What is one way a real estate agent can leverage local directories to improve SEO?
To help you leverage local directories to improve SEO for your real estate business, we asked real estate experts and business leaders this question for their best SEO tips. From sprucing up your Google My Business profile to optimizing your listings, there are several tips that may help you leverage local directories to improve SEO.
Here are seven ways a real estate agent can leverage local directories to improve SEO:
- Spruce up Your GMB Profile
- Create a Flow for Directory Visitors
- Build Presence on Relevant Sites
- Prioritize Accurate Listings
- Ask Clients to Write Reviews
- Leverage Local SEO
- Optimize Your Listings
Spruce Up Your Google My Business Profile
Strong local SEO starts with an optimized Google My Business (GMB) profile. If you haven’t done so, claim your business and get to work filling in the relevant information. Ensure that your profile contains all the necessary data, including pictures, hours of operation, and a list of products and services. As you build up citations in other directories, your GMB profile will gain prominence. This strategy gives you a chance to appear in the coveted “map pack” spot when users search for businesses near them. So be sure to use your GMB profile in conjunction with directories for the best local SEO results.
Claire Routh, Markitors
Create a Flow for Directory Visitors
Local directories will, of course, link to your website—which gives it a boost in ranking. However, in many cases, these sites may offer no-follow links. In terms of SEO, directories provide your business access to relevant visitors. Not only does this help to increase referral traffic, but it also exposes visitors who are keen on the housing market. Then, all you have to do is create a specific flow for this group of users to navigate through your site and reach the conversion.
Hung Nguyen, Smallpdf
Build Presence on Relevant Sites
There are a dime a dozen directories out there, and you will definitely not list your business on each and every one. So, while shortlisting, give first preference to those local directories that are inclined towards the real estate niche. And do not forget to keep a close eye on the Domain Authority metric as directories with higher authority tend to provide more value in terms of SEO. Targeted local directories with higher DA will perform better in Google’s eyes compared to generic ones with relatively low authority.
Raaquib Pathan, FastPath Home Buyers
Prioritize Accurate Listings
A real estate agent can leverage local directories to improve SEO to make sure their contact information is correct on the four major business listing directories that matter. These are Acxiom, Localeze, Expressupdate, and Factual. Not only does Google use the information that these vendors provide to validate its own data, but they push their information all over the web. New websites pull information from these four all the time, so it’s essential that their information is accurate.
Francesca Nicasio, Payment Depot
Ask Clients to Write Reviews
Real estate agents can leverage local directories to ennoble SEO by encouraging customers to leave authentic reviews. Reviews will always be a major plus point for your real estate business. Moreover, you are also capable of generating a bit of local top-notch SEO “heat” when you possess a significant customer review on your directory websites, where it includes your business name and pertinent keywords.
You might not always get optimum control over your customers’ content on these reputed directories when reviews are concerned. Therefore, you must motivate them to leave unbiased and honest reviews to create your influence, social proof, and authority in the market.
Caroline Lee, CocoSign
Leverage Local SEO
You can take advantage of local SEO by creating local pages on your site with content specific to the city and location of the people who visit that page. For example, your real estate site can have multiple local SEO pages for each of the cities you work in. On these pages, you should have specific listings for each of the geographic locations.
Oliver Andrews, OA Design Services
Optimize Your Listings
There’s a quote that says to go the extra mile because it’s never crowded. And I think that’s one of the biggest things that businesses, especially real estate agents, can do in their local areas. Most people don’t fully complete their directory listings. They don’t add a video, or add images, or add all their contact information. So a lot of times, just going the extra mile can do a really big service to increasing the visibility of your real estate expertise. Also, look into local chambers and business organizations where you can get a directory listing and backlink to your site as another way to build credibility and increase visibility.
Gresham Harkless Jr., Blue 16 Media
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