 week nuts-and-bolts course on how to implement top producer and the Shift materials (over 100 pieces of content and action plans) based on the Shift book. This training is available for a limited time at no cost - so take advantage of it.
To register for this training, go here:
http://www.MAPSShiftwithTP.com
enjoy!
The problem: I want to co-market listings with agents that are in another KW market center.
The solution:
(from Clent Scott at KW support)
Technically the agents cannot share listings in KWLS if they are in
different offices. However, I can write a search string with a Wolfnet
URL that will get around that little problem. Please see my example
search string below.
http://www.mlsfinder.com/kwls/
,111111,222222
The above string uses the KWLS search base URL of
http://www.mlsfinder.com/kwls/
Then add the parameters using the & symbol. For this example I added
the "agent_id=" parameter. What follows is the KW associate IDs
separated by a comma. Using this, you can add any associates ID to the
query and have their listings appear.
Note that this is basically the search co-marketing builds, the only
difference is people have to opt into co-marketing and can only market
with agents in their office. The above search will bypass all of that
nonsense ;)
Enjoy!
Jack
Here are the Questions and Answers from the July 7th FREE Blogging Webinar hosted by Mariana Wagner and Jack Miller of MAPS @ Keller Williams
1.
What will the MAPS Fast Track Blog Coaching Cover?
This course will cover the basics of blogging, how to increase the SEO
of your blog, how to write an effective blog post, how to promote your blog
and many other tips and tricks on how to have a successful blog without
spending too much time on it.
2.
How much is coaching?
The Keller Williams MAPS Fast Track Blog Coaching is a 6 month course
with two 1-hour sessions a month and additional free-form call-in sessions
for $99 a month.
3.
What is the Fast Track Blog Coaching Schedule?
The following Thursdays at 2pm CST, 1pm MST, Noon PST or 3pm EST:
· July 24
· Aug 14
· Aug 21
· Sept 4
· Sept 25
· Oct 2
· Oct 16
· Oct 30
· Nov 6
· Nov 20
· Dec 4
· Dec 18
4.
How does information on my blog differ from information on my
website?
There are 2 parts to this answer:
· Search Engines: Websites are predominately static and can bel ignored by search engines, whereas blogs get search engine recognition much quicker and easier.
· Functionality: It is much easier to publish information to a blog than it is to a website. From there, you can set your blog up to reflect the information that you have on your blog.
5.
How do search engines know the difference between websites and
blogs?
Blogs and websites are set up differently from the back end and search
engines understand that difference. Additionally, blogs are generally
updated more frequently than websites, which get the attention of search
engines faster and more consistently.
6.
How long does it take the search engines to start ranking a blog for
certain keywords?
This depends on which keywords you are trying to rank for. The more
competition for these keywords, the longer it may take. On the other hand,
niche keywords may take less time to rank. There are ways to make your blog
rank faster, even for popular keywords. We will go over exactly HOW to do
that in the Fast Track Coaching Sessions.
7.
How many leads should I expect from my search engine placement?
Once you begin ranking high for certain keywords, the amount of leads
that you will get will be determined by HOW you capture and cultivate those
visitors. Blogging is predominately just a tool to help you get
visitors/traffic. What you DO with that traffic is up to you.
8.
Should I link my blog to my website?
Definitely. You should have a link from your website to your blog and
from your blog to your website. You can also syndicate your blog posts to
your website, which we will explain in the Fast Track Coaching
Sessions.
9.
Is it better to have a blog instead of a website?
No. For most real estate agents, a blog is designed to support your
website. Eventually both your blog and your website will "rank" in the
search engines.
10. What are
ideas of things to write about?
The Fast Track Blog Coaching sessions will include an intensive list
of content ideas. However, the main things that you can write about
are:
· Market reports
· Neighborhood profiles
· Buyer and Seller FAQ's
11. How much
time per day should I spend blogging?
You can spend as little or as much time as your schedule allows. But
remember, the more well-structured, relevant and interesting blog posts
that you write, the faster you will start seeing results in the search
engines. I recommend spending 5-6 "off-peak" hours a week and posting 2-3
blog posts a week on your blog.
12. How long
is a typical post?
A blog post is as long or as short as you want it to be. However, 1-3
paragraphs is a good target length. The Fast Track Blog Coaching courses
will go over how to put together a great post, and will include information
on HOW to find the perfect length for you and your blog.
13. Can we
delegate blogging?
If you have someone that you trust to write competent and valuable
information for your blog, then yes. However, part of the success of
blogging comes from the personality behind the blog, which for the most
part, should be yours.
14. Can other
people, besides me, write on my blog?
Definitely. You can add to the content of your blog by having "Guest
Bloggers" write articles on your blog. Guest bloggers can be anyone that
you trust to write quality and relevant information, and can include,
lenders, appraisers, inspectors, bankers and other real estate
professionals that may specialize in areas that you do not.
15. Which
platform should we use?
Your eAgentC website has a Top Producer blog ready to be attached to
it. It is FREE, based off the WordPress platform and easy to use.
16. Do I have
to have a Top Producer account to use the Top Producer Blog?
No. This is a free blog that Keller Williams has made accessible to KW
agents whether you have a TP account or not.
17. Should we
have multiple blogs?
No. Unless you decide that you LOVE blogging, one blog should be
sufficient. Should you decide that you LOVE blogging, you could eventually
make separate blogs for the different niche markets that you work.
18. Do we
need a separate domain name for our blogs?
Yes. Initially, your eAgentC blog will have a domain name that
includes "featuredblog" in the URL. You can purchase any domain name that
you want and point it (or redirect it fir a small fee) to your blog. This
way when anyone types in your newly purchased domain name, it will take
them directly to your blog.
19. How do
your check your traffic?
There is a "statistics" tab in your blog that will give you
information on your traffic. Additionally, you can set up "Google
Analytics" to track your traffic as well.
20. Are the
eAgentC blogs search engine friendly?
Absolutely. In fact, we have seen some of these blogs get search
engine placement in less than 3 months.
21. How do we
find images for our blog?
Most images on the internet are copy written and you cannot use them
in your blog without getting in trouble and being assessed fines. We will
go over different resources for great, usable photos in the Blog Fast Track
Sessions. However, for now, the best resources for images that you can use
are:
· Photos that you take yourself
· Microsoft Clip Art
Royalty free stock
photography that is licenses for online usage
22. Should we
add video?
If you want to add video then definitely, but it is not a requirement.
If you DO add video, make sure you have plenty of written content as well.
Even though visitors will love the video, the search engines do not
acknowledge video as content.
23. What is
the reason for BOLD text in a blog?
How you format your blog posts is extremely important. BOLD text does
have a significance, but you have to use it correctly. We will explain this
(along with other formatting tools) in great detail in the Fast Track Blog
Coaching.
24. Can you
use information on your website on your blog?
Absolutely. I would take each thing that you already have on your
website and write a post about it… expand it out.
25. Should I
post the same blog in different places?
There are exceptions, but for the most part, no. Your content
should stay on your blog. If you have another place that you want to share
a blog post that you wrote, then share SOME of it and include a link back
to your blog so that readers can "continue reading" or "view the full
post".
26. I have a
blog on Active Rain. Should I get an additional blog as well?
Yes. Blogging on Active Rain is a great place to start and get your
feet wet with blogging. But remember, you are blogging amongst all your
competition and it is very easy for a visitor to wander away from your
posts to your competitions' posts.
27. Does
Active Rain have a higher ranking than a personal blog?
Everything is always changing, but Active Rain will rank higher than a
new blog, but in most cases, if you are dedicated to your blog, you will
eventually outrank Active Rain.
28. What
about the new Active Rain "Outside" Blogs?
Those are nice, but there is a severe limitation as to how you can
customize it to serve your business needs (you cannot add separate pages,
nor set it up to be a great lead capture machine like you could your own
blog) and there are still links that you CANNOT remove that lead to your
competition.
When you partner up with a MAPS Blog coach, you will learn the answers to your questions and learn how blogging can and will positively enhance the profitability of your current business.
A Real Estate Blog is a form of Internet Lead Generation.
- Blogs can rank higher and quicker on search engines than most websites.
- 40% of all search engine searches are for local businesses and services.
- 92% of all local searches will eventually convert into a sale.
- Roughly 10 billion search queries made per day. ( searchingsolutions.com )
Blogging gives you, the Real Estate agent, the opportunity to:
- Establish your position as the “expert” in ANY area, by writing about what you already know.
- Push your blog/website to the top pages of search engines for multiple terms.
- Become THE referral source for your area.
- Increase your income through the blogging and internet lead generation.
The top four objections that people have, and some answers include:
- “I don’t have time to blog” – Blogging takes up less time than you would think.
- “I am not a great writer.” – Effective story-telling is just one facet of great blogging.
- “I don’t know what to write about.” - Use your blog to answer frequently asked questions, share market reports, create neighborhood profiles, offer Buyer/Seller Tips and share community information
- “Blogging is too expensive.” – Keller Williams offers a FREE blog attached to your KW website. Learn how to set it up at mykwblog.wordpress.com/e/
If you are ready to take your internet business to the next level,
sign up today!
Two One-Hour Group Sessions a month for six months for just
$99/month
Start Date: Thursday, July 24th, 2008 at 2pm CDT
More Information Here
Want More Internet Leads?
Want to Convert the Leads You Get?
Can't Go to Tech Masterminds?
Now, MAPS is Bringing Tech Masterminds to You!
Be a part of KW history and join the first Masterminds to be broadcast via webinar! Learn how to generate and cultivate Internet leads from Keller Williams Chief Technology Officer Dave Therrien and Director of IT Cary Sylvester. Through this webinar, you will be able to hear the general session, ask questions and even see the PowerPoint presentation in real time!
Limited Space, Register Now!
Bargain Price: $29.95
Registration Closes: Sunday, April 27 at 12 noon CST
Webinar Time: Monday, April 28 at 1:30 p.m. CST (Central Standard Time)
until approximately 3:30 p.m. CST
Upon registration you will receive an email with the webinar address and the phone number to call in. Your registration will be approved the day before the webinar and you will be sent an approval notice via email 24 hours before. If you don’t receive the notice by the morning of April 28 please email fasttrack@kw.com.
No more reasons to miss Masterminds!
Don't lose the opportunity to be a part of history!
Join us for Masterminds 2008.
Learn more at www.mapsinstitute.com.
For more information on Masterminds, email maps@kw.com or visit www.mapsinstitute.com.
http://www.google.com/local/add/
This adds you to the Google Local Business Directory. You can create a link back to your site.
http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/local/business.php
Local Basic Listing (Free)
Local Enhanced Listings ($9.95/month)
Local Featured Listing ($25/month)
This is an example of the local business directory:
Featured listings are in the blue box at the top, regular listings appear in the list. Recommend starting with the free listing – have some past clients give you a review, it helps your placement on the site when people search for highest reviewed.
I don’t think the $9.95/month buys you much, the premium placement of local featured listing would generate more traffic due to the placement on the page.
http://www.trulia.com/advertisers/agents/
Featured listing Program (Priced at 10 listings for
$50/month) and
City Banner program ($250/month)
http://www.zillow.com/learnmore/WhyUseZillowAgents.htm
1 cent per impression.
Yahoo Directory Submission Program (National Listing)
$299/annually
http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/dirsb/dirsb_pr.php
Google Adwords
Enjoy!
Jack
Some Caveats!
1) Check your featured properties after you make this change and make sure they are all there. If they are not, check that your listings in the MLS system are all flagged to be included in the IDX data feed. In most MLS systems this is the default. You can also contact support@kw.com for help if your listings are not showing up.
2) If you do a lot of co-marketing of listings make sure that your co-marketing partners ALSO have their listings marked to go into the IDX feed in the MLS system. That way, when people click featured properties on your site they will see your listings and theirs. The easiest way to check is to make sure all their featured properties show up in the featured property page on Wolfnet.
If you have ever wanted to have links on your website that go directly to an IDX search result, Wolfnet now has a new tool that will help you quickly and easily build these links.
Some examples of how you might use this: Create links to searches by price range, or for specific zip codes, neighborhoods, or property types.
Example:
Condos, Townhomes, and Lofts in 78701 (Downtown
Austin)
Here is how to find the tool:
You must log into your Wolfnet Back office to use the custom idx search link tool. Once you are in the tool, enter the parameters for your canned search, and copy the URL that is generated. Note that you will have to tab out of the field you just updated for the search link to be updated.
You can then insert this link on your KW website using the link tool while you are editing pages.
Finally, for these type of search links I recommend setting them as pop up windows, so that users don't lose track of where they were on your website. This is what the pop up looks like:
If they close the pop up, they are still on your site (which you can see in the background of this image).
Don't be worried about pop-up blockers, since links like this are clicked on by the users pop up blockers don't stop them.
You can set these links as pop ups by going to the "target" tab of the insert link tool dialogue box. I recommend setting some of the pop up options, like allowing resizing and scrolling of the pop up window, and I also recommend setting the pop up window size and position on their screen. Here is a screen capture of my recommended options.
These options work well with computers that are at 1024x768 resolution, which is currently the most popular screen resolution. They will work fine with higher resolutions as well. Lower resolutions may need to move the window after it pops up.
Good luck with building your custom IDX searches!
Jack
I've been following a discussion by Robert Scoble and others about how people find you, and eventually decide to transact with in in the context of the Internet. Of course, things are a little different in real estate, but the core concepts are basically the same.
This is a diagram that I created early last year to explain what is being called the "Starfish", the multiple tentacles that extend into different user contexts and that lead them back to your website where they are captured.
I'm developing a list of all the places that I think it makes sense to place your tentacles - some are mentioned in this diagram, and some I'm still collecting information about. There are a lot of places you *can* show up on the Internet, and it helps to have evaluated the value of some places over others in terms of traffic and audience.
A short plug: My next Internet Lead Generation class for Real Estate starts January 8th. There is a free call you can watch and listen to here:
More information on Internet Lead Generation in Real Estate is here
Click here for the article about the starfish social media concept on Robert Scoble's blog.
I hope you had a great holiday and a happy new year!
Jack
So, last night I spent the evening at an event sponsored by a small, will-not-be-mentioned software company. They obviously had spent big bucks to sponsor this event, and the event organizers to their credit made a point of mentioning the sponsors several times during the show.
I left the show interested in the company, and wanting to find out more today I went to Google and typed in their name.
Nothing but pages of non-relevant results.
I tried their name, plus "software", plus even more detailed descriptions of things I saw promoted.
No dice. Nada. Can't find 'em.
From my perspective, they might have just as well burned the money they spent on the event. Since there were no trinkets handed out with their URL on it, I really have no good way to find out about them.
My best guess is they have some fancy website made all in flash, with little or no search engine readable text anywhere to be found. Plus, their company name did not lead me to an obvious url to type in - so I'm just one more potential buyer, adrift and unlikely to purchase.
UPDATE:
I did find their site after a few more guesses at their domain name - and voila, a fancy flash website with only a few keywords in the meta tags. Once I found that, I did see that they could be found by an obvious variation on their name - one word instead of two, i.e. "softwarecompany" vs. "software company", but it makes you wonder how many hits they are missing from people that make this mistake. Obvious take away - more key phrases (exact matches and close ones), more text, more find-ability.
I will be forwarding them a copy of this blog entry, and a referral to a company I work with that does search engine visibility. In this day and age, a business can't be hard to find online, and even a few small tweaks make a difference.
BTW, Great show guys! Thanks for supporting the local arts scene in Austin!
Location: Westin, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 400 Corporate Drive
For Full Course Information, click here
Register online at http://www.kwopportunity.com
I've written a set of step by step instructions for how to add Google Analytics to your Eagentc Website.
How to Install Google Analytics on your Keller Williams Web Site Template
I'm very excited to get this on line course off the ground, it has a been a long time in the making. If you have taken the live in-person Internet Lead Generation KWU course, this class is the perfect supplement. We will be focusing on executing the best practices from the course as well as some of the things we have learned in the last year of teach ILG to our audiences and coaching clients. We have some great tips and techniques to increase your online business and generate more deals through effective internet marketing!
For more information on the Internet Lead Generation business builder course, click here!
Click here to request a sign up form! You will receive an email with the registration document attached after you complete the form - fill it out and fax it to 512-879-6833!
Sign up for the Free Internet Lead Generation Business Builder class tomorrow - 2PM Central, 3PM Eastern, 1 PM Mountain, 12 noon Pacific Time:
Click here to sign up!
Jack
Articles about Internet Lead Generation
This is a collection of interesting articles related to this topic. I am adding and updating this list regularly.
Services, Websites, and Tools
These are services, websites, and tools that are related to the topic; these vendors are not neccesarily KW approved vendors.
Example websites from the course
These are websites from the course guide as well as websites I have collected to utilize as examples.
The best practice in linking in real estate is to have a relocation/referral links page for trading links with your relocation partners in other cities and states. This short how-to shows you the steps for doing this with your Eagentc template.
These steps assume you have created a page on your site that you want to utilize for linking, or that you are doing your linking on an existing page.
Step one: From the editor, enter the link text that you want to use for the website link.
Step two: Highlight the text that you will turn into a link
Step three: Click the Insert/Edit link button
Step four: Enter the URL address for where the link should go
Step five: Save the page
You are finished! Check that the link works by clicking on it!
