So you want to rank in the top 10 on Google for you keywords but you just don’t know how to do it? You have read many articles, blogs and followed the discussions on the basics:
1.Build a custom real estate website
2.Optimize your website for your key words
3.Write unique real estate content
4.Build Links from authority and theme related sites
5.Blog
6.Participate in Social Media/Social Networking Sites
Knowing the basics and even implementing the basics is no guarantee that you will rank for your key words especially if your key words are in a competitive market.
Optimizing your site for you key words is a discussion in itself, so I want go into optimizing your site, but will indicate that is important to have your real estate website properly optimized! Adding fresh and unique content to your website is also another important factor but I still believe that link building is one of the most important aspect of getting your real estate website to rank competitively for your key words.
In this post I will cover where to look for links and how to get quality, authority and theme related links.
1.Social Media/Social Networking Sites
2.Blogging Sites
3.Directories
4.Partners/Contacts
5.Press Releases
6.Article Submission Sites
Social Media/Social Networking
Social Media has become the buzz words on the Internet and it’s synonymous with the phrase “Web 2.0″. Social Media or Social Networking Social Media encourage social interaction. There are many sites that allow you to create profiles/accounts in order to interact in social communities. Sites like Digg, Del.icio.us, Reddit, Active Rain, Wanna Network, Propeller and StumbleUpon, to name a few, allow you to create profiles/accounts in which you can place links to your website. They allow you to vote on articles and blog posts, which generate traffic to your site. Do your research and see what Social Media sites interest you! Here is a list of 48 Social News Websites to help get you started 
Blogging
Blogging has become one of the most important part of the link building process. With a blog born every half second in 2006, now it’s probably 1 every 1/4 of a second, it’s not hard to find influential bloggers in your industry/market. Once you locate the top 25 – 30 bloggers in your industry/market, start linking to their blog posts in your blog posts and this will create trackbacks. Trackbacks can generate many links over time.
Blog commenting is another way to generate links. I don’t recommend commenting on other blogs using anchor text because it is considered spam. Make sure that you have something useful to say if you are going to comment on another blogger’s blog article.
Use your blog to interview someone that is important in your industry. During the interview ask questions that would generate interest from your readers. An interview can be a powerful means in creating Link Bait!
Guest Blogging or Blog Contributor is another opportunity to generate quality links to your website. There are too many quality real estate bloggers that are failing to get their voice heard! Participating in other real estate related blog platforms allows you to target other markets, display your expertise, network, generate click through traffic gain valuable back links!
Directories
This will probably cause a debate, but I still believe it is important to submit your websites to theme related or niche directories besides DMOZ and the Yahoo Directory! Conduct a search on Google for “Real Estate Directories” and browse through the different directories and see which ones you want to be included in. Not all the directories are FREE! Don’t forget your local yellow pages
Partners/Contacts
Getting links from your friends, business partners and your contacts should be a pretty easy process. Many of you probably haven’t even thought of asking for links from these individuals! Anyone you do business with, ask if they would place your link on their website. Every time I enter into a deal with a new escrow company/escrow officer, loan officer, appraiser or home inspector, I ask them if they will place a link to my website on their website. Not many say no because they want a successful transaction and they think by saying “no” it will cause some type of negativity during the deal. This creates numerous new back links for my website
Press Releases
Press Releases are an important part of your link building process. One press release that is well written and newsworthy can generate numerous back links. Many Press Release sites allow your press release to be syndicated, which means the press release could end of up on hundreds of other sites in less than a couple of hours! I recommend the following press release sites:
Article Submission Sites
Submitting articles to various sites allows you to not only educate the readers but generate back links to your webiste. Your job as a real estate industry professional is to educate the consumer based on your field of expertise. Writing articles about your field allows you display your knowledge while generating click through traffic and back links. Here are a few good article submission sites:
If all else fails, check to see where your competitors are getting their links! This doesn’t mean you can get the same links, it just gives you an idea of where their links are coming from and to see whose talking about them.
The most important thing you can do is to get active! Join the different social networks, blog and start learning
I hope you found this blog post informational!
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All great advice, I am checking out the 48 social networking sites you listed in this blog post.
I just wanted to say this is probally one of the most complete and well written basics of real estate SEO/link building articles I have read. Please DONT let this information out to my compitition!
jk
This was very good Information to know someone is looking out for the Real Estate and Mortgage Companies. I will put all this to work for my Mortgage Company and in Jan 1, 2009 we are going to open up a Real Estate Company here in Louisiana. We just had our First Time Home Buyer’s Class last week, and turn out very successful. 50 People showed up and have 20 of them Approve for a Home Loan. If you are looking to purchase a new Home or Refinancing your Current Home you can Apply Today for a Low Interest Rate @ http://www.homeloansmtg.com. We also do Home Seller Assist Program: http://www.make12konline.com
http://www.homessoldin2weeks.com
Thank You,
Melanie Rogers
225-924-2715
800-299-4881
You wrote:commenting on other blogs using anchor text is considered spam.
I don’t get this attitude. Why is it OK to give a link, but it is not OK to give a link that will both benefit the recipient and help readers better understand what the link is about?
Ned Carey
Great information….learned a lot!
would love to hear from any affiliates….
PEACEMOVERS